What made you start RVing?

[bluepinecones]

Such interesting and inspiring stories. Thank all of you for responding and I hope a few more will follow. As I suspected, most of you started with some prior experience. There are a few exceptions to that.

Think it took me a couple of years to forgive my husband for dying and leaving me at such a young age. Then later when I retired, had planned to do more traveling on the ground (traveled a lot with work but had to fly everywhere and little time to see anything). Did make a few trips - just driving staying in motels along the way. Then health started failing; soon as I got over one thing something else would go wrong. ID theft problems made things even worse. I finally just sorta gave up since I couldn't trust my body anymore. Am beginning to think maybe I gave up too soon. Until the past few years I'd always been pretty independent and adventurous. I never tire of being impressed by this wonderful country and its people tho I do find it somewhat difficult to meet new people.

I've never even been camping or for a ride in an RV. Wasn't particularly interested either as my perception was of those giant buses (Class A) which I had no desire to learn to drive. I have a great deal of admiration for those of you who do. Mentioned to Sparkle when she was here that it was a shame something the size of my mini van wasn't available in an RV so Nicky could go with me if I tried travel again. She told me about Class Bs and now after following all your adventures for a few months, I'm thinking if I really work on a couple of problem areas I just might be able to handle a few trips per year. Just thinking out loud at this point; believe my total lack of experience/background is my biggest hang up for now. Humm, don't remember letting lack of experience stop me from much in the past.

[Nasoosie]

I love this thread and will surely contribute to it as soon as I can find the time to sit and compose! It's neat to hear what led us all to where we are in the workd of camping today!

[Liz]

Beth, I think you can get cam lock at your local locksmith...see if there's one where you are. I had two replaced on my rig and that's where I got them.

Sarah, you can do it! And planning for it is half the fun.

[Sparkle]

Sarah, tell the ladies what happened with your ID theft. I think it makes a great story! New thread?

[LegalLady]

This thread is awesome! I tent camped with my parents and siblings (lots of siblings, there were 6 of us), plus dog plus my mother's mother who lived with us. We owed a tent with three wings - we called it the Taj Mahal.

Later, when I was dating my DH at the tender age of 18, we went tent camping in the White Mtns of NH. Of course, my idea of camping was a tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, canopy over picnic table, cooler, stove, lantern... His idea of camping was a sleeping bag and a case of beer. He made such fun of me...and used every piece of equipment I insisted on bringing. God, that was such fun.

Then marriage, work, babies, life got in the way. We bought into a mobile home park on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Had many great times there on the lake. Still have it, cause it's paid for - a great feeling! Then youngest was approaching college and we wanted to venture further afield. Researched carefully and bought a used Lazy Daze class C. Loved that thing, but just too small for two not-small people and two not-small dogs.

Sold the C and bought a nearly new 32' Sunline TT, pulled by DH's new Chevy Silverado Diesel truck. He loved the TT, I was ok with it. I admit there was great space, but it was so much work, hooking and unhooking, I just knew it was beyond me to do myself.

Then, DH was gone. Heart attack at 54. I sold the TT, then the truck. Knew I wanted to do something for myself. Remember I loved the Lazy Daze. Decided it was too big for just me and one standard poodle. Found the perfect B last summer, a 2007 Roadtrek 210 with 3500 miles on it (owner's wife died shortly after they bought it new). Was only able to use it a little last summer, since I had made other commitments (had not expected to buy, but when the exact one I wanted came along, I just had to do it).

This summer is another story. Today, I'm driving to the TT dealership where we bought our TT, and they are going to de-winterize for me (they winterized it last fall). I want to learn how to do this for myself, but for now, I'll let them do it. Then, I hope next weekend to drive to Cape Cod and go to Provincetown (I've lived in Mass. all my life and never been). Stay overnight somewhere in my Escape Pod. That will be my inaugural trip for this year.

I'm signed up to go to a B-only rally (www.rv.net) in Ohio in mid-May, and in Oct I'm going to drive to TX to visit my sister near Houston and then we'll both go to a women-only RV convention (www.rvingwomen.org) in San Antonio. Other than those two commitments, I'm going to play it by ear, but I am determined to get out in my Pod as often as possible this year.

[Pooker]

Quite a few of you already know my story, but couldn't resist adding to the bunch.

DH and I started with a 9x18 tent - one of those 3 room things - when the youngest boy (of 3) was 7 months old. Playpen housed baby in the center portion, 2 kids with air mattresses and sleeping bags in one wing, Mom and Dad in the other wing. Believe me, arriving at a campground after work on a Friday night, setting up in the dark using flashlights, and pumping up 4 air mattresses with the cigarette lighter pump was noisy! I'm sure our camping neighbors really appreciated our arrival! We started camping because we couldn't afford vacations! We did a lot of camping vacations with our best friends, who had 5 kids in a huge tent, too! We looked like a Sunday school picnic!

Advanced to a tent trailer after a few years. Oh, the luxury of not sleeping on the ground! And a real stove! Refrigerator! But no potty. Still had to trek to the restrooms.

Few more years down the road we bought a 22' tt. Put thousands of miles on it and later rented a permanent campsite for summers (we lived in Mass.). That way, didn't matter how late we arrived Friday nights! No setting up to do. Our own potty and even a shower! What luxury! We even kept "camping" clothes in it for everyone. We both took leaves of absences and took a trip to California and back, stopping to see the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, etc., etc.

DH lost his job at the age of 51 and couldn't find another anywhere, so we decided if we were going to start over, it wouldn't be in cold New England. My Dad and 2 of our sons were in CA, so we sold the house and one of the cars, put everything in storage, bought a 15th hand Winnebago and headed out with the cat. In February! In snow! Followed 2 tire tracks through PA and discovered leaks everywhere once we got to SC and tried to fill with water! We were like two little kids running away from home. Adventures awaited! Cat, a prima dona if there ever was one, was ticked. We told her "deal with it." Lived in the Winnie for a few weeks when we arrived until we got settled and both got jobs. TT was still under snow back in MA, but the campground owner offered to sell it for us and split the proceeds. Sounded good to us and he sent us a check in the spring.

As soon as possible, we started taking our "Great Adventures". Long trips for 1, 2 or 3 months and many thousands of miles. We actually camped in every state but 2 (Deleware and NJ) and some many times. We kept trading up until the last "A" with 3 slides just 7 months before DH suddenly died. I took the monetary loss and traded it in for a 26' Itasca C. Just the right size for one little old lady and 2 black cats. I've always had the travel bug, too. I probably won't ever just head out on any more great adventures by myself. Wouldn't be the same. But I go out with a GS (Good Sam) chapter once a month and follow along when others are going off somewhere and invite me. I've met some incredible women here, both on-line and in person. Like Sparkle, I hope I can continue doing this for another 5-10 years. Seventy sounded like a stopping point until I turned 70, now 80 sounds even better! But, if I could offer any advice to those wannabes it would be - do it now. Whenever you get the opportunity - do it! You can always change your mind if you don't like it. But you may never get another chance and life isn't a dress rehearsal. We don't get do-overs! I'm so happy we had 10 great adventures! If we waited to have enough money, or until he retired from his part-time retirement job, or whatever, I wouldn't have those wonderful memories now. And keep a journal and photo album of your travels. I wear mine out rereading (and reliving) each trip!

[SeeyaGal]

I think I have been camping since I was 10 yrs old! My sweet spinster Aunt who I adore would take me camping every summer. She started with a tent and then a rented camper and then bought a travel trailer. She gave up the trailers and now parks places in a VAN!
Can't get her to get a road trek, says they will not fit under in the parking garages at casino's!
I tented with the first DH but it really was never fun with him. After I married Dan, Hubby #2 we bought a 18ft Nomad TT in 95 and took just weekend trips in it, realized it just is way too small so we traded it in for a 27 ft Nash 5th wheel.We hated coming back home after our trips and in 1999 we took a 5 week trip that got extended to 8 weeks and we were whineing we had to come back home!! It was then we decided that as soon as we retired we were going to hit the road and not come back till we felt like it. We decided that if we were going to go Full-Time to get a motorhome. We watched in campground the good and bad of parking and motorhomes got in and set up so much faster and we did not have to pull over and get out to go use the bathroom ( except for Dan) driving down the road and I LOVED sitting up high going down the road....WOW the view!!
We are on our 2nd motorhome and have been on the road Full-Time for 8 yrs now! We do have the property in Arizona now that we bought 3 yrs ago. Still hard to believe 3 yrs have flown by! 11 more days and we put everything away and hitch up the Jeep to the Seeya and we are back on the road for 6 months.
I love that if I want to stay longer some where I can or if I don't like where I am I can hitch up quick and leave.
We have met the nicest people in the campgrounds and RV clubs, we are more relaxed and really enjoying life. Family thought we were crazy at first and my Mom worried alot. I started a blog after awhile to keep others in touch with us and she has accepted that this is the lifestyle we enjoy. We want to see it all , do it all before we can't. Then we can sit back and look at all our photo's and memories and smile that we lived life to it's fullest.

[AlmostThere]

Diana! How exciting, your maiden voyage! I'm so happy for you!

[mitch5252]

And here I am, my first night in my new rig!!!! The only thing I forgot was the bottle of wine, can you believe it? So no toast to new adventures, will save that for another time! Looking forward.........

So, how was your first night? How exciting for you! Sad about the wine, though, but there'll be lots more opportunities, right?

[Acadianmom]

Leslie, I am hoping to go to the RVW convention too. I am a member of the Texas chapter even though I live in Louisiana. The Texas chapter is hosting the convention so I will probably work at the convention if things work out and I can be gone that long. Hope I get to meet you.

Martha

[BirdbyBird]

I began camping at Dale Hollow Lake in TN at the age of 3. For years we would pile everything in a small aluminum boat and head away from Sunset Dock towards the wilderness. Back in the 50's and 60's the rangers would give us permission to camp where we wanted and we seldom were found in the campground. But I loved the isolation and watching and listening to nature and being near the water. My dad always said I was part fish. I would even go down and camp with my parents when I was in college. Often a girl friend would come with me. After I got married we kept going and after the kids came we went several times, but once the kids got into 4-H, the fairs, their dog shows, 4-H camps and camps for other interests took over. Family camping was left behind. Another point of experience for me was the year after college before I started grad school full-time, I work for the FMCA main office in Cincinnati. That summer I went to the rally in IL. I am not sure I saw much beyond the information booth that I manned but I met the people and learned that MHs came in all sizes and the people from all backgrounds. I have always enjoyed traveling across country but never really done a lot of it. I would drive myself from the Cincinnati area to Madison, WI by myself because I wanted to visit my favorite aunt. I always was interested in what was down the road, the architecture of the farms, the houses, the towns. I always used my imagination of what I would do if I could take a certain highway or turn off. (Okay, I did that when ever I got near an airport to pick up or drop off a traveler, too) I have always wanted to spend more time around the ocean and have had little opportunity. My husband never appeared all that interested in spending money on traveling and granted as educators that invested in non-public schools for our kids we never had a lot of extra cash..... Now, the truth is that we have very little in common anymore and I was not really interested in traveling with him anyway by this time, so I used what little extra cash I had right before I retired and made a down payment on a MH that I wanted. Most of the shopping around I did on my own. He did go once with me and noticed that the salesman had written across the sheet that customer planned on traveling by herself (me bad). Right after I retired my father's health started to deteriorate even more and I needed to stay closer to Ohio. I did use the MH for dog shows but than ran into some bills that have needed to be paid off so after my dad passed I went back to work at a vet clinic for a year and am now working a short term seasonal job to finish paying down some of my last bills. I really want to relocate to a warmer climate if nothing else for the cold Ohio winters. My daughter raves about NC. She says yes it gets cold but doesn't stay that way long. I wanted the MH because I want the dogs to be as comfortable as I am. I want my potty close by and readily available. I want to be able to travel where and when I want to. I want to see so much of the US that I have never been able travel to. I enjoy meeting people and having interesting conversations. I am still anxiously waiting for my first campfire. Traveling by myself or to dog shows just hasn't called out to starting my own fire for the dogs and I..... And, yes, I remember reading "Travels with Charlie," too!

[Birdie]

The thing that made me want to start RVing was the hobby of birding. There are so many birds I haven’t seen yet. They have such different plumages when they are going North or going South. I lived in Arizona for about 9 years and as most of you know RVing is big, big business out there.

I did a lot of research and decided on the Casita Travel Trailer. I bought a 4Runner because it would tow 5k #’s (plus my auto friend said I could have that one). However just 1 week before I ordered my Casita, the doctor found I had developed a heart condition. I was really scared (and mad!). I had worked 45 years and I could die without having drawn one penny from my retirement 401Ks. My best friend died the day after her 65th birthday – massive coronary. I had surgery on Tuesday it was pronounced a success. I placed the order for my Casita on Friday. Picked up my tt 9 weeks after my surgery and started my new adventure. I was driving down IH35 talking to myself….What in the world am I doing? I have never done this before and I don’t know what I am doing!!!! I was concerned about would I be able to do this – hook up, unhook, backup, empty, fill, drive, etc. Slight concern now is that I am looking at another possible heart condition. But you know what - it doesn't really matter. I am still going to Arizona and lead some bird trips down in the canyons and up in the mountains!! I am WOMAN, I can DO anything (she roared)! and usually do!

Like many of you, I am close to being a bra burning women’s libber! I, too, was one of those that paved the way for the next generation of women. It was hard, it was stressful, it was fun, the pay sucked! But the other sistahs will benefit, actually have benefitted. All of that adds up to an attitude: If I want to do it, I can. It may take me a bit longer, but I will get there. That was my attitude about towing the tt. Now I know I can do it – no biggie ! I can backup and hookup the 2nd time. The parking takes more times, but I get there . I do what has to be done and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I see this same attitude every time I read here on the forum.

The sistahs, they are powerful! They are smart! They are an inspiration! They can do whatever they set their minds to! I do believe we could kick butt in congress and get this place moving in the correct direction....you know headed down the road!

[Sparkle]

Good for you, Nancy. The one thing I didn't want was to be in a nursing home quavering, "I should have gone RVing when I was 70 and young."

[rvgrammy1953]

Oh, Diana....how exciting for you!!! Your 1st night in the RV!!! Don't worry, the next time we meet up, we'll have some wine.....

[WickedLady]

Got into CB club so bought a little tt in order to go to the many summer campouts put on by the various clubs. Since then I have had a larger tt, a Class C (that I lived in), a van that I put a bed in and a portapotty and used it to go to the dog shows around the country. All that was between husband one and two and different stick-builts.
I have always loved to travel and now that I have a tt again and a good tow vehicle I plan to do a lot of it and eventually go full-time.