A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

This is a very difficult post for me. This forum has been a big part of my life for 7 years. I bought my RV new in May 2012 and found the forum in August that year. I knew absolutely nothing about RVs and RVing. Everyone here has always been so kind and patient to answer my incessant questions on how to do just about everything. There was a dark part of my RV experience though. For reasons my daughter would not tell me, she would not allow my grandchildren to accompany me in the RV. All I wished for were short trips with each individually to spend time with them, explore some places they had never been to, maybe tell them about the history of new locations and perhaps get them interested in my love, geology. But it never happened. So that meant every one of my trips was alone. It was fine for about 4 years when everything was so new. Eventually the long miles with no one to talk to and then no one to talk to when I reached my destination took too high a toll. It got so I would try not to think about my daughter and the problems with her because it would always make me cry - not a good thing when you’re driving. I loved the GTGs I attended, but I wish there had been more.

I definitely got good use from my RV, putting on many more miles than I think many RVers do. It had 57,800 miles on it. It was an excellent rig, especially for someone who knew nothing about RVs. I thankfully had no warranty issues with the MB Sprinter chassis or the Itasca house portion. Living in the Tri-Valley area east of the San Francisco Bay Area, my RV was exposed to some fairly high temperatures while in storage. Recently I noticed a very small patch of paint (1” in diameter) directly above the driver that was beginning to oxidize. I got a kit from Amazon and it did a good job of removing it. I envisioned, however, that more time in the hot sun was going to negatively affect the rest of the paint. In addition while everything was working fine, I worried other things could start having problems. Another concern was the number of miles and how that would affect finding a buyer in the future.

I regularly cleaned both outside and inside, and the full body paint still looked like new. Because of all of the above, I decided to sell. Being very worried about trying to sell it myself, not being good at answering technical questions, and having people come to my home, I decided to put it on consignment. Happily it sold in 2 days. It feels very strange now not having the RV. It will take some getting used to. I’m hoping I might be able to figure out how to attend some closer GTGs similar to what Barbie did when she didn’t have a trailer.

I’m also hoping to remain a member of this forum as I have made some very good friends. I enjoy reading what you’re doing and where you’re going.
Sandi

Oh Sandi I'm so sorry your plan to share your RV didn't work out. I hope you stay on the forum anyway you are one of us! ((((HUGS))))

I'm sure this was a tough decision - as was my own when I let the travelin' van go.
Your RV was in beautiful condition & it served you well. I'm sure its new owners are as happy as you were when you first got it.
It is too bad that your daughter wouldn't let you take the grands out. What a loss for all of you.
But I do understand the increasing costs of maintaining a rig & storing one for those of us who can't keep them at home. And if it wasn't bringing you 'great joy' anymore, it was time.

If you feel like taking a road trip - come on down here. There are several gals in this area & I have an extra room. Nothing fancy, but the price is right. And someday I even may retire so I'd be able to venture out more.

I agree on staying in the forum. This is a group of wise, adventurous & caring friends - not easy to find now-a-days.

Take care & definitely stay in touch!
Catherine

You best not leave the forum. You are a forever member!

I know this decision must have been difficult. You'll be sorely missed at gtgs. Maybe you can come to Q and stay at a motel. Or on my sofa if you can put up with my mess. It won't be the same without you.

Wow Sandi you sure know how to shake us all up...
you said close gtg Q is definitely not close but hope you can figure out how to come... oh I know
Kerry has a "spare room" or I too have a bed you can use and I will take the couch ...
we all tell everyone that you got to do what you got to do and understand your reasoning ... don't forget the
forum... we need you
sheila

Sandi, I am so sorry the plan for your RV didn't work out quite as you expected but you did have some great years and adventures with it. I understand the feeling of traveling alone, etc. I worry about that too. But there are places I want to see and if I don't see them alone, I won't see them at all.

We all have decisions to make as our lives and circumstances change. I am happy you will be staying on the forum! We are all family here. You can travel vicariously with us! And who knows, maybe someday, you will decide to try it again. There are several on here who have done that too.

I know exactly how hard the decision was for you, Sandi. I, too, have a hard time going any distance alone. I envy those gals here who are comfortable traveling by themselves and wish I could be more like them. You mentioned seeing sun damage and knowing how quickly it would spread and how hard it would be to sell. It's so great that you were able to stop the spread and sell your rig so fast!

I just got Serendipity back from the RV restorer guy. The sunburn damage just spread like wildfire and I knew in the near future I would need to hang up the keys. I would never get what I owed on her in the condition she was in. Since I don't even have 10,000 miles on Sere, I was very upset that the finish was deteriorating so quickly. I had to have the old graphics removed and new ones designed, painted, sealed. It's expensive, but she looks like new. It pains me that now the next owner will enjoy the benefit of the pretty graphics.

I'm so sorry you never got to travel with the grands. The people who are supposed to love us the most are the very ones who can hurt us the most. Would your daughter still not allow the kids to travel with you if you went on a trip by car? Is it just the camping that bothers her? When you factor in all the expenses of living our favorite lifestyle, the yearly amount is staggering (payments, fuel, insurance, registration, etc) and would cover a few 3-or 4-day trips a year.

But most of all - please stay active in the forum. RV friends are friends, whether they have the RV or not! Evie

Sandi, I'm so happy you had the RV so we got to meet you on here! Since you made the decision, I'm glad the sale went quickly. Hope we'll see you in Q in January! Hugs my friend.

Sorry to hear you sold your RV, but I understand the reasons why. I too hope you stay on the forum. You are one of us even without it. I was so glad I got to meet you when you went to Illinois, and again at Q. Hopefully we will all get to see you at one time or another.

Oh Sandy, im sad to read this, Q will not be the same without you. I too hope you can figure out a way to still come to the get togethers.

Aloha Sandy, I just read your post about selling your RV. You will always be a part of the Forum and welcomed at gtg. Don’t be shy about accepting an offer of a couch. I stayed with Sharon at the Kansas gtg and drove out with CarolB because I couldn’t drive my own rig. As I remember you mentioned You would like to live in Maui, and now you don’t have to worry about your rig. Best wishes with the next phase of the adventure. Peggy