Starting to Panic

[ellenw]

I'm surrounded by 46 Dollar Tree items just waiting to move into Joy.

I know how many because that was my bill + tax. Plus a hand-me-down coffee maker; a lantern flashlight, 2 big towels and a blanket I "found a home for" from the lost & found from the camp I work for; plus plastic bags, batteries, odds and ends, etc. I'm at the point of making a list to keep track of my lists --"buy," "find in the apartment," "first-aid kit items," "tool box items," etc, ad nauseum. I think I might be obsessing a teeny bit..

Hopefully her automatic leveling jacks will arrive UPS tomorrow and get installed tomorrow and Wednesday. Plus detailing, plus fill the tanks. Then I can have her on Thursday. Friday we're off on our maiden voyage to a friend's property, where there are people who know stuff. I sure hope so!! Then on the way home - ta-da! My first you-know-what. Yikes!!

Monday and Tuesday of next week, besides doing the happy dance all day long, I'll be figuring out what's missing and repacking, then Wednesday Kari and I leave for the first leg of our Oregon drive for the GTG!! What a fun couple of weeks!!

[OregonLuvr]

Well just so you know I usually carry way too much stuff with me. So I cleaned out my storage bins, organized, and reorganized so now I am sure I wont be able to find a thing. But hey, YOU will probably have what I need. Lol. AND you are parked next to me.."be afraid be very afraid". Wait, maybe I should be afraid..HaHa. Cant wait for all the fun to begin.

Karen

[ellenw]

Karen, I suspect your second thought was more appropriate. I have duct tape - what else could I possibly need? (Did you know you can get it in jungle prints?!!? )

[OregonLuvr]

And is that a threat.? LOL

[ellenw]

Hey - we could do our own fashion show. Those Floridians have nothing on us! Leopard? Tiger? Jaguar?

[Bethers]

Only place I can imagine anyone wanting to duct tape me is across my mouth. But since I talk more by computer now, maybe my hands/fingers, also? Now I'm getting scared. At least if you do it, I'll be fashionable, eh?

I have so much stuff I never even look at - promise myself in AZ this winter I'm going through all my storage areas and cleaning things out I never use.

Ellen, you'd be amazed at my "tools". Let's see - a screwdriver. Well 2, as one is the square head, the other has 4 heads. A hammer. My robo-grips and another pair of pliers (only cuz I had them before I purchased the robo-grips). That about covers it. I'm sure I have some other things in the compartments that I never use - and they will disappear this winter. Yes, I do have some duct tape somewhere. Might not need it often, but have needed it. But I'm definitely of the school that less is more - after I clean out everything - especially the everything's people convinced me I "had to have" and they can have it - but I will borrow or pay to get things done before I'll ever use it - so why carry it around with me?

[ellenw]

Beth - I like that attitude (borrow or pay to have it done). I figured a Phillips and a flathead screwdriver, a pair a pliers and a small hammer - but I'd probably do more damage with the hammer than useful repair -- and the duck tape only because I saw it on both a tools list and a first aid kit list, do double-duty.

And don't worry both of you.. I was too cheap to get the printed duck tape. Just have the standard grey stuff. Oh, and someone suggested teflon tape for old hose fittings, but I don't have that yet.

[Bethers]

Ellen, look at your rig closely. Almost everything inside of mine requires a square driver (which I had never heard of). I had my regular 4-headed screwdriver - and learned when I went to use it, I couldn't on most things. I don't know why, but rv manufacturers love those square ones. There is even a multiple headed screwdriver that includes that square head. But the place I found that at was out of them - so I got my very one sqaure-head driver. And use it more than anything else.

I've never needed teflon tape. Not saying it's a bad thing - but I'm in my 8th year - will purchase it if/when I ever need it. And I will hope the duct tape will work until I get to the store for it - if/when I need it.

Oh, my hammer gets used to tap in my black water valve - easier than pushing it in at the angle it is. Otherwise, I'd probably have gotten rid of it. It now actually rides in that compartment. And now that I tow, occasionally gets used to take out a pin that doesn't want to come out easily (usually because I'm on a slight incline or some such).

[ellenw]

Ellen, look at your rig closely.

I think that's the best advice of all. I don't need EVERYTHING before Friday. I figure half the fun this first weekend will be organizing and figuring out what I still need. I've started a wish list on Amazon - "Joy's Wish List" LOL! - where I'm storing ideas when I think of things. I just can't do it all at once, so I'm doing some serious self-talk about pacing myself and not stressing.

[Bethers]

We're going to have so much fun - and we can help you stress, too ... hahahaha.

And now I'm taking a book to bed - where Peaches has been sleeping for a couple hours. Being my navigator is tough work for her, you know?

[asirimarco]

We've been motorhoming since 1972 - and we still have stuff we never use with us and still go looking for WallMarts to get something we forgot or just discovered we want (not necessairly need.) Part of the adventure. Because we still live in a house we have things that are moved into the RV when we leave for a trip and taken back out when we get home (my favorite Chef's knife for one). So I've made a list of things "to put in Rv before leaving" and usually by the second night we discover something we left home.
And we have discovered in traveling that some of our favorite foods can not be found throughout the US - some are west coast items or east coast items only. So when we are in the appropriate area we stock up on them.

[BirdbyBird]

Go use your rig then make the additional list of stuff that you think might be good to have......As mentioned many things can be borrowed or bought....if you "might" need them once every couple of years....

[Travelinana]

You will find you will always keep a list going...can't imagine existing without my lists..and I do mean lists plural. My poor son inherited this habit and the entire family laughs at us but we usually get the last laugh
I keep hearing RoboGrips..where do I get them? Walmart, Hardware Store, Auto Store? I must have them!
Ellen, I'm so excited for you...I love it when we share all these emotions!

[VickieP]

I see a dinner bell hanging on the door...not to worry at GTG's you won't need to summon people.

[mitch5252]

..

Nancy, I got my Robo-Grips at Sears.
I love them.

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