introducing

[jnof]

Hi,
I'm not sure what is to go into this post but it appears that I need to introduce myself before I can use this forum. My name is Jean, Newbe to RVing and trying to figure it all out before my 1st big trip. In reviewing several sites I've seen a number of groups/clubs. Could you recommend which ones are really useful and good?

[Bethers]

Welcome, Jean. Glad to have you with us. This was a start - but we are a nosy bunch. So maybe where you are located. Or anything else you want to share is good.

I'm moving your other post over to the General room. You might get more responses on it there.

[mitch5252]

...Could you recommend which ones are really useful and good?

..
Why, THIS ONE is, by far, the best...

..

[cpatinjones]

I like a variety. Here are a few national clubs I belong to: Escapees, Good Sam and RViing Women. Most have state chapters and all have online forums. All cost to belong.

I also belong to a couple of online groups. They are Womenrv (this one) and Open Road Singles (ORS). No cost to join.

I also belong to a group called the Pink FlaminGoes. We are located on Facebook. No cost to join.

[jnof]

I think I got accepted on the forum after a couple of tries. Brain seems somewhat slow today - day of rest??
Anyway my rig is a 38' Itasca, 2005, in great shape and with what seems like a nice set of bells and whistles - double frig/freezer, something solar, washer/dryer etc. I kept reading that when looking at getting an RV go bigger than you think. Well this is much bigger than I originally planned but I kept thinking of it replacing my house. Looking at it that way, I am significantly downsizing. I had only camped 2x in my life, in a tent, before I bought this. I have family all over the country and this seems like a good way to work from 'home', travel and visit. I'm a nurse case manager for and insurance company and work from home now. I'm hoping to go from AZ to wherever, stay 3-4 weeks somewhere and then pick the next spot. I know I'll have to learn more about timing the drives and weather issues and many thing I don't even know to ask about.
Thanks for the note and I'm glad I found this site!

[sharon]

Welcome Jean and as you think of questions, don't hesitate to ask. If we don't know the answer, we'll always have an opinion and then our resident guru, Mitch will find the answer.

Where in Az are you? We have a couple of girls there and Pooker and I are just over the border in SoCal.

[avalen]

welcome Jean I'm in AZ too.

[Travelinana]

Welcome Jean, I am in AR which many think is also AZ but of course it's Arkansas. I belong to Women RV/Forum and OpenRoadsSingles/forum so can't comment on the others. Stick with us and soon you will be hooked. Your Itasca sounds very nice. I think it is a motor home but correct me if I'm wrong.
There are other nurses working from home (RV) so you already something in common besides being a woman RV'er.

[WickedLady]

Welcome to this forum, Jean. I belong to Escapees and Good Sam. There is also Loners On Wheels.

[jnof]

WOW! Thanks for all the input! I'm in Southern Phoenix (South mountain) area.
And yes Mitch I think this is one of the best places I've found for information so far. I was wondering about the Good Sam's type organizations and another membership group that has a monthly publication (already forgot the name). I plan to get the senior pass for National Forests and Parks but was not sure if the other memberships were worth the money. I thought I signed up for Escapees and Good Sam but seems that I must have had too much wine and didn't complete those. I can't get in withe passwords in my passkeeper.
I would really love to sit down with someone who has one of these big girls like my carriage and ask questions about driving in what gear up the inclines to Payson and Prescott and others eventually. Mine is a gas, not desiel so doesn't have the push one of those would.
Then I would like to talk to the nurses working out of RV to find out what kind of tec systems work and if any problems.
Thanks All!

[Dawn309]

Hi Jean. Welcome! I am in Texas and looking forward to getting out on the road. I will be buying an almost 38' gasser also. You are already ahead of me. I haven't driven a MH yet. I belong to Good Sam, Escapees and iRV2 and of course, this group. They all have forums, and this is, by far, my favorite. The ladies here are very welcoming and knowledgable. Feel free to jump right into any conversation. We love new voices and opinions.

[Bethers]

You definitely want the pass for the national parks. It's worth it's weight in gold. I also have passport America. One time using it usually will cover the annul fee.

[ellenw]

Beth, what's the difference in the two passes? I thought the 'Passport America' was the one for the National Parks.

[longdog2]

Passport America is a private company who has worked out deals with private campgrounds to give members half-price camping. It costs $44 per year but if there are even a couple of parks on your route that accept passport, it will have paid for itself. I stayed in two great ones on my way between Texas and Florida this summer and will use it going back home too. Voila--paid for. You can type in Passport America online and look at a map where they show all the parks that accept Passport America. Actually, you will find two companies with that name and slightly different site names. Don't worry, they are just branches run by two different parts of the family that started things but you get all the parks with either one.

[WickedLady]

Seems to me that if you join Good Sam you can get a new member discount on the price of joining Passport American as they are now partners.