Hi Everyone!!!

[monik7]

My name is Sandi. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've been on my own for quite a few years now. I have 2 children. My daughter has given me 3 grandchildren and 1 foster grandchild. My son was murdered in 1995 at the age of 22 just 5 months before he would have graduated from UC Berkeley. The loss of my son has affected my life so much. I know I'm not the same person I was before. People say time makes things better, but when you lose a child, the pain goes on forever. I'm not telling you all this for sympathy. I just want you to know a little about me.

I retired early 10 years ago and have been helping my daughter since then in caring for her children. Well, things are going to change at the end of August. The littlest one will be starting kindergarten, and I've worked myself out of a very important job. Also, they live about 40 miles from me and I just can't do that drive in commute traffic anymore.

Earlier this year I had to go to a parole hearing for one of the guys who murdered my son. On the way, I drove by the local RV dealer and a 2012 Itasca Navion iQ 24G "called my name." In the past I've found that I've made some large purchases on dates surrounding the loss of my son. I've bought 2 cars on his death date; I got a puppy last year on the day before his birthday. So I knew what was happening when I saw that shiny RV beckoning to me. The more I thought about the fact that I wasn't going to be spending my days caring for my grandchildren, the more I feared just sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. After I graduated from college, I was a flight attendant for a few years before marrying. I've seen all the cities and their airports, but haven't seen this beautiful country from the ground. Soooooo, I bought that beautiful Navion.

I'm completely new to RVing. Since I got it in May, I've made 3 short trips. Yosemite will be next week with my daughter and grandchildren. So far so good. Seems like there's always something more I need to buy for it. I have 2 dogs, a cockapoo named Krissi (13 yrs.) and a cute shih-poo named Abby (1 1/2 yrs.). I also have a cat, Amy (11 yrs.). I don't think I'll ever full time because I don't think my cat would take to traveling and at this point I don't think I want to give up my house.

Sorry this is so long. I'm very much looking forward to talking to all of you and learning from your experience. Hopefully I'll be able to actually meet some of you out there on the road. Happy RVing and safe travels to everyone!

[WickedLady]

Welcome, Sandi. Buying an RV can be a great life-changing experience. Nothing like getting out there and seeing new places and meeting new people. Enjoy.

[OregonLuvr]

Welcome Sandy from Southern Oregon. Congrats on your new purchase...now I know the perfect place to try it out in Oregon. We are having a GTG the end of September, just a hop, skip and a jump for you...OK well maybe not that short. Check out the GTG thread for the NW GTG 2012. It is just over the CA/OR border about 45 miles not too far. Would love to meet you. I have only met a couple of the ladies coming and am anxious to meet more, so think about it.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7090

karen

[Sandersmr]

Welcome to the forums. And enjoy your travels and you might be surprised at how well your animals adapt to this new form of travel. I know my 2 dogs love to go and seem to know when we are packing the trailer.

[Dawn309]

Hi and welcome. I know you will continue to enjoy your new RV. Look forward to meeting you on the road someday.

[avalen]

welcome Monik, I think you've found the right place to land for awhile. You have more in common than you think with a couple
of our sistahs. I've got a short time yet before I can retire however I do have a new grandson due soon and daughter is planning
on me helping out and I definitely will enjoy it however I'm not going to let it consume my life. Most of us travel with our 4 footed
family members and just so ya know...WE LOVE PICTURES and you wrote such a nice introduction I'm looking forward to reading
stories of your adventures when you take them.
welcome welcome welcome

[AlmostThere]

Welcome, Sandi!
Thank you for sharing with us. I am sorry about the tragic loss of your son.
I am excited for you in the purchase of your new RV! There is a new Navion and a Winnebago Vista, which are almost identical inside and out, at the place where I store my RV and I have been admiring both.
So happy you have family to share your travels with.

[Cougarfan]

Welcome Sandi! I love the Bay area...Great group of ladies here with all sorts of different rv's. Just ask any questions you want and don't forget pictures. We're a nosy bunch...

Like Karen said, check out the Oregon gtg at the end of September. We'd love to have you join us and there are several spots available that would be perfect for your Navion. Besides, if my Mom comes to visit one of the days of the gtg, you can show it to her. Its exactly what she wants...

Laura

[Bethers]

Welcome, Sandi! Glad to have you with us. So sorry about the loss of your son.

Hope to meet you down the road, and as a couple have mentioned, would be great if you could head north for the gtg in OR the end of Sept. Lots of us, newbies and oldies, will be there.

[monik7]

Thanks to all for your friendly welcomes. I've reserved space for the NW GTG in Oregon at the end of Sept. and am so looking forward to meeting many of you there. I'm getting the feeling this site will be a blessing in my life. Thank you and safe travels to all.
Sandi

[Bethers]

Thanks to all for your friendly welcomes. I've reserved space for the NW GTG in Oregon at the end of Sept. and am so looking forward to meeting many of you there. I'm getting the feeling this site will be a blessing in my life. Thank you and safe travels to all.
Sandi

YAY! Looking forward to meeting you! So glad you're jumping right in to do that - along with a few other brand new members. Going to be great.

When you get a chance, post a message on the gtg thread, so that Laura (in case she doesn't see this) can get you added to the list of those coming.

[cpatinjones]

Hello and welcome to the fourm. And congrats on purchasing your RV. A new journey starts in your life.

[ellenw]

Welcome, Sandi! I'll see you in Oregon. Thanks for sharing as intimately as you did. It does help to know you better. I don't have any pictures to post yet,, but I will. I'd love to see some inside shots of your new beauty.

[monik7]

Welcome, Sandi! I'll see you in Oregon. Thanks for sharing as intimately as you did. It does help to know you better. I don't have any pictures to post yet,, but I will. I'd love to see some inside shots of your new beauty.

I've been trying for over an hour to post pics of the interior of my Navion. They show up in the preview, but an error occurs when I try to submit it. Don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Sandi

[Bethers]

I've been trying for over an hour to post pics of the interior of my Navion. They show up in the preview, but an error occurs when I try to submit it. Don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Sandi

Where are you trying to post them? If you can, make a new post in the room to Show off your Rigs. What service are you using? If you're using the IMG code, it should work fine. Go ahead and put them in a post, publish it, and if it's not working, I'll see if I can go in and find out why and fix it and let you know (There are occasional problems people report about using preview first. How about skipping that and going straight to publish - and we'll see if that works?)