What Was It Like The Very First Day?

[linann]

Inspring thread. My first "all by myself" trip with the travel trailer is coming up in two weeks. Just a three hour drive and I'll be meeting up with my Good Sams club. However, it will be the first time I've done it all myself the entire trip. I am really looking forward to this -- both excited and a little anxious. I really don't like long drives and three hours is long for me.

We bought the TT a year ago and it has certainly been a year of learning. Everything is confusing at first. Figuring out how to hook and unhook the hitch safely; changing lanes (especially moving right); using the new brakes; lighting the stove; putting out the awning; the dump; adding water; how to use the entertainment system; and figuring out where to buy those special trailer light bulbs. There have been disasters along the way. Something jammed behind the bed when shutting the slide; not closing the roof vent/fan properly so it rained in on my bed; blowing fuses; forgetting to pull in the slide after lunch in a rest stop; things falling out of the refrigerator because I did not properly shut the door; and learning to empty the medicine chest before driving because everything will fall out if I don't. Freaking over what we thought was an electrical wiring problem, but turned out to simply be a burned out light bulb. We almost replaced the toilet before figuring out the reason it wasn't working right is we had to turn on the water pump. Yes, it took six months to figure that one out. At least I knew about the foot pedal on the toilet. My sister always knows mechanical stuff and couldn't figure that one out.

Reading all this makes me realize how much I have learned the past year. And, no matter what I have come to realize that little things will happen. I just have to be careful, stay calm and everything will work out.

[Roadweaver]

This is more than an inspiring thread for me. I am so happy that my daughter started it. I know that the reason she did was for me to hear from others that it would be okay.
I find myself reading the different post over and over again to assure myself that my 40 year dream is possible and that I have an entire community of wonderful women out there that will wipe my tears when I am frustrated and begin to get doubts along the way, showing me that I can fix it and rejoice with me when I am happy and things are going right. Someday, I hope to be able to reach out to another newbie and have them read this thread to see that they are not alone and most roadblocks will be overcome, they just have to hang in there.

I hope to thank all of you in person next year along the road. Just have to get this WORK thing out of the way.

[Echo]

I find myself reading the different post over and over again to assure myself that my 40 year dream is possible and that I have an entire community of wonderful women out there that will wipe my tears when I am frustrated and begin to get doubts along the way,

Oh my goodness Louise!!! You had best understand that also while they are helping to wipe your tears that for the most part we will be choking on holding back a monster belly laugh!!! But not to worry much. While we are laughing at you? We will be laughing with you and chuckling, remembering all of our own past screw ups. Because more than likely we probably have experienced the same screw up that you will be having!!!

I have, for a very long time thought that was the mark of good friendship. The ability to combine laughing at someone's goof while laughing with them.

[MsBHaven]

I was 3 years old when I began weekend camping with my parents so I've been at this RV business a long time. In 2009 my husband and I sold our home and everything we owned and became full-timers. Although we had already traveled for 5 years on weekends and long vacations, becoming full-timers was quite a change. But...I still remember as we pulled out of the sub-division for the last time and Roger honking the air horn as we began our new adventure. I wasn't scared at all, just excited, and never missed the house we sold. Prior to our full-timing adventure I had a 22 foot Class B that I drove alone from TN to FL several times and a trip to Wyoming alone (well, the dog was with me). Not once was I afraid. I stayed overnight in RV parks, Walmart, and truck stops - and loved every minute of it. What an RV adventure we've had and it's about to change again. We decided not to full-time anymore and will sell our 4-slide 40-footer and downsize to a Class B with 1 slide. We've bought a double-wide park model and will soon begin another RV adventure in a small MH so we can visit State Parks and back roads much easier. I can hardly wait!

[sistert]

I just wanted to thank you all for your fabulous posts to this question. Whenever mom wonders if she's made the right decision, I hope she'll look back on this thread and get re-motivated. I know I will!

TeAntae