Newby from the Northwest

[joyontheroad]

Greetings from Central Washington! I am 64, single and just starting this 'potential' new life of RVing. I am stil in the preliminary stage of this venture as I'm still shopping for a C-or B class rig with good gas mileage yet with the feel of home which will include a double bed in the back, a guest/eating area just behind the front cab area, a bed over cab for guests or my critters. So far my ideal floor plan is a nice bed "room" in the back with the toilet/shower next to it in the other back corner, a kitchen area across from an eating/visiting area just behind the driver's seat, along with an awning, a generator, and A/C are "must haves". Since I will be boondocking it for the most part, the last three are critical. I've looked at several without the last three and called a local dealer to price adding these on after the purchase and the cost is just exorbidant!

As a highly focused person with lots of free time, I have shopped relentlessly for "my home away from home". I have scoured (and continue to do so) the web looking for "how to" articles as well as purchased around $100 in "how to books" (used prices) from "how to buy a used motorhome" to maintaining it, RVing with pets, How to Drive an RV, etc., How to Repair, even a (very cool) book by a single lady who RV'd alone for some time, etc. I shop on the web mostly - from eBay to Craigslist and RVtraderonline, etc., since we only have one small RV dealer in this area with very high prices so the Web is a fabulous shopping mall for me.

Recent history of my new life: I've been on my own most of my life with two brief marriages. I raised two daughters alone with no assistance from their dads and so have a solitary life with pets and lots of friends. I became disabled with Fibromyalgia (after being diagnosed 11 years previous) so retired early (age 61) on a small income in April 2007. I decided to move to the sunny part of Washington State after spending my life living along the I-5 corridor (everett, marysville, seattle, etc.) under 75%+ year-round grey skies, frequent rain, moldiness, not to mention the increasing nightmare of traffic, as well as the more recent (last 5-7 years) dramatic crime rate increases, even into the previously pristene rural areas and small towns (thanks, I think, to increased drugs and gangs). I chose Wenatchee since its sunny here approximately 300 days a year and even on overcast days the 'ceiling' is so much higher that one doesn't feel trapped in cold, gray fog! and the drive is just two and a half hours. The town is small but big enough for a Costco and a Walmart and yet small enough for people to be friendly and down to earth and way less crime. The drive is gorgeous on Hiway 2, really breathtaking.

I started in 2008 problem solving where to hang my hat when visiting my family or friends on the other side which started by looking at small mobile homes in that area, then private campsites with the idea of buying a park model trailer... But all of those presented costs, logistics and fees I couldn't realistically afford. Then in January, my problem of asking people to put me up after crossing the Cascade mountains from Wenatchee, WA to Everett, WA, took on a new urgency when a new, unexpected but highly desired, Grandson was born 1/12/10. All my other Gee-Kids were teen agers when I moved here and we had already established a strong bond and facebook it. But the new grandson posed a real challenge as my daughter's home was now unavailable for me to be able to sleep on their couch (my daughter's 'new bed' as she is up nights nursing the 'every 2-hours' hungry baby.

Once I finally ruled out the expensive cost of a small mobile with monthly space fees, or a 'cost-ineffective' private RV park 'home' limited to six months a year stay, I came upon the "brilliant" idea of possibly buying a motorhome which would afford me the same things but with a lot more freedom including the abilty to escape the blistering heat here (85-100) during the summer months whether visiting my kids or rockhounding or fishing or just being in nature boondocking it. Since I am surrounded by mountains and gorgeous wilderness areas in every direction this idea just felt SO right! Since I own my home here free and clear and have nearly perfect credit score, borrowing a lot of money I found was no problem - but to be able to afford the payments, upkeep, any repair issues, insurance, and gas, I decided to keep the price under $10,000. I have seen hundreds for under $10k so my only issue will be finding one in good condition, without hidden problems.

So that's about it. I welcome any feedback from anyone who wishes to chime in with advice or cool ideas, insights, etc.. I plan to make my purchase around the first of June so am still researching important facts prior to any purchase so I can make an educated decision when everything lines up for the big buy.

I'm happy to be here and look forward to making some new friends along the way. I hope to soon be an "Official" RVWoman soon!
Thanks everyone,
Joy in Wenatchee

[BarbaraRose]

Welcome Joy! There are a lot of ladies on here that live near you up in that corner of the country! Sounds like you know exactly what you are looking for. I don't have an RV yet either and it will be awhile before I can afford one, so I just enjoy the "ride" with everyone else on here. The gals here are very helpful and knowledgable so feel free to ask lots of questions! A good sense of humor is a must, also! Do you have critters? We love to see pictures of each others pets, if so.
Good luck in your RV search!

[Liz]

Welcome to the forum, Joy. Glad you joined us. I'll be anxious to hear about your RV find. My only advice would be patience in looking.

[Bethers]

Welcome! I don't think those 3 musts would be hard to find - very surprised you are seeing many without air or the awning - although I lost my awning the 1st year out and have never replaced it. I've not found it to be very important to me (thought it would be). Air and a generator are - and finding rigs without generators is more likely - but not on C's much - more so on the B's.

My layout is almost exactly what you're looking for in a very small Class C - and I love it - have been in it full time for 5 years now (well, will be 5 years very, very shortly). The only thing my next rig must have that this doesn't - is a higher weight limit for towing, etc. Otherwise, this one is perfect for me. Took me about 6 months of looking all across the country at rv for sale (used) ads to find this one about 300 or so miles from where I was. First time I stepped in her, I knew we were meant to be. I wish for you that same moment - and that it comes to be quickly for you!

[Colliemom]

Hi Joy,

Welcome. Boy, your thread sounds just like me. I too am single and gong on 61. Never been married, so no kids. LIve alone with two dogs, at the moment 3 , cause I'm housing one for a breeder friend.
I'm in the search for a motorhome too. Either a B that has slide or a C with slide. Maybe 22-24 ft. Have some idea of floorplan. Also been toying with a travel trailer, but now sure I want to tow. LIke you, I don't have a lot of cash to play with either, but I would like to stay with an at least no more than 10 yer old rig if I can. Plan to do some traveling and also just overnights here once in awhile. I'm a seasonal worker at a State Park near me, so I don't have a lot of time to go out and about ovenights in summer, but I want to be able to get up and go when I do. A lot of the gals on this site and folks on RV Net have suggested that I try to stay within that 10 yer old category. But like you, I only have one dealer here and they don't have much. There are a couple of biggers ones including a Camping World about 50 miles from me, in two different directions. I"ve been doing a lot of looking also, on the web, RV Trader, dealers etc., but now that I am back to work, I don't hav eas much time to run around to dealers anymore. So patience is the name of the game. I"ll be ilnterested in seeing how you make out as time goes on and of your adventures. Happy hunting.

[retiredhappy]

Hi and welcome, Joy. I'll join the others - be patient and "your" rig will find you. I fulltime in a 30' Class C with three dogs. I grew up in the Burien area near Seattle but moved to sunny California in the early 60's. Please keep us posted on your rig shopping. If you're going to stay in the $10,000 range be sure to have it THOROUGHLY checked out before you buy as at that price, its going to be an older rig.

[Getupngo]

Gee joyontheroad, I don't think you gave us enough information for us to give feedback.

Welcome to our forum. We have a lot of fun here and offer each other support and advice (solicited and not!). I like this forum because it's really active (on line and off) and has a lot of members ... some of whom post every day and others when they can get a wifi signal (or stop having fun long enough to remember we're here!).

[avalen]

Welcome

[VickieP]

Welcome Joy! Looks like you have a strong sense of what you are looking for and I'm sure you will find the perfect rv for you. Post often and learn to post pics of your critters too. We're a big family and we have plenty of room for you in here.

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome aboard.....

[joyontheroad]

Wow! Thank you everybody for your warm welcomes! I feel very welcome, so thank you a lot. I just figured out that since I hadn't gotten an email notice that someone had replied (like yahoo lists and facebook) that maybe any responses just stayed out here on the web! : ) Doi! only took me a few hours.

Very funny Ms getupngo! I do like to be thorough! LOL!

I'm so happy to find others who are still searching and in the meantime armchair RVing and loving it and for those who could relate to me!!

Also thanks to you all who have already offered me your ideas and experience, I really appreciate it.

More tomorrow -past my bedtime, just had to respond!

[Cedar518]

Welcome Joy!

I'm waving "hello" from the other side of the country here in far northern NY, the Adirondack Mountains!

So glad that you found this group.

[Nasoosie]

WELCOME, Joy! How nice to read such an informative intro! I can't wait to meet you somewhere down the road. I am retiring from teaching this June, so I will then be free to take to the roads once again!

[Carolinagal]

WELCOME !!! I love your choice of a name. There is so much JOY to be on the road. So glad you have joined us. Really a great bunch of ladies and if you ever have a chance to go to a GTG, do it. I too, as Beth, have the layout you have described. Beth has a slideout, plus more cabinets. (I really like hers a wee better then mine). Hers is also newer. mine is a '94, but we bought new and I have kept it maintained. Be real careful buying older, have a mechanic check it over good for you. You could end up with a huge repair bill, that might make you wish you had paid a little more and gotten some years newer. There are some out there, older and still going good, have patience, yours is waiting somewhere for you Newer doesn't mean, no repair bills either, so have it checked out good, by someone you trust and has the knowledge.

So glad you have joined us, chime in wherever you like, we really do like to hear everyones views on different topics. We have a couple of people on here that are guaranteed to boost your spirits , if you should ever need it and have time to get on here and just browse, you'll find them somewhere cutting up. I can't name names, I hope to go to the Arkansas GTG and I plan to have a good time in spite of them

Safe and Happy travels,
CArol

[mtngal]

Hi Joy! welcome! We are getting quite a group in the PNW. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures too!