Full Time RV Living–This Is What My Life Has Come To

This is not a complaint at all. . .it’s just that it’s sort of fall/winter in Texas. . .you know ~ the leaves are kinda falling. . .but we don’t have the overwhelming, magnificent fall colors of other places.  It’s still pretty. . .but everything has slowed down. . .

Full Time RV Maintenance and Dreary, Drippy Weather

Ughhh. . .I’m pretty sure the weather system we were expecting on Sunday pretty much caught up with us last night and today. . .a wee bit cool. . .but mostly just gray and dreary. . .a very good day to stay inside and do nothing. . .

Full Time RV Travel–Fort Parker State Park is ALL THAT. . .and more!

awwww. . .Debi and Ed had to pack up and go home yesterday. . .too bad! 

We sure did enjoy their visit. . .and all the great eats. . .Debi cooked us breakfast and dinner. . .

now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. . .

We packed up bright and early this morning. . .(read 8:30. . .hello!)

to try and beat a severe storm system predicted for Central Texas. . .

I guess our plan worked. . .we arrived and got all set up in this

beautiful volunteer spot at Fort Parker State Park – Mexia TX. . .

seriously. . .this is why we do it. . .

we could never afford this view for two months. . .

We will have lots, and lots more to show you. . .

Janice

Full Time RV Travel–Texas Does So Have Fall Colors. . .

even if it is just silly old chinaberry trees. . .it still counts. . .right?  LOL. . .I rode my bike about a mile down the road from the park, just to photograph this patch. . .gotta have proof!

Our RV friends Ed and Debi brought their beautiful, new to them coach over to the Thousand Trails Park to spend a few days. . .everyone is sitting around having homemade pumpkin pie with praline topping, created by Judy  and Jerry. . .delicious. . .and coconut cream pie. . .created by Marie Callendar.  . . .the pie stuffing is going on after we’d already all had grilled burgers and fries. . .uggghhhhh. . .I need to go on another bike ride!

Dave and I have accepted a volunteer assignment at Fort Parker State Park. . .so we will be headed that direction soon. . .probably Sunday.  Looking forward to volunteering with fellow Workampers, Judy and Dick whom we met in Colorado. . .more about that later. . .see you down the road.

Janice

Full Time RV Living–Life Goes On

Moving right along. . .this week has already flown by.

Dave taught at A&M Fire School for two days. . .arrived home Thursday evening.

I worked on projects. . .I always have a project. . .always!

Full Time RV Living–Planning for the Adventure–What Advice Can You Add?

We are just beginning to plan for the FT RV adventure. My husband is retired, I have my own biz at home, so its the perfect scenario to take on the road and see the country. We are both in good health and have some debt but nothing we couldn't pay off before we hit the road. We live in Delaware and own our home, so our main concern is how quickly we could sell our home in this market. We plan to purchase a Class A & tow vehicle, but only after we sell the house & both vehicles. In your opinion is 12-18 months enough time to accomplish this? We'd prefer 12 months but we know its in God's timing. Do you have suggestions for a home base state, and how you plan your route to see the country in seasons? Any other advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are excited about this but at the same time, its a totally different life and a bit scary too.

I always appreciate and love receiving notes from those just starting out. . .

or just beginning to research the lifestyle. . .there are so many variables. . .

and I still remember that feeling of the unknown. . .

Being a planner, and somewhat OCD (what? you admit it. . .my hubby says)

not knowing how to plan or what to expect was a little on the edge for me. . .

so I know exactly what this writer is asking. . .I will address each issue as stated:

DEBT – I am happy to see that you plan to start the RV life debt free. . .that is very wise!

I know folks say how much cheaper RV’ing is. . .and how you can save so much money!

HA. . .it’s still life. . .so while you don’t have all the normal expenses of maintaining a household. . .

there are still numerous expenses. . .you still gotta eat. . .pay insurance. . .cell phone bills. . .

then there’s the fuel costs that continue to go up. . .in fact, I write about all of this and outline

these various budget items in this article about fuel costs.

We recently met a couple who were just sitting in the RV parks, not doing any day trips,

or seeing any of the local scenes. . .they said they couldn’t afford the fuel. . .but,

they had a new, high dollar fifth wheel. . .and a new customized truck. . .

I am sure they are making hefty payments on both. . .which is their choice and is great

if that is what makes them happy and floats their boat. . .however, I was just thinking to myself

that I would rather have our 10 year old rig, and our 11 year old truck, and keep that $1000

per month in my pocket to pay for enjoying the lifestyle. . .so point being. . .

starting out debt free puts you way ahead of the game. . .

Also, calculating projected expenses ahead of time, to the best of your ability,

will allow you to make sure you will have enough money coming in. . .

and make the needed adjustments.  We determined we would like a $500 per month

cushion, so had our financial advisor make those adjustments to our monthly income.

TIME FRAME – as stated, your projected 12 – 18 month window is just that. . .projected.

I know we all want to get in a hurry, and make things happen. . .

but we usually make a mess of things. . .or at least that’s what we usually experience. . .

so while it’s good to have a projected time frame. . .just go with the flow,

and allow the magic to happen. . .and happen it will!

HOME BASE STATE – The Escapees RV Club addresses this issue better than I ever could. . .

so I will defer you to them. . . they offer an information packet on their website,

which will answer many of your questions.  We were fortunate to already be Texans,

which is where the Escapees Club is based, so we just stayed with Texas and Livingston as

our domicile. . .but I know lots of folks prefer South Dakota. . .

PLANNING YOUR ROUTE – to me, the most important aspect of planning your route,

and the thing you will hear over and over from those who’ve been doing this a lot longer

than we have is. . TAKE YOUR TIME. . .SLOW DOWN. . .you’re not on vacation. . .

you can’t play tourist every day. . .believe me. . .as we quickly learned. . .this is all true!

Our first trip out was supposed to last three months. . .we would do a loop out to the

Grand Canyon, circle up to Four Corners and Western Colorado, then back down through

Santa Fe NM, and back to Texas in time for the holidays. . .ha! 

In half that time. . .six short weeks later. . .we were done. . .we had seen and done everything

on our list. . . and we were exhausted. . .worn out.  That was the end of traveling like that. . .

we learned our lesson right away. . .now, we figure out where we want to be, and what we want to see. . .

and we stay awhile. . .and spread out the pleasure over a couple of weeks.  If it’s a really pricey,

high dollar, high cost tourist area, we even make plans to volunteer for the time we want to be there.

This usually allows us to get our RV space for free, or at a greatly reduced rate.

Case in point. . .we wanted to spend last summer in the high dollar Estes Park Colorado area. . .

$1200 per month for an RV site. . .which does NOT fit into the budget.  We wanted to stay several,

at least three months and see absolutely everything there was to see in the area. . .

we wanted to explore every inch of Rocky Mountain National Park while we were there. . .

because once we’ve been there, the plan is to not return anytime soon. . .

there’s a whole, huge country to see out there. . .so we volunteered 24 hours per week with the County,

and got our RV space for free. . .a beautiful RV space overlooking the snow covered Rocky Mountains!

MOST OF ALL -  enjoy the ride. . .it’s a great life!

We hope you’ll sign up to follow our blog, either by becoming a Google Member,

or by entering your email address in the right hand side of the blog. . .and please. . .

keep the questions coming. . .love it!

Janice

Full Time RV Travel - One Last Day of Living On the Water

We spent almost all of Monday on errands, leaving the rig before lunch, 

and not returning until almost dark. . .

I felt like I had been around the world. . .and not in a good way! 

Picked up our favorite boudain at a meat market in Jasper that specializes in DJ’s Boudain. . .

it is the best I have ever tasted. . .

so if you ever see it available anywhere. . .be sure to try it. . .delicious!

Went for our annual physicals. . .which always seem to take FOREVER. . .what is up with that?  

Spending three hours in the doctor’s office is not my idea of fun. . .at all! ! !

Needless to say, I didn’t get a bike ride in. . .or get to take any new pics. . .

so I will leave you with a few of my very favorite views of the Cypress Swamp. . .

taken from inside the RV looking out the back window

Love that you hardly tell where the tree ends and the water begins. . .

and the fog just adds to the overall ambience. . .

Later in the day. . .from our campsite

and it wouldn't be a swamp without spanish moss. . .now would it?

these guys put in at the boat dock bright and early. . .Dave was doing the deliverance theme. . .

although I’m almost certain the guys in Deliverance were in canoes. . .weren’t they?

I hope you’ve enjoyed our pictures of the swamp as much as we’ve enjoyed being there. . .

bright and early this morning, we set off for the Thousand Trails Park in Conroe. . .

Dave is teaching a class in College Station, so will be gone most of the week. . .

it’s going to be very quiet around here. . .probably not much to report on!

We may volunteer at one of the State Parks in the area. . .waiting to hear back from them. . .

other than that. . .just regular life in the RV. . .

Til next time,

Janice

For more great swamp stories, check out Travels With Emma