Hello everyone, I was laid off two months ago from a job that I loved and find myself trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

Just in the past few years, I've realized how much I love to travel and feel I've become totally hooked on loading up my car (VW New Beetle) and zooming away for a few days.  I guess you could say I live to travel, which I'm sure you can all identify with  : )

I know my friends will think I'm totally insane if I tell them I'm seriously considering storing all my belongings and buying an RV for full-timing, but that's what I may do.  I live alone (happily single) and am wondering if that will be a real problem for me re physical strength needed for motorhome (my health is quite good), and also finding a job, because I think couples may be more in demand....I'm hoping to find some answers here.

Best, Roberta 

I'll see if I can get the Brideandjoy to give you a better run down but the short answer is being a Single Woman isn't going to stop you from enjoying your RV.

I've been two weeks at a customer site on the far side of the country from the Fiver and wife.  She's moved it three times now backing into two campground sites (with minimal help). 

Setup and tore down and drove it a few hundred miles while I'm away. 

Now she did take an RV driving course to up her confidence levels and helped me with some of the "outside" jobs I normally do.  So she didn't just dive right in.

But she's having no issues with a 34 foot fifth wheel and an F350 cab and chassis.

Mallo

Thank you Mallo! I just looked at some RVs at a lot here in San Jose. I'm thinking I should get a Class A....now I'm wondering if I can support myself by working at RV camps, since I won't have a retirement account or 401K to help me along. I think I'll post something in the appropriate forum. : ) Roberta

Thanks Jim! Now I'm wondering: my best friend (who doesn't think I'm nuts) did suggest that I rent an RV before I decide to do this - I'm thinking that's probably a good idea. All I know is that I don't want to continue what I've been doing for the past 20 years....do other newbies rent RVs to get the experience before buying?

I think you have a wise friend. Renting is a great way to find out if RV'ing is for you. Try to take a 2 week trip with the rental so you get a good idea of what it will be like once you get going. Take your computer with you so you can come back here and ask questions while on your trip.

We thought about renting but instead just jumped in the more we talked and planned the more right it all felt.

That said we were 18 months from saying lets get a travel trailer to buying a fifth wheel.

We went to a lot of RV shows and a lot of dealers and even went and toured five of the factories in Elkhart one week.

The problem we had or I had with renting was the same as the problem with buying a small travel trailer we didn't want to get into the wrong rig and not like it because of reasons that had nothing to do with how the experience would be with the right rig.

Course that ment talking through how we planned to sleep, work, play, get sick in, all the little things that make up life at home.  So that when we bought the transition to feeling like the fiver was home was weeks, or days depending on which of us you talk to.

Mallo

Thanks all.

I've been checking out renting an RV and finally decided not to do it, because of the reasons Mallo went into.  It won't be the same as having my own rig - if anything it will be very different, so to me it won't be like the "real" experience....also renting an RV is - at least for me - prohibitively expensive (~$1000/week! ), as I am unemployed right now. 

Thanks again, Roberta 

-- Edited by rheadabovewater on Friday 5th of June 2009 09:02:52 PM

I have to chime in to add to what Mallo said (as the person with the fifthwheel and the cats while he's on the other side of the country.) I think really researching your RV choices is a substitute for renting, but you have to take your time. I tell people the best thing that happened to us is that we couldn't afford to buy right away. What we would have bought then is very different than what we winded up with as we started to really think through some of the ways we like to do things. Go, sit in the rv(s) you're considering. Picture how you'd go through your day to day routines. Imagine what it would be like to be rained in for a week, where you'd put hobby supplies, your computer, whatever is important to you. I also have to highly recommend an RV driving class. We stopped in Palmdale and I took the two day course from the Dick Reed's RV driving school instructor there. It has made all the difference with how comfortable and safe I am towing. Worth every penny. It's interesting, there's a lot of help at the campgrounds, even if you don't necessarily need it. The campground I am in now changed my site (at no charge) to one that is easier to get in and out of because I am solo. And the site guide was very solicitous. Now this does mean that you do need to assert yourself. I was mostly parked and he wanted me to back up a bit to move over in the site. I shut down the truck, and he said don't shut it off! And I told him that I understood we weren't done getting set in the site but I wanted to see for myself what he wanted me to do. And got out and walked the site so we both understood what the plan was. There are a couple of organizations for women RVing solo, I can't remember specifics but I am sure a quick search will turn them up or someone here will know. Hope this helps!

Welcome Roberta!
Best wishes with your decisions and timing! We, too had been encouraged to rent and found the same prohibitive cost. Plus, we've shared some winding roads with quite a few of the rentals and can attest that many are not driven well! I'd really check carefully into the roadside assistance offered with the rental!

Love your blog!
Linda

-- Edited by retread on Saturday 6th of June 2009 09:40:25 AM

Thanks Linda! :D

I still encourage renting if it's possible. The one thing most people lack is experience. I really think people need the experience so when they go shopping they "know" what to be looking for in a rig. To the un-trained eye all rigs look great at the dealership or RV show. To "see" the differences between rigs takes a trained eye, and that comes with experience. FWIW, I assumed you didn't have any prior experience with RV's hence my recommendation to rent.

Dan, you guessed correct - I have no experience :D

Just my 2cents worth, but I saw an ad the other day on Craigs list . A guy had a 5th wheel  for rent for $50/night. The pics looked nice and he will haul and set it up anywhere within a certain mile radius.  We are probably going to take him up on that and spend at least a long weekend  in it so we will know what to look for in our own rig.  It is a little cheaper than going thru the rental companies. 
Maybe there are others doing this too.
Our budget is even tighter than yours but we will not have any debt and will not have any trailer payments.
Good luck! Hope to see you out there soon!

Thank you! Yes, I'm looking on CL - the cheapest I've found is a man who is renting his Class A for $150/night, but you have to rent it for four nights, which is really impractical for me. I'd like one for two or three nights, which will be more than enough time for me to decide....