Howard locked the other thread before I could get my $.02 in. I hope this thread doesn't start a problem.
I just wanted to express our thanks to H&L for all they do with this site. Connie found this site 2 years ago while researching ways to retire. We have lived the last 30 years as 20 somethings and as a result are not set up to retire in the lap of luxury.
Howard has shown us that it can be done on a limited budget and we now have a plan that puts on a path for retirement next year.
We met them at the Kerrville Rally last year. Upon arrival we found that our truck had a serious mechanical problem. The first day of the rally was started by having our truck towed to a Ford dealership 50 miles away. Linda immediately offered the use of their Jeep if we needed to go anywhere. She had not even known us for 24 hours at the time.
The rally was a great experience. We learned a lot and made new friends that we hope to see again when we're on the road.
Our truck was not ready at the end of the rally so we had to stay an extra couple of days. I fully expected to have to get an expensive taxi ride to get the truck. Howard & Linda insisted we take their Jeep to pick it up. That's the kind of people they are. They care about their RV Dreams family.
So, THANK YOU HOWARD & LINDA!! I hope the chip-in system works and you get to keep traveling and telling us about it.
P.S. Howard the extra $.25 was to make the total an even dollar amount. I hate change.
picolina said
10:53 AM Oct 16, 2010
I too wanted to put my 2 cents. And the fact that I like Howard and Linda is the reason I want to say this. I am so worried for them after this decision...let me explain. The best part of the RV life is the freedom. When you get to a camping, you meet new friends, they dont know anything about you, so the dont judge. You just talk about camping things, how you love that life, have a great meal together, hug and hit the road to a new wonderfull place. So, this is what I like to most of the life, its easy and pleasant, no stress.
Now, for Howard and Linda, everybody knows about them. Here, in quebec we campers know them to, we talk about them on our french forums. I guess everybody in our large camping familly across north america knows them!
Now, that can be good, or that can be bad...
Imagine them in a camping where some campers dont approve, well it can be unpleasant and they could feel rejected. Then the ones who approve and always talk about the same thing, we approve blablabla...then to the next camping, the same...the conversation is always the same, we approve or we dont...
Then comes the day where they decide to workcamp again. Will they be judged by the camping owners as people that dont like to work? I wont hire them, they hate working!
So, what I am saying is that I sure hope they realise that they will have to live with that reality.
Good luck my friends, sure hope things go like you want...I am kind of sad about it.
Racerguy said
11:20 AM Oct 16, 2010
Picolina, Howard and Linda will be fine.They are good people and smart people and will move forward just like they did when they started this lifestyle a few years ago.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Saturday 16th of October 2010 11:22:04 AM
-- Edited by Racerguy on Saturday 16th of October 2010 08:36:47 PM
Penny and Paul said
11:30 AM Oct 18, 2010
Let's see, I currently pay to use three (on one of them, a LOT, and I'm the site Admin) Jeep/ off-road websites, three fishing sites, two RV sites/ clubs, a consumer review site, two photo hosting sites, yada yada yada.
As a site admin/ webmaster I pay the bills, contributed by those who choose to pay, so I know what running a site costs. I also know how many hours need to be spent doing maintenance, managing updates, bandwidth, storage/ space and databases, moderating forums, writing code, (that I don't even really know how to do), doing backups, keeping content current and interesting, etc. And THAT is all before being a contributor, and taking part in our activities and community. I work full time so this all takes place on evenings and weekends. The work doesn't end, and every year the cost goes up.
Our little site get's about 2% of the traffic this one sees and has a lot less content. We have no chat room, blog space, and our photo hosting is laughable. It's a labor of love and Penny and I both have good jobs to support us. When we go full-time, we will no longer have the income those jobs provide and plan to support ourselves in other ways. Howard and Linda own RV-Dreams. That IS their job, so to speak. It is a business and they have a product to offer in the form of a service. And while there are many products offered on the net, this is the one that many of us find pleasing.
I believe that all that our host's are asking is to pay for their product if you find it valuable. The fact that the product revolves around a lifestyle is irrelevant. Oprah gets paid, Martha Stewart gets paid, Rachel Ray gets paid. They are lifestyle consultants and rely on advertisers to generate revenue. Imagine if Martha Stewart had to get a job in addition to providing her "product". Poof! Gone! In RV-Dreams case, there isn't much advertising potential to be had, so it becomes more like listener supported radio or television.
You're not being asked to support anyONE, you're being given a choice to support someTHING. If that thing is of value to you, contribute if you can. If you cannot, or don't see the value in contributing, don't.
rjenkins said
01:10 PM Oct 18, 2010
Well said and just to 'chip-in' another two cents (sorry I couldn't help it!) I would ask a question to those that were offended by the voluntary contribution if they are also offended paying a subscription to a travel magazine knowing that part of that subscription fee is to pay people to travel and report their findings? I would think not. Then this is no different.
There is a value in what is being reported and it is work, just as much as someone that reports in travel magazines so no one should have any issues with it.
Thank you H&L for the valuable service you provide...
Downunda said
07:49 PM Oct 18, 2010
Howard and Linda, please don't give up or be dissuaded by a few negative comments. For the life of me I can't understand why someone would paste a negative comment in regard to the discussion relating to Chip-in.
If a forum reader/member doesn't agree with this approach they can still have access to everything your journal and forum offers, however there's no need for them to be vocal about it.
You have both provided so much insight, learning, knowledge and humour for us it would be hard to put a value on it... and its all free. Your warmth and passion for the RV lifestyle, people, nature and travel comes through every time you post a journal entry.
Myself, having managed a website in the past and recently doing a blog of a short RV trip I understand the massive amount of time and work that is required to create and maintain a website of this breadth and quality. Perhaps some people think it all happens by magic and only takes just thirty minutes a day!
-- Edited by Downunda on Monday 18th of October 2010 11:52:11 PM
-- Edited by Downunda on Monday 18th of October 2010 11:53:16 PM
J Riechman said
08:25 PM Oct 18, 2010
Well, I am very new to this forum and it looks like I may have came in at a difficult time--I don't mind. I have found so much information and knowledge here that I will have no problem chipping in when I can find the extra money. I really don't see it as supporting a lifestyle/ I understand that websites can be expensive to develope and maintain, and they must be monitored and tweaked constantly.
Thank you Howard and Linda for taking the time and expense to build this site.
Please excuse any mistakes in this post. I had cataract surgery today and can'ta see a blooming thing. LOL
crouton said
10:03 PM Oct 19, 2010
I'm another one wanting to say Thank You and I will also chip in soon. I do know that websites can be expensive and they take a lot of work and time. I really appreciate that you do this all for free.
For those who may not know, Workamper News has a "dreamer" site - for a subscription. So they know the value of getting the dreamers into their system and to keep them they offer a year of Workamper News for free with a dreamer subscription. Since most people who want workamping jobs will eventually subscribe to the site or the newsletter, I will probably subscribe eventually. But I'm very glad that since we are still 4-5 years out that Howard and Linda offer this Dreamer's website for free.
I have enjoyed all the information so far, even the workamping posts, because I do want to know what it's REALLY like and not have it glossed over. And, like Howard has said, this is life, not a vacation. Whether you live in your RV in some beautiful state or national park or live in a sticks and bricks on a cul de sac, sometimes you have days where you don't really do anything. Or you clean your house or do laundry or balance your checkbook. That's all part of life and the RV life is what I want to hear about.
Christina in Alabama
I just wanted to express our thanks to H&L for all they do with this site. Connie found this site 2 years ago while researching ways to retire. We have lived the last 30 years as 20 somethings and as a result are not set up to retire in the lap of luxury.
Howard has shown us that it can be done on a limited budget and we now have a plan that puts on a path for retirement next year.
We met them at the Kerrville Rally last year. Upon arrival we found that our truck had a serious mechanical problem. The first day of the rally was started by having our truck towed to a Ford dealership 50 miles away. Linda immediately offered the use of their Jeep if we needed to go anywhere. She had not even known us for 24 hours at the time.
The rally was a great experience. We learned a lot and made new friends that we hope to see again when we're on the road.
Our truck was not ready at the end of the rally so we had to stay an extra couple of days. I fully expected to have to get an expensive taxi ride to get the truck. Howard & Linda insisted we take their Jeep to pick it up. That's the kind of people they are. They care about their RV Dreams family.
So, THANK YOU HOWARD & LINDA!! I hope the chip-in system works and you get to keep traveling and telling us about it.
P.S. Howard the extra $.25 was to make the total an even dollar amount. I hate change.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Saturday 16th of October 2010 11:22:04 AM
-- Edited by Racerguy on Saturday 16th of October 2010 08:36:47 PM
If a forum reader/member doesn't agree with this approach they can still have access to everything your journal and forum offers, however there's no need for them to be vocal about it.
You have both provided so much insight, learning, knowledge and humour for us it would be hard to put a value on it... and its all free.
Your warmth and passion for the RV lifestyle, people, nature and travel comes through every time you post a journal entry.
Myself, having managed a website in the past and recently doing a blog of a short RV trip I understand the massive amount of time and work that is required to create and maintain a website of this breadth and quality.
Perhaps some people think it all happens by magic and only takes just thirty minutes a day!
-- Edited by Downunda on Monday 18th of October 2010 11:52:11 PM
-- Edited by Downunda on Monday 18th of October 2010 11:53:16 PM