Two things I have learned so far! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Two things I have learned so far!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Doris and Dave,

Regarding number 1, try photography. With that one can just walk around taking pictures of the most trivial things. I took a picture of a small cactus one time in SW Kansas. It wasn't until after I pulled it up on a computer that I noticed the ant on the flower.

Speaking of ants, give him a hammer and have him go hunting. (Hee, hee.)

Other than the few new lessons, how are you liking the new life?

Terry

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

DorisandDave wrote:
DH has GOT TO get a hobby! He has been very active in his jobs over the years and it is a big learning curve to have NOTHING to do on some days. I am sure it will get better as he learns new things to occupy his time.

Kinda like me.

It's been a difficult learning curve but, if I put my mind to it and NOT concentrate on a job as I did in the past, I can find things to do that satisfy me personally.

#1 is being with my wife.

#2 is anything else that deals with being outdoors ... walking, cycling, geocaching, fishing, market shopping (yup, we need groceries), and just strolling down a stream in the early evening.

Yes, I also need a job to keep that type of lifestyle going and have not found it yet but ... still looking and will enjoy myself, and my wife, until I get a little more income to keep us going ... on the open road!

Paul

BruceandTrisha · RV-Dreams Family Member

Two things I have learned about living full time in our camper, but really, it works no matter your lifestyle:

1. Be Happy Now: it's easier to go with the flow than to get all knotted up with stress over something that happens. There will be days when things don't go as planned . . . those are the days I usually learn something if I don't use all my energy to fret and complain.

2. Organized Living is Key: Space is limited, at least it is for us . . . so everything has its place. That's been the fun part - learning how and where to put stuff . . . and remembering that it needs to be put back when you are done. And, if you haven't used it for months, let it go to free up the space for something you really use.

People remark all the time how they could never live in close quarters with their spouse. We tell them that we are joined at the hip - and we love being together - whether it's working on our business with our laptops side by side, walking down by the river, or snuggled up with a movie on a rainy day.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

Still pretty new to all of this but I have learned a LOT of things. Since you asked for two I will give you the first two that come to mind.

1. Never say NEVER! I don't think I really believed we could actually dump everything and live on the road until the day it happened! I always said I am not much of a driver and never would drive any any big city. Wrong again as I drive the tow pickup(for now) Amazes me the things I really can and will do. lol

2. I also learned early on to not get to wrapped up in trying to plan this life. Things don't always go like you think they will. They didn't really in our stix and brix life either if I really think about it. I prefer to think of some of the snags as part of the adventure.

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone for your answers. I think part of the problem is we decided to stay in one area too long....cheaper to pay for a month!

We will be heading out of here a week from friday and heading north to just west of Flagstaff and then will be exploring the south rim of the Grand Canyon. That and the Sedona and Flagstaff areas should keep us busy.

Terry - we are LOVING being fulltime!! We were nervous the day we pulled out..March 25th..but since then we just can't get over we are living for ourselves now and not those darn bills and jobs! I know you also are anxious to get on with it and believe me when I say, the time will go by quicker than you think!

Bruce and Trisha...organization..oh yes! everything back into it's place!! We also work side by side on laptops and have fun doing it!

Janni - We ARE beginning to understand about the "not getting wrapped up" part and the Never say Never!

Paul and Jo - we are outdoors more now than ever AND getting more exercise. The dogs are getting more walks with us than they ever did when we were working and they are benifitting too (weightwise).... smile

As usual, great and friendly remarks!

Doris

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

If one learns to be good at it, doing Nothing is a hobby. smile

Have DH make a list of skills and then look into short term volunteering where ever you go. Lots of need for that.

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

TXRVr wrote:
If one learns to be good at it, doing Nothing is a hobby.
Have DH make a list of skills and then look into short term volunteering where ever you go. Lots of need for that.

Doing Nothing for a couple hours just wears me out. So then I have to take a nap. Then Nothing really gets done.

DW says I need to get a new hobby!!

heyduke · RV-Dreams Family Member

i was a busy bee in my working life but i have found that i actually like doing nothing

Mike and Gloria · RV-Dreams Family Member

Doris, I burst out laughing at your first comment about DH having to find a hobby. My husband retired officially as of the end of January and we've been full-timers a total of 3 weeks. I am soooo with you on 'he has GOT to get a hobby'. LOL

We are learning lots. We bought an older unit partly because we didn't want to sink a lot of money into one and find out we hated full timing and partly because we weren't rollling in dough. We thought we'd done our homework but still ended up getting 'snookered' by the dealership in FL - to the point that I'm going to be in touch with the FL Attorney General's office about a few things.

But that being said, we are enjoying the peace and quiet of our campsite right now - there's a small pond in front of us and a small, babbling brook in back down a bank. We're in Hope Valley, RI near our family and it's so nice to be able to come back here and 'get away from it all'.

We have been having to solve mysteries though. They did a fast walk through with us when we picked up the unit but we couldn't remember how to turn the hot water on and off. Finally figured out there's 2 switches - one for propane and one for electric. Who knew?

Now we just have to figure out how to 'unstick' the valve to the black water tank. It will only close about 2/3 of the way and yesterday Mike got a small version of the dousing Robin Williams got in the movie, RV. Yuck. He wants to pay someone big bucks to fix it (well, he IS the one that got spattered) but I keep thinking there's got to be a way to fix it ourselves.

Anyway, looks like we're both newbies. We actually picked up our unit on March 25th but didn't start living in it until March 31. We actually were in the truck with the unit hitched on the back and DH's parents in our back seat during that horrific storm in central Florida on the 31st. We were parked in a parking lot but let me tell you, it's a bit un-nerving to have your whole rig going up and down in the wind as you're watching the trees all around you bend over double!

Gloria

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