Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
My sister emailed this to me and I love it! Wanted to share it.
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light,about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
I have 7 grandkids and we gave up the idea a few years ago that we needed to buy them a bunch of cheaply made toys.
One year the whole family made a tape recording of ourselves reading a favorite book to 2 of our grandkids who lived a few hours away. We included a copy of that book so that they could follow along. Their Mom my daughter said that she would find them in the bedroom all alone just listening to their favorite stories read by their favorite people!
Another year we adopted a manatee for one of our grandsons and a giraffe for another grandson. Then when they went to the zoo or the local springs where the manatees would congregate they could look for their animal. They were young at the time so easily fooled!!
We have one granddaughter in CA, we are in Fl, so I made a Storybook album with digital pictures of the family and included all our names so she could read the story of her family. My daughter in law says it is her favorite book and with Thanksgiving approaching she has been studying the pictures and practicing everyone's name ( she is 19 months)
My point is, you can always think of unique ideas that mean so much more than that cheaply made item from another country.
We dropped the Christmas tree thing a few years ago.
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31ft, 1999 Fleetwood wilderness travel trailer, with one dining room Livingroom slideout 1995 Chevy G20, 3/4 ton van ya there both old, but it's OK, I'm old too.
Several years ago I realized that I was falling out of the spirit of the season due to its commercialism. I was nearing the point of being a Grinch. So the DW and I decided that we would transition back to the days when gifts were made by the giver. The first year we made gifts by sewing, crafting, and cooking. They were well received, so we took another step and told friends and family that if we were getting a gift then we preferred it to be homemade. That floated about as well as an anvil, but we stuck to our guns and slowly almost everyone came around to our wish. Those without craft or sewing skills baked goodies as gifts (I absolutely loved homemade chocolate chip cookies). Many of the handmade gifts we have received are displayed either in the RV or house all year long. They are cherished memory items as opposed to the store bought items that shortly end up at the Thrift Store.
Two pleasant surprises came from our transition. The 8-16 year old kids started telling us that their friends liked the handmade gift we had made and that they wanted one too. A few of the adults asked and paid for us to make other things for them during the rest of the year.
The "I don't have any talent" excuse also floats like an anvil. One of the gifts we always get each year is a picture calender where the pictures are of grandkids. There are several sites online where one can make and print them. Who doesn't need a calender? If you eat then you can cook. Only the Grinch wouldn't like a fresh batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.
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When it comes to the hereafter, I want to be in the no smoking section.
