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!!
I've been keeping a running list of all the things I have learned from reading people's posts and Howard's journal, and I thought I would throw it open to ask if you could go back to your former self and tell them three things...what would they be. They can be anything camping related ..not just full-timing.
it took a long time for me to learn to be as my Motto........Live , Breathe , Relax !!!
Remove the "Rush" From your life.....when your in a hurry, you pass by so much and end up in aimless directions missing what you were looking for from the start!
The rule of "STUFF"......its only worth something if you use it more than once.....it will cost you more to store it if you dont.
Never believe the brochure and ads for the campground.....LOL.....they pay big money in advertisement and not to many give refunds!!
Ohh Yeahh!!..........Nikki says " Hot dogs always taste better when pulled from someone else's Stick".... and life is always more fun when somebody leave's the gate open!!
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 12:47:10 PM
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
I hate travelling with a time table. We always tried to squeeze in too many visits with relatives. Now we pick one centrally located to others and let them come to us.
Stop by 3PM so you have time to get settled for the night while there is still daylight. Also have time to see some sights.
Stop and smell the roses.... I remember one trip where we passed by the Petrified Forest Natl Park but couldn't take the time to go see it due to our time schedule. Now we stop at whatever interests us...schedule be damned !
__________________
"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
1. Learn to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others. I've lost track of the number times I've done something that others have laughed at me deservedly so.
2. Given a choice, always get better quality over larger quantity. You'll end up paying more for cheap stuff.
3. Don't panic. Panic leads to stupid mistakes.(sometimes resulting in the cause of rule #1)
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 07:58:57 AM
1 - have fun planning but hold your plans / schedule loosely, flexibility is needed to make this lifestyle work.
2 - realize purging is an ongoing habit in this lifestyle.
3 - learn to relish the differences in different parts of the country and try at least one new thing in each location.
Always listen to DW when backing in to a site, or your own driveway in some cases.
If it didn't kill you or someone else, it's going to make a funny camp fire story later.
Wine, not whine, makes everything better.
__________________
Paul & Kathy
2014 Phaeton 42LH
"When the time comes to look back, make sure you will like what you see"
These are all great!!! Keep em coming. I was particularly struck by attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. That goes beyond lesson learned and into life motto category :)
1. Full-timing is not a vacation, it's a lifestyle.
2. Material things are unimportant.
3. Stop and smell the roses.
Jim
__________________
Jim and Linda Full-timers from 2001 to 2013 http://parttimewithjandl.blogspot.com/ 2006 Dodge 2500 Diesel pulling a Heartland 26LRSS TT May your days be warm, and your skies be blue. May your roads be smooth, and your views ever-new.
Don't marry wife #2 for her looks- not worth it
Take time to listen to what people are doing- not what they're saying.... (think about it)
Enjoy yourself, you can never revisit the moment
You're right Jim, if you're not smelling the pile of roses then you're smelling a pile of something else, if it's not roses then just move on. Smell affects your body and mind.
There is a time and a place to shovel things.
Lonney
-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 10:17:48 AM
__________________
Lonney & Angel and our fur kid a Sheltie (Wyatt) 2010 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax
2010 Keystone Everest 345S 37' 5th wheel 50 gal. Aux Fuel Tank
Rear 5000 pound Air Ride
25K Air Safe Hitch Powerupdiesel tuner or EZTurner
Buying a house during the depression of 08-10 sounded great... but realized very quick at a 30 yr mortgage I would be 81 b4 paying off and no retirement
1) Never try to roll up a manual awning in a windstorm or in a rainstorm.
2) Always HAVE A "SPOTTER" WHEN BACKING UP and just one as more can confuse you!
3) Before emptying your holding tanks especially the Black Water; make sure your conections are tight and the end is securely attached to the disposal station. Stand back after you open the slide valve!!! PIEERE
__________________
Life is too short. Live it Now!
Currently at Shady Acres RV Park Lebanon; Tennessee
Check all your tires by hitting them wit a ball peen hammer or iron rod before starting and at every stop! Taught by our RVSrivingschool.com instructor and it paid off the very next trip. (Leaky valve, replaced, saved the tire. "Using air pressure gage to check just releases air".) This applies if you don't use tire heat/pressure Gage's on truck AND trailer tire gauges.
Manage your expectation and have plan B & C ( this should be RIGHT up YOUR alley Trace with all your lists!)
Carefully, being sure to not offend, offer help to newbies or especially those in rental campers struggling with set ups.
Laugh often.
Sherry
__________________
I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way. - Carl Segan
Our "Rolling Rest Home" 2013 Trilogy 3650RL dragged by a 2005 GMC Sierra 4x4 Diesel Dually -SOLD
From many years of camping and some RV'ing, there have been many lessons, with too many to even begin to list. But, some of them would be great fireside stories...
...ask me about "meeting the bear" in the woods sometime.
1. No matter how old one is or experienced with RV'ing and camping, there is ALWAYS something new to learn. Appreciate every one.
2. Just about every neighbor in an RV park or campground could be your "next" best friend, especially if you are having problems.
3. Not so much when driving, but especially when hiking, pause and turn around to see what is behind you. The trail you just came on will look different than your first view of it from the opposite direction, and you may need to know of landmarks when you are returning the same way.
Terry
__________________
Terry and Jo
2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3 2008 Ford F450 2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout
I guess now after reading it and singing it in my mind it will be stuck in my head all day!!!...........guess thats better than the Barney song thats been in there a Few days!....
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!