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 don't post here much anymore because I have nothing to contribute... RVing is no longer in my future. My wife passed away five years ago from burn injuries in a home accident. That's when my research stopped, and I'm sure it's obsolete by now. There are only two pieces of advice I can give now... if you are seriously considering this lifestyle, go for it now while you still can - you never know what might happen to block you. Secondly, if you do decide to go fulltime (or even stay in a stix-n-bricks) take serious precautions against fire. You don't want to have to endure what my wife and I did. May God bless you all and keep you safe.
Good Lord that's the saddest thing I've had to hear today. So sorry for your loss. Hope you can keep the strength and will to go forward and look ahead.
A friend of mine got burnt with a gasoline fire/accident quite a few years ago. Luckily he just suffered burns on his arms and hands.....Nothing on his face and didn't burn his lungs. He underwent some surgery but made it.
Tim, It's hard to believe that your wife's horrible accident was that long ago. I can still remember when it happened. Take care and try to enjoy wherever life's journey takes you.
Our best, Jim and Linda
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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.
Adjusting to the death of your spouse is devastating. I am so glad that you are sharing your thoughts and experiences of RVing here on our forum. Make that, Howard and Linda's forum Thanks for the advice about fire safety. Pat K
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CK PK 2011 Ford F 350 Dually 2011 Carriage Cameo 37CKSLS Retired early 2011
Oh Tim that's so sad. I just lost my dear husband and knowing how they suffered makes it so much worse.
I am alone in our fiver and doing well so far with help from friends. I will attend the spring rally to learn as much as I can so I can continue to live our dream.
Tim, It's hard to believe that your wife's horrible accident was that long ago. I can still remember when it happened. Take care and try to enjoy wherever life's journey takes you.
Our best, Jim and Linda
Jim, I remember it every day, and Howard's recent tragedy has also brought it back to me. In fact, right now I'm looking at a chintzy small plastic fake tree in a small galvanized pot sitting on top of a bookcase. It was the centerpiece for our last wedding anniversary dinner together while my wife was still in hospital in Augusta, GA (they wouldn't allow live plants or flowers in the room). While I went to pick up a couple steak dinners the hospital staff wheeled a round table into my wife's room and got it set up. I had to cut up my wife's steak for her because she had lost the fingers on one hand from the burns. By the time I finished that my steak was stone cold, but to this day I think that was one of the best steaks I ever had. I've kept that centerpiece ever since.
I know that after my wife passed I put up some posts about fire safety. Maybe they should be revived because there are a lot of new people here since then. Briefly, what happened was my wife was taking Ambien, sleepwalking as a result, and in the middle of the night accidentally set her nightgown on fire. By the time her screams woke her and me up it was too late.
I don't post here much anymore because I have nothing to contribute... RVing is no longer in my future. My wife passed away five years ago from burn injuries in a home accident. That's when my research stopped, and I'm sure it's obsolete by now. There are only two pieces of advice I can give now... if you are seriously considering this lifestyle, go for it now while you still can - you never know what might happen to block you. Secondly, if you do decide to go fulltime (or even stay in a stix-n-bricks) take serious precautions against fire. You don't want to have to endure what my wife and I did. May God bless you all and keep you safe.
Tim Fansler
Tim,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my wife of 36 years in a traffic accident almost seven years ago - but she died on impact and I at least have the peace of mind brought by knowing she didn't suffer. What your wife endured must have been terribly painful for you to watch (I am a retired Army nurse and have worked burn units, so I can envision the image you painted in your subsequent post).
I'm a relative newcomer here and wasn't around on the forum at the time of your wife's accident. Please take what I say here at face value - or toss it out if you like. I want to say that I have found that there is life after such a tragic loss. After grief counseling and a support group, I was very fortunate in meeting a wonderful woman who was willing to take me on - grief, damage, and all, and help me start over. I learned through the grief counseling and support group that life will never return to the "old normal," but that we can work on a "new normal" that can be fulfilling and bright. My late wife had "the talk" with me on several occasions and told me that she wanted me to go on with life if anything were to happen to her. I will retire from my civilian job the end of next month and we are seriously considering becoming part of the Class of 2015. Dare to dream.
Columbus isn't too very far from North Augusta in the big scheme of things. If Augusta doesn't hold too many bad memories for you and you ever make it up this way, message us and we can get together... that is, if we still have a North Augusta address by then!
Rob
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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
Thanks for the advice about fire safety. Pat K
