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!!
2 weeks after our truck broke down 10 miles west of Laughlin NV, the new engine is on order, everything should be covered by warranty for which we are extremely thankful.
However, we're also facing the realization that we're likely to be here another 1-2 weeks and it's getting uncomfortably warm. We did find someone to tow us to a new campground over the weekend as the Laughlin River Run starts in 2 days and we couldn't stay where we were, plus we didn't want to put up with the noise and traffic of the motorcycle rally while we were trying to work.
I keep thinking I really didn't need this lesson in patience, with everything that went wrong 2 years ago with our original truck order, getting the 5th wheel home and the delays in getting our house on the market and then the delays in closing, I became much better at realizing I wasn't in control and needed to be more flexible. Continued to learn that lesson over the next few months with the fridge replacement, delays in getting a truck upgrade done and thought I was getting used to being flexible. Even last fall's RV repair didn't bother me that much, just figured things happen.
I think the big difference is that every time we've had something go wrong we were somewhere we were comfortable or happy to be staying, we could find new activities to keep us busy and new things/places to explore. However, this time we're much more isolated, the interesting things to do are a much longer drive, this is costing us extra out of pocket costs for the rental car and higher camp ground fees than we had planned on and I'm just ready to be on our way. Our longest delay in the past changed our plans by 2 weeks, I wasn't mentally ready for a 1 month delay and I'm really not liking it.
Thanks for letting me vent, just needed to share my frustrations with a community of like minded people who can relate
We can certainly relate to the "frustration" when the "plan" doesn't follow the script. Just don't forget to share the exquisitely delicious moments as well.
I can so relate with what you are going through. We were stuck for a month in Gillette, WY in a "campground" that was a field at the Camplex Convention Center. The temps were in the low 100's with constant high winds and only 30 amp hookup. There were no other RVs in the field with us so we felt very isolated and alone in our misery. At least we had our jeep and didn't have to rent a vehicle. It was one of the lowest times we have had on the road. I can remember singing "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" over and over and over!!!!
We've had enough 'hiccups' that I wrote a page for our blog about How To Survive Repairs. When the baristas at the nearest Starbucks shout out your drink order as you walk in the door, you know you've been there too long. And while later these make great stories at the time they can be miserable. But we all get through it or those you can't adjust leave the lifestyle.
Hang in there, it will get better.
Barb
__________________
Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
Wow! Life will be very frustrating at times. I remember back to 2012 with my having to give up work camping! I think you read my posts in the traveling with health problems. I had to accept the reality of life! Seems like this will give you both some time to reassess or regroup what is important! Please don't take this wrong! I am far from being where I want, but have what I need! Remember the song, It's a long, long road with many a winding turn! Yes the road will become straight again!
__________________
Life is too short. Live it Now!
Currently at Shady Acres RV Park Lebanon; Tennessee
Hang in there!!! This will be nothing more than a new story you can tell around the campfire even though it may not seem like it now.
As you know we were stuck in Seffner Florida for 5 months while going through the hassles with our new rig having problem after problem. We camped on the dealers lot (even though not a bad place to be as far as lots go) most of that time and part of the time in a campground across the street. The good thing is the rest of the country was in a deep freeze so it SEEMED to make things better LOL!! And we didn't have any place we needed to be like you guys do.
Good luck and keep us posted!!
It seems to me there is a cycle.... 5 years of trouble free RVing and then a year of problems, then 5 years trouble free, then a year of problems.... or sometimes it's 2 years good, one year bad...
And then again it can be 6 months good and 1 year bad...
However the good always outweighs the bad.... what's that saying " A bad day RVing is better than a good day working"
__________________
"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
Thanks all for your encouragement. We really are trying to keep a good attitude and keep telling ourselves a sure way of proving that God has a sense of humor is to make plans and actually think we're going to carry through with them
We then do remind ourselves that at least when we broke down we had good data / cell coverage, that's not true for all the spots along that highway, it was daylight, we were able to get off the road, we didn't have to wait too long for a tow, we're in an area of the country with lots of RV parks and relatively cheap rates and we broke down at a time when we didn't actually have to be anywhere for a month. So while we're not where we wanted to be, when we wanted to be, many things could have been much worse.
Researching hikes for this weekend and think I found a good one with petroglyphs to explore, hoping the forecasters are right and we have a cooling trend heading our way for a few days. And it's giving us time to take care of some little RV maintenance chores, we're getting the carpets cleaned Friday afternoon and we actually went on a purge through our closets and dressers, 2 bags of clothes to donate.
Ruth, sometimes things other people are going through like yourselves, (and Cheryl recently) are used as an example to those of us still waiting to go full-time. They are a lesson on how to handle things graciously. You sure have. Hang in and as Diana stated.....this too shall pass. We know that we're bound to have those times when it seems like nothing goes right too, but I hope I remember your attitude and handle it as well as you all have. Thanks so much!
-- Edited by marianne57 on Tuesday 21st of April 2015 05:50:11 PM
__________________
GRACIE’S GOLDEN GETAWAY Barry and Marianne traveling with Golden Retriever Maggie 2014 Ford F-450 DRW Super Heavy Duty Lariat 2015 Solitude 305RE for full-time in 2016 Current: Carlisle, PA
I didn't make it there yet, but there is a walking labyrinth near Laughlin - it is a short hike to get there. You can probably ask any local, or try Google. They are wonderful for meditation, especially when one wants/needs to find a little peace. Hopefully you can find it If our weather makes it from SoCal to Laughlin you will definitely get cooler temps this week.
Wish I had been on the forum last week as we were in Laughlin over the weekend for a high school reunion at the Colorado Belle and would have wanted to offer assistance Glad you were able to get moved out of the chaos that is the annual River Run - it was crazy enough last week with just the Blues and Brews event!
One more happy option - D' Place coffee shop in Bullhead City serves wonderful breakfast at a good price (they close at 2). Have been stopping there for 10 years.
Thanks Jodee, found a hike for this weekend, actually found 2 good options so depending on temperature and what time we get ourselves going on Saturday will dictate which hike we do. Hopefully both will keep us out of the Laughlin River Rally crowds. I think it might also be time to get the Sea Eagle out and do a little paddling, with temps this high, being on the water sounds really inviting.
Sorry we missed you last weekend, we're coping and finding time for a few more RV maintenance projects that have been on the back burner for a month or three.
Will be happy to report when we're moving again, looking forward to heading a little further northwest when we're mobile again.
In the 8 months I've been on the road, I can so much relate to all of this, including spending 1 1/2 months isolated alone in a field while waiting for repairs. Ruth, your positive outlook has always been my inspiration to remain positive. This too shall pass, although it's extremely frustrating. I also second everyone else's wise advice here.
__________________
Cheryl B. in her new RV
(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)
2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)
It is funny Ruth how you hit a rough patch, then get through it and think well now I'm stronger, get comfortable. and another rough patch comes along and takes you right back there. I think my improvements have come in increments so even if I still struggle with things I know I am making progress because it would have been much worse a couple of months ago and certainly last year. I do lose patience with myself sometimes though wanting to be a person who can totally go with the flow, although frankly I am not sure I'll ever get there. And maybe that's ok too. We know we have something that matters to lose when we react to losing it. The day I don't care, maybe I am taking it all for granted and that's a problem in and of itself.
Anyways, I think your attitude is amazing and I appreciate your openness about the not so glamorous parts of the lifestyle.
Yeah..............There's no "Free Lunch". Anything (especially an RV) is going to require maintenance and with an RV there's LOTS of it. If don't keep up on it the thing will turn into a big "turd" quite fast.
Also if unable to do most of everything yourself and have to pay someone else to do it........Can empty your pockets pretty fast.
Update: Truck is supposed to be ready by Tuesday!!! Yay! Looks like we might have a long distance drive for dinner Tuesday night just to make sure everything is working as expected.
Plans for the weekend include a hike on Saturday, kayaking on Sunday and hopefully by Wednesday we'll be on the road north out of the triple digits that we're supposed to start experiencing on Monday. Tentative plan right now is to drive ~175 miles each afternoon / evening after my "day job" is done for 3 days so we can reach our next art show destination in time to have a little down time and time to prepare for the show without feeling unduly rushed. Now, there I go again making plans