Repairs: Just part of the Adventure!

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Instead of touring the Southwest US this week, we are home dealing with repair issues. And, I have been reminded of Proverbs 16:9 repeatedly. God plans my every step despite my wrestling to take back control. But, when I get lost in MY plans, HE always knows how to get my attention again. This time, instead of the warm, sunny Southwest, the motorhome is parked in the driveway, awaiting a mobile repair appointment for the refrigerator, and (although I hate to admit it publicly) our family is better off because of the delay. God's plan is always better than mine, once I stop fretting and embrace the change, that is.

During this stranded weekend, we headed to St. Louis with Mom, crammed in our car, to make the best of it. And found myself acutely, and sometimes tearfully, aware of my blessings. This week, I was able to sit next to my 88-year-old mother, who was mesmerized by the colors of Beyond Van Gogh. I felt her joy and understood the significance of the day when she recalled the experience, despite the forgetfulness of dementia, as she opened the door to her independent living center. Because of a change in MY plans, I heard my mother's voice as she pointed out the blinking eyes on Van Gogh's paintings and the blossoms that made us all feel swept away in a summer breeze. I got the chance to hold her hand while we walked across the parking lot of the St. Louis Galleria, and felt my mom's overflowing love for me throughout an entire day. God gave me a blessing that was not lost in my normal frenzied pace. He gave me another day, another memory, another chance to be with my mom.

Enjoying every minute with Mom!

#BeyondVanGogh

I see Mom often since she lives just across town. I take her to doctor's appointments, stop in for coffee, gather groceries, and get the Pick 2 at Panera with her, but the joy of that Mother-Daughter relationship can easily be lost in the checklist of responsibilities. God knew I needed a reminder.

Then, I watched, Grace, my high schooler, hug Mom and tell her, "You are my favorite grandmother," and witnessed the pure joy of their relationship. And on the way home, I discovered Grace was Google-searching the names of Van Gogh's paintings and choosing the print that she wants to add to her bedroom wall. Today, my daughter was compelled to learn, not by a school requirement, but by being fully present in her experiences. Another blessing from our delay...

On Sunday, to top off my weekend, I joined my church family to hear Pastor Matt imploring me to more fervent prayer in the months to come. He reminded all of us to be praying continually, putting our own desires in line with God's. Was this delay part of His plan? Perhaps. Throughout the message, I envisioned Jesus accomplishing more in his delays than I could ever hope to do in my own feeble plans.  

So, as Mark is working on our 2021 tax return and I prep for tonight's dinner with Vince and Sarah, my heart is overflowing with thankfulness that God determines my steps. Lord, thank you for loving me enough to alter my plans.

Escaping to the Alabama Gulf Coast

 With another approaching snow threat in Illinois, we headed south again, this time opting for Orange Beach and the Gulf Shores. In February, the weather was in the upper 60s and low 70s, which was perfect for outdoor activities including hiking in Gulf Shores State Park, miniature golfing, eating seafood on the beach, sightseeing, and just relaxing in the sun. 

Perfect weather for shorts!

We found reservations at Sun Outdoors RV Park , in Orange Beach for our 5-day stay and loved the park, the people, and the location. This was our first experience with an RV resort and didn't realize that they checked the age of the vehicle before approving our stay. Since our previous camper was an older 2006, this resort felt very upscale to us. We loved the lighted electrical outlets, the roomy, clean and level cement pads, and the little-used amenities. The laundry was clean and well-lit, with large windows on both sides, we were the only ones to use the hot tub or pool during our visit, and the pickleball courts were available each time we wanted to play. The park is under expansion with a new area with sites including two sewer hookups and trails that are under construction. We even met a couple at Sun Outdoors who canceled reservations at an RV park nearer to the beach in order to get away from the strong ocean breezes. They reported that the winds were so strong that they fought with their awning and the cool temperatures. Sun Outdoors provided the perfect compromise, only about 15 minutes to the beach, no daily fog, and manageable breezes to allow you to enjoy sitting outside.

Homework on the large cement site!

The hot tub at Sun Outdoors

We spent an entire day at the beach, in our sweatshirts and rolled-up jeans. The white sand was marvelous, but the ocean was still late-February cold! The upside was the solitude and short lines for eating at the Pink Pony Pub that is right on the beach. Parking was also free by the beach until March 1 and we were able to find plenty of room for our 34 ft. motorhome. 

We took advantage of the small crowds and ate on the beach at Pink Pony Pub, tried fried crab claw basket, grouper, and shrimp/crab spaghetti. The seagulls were beautiful, but Grace felt like she was part of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds!

The Birds

Fog surrounded us throughout our day at Gulf Shores State Park. We hiked to the Nature Center, saw their mini raptor exhibit, ate Snickers ice cream bars by the shore, and explored the wetlands. Unfortunately, our adventures didn't include any alligator sightings except in the Nature Center. We added a Segway tour to our bucket list and checked on bicycle rentals. Bicycles are free for the first 3 hours at the Gulf State Park, but they did not have child-size bikes for Grace. We usually travel with our own bicycles, and would highly recommend them for exploring here.

Gulf State Park

Pirate's Island was a fun, clean stop for some mini-golf, and we were glad that we opted for the easier course followed by ice cream and some fudge at Chocolate Corner. Yum!

Lambert's, "Home of the Throwed Rolls," did not disappoint! This is the perfect place to catch up with friends and Gary, Karen, Kathy, and Joe shared their snowbird adventures while we chowed. We caught our fill of the softball-sized homemade rolls, overflowed our plates with fried zucchini, and chowed down on the special smoked chicken dinner! Grace was not thrilled with her salmon patties, but everything else was spectacular. 

Lambert's is always fun!

Overall, we came up with another list of "to-dos" for our next trip. Bring more coffee, quarters for the washers/dryers, an HDMI cable, and slip on shoes so they are easy to take off when we come inside. Purchase a bike rack for the motorhome, another Roku device, an electric tabletop grill, and quick-drying towels like these from Amazon (since our terry towels didn't dry out for the entire trip). And we have several problems that we are still trying to solve: 

• What is the best way to store shoes by the entry door?
• How will we minimize the impact of potholes?
• What is the best drying solution for towels both indoors and outdoors?
• What is the best solution to adjust the dinette table that is too high for both eating and working, cut down the existing legs or replace the legs altogether? 

We really need suggestions for solving these problems and we would love your insights and comments!

5 Things to Know Before Buying a Forest River FR3

 Yesterday, my son, Adam, asked me if we had any surprises or disappointments with our purchase of the Forest River FR3 32D. My initial response was, "No, it was pretty much what we expected." But, as I thought about it, Mark and I have had some "surprises," especially since we bought our 2019 with 5700 miles on it from a private seller and we didn't get the orientation that is often provided by a dealership. We watched Youtube videos, downloaded the owner's manual, and looked through spec sheets, in addition to touring and driving multiple models. But these are the things that we didn't know or completely understand before our first Class A purchase.

Forest River FR3

1. Entry-level Quality:

We knew that the quality and workmanship on an entry-level model would be lower than a pricier unit, but we did not anticipate the number of small fixes that we would do in the first month of ownership. Here are just a few. 

• The trim comes off randomly around the interior. We have corner trim that has been resecured twice in the bathroom and the trim came loose around the stove, too. The problem occurs because all trim is attached with small tack-like nails without sufficient head size to keep them from pulling through the wood.
• The edge of the "fake" countertop is coming loose in several places and needed to be reglued or caulked.
• The thin plywood cover under the king bed drawers has detached and could impact the retraction of the rear slide. A few nails were needed.
• The plastic pipes under the bathroom sink leaked briefly and needed to be turned and tightened.
• The edge of the dinette table had rough edges that had to be sanded and sealed.
• One of the flexible heat ducts has came apart from the vent so that the warm air filled the compartment under the couch instead of exiting from the vent near the steps.
• None of the exterior door locks could be key locked. Every one of them had to be removed and realigned so the baggage doors were secured. Some of these locks were put on upside down, so Mark turned them so they were all vertical when locked.
• The deadbolt on the door did not engage properly and needed to be adjusted.
• The driver's window latch fell off the first time the window was opened and had to be resecured.
• The latch on the bathroom shower door fell off and was replaced.
• The bolts holding the exterior refrigerator vent cover broke off and had to be replaced.
• The slide hoses are encased with a flexible, plastic loom that retracts into the space under the kitchen sink. Ours already had 4 pieces that had become unlinked and were wedged under the sink along with a couple of long screws and several pieces of an industrial-strength zip tie. (Perhaps that was part of the problem.) The loom makes a flexible covering that guides and protects your gas and electrical lines as the slide is moving. Be careful! Even after fixing the links in the loom, removing the debris, and ensuring that the loom worked properly, another "link" became kinked yesterday while retracting the slide.  We need to look for more trouble-shooting answers such as lubricating the track under the sink to reduce friction. In the meantime, watch carefully so you don't damage your slide or lines.
• The mattresses are cheap and uncomfortable. After the first night, we bought a 3-inch memory foam topper. Huge improvement!!!! Plan on replacing this if you want to get any sleep.

Under the sink cabinet

Straightening the link

2. Missing Comfort Features:

Until we purchased this model, we assumed (I know that is never a good thing to do...) that all models had a converter and an inverter. We were wrong. This model lacks an inverter. So, for us, that means that we have no power to electrical outlets while we are unhooked from shore power or traveling. We have had to be extra vigilante to charge computers and our hotspot before longer trips so that Grace can do her school assignments. So, by the passenger chair, I have two three-pronged outlets, but neither will work while we are traveling unless we run the generator. The manual for this unit says, "If there is an inverter..." I recommend adding an inverter if this is an optional upgrade. Without one, the only outlets that work during travel are the USB plugs. We have no power to the microwave, TVs, 12-volt outlets, or power outlets while driving. At least we can power the GPS or our phones.

We also dislike that this model has no fan in either of the roof vents. We are finding out how important that is for reducing the humidity after showers and minimizing sewer tank odor. A Max Air Vent, like the one in this link, will be in our future. It would be nice to have that ventilation.

3. Lower Maneuverability:

We opted for a shorter model, overall length 34 feet so that it would easily fit in our driveway, national parks, and parking lots, especially since we opted not to tow an additional vehicle. I have been surprised, though, at the number of obstacles we have had to avoid even after only a month. Our unit is 13' 6" and we have had multiple low-hanging branches that hit the roof or sides of the motorhome. City streets are the worst! Without a toad, we have been able to access our desired destinations so far, but this motorhome does not "feel" small when traveling. We park at the back of Walmart for groceries and look for areas in the far reaches of restaurant lots. Plan to get your steps in!

4. Noise:

After driving several models, we knew that we would hear rattling and engine noise in any entry model gas Class A. With the engine under our feet, it was expected, but we are anxious to minimize that noise. The sound is annoying on bumpy roads, and Alabama interstate highways were some of the worst! One of our first upgrades will be sound deading mats, for under the "doghouse" to reduce engine noise. We are opting for the 80mil Kilmat over the 50 mil version, if that gives you any idea of the noise problem! I also investigated random squeaks and rattles as Mark was driving and added foam adhesive dots to rattly areas like the plastic shield on the entry door, the window shades, around the screen door, behind the TVs, and even around some of the cabinet doors. We have yet to figure out how to get rid of the whistling around the entry door, but we are hoping that between conditioning the door seals and adding some weather stripping, we will solve this problem as well.

5. Living with Slides Retracted:

After our first night boondocking in a Pilot station where we could not extend our slides, we met the challenge of sleeping without a walk-around bed. This was not a surprise, but still a challenge. The doorway to the bedroom is narrow for my 6-foot husband and he had to crawl over the foot of the bed to get to the bathroom. We survived. Also, I am still struggling with organizing so that everything we need is accessible with the slides retracted. Remember, the cabinet under the sink and all of the drawers in the bedroom, including the ones under the bed, are inaccessible. That means that you cannot access the trash can under the sink from its typical location. I have discovered that I can reach under the upper sink cabinets to retrieve boxes of cereal, but it is difficult. We need more planning if we are going to boondock often.

Summary:

Before buying our motorhome, we heard from many owners that you have to be capable of making repairs or willing to learn. With the backlog at many repair centers, I am thankful for my mechanical husband. Our FR3 still needs some upgrades, tweaks, and minor repairs, but we are exploring and learning as we go. I am so thankful that we found our motorhome, but at some point, we may choose to upgrade. Only time will tell. In the meantime, let's get out and explore!

Fern Lake Campground, Paducah, KY

  For starters this is the first entry to the blog that I typed out. Back in January we got a motorhome to travel the U.S. in. Our motorhome is a 2019 Forest River FR3 32DS. It had 5,700 miles on it when we bought it. Our RV has bunk beds, a King bed, a sofa, and dinette. It also has a bunk bed over the drivers and copilot seats. It has 2 slide outs and 3 tv’s. It also has eight seat belts, it is 34 feet long and has a four door refrigerator.

To begin our journey, we got everything packed which took us a few hours. After we got packed we hit the road. Dad and I went to McDonalds to get some lunch while mom went and got several prescriptions at Walgreens. After that we went to Huck's to fill up on gas and now we are talking a 4-hour journey to go to Paducah Kentucky where we will stop for the night.

Dad is driving the motorhome which is scary. I mean I trust Dad and all with driving it’s just the other cars, trucks and semis make me nervous. Mom is relaxing and making reservations for our stay.

The reservation that we had were at Fern Lake Campground in Paducah, KY. We just stayed the night; there was a lake and then we left the next day.

Walking at Fern Lake

During dinner we had Minestrone soup, Applesauce, Hummus, and Chips. And then after dinner we played Phase 10 and Exploding Kittens. And I whooped Mom and Dad at games. After games we went to bed.

Oak Mountain Campground

 All I will say is that we came in the back entrance. TWICE! Smooth, but winding. The back gate closes at 5:00 pm. The campsite is a "pull-through" site with full, 30amp hookups. After Mark hooked up in the downpour, we played Exploding Kittens and hunkered down for the night. Let's just say that it has rained for 2 days straight! 

This is a campground that we will want to revisit after the weather improves. Miles of trails, equestrian options, waterfalls, canoes, and even archery are options. The wifi was spotty on our Verizon hotspot, especially after we moved to a new camp spot that was surrounded by trees and at a lower elevation.

Most of all, we avoided the snowstorm, learned more about utilizing our camper, and made a list of items to bring with us on the next trip. On our last day, it was dry enough to do some hiking beyond the blacktop campground roads.

Boondockers Welcome (Harvest Hosts)

If our first experience with this program is any indication, spending the $99 for Harvest Hosts and another $40 for the additional Boondockers Welcome options will be worth every penny!

We requested a stay at East Estate in Cullman, Alabama for our second night on the road and we really didn't know what to expect. Well, Phyllis and Leonard met us at the road and even helped us back into the spot they have set up at the front of their property. They provided a hook-up to their water and 50amp electrical for the night. It was dusk and sprinkling so we didn't get to talk much, but the site was beautiful in the morning! They have a pond, several pet ducks, and a beagle named Biscuit. They even gave us a register to sign and took our picture for their scrapbook. We will be looking to stay with them again!

Escaping Illinois Snowmaggedon and Learning to Adapt

 The trouble with buying a motorhome in January is that you can't dewinterize to check systems. Does the water heater work? The refrigerator? The air conditioner? Water pump? We have been trying to load the drawers, line the cabinet drawers, make beds, and organize while slipping on the icy driveway and running the space heaters inside. So, when we heard the Illinois forecast for 10 days of below-freezing temperatures and 8-16 inches of snow, we decided to "get outa Dodge" and headed south. 

This is absolutely NOT motorhome driving weather!

For anyone who knows Mark, you understand that he is not at all impulsive. Leaving on a trip without a clear destination and lacking reservations is not his style. Mark is the read-the-manual, order-the-state-guidebooks, and plan-months-ahead type. I love that he is smiling through his stress and embracing this uncertainty with grace. For three days, he has been checking the weather app for updates on overnight temperatures everywhere from Dallas to Atlanta. It appears that Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama are supposed to have some of the best temperatures for the next week. So, that is where our trip will begin.

But, our first hiccup happened before we pulled out of the driveway! Our son's family has Covid, so we will be within one hour of them for a week and won't be able to hug any of them. And so we smile and adapt. Then we get out on the road only to see that the expected 1/2 inch of rain for the area has changed to 3-4 inches. Adapt again. Who needs a plan anyway? 

Then to top it all off, I made one night's reservation at Fern Lake Campground in Paducah, KY and the next night through Boondockers Welcome in Cullman, AL. No, the second night is not at a regular campground. No, there will not be full hookups. No, I have never met the people who are sharing their space with us. Adapt, adapt, adapt.

So, farewell, Illinois! Hello, warmer climates. We will be back when the snow has melted off the roads.

 

5 Steps to Prepare for Our First RV Trip

 We found our RV, but now what? Here are the first 5 steps to take before your first trip.

1. Cleaning

This is a no-brainer even for an RV that has been detailed by a dealership. But, the main reason to thoroughly clean is to find every nook, cranny, and hidden storage space in your RV. In our 2019 FR3 32DS, we learned so much from the cleaning process such as, finding 2 storage areas under the bed, realizing that the cabinet doors appear to be put on upside down, locating the fuse box, and finding a place to store the extra table cushion behind the jackknife slide sofa. 

2. Measuring

As you clean each area, carry a notebook and tape measure to accurately measure the size of each compartment and the opening dimensions. Planning how to use each of the deep spaces in advance will give each section a purpose and keep the small spaces organized. I watched several organizational videos including this one by Lyfe Untethered that were very helpful, and I lined all of the storage areas with shelf paper to reduce noise and vibrations.

Shelf liner for sound reduction in our pantry.

3. Functionality

How you plan to use your RV will determine the purpose of each space. Since we plan to boondock frequently, we need all necessities to be accessible without extending our motorhome slides. This creates 2 considerable problems in our model. First, none of the bedroom drawers will be accessible since the king bed butts up against the drawer fronts when slides are retracted. Everything below the kitchen sink is inaccessible, too, which will make the usual under-the-sink location for the trashcan hidden when we are traveling and boondocking. To solve these problems, our daughter needs to have space to store some clothes at the end of her bunk and we need a separate small trashcan for boondocking. We also need somewhere for laundry, cooking spices, and guest bedding. Outside we need storage for sewer hoses, chairs, fishing gear, grilling equipment, and a screen house. Our outside storage compartments are not water tight, so purchasing plastic containers will be necessary. 

4. System Checks

Against recommendations, we purchased our 2019 RV without an inspection.  In the winter Illinois temperatures, we have no idea whether the AC or water works properly in this winterized vehicle, and we already know that one of the slides has caused a gouge in the flooring. With less than 6000 miles on the unit, we anticipate that there may still be some manufacturer issues to fix. So, Mark called Forest River and Barry Hughes from the FR3 division provided us with a Vin Recall Search link, Interactive Owner's manuals, Helpful How-To Videos, Manual Slide Out Operation pdf, Forest River virtual plant tour., and contact phone numbers for support! He was amazing! We also located the Forest River site through Google Search here. We have now tested the jacks, furnace, cameras, slides, microwave, generator, refrigerator, manual overhead bunk, awning, and every door, lever, and drawer. Now if the ice will just melt off the roads we will head south so we can flush out all of the water lines and test the water heater, showers, faucets, etc.

Our floor gouge from the slide!

5. Electronics

And finally, since Grace is remote schooling, we needed to upgrade and test our electronics. We bought a Verizon Jetpack and upgraded our phones to an unlimited data plan, reset all of the TV channels, tested the satellite antennae, and tried out the GPS, backup and side cameras. 

Our Forest River FR3 32DS

 We finally found our motorhome! And yes, it has 90% of what we were looking for. Only time will tell whether the other 10% should have been more important.

So, here are 5 things we love about our motorhome and 4 things we aren't crazy about.

What we love about our FR3 32DS:

1. The Floorplan:

Roomy 2 slide model

We liked the roominess of this 34 foot floorplan when the slides were out and kept us under our maximum length of 36 feet. We should be able to maneuver in National Parks and have plenty of space for guests to join us. We also got a pantry, overhead bunk, and several roomy kitchen storage spaces.

2. The Mileage:

We loved that this 2019 model had less than 6000 miles on the engine. We had very few maintenance records to view since it has had little service except one oil change, new batteries, and a replacement air conditioner.

3. Seatbelts:

I never dreamed that RV manufacturers would create bunkhouse models that would sleep 8 and include only 4 seatbelts, but we found that in several models including the Tiffin 34 QBA. Although we will usually have only the 3 on our travels, having 8 seatbelts for keeping the grandchildren safe is a nice bonus. 

4. King bed:

We determined that this was negotiable, but having a King bed will be a nice extra luxury. We may need a mattress upgrade, but a walk around King is uncommon in this short model.

5. Price:

Finding a motorhome under $90,000 in this great condition sealed the deal!

What we dislike about this model: 

1. Small Walkway:

The area between the kitchen counter and pantry is narrow.

2. Hidden Storage:

When the bunk/bedroom slide is retracted, all of the storage drawers are inaccessible and you cannot walk around the bed. That means Mark will be crawling over me to get to the bathroom. The slide also covers up the kitchen sink area cabinets, so these cabinets will be inaccessible when we boondock.

3. Paint Scheme:

We really like full body paint motorhome exteriors that make units look unique, so the basic standard entry-level tan color scheme is not a plus.

4. Build Flaws:

The upper cabinets in both the bedroom and above the couch open incorrectly. The doors pull down and the doors hang open toward you making it difficult to access the storage spaces. There is also a missing piece of trim around the bunks that keeps the bedroom door from being flush against the wall when closed. All are fixable, but will probably remain as-is for awhile. 

5. Flooring Gouge:

The slide roller near the dinette left a floor gouge from a screw or object getting wedged between the roller and linoleum. We checked on Amazon for a repair kit that should help us to fix the space. The area will probably be covered with a rug most of the time, though.

All in all, we have seen so many similar models with more mileage in much worse shape. And this model was stored inside a heated garage making the exterior look almost new.

Good-bye MTZ, Hello Remote Classes

I requested transcripts and officially withdrew Grace from school today. We are hoping that James Madison Online will be a good fit for her, but she is apprehensive, especially since she is jumping into classes midterm. We are waiting on a transcript evaluation to join English 2, part 2, Biology part 2, Spanish 1, part 2, Algebra 1, part 2 and Vocabulary Studies. Those 5 classes will keep her eligible for Tennis in the fall if we choose to return for the season. Lots of new today.

She will miss her friends, I'm sure! 

Her locker

Till next year...

 

Friends

RV Shopping

We are heading to view an RV tomorrow that is near Peoria, IL, and I am so excited about this motorhome that I spent all night dreaming about how to organize all of the cabinets and storage compartments!  

I even found a set of 25 drawer organizers for sale on Facebook Marketplace that we picked up on our way home from lunch with Mom today. It is a 2019 Forest River FR3 32DS with less than 6000 miles. Here is the spec sheet from the best research site we have found, RVUSA.  Although this is not our favorite floorplan (that one is the 34J) it has 90% of what we are looking for:

• Bunkbeds for Grace so that she has her own space for schoolwork.
• A king-sized bed, so that Mark can roll over without pushing me out of bed.
• A shower that allows Mark to turn around easily.
• A toilet that is low enough for Grace's feet to touch the ground.
• A pantry and enough kitchen storage for being on the road for weeks.
• 8 Seatbelts to secure our children and grandchildren.
• Sleeping space for 8 so that family can join us anytime.
• Very low mileage
• A doable price point

But we have gotten our hopes up before and found that pictures are not always accurate. Praying for this search to be done soon so I can begin personalizing and organizing. Keep praying for no water damage, mice, or funky smells!

And Then Life Happened

This year, 2021, has been disappointing and challenging. But then, derailed plans are rarely welcome. Not only did Covid-19 impact worldwide travels and family holidays, but I heard the "C-word" for the first time last Spring, right after my 60th birthday. Not the gift I asked for!!!  So, instead of traveling the US beginning in May, we traveled to doctors' appointments, spent endless weeks in "scan-xiety" (Thank you Donna for the perfect word!), endured two surgeries (one planned and one emergency), and locked all other plans into the can't-think-about-them-without-crying safe. Grace went to her sophomore year of in-person high school, and we did our best to keep life normal for her. Even hosting an after homecoming supper and party for 6 of her friends the day after emergency surgery for cellulitis. Thank you, God, for surgical nerve blockers and the opportunity to fix Grace's hair and makeup before her first high school dance. Those memories are so fleeting and precious! 

But after months of healing we are on the other side of active treatment and our perspective has widened. Let's squeeze out all the living we can, while we are able! Carpe diem! The actual vehicle that we take matters much less than the opportunity to adventure as a family now. So, we are back in the hunt for a motorhome with a few different parameters this time:

• Under 36 feet long, so it fits in our driveway more easily while we are packing.
• Sleep 7 adults, so any of our family can join us.
• Have seatbelts to keep the grandbabies safe.
• And a low budget so that we have ample money to spend on experiences over the next months or years.

Sounds easier than it is. Buying a motorhome is like looking nationwide for a home. No two are the same, drive the same, have been cared for the same. Pictures don't tell you when they smell like mice and dog urine, and some of the people advertising don't really have a motorhome at all. Just spam! So even though we have found several models that we like, getting the right one has been tricky. We are opting for a short, class A, gas model such as the Forest River FR3 32.3 or the Thor Ace 32.1. I know, these manufacturers don't always get the best reviews, but Mark wants a gas engine he feels comfortable fixing and we will assume that we will be making quality repairs as we go. Our old, pull behind was nothing to look at, but the memories don't have anything to do with the chalking exterior paint. So our hope is to find the "perfect" model for us within the next 2 weeks. 

Excitement Ensues

 One down and one to go! Retirement, that is. I retired in May from teaching 5th grade, but continued as a long-term sub during this first remote semester of Covid-19. Now, I retired the second time and have launched headlong into cleaning closets and planning for our trip. My husband, Mark, is contemplating his last day of work, too, so that we can launch out on our much anticipated US excursion. As the more adventurous one, I am ready to leave home behind and live in the motorhome for a year or more with only a few stops home to check on the house. Mark, however, wants to try out a few months and then see how he feels about the rest of the year. Could it be that he is worried about being in a small space with two women?

The next few months will be filled with decisions: Which motorhome do we want? Will we pay cash and get an older model or go with something newer? Class A or Class C? Diesel or Gas? How will budgeting work on an extended vacation? Where will Grace register for online classes? How will we handle our mail, appointments, boondocking, and camping reservations? Follow us here as we share our decision-making process and send us your insights to help us make the best choices.