ShaunaH, I think you are 'over-thinking' if RVing would be right for you. You will love traveling with your dog and making stops when YOU feel like it.
If you have ever taken driving trips in your car, it's not much different. You will be staying in the RV vs. a motel room.
It would take some very serious thought to travel with a total stranger. I'm not sure how you would really check out a person. A 'bad' person will have all of that thought-out and hidden.
I'm retired so I don't need Internet service but we like to surf the Internet, check weather, check emails, etc. We have had excellent results with Verizon (phones and jet-pack).
Your biggest obstacle will be your budget. Sounds like it might be a little low with the your concern of renting a RV for a week. I'm assuming that you will have no 'home base', the RV will be all you have, right?
Good luck, go it alone with you and your pup.
Safe travels,
MM.
