Why are you attracted to the RV lifestyle?

DutchmenSport wrote:
Why am I attracted to the RV lifestyle. This goes way, way back in time for me....

First, my parents had a travel trailer and we traveled all over the US. They were square dancers and they would go to square dance convention from Philidelphia, to Houston, Texas, to Florida. I loved playing in that camper too when it was parked at home, but Mom and Dad would never let me play in it.

I also wanted my own tree-house as a kid, but when Dad carved out a few acres from a cornfield he bought from his grandmother, there were no trees. There were no trees on that property that could support a tree house for another 30 years later.

I also wanted my own club-house, thus the chicken-house was my private "cabin", but also had to share it with a bunch of 2 legged feathered friends.

So, when I got old enough to determine my own destiny, I married the right girl, because she came fom a camping family too. Fast forward, and it was only natural to get an RV, starting with a tent, to a Pop-up, to 3 TT's later.

It was just a few months ago, when we purchased our Outback, I finally realized why I enjoy the camper so much, either on the road, or even at home in the driveway!... It's because it's the little "club-house", and "Tree House" I never had as a kid!

It WONDERFUL to have my own little "play house" now and my #1 club member is my wife! and #2 is my dog! This is my child hood dream, and it's finally become a reality!

Oh yea, I like to travel too, but I'm just has happy at home in the drive-way as I am 1000 miles away as long as I'm in the camper.

Actually, my wife and I are in the camper right now, watching "Gradnma got run over by a reindeer"... the cartoon on CW. I ran a line from the house off the Satellite and we're plugged into the garage and running nice HEAT in the camper even though it's pretty cold outside ... it's really sweet in here!

By the way, if you want to enter... you'll need the password!

If you're wondering how old I am (I'm just a big kid at heat), I'm 58.

I am glad you got your playhouse. I think that is funny, sitting in the rv to watch a movie on the driveway.:)

Why am I attracted to the RV lifestyle. This goes way, way back in time for me....

First, my parents had a travel trailer and we traveled all over the US. They were square dancers and they would go to square dance convention from Philidelphia, to Houston, Texas, to Florida. I loved playing in that camper too when it was parked at home, but Mom and Dad would never let me play in it.

I also wanted my own tree-house as a kid, but when Dad carved out a few acres from a cornfield he bought from his grandmother, there were no trees. There were no trees on that property that could support a tree house for another 30 years later.

I also wanted my own club-house, thus the chicken-house was my private "cabin", but also had to share it with a bunch of 2 legged feathered friends.

So, when I got old enough to determine my own destiny, I married the right girl, because she came fom a camping family too. Fast forward, and it was only natural to get an RV, starting with a tent, to a Pop-up, to 3 TT's later.

It was just a few months ago, when we purchased our Outback, I finally realized why I enjoy the camper so much, either on the road, or even at home in the driveway!... It's because it's the little "club-house", and "Tree House" I never had as a kid!

It WONDERFUL to have my own little "play house" now and my #1 club member is my wife! and #2 is my dog! This is my child hood dream, and it's finally become a reality!

Oh yea, I like to travel too, but I'm just has happy at home in the drive-way as I am 1000 miles away as long as I'm in the camper.

Actually, my wife and I are in the camper right now, watching "Gradnma got run over by a reindeer"... the cartoon on CW. I ran a line from the house off the Satellite and we're plugged into the garage and running nice HEAT in the camper even though it's pretty cold outside ... it's really sweet in here!

By the way, if you want to enter... you'll need the password!

If you're wondering how old I am (I'm just a big kid at heat), I'm 58.

There are just so many amazing things to see and experience as one drives along!

I like to travel by RV because I get to see the REAL America (Canada, too) - not the narrow, heavily-biased views the *media* (based in a handful of large cities) wants us to THINK the entire country shares. REAL life bolsters my faith in the sensibility and goodness in people's hearts :-)

And lastly - few hotels are built next to a babbling brook, lush forest, or a beautiful meadow; and even if there WERE one, it's not like we'd feel welcome to pull up a chair and just sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds...

RVing takes me to places that become cherished memories.

We had been on several cruises and we enjoyed hem until we just got tired of 3rd world countries-- beautiful but so devastatingly poor. Also, the last few cruises had a noticeable increase in 400 pound people on scooters and the scooters themselves caused many traffic jams in the common areas. The cruise ships are adding more cabins in the same amount of space (carnival sunshine, for instance is a reconfigured Destiny with a few hundred added cabins).

I cried the first 3 or 4 times we camped, though, lol because there is a learning curve. Now that I am used to it, I love having my own sheets and pillows and bathroom (I used to bring Lysol wipes and before anyone can put anything down in the ship cabin, I would disinfect the whole place). Plus, a few people I know actually started finding bed bugs in their hotel rooms. So disgusting!

We HATE to fly and the last few times I got stuck in Atlanta overnight unexpectedly. The last time I went to visit my friend in New Hampshire, it was literally planes, trains and buses trying to get there because as far as I could get was Boston.

So it looks like RV is a good fit for us. We all like it and it is a healthful vacation with terrific family time. I love riding my adult tricycle around the camgrounds.

The US is so vast and varied that instead of going to 3rd world countries, I'd rather take my kids around the US.

My dad dragged us all over in the wood paneled station wagon when we were growing up, so I find it satisfying that I'm coming back around to this idea.

I started RVing,(Don't think they called it RVing then) back in the mid 60's as a youngster and my Father, Mother, along with my two brothers. Towing a Small TT hooked to the bumper of our car, in those days. Spent two weeks camping along the Oregon coast starting in Astoria all the way to Honeyman state park. Will never forget the fun times. I have never lost the fever, but life's plans always plays in to the how frequent you camp. Here and there camped a few times, but the US Navy had a way to Interrupt plans. Now I am planning to begain again Rving after retirement at the Ship yard. Can't wait to get back to camping and traveling, slowly and Making new discoveries. Across our great country.
Scott

It's was the bobble head hula girls that attracted me.

I am still hunting this great country for the perfect one that I can put on my dash. :B

My family camped as early as I can even remember. Just cots under the stars back then, not even a tent. Progressed to tents later.
After marrying, the DW and I tried a borrowed PUP a couple times. But professional careers and raising kids got in the way and camping went by the wayside for years. But as we both neared retirement we got the bug again. But this time it was a 5th wheel.
Except for overnighting on the road we try to stay in parks with a natural setting so we can get back close to nature. Generally means state, city, or COE parks, but there are some private RV parks that work also.
Retired 6 yrs now and DW is partially retired with plans to go fully retired very soon. Both loving it.

Top Ten:
1. Freedom to go where we want, when we want and to avoid weather extremes
2. The excitement of seeing what is around the next corner
3. NO grass to mow or all that other maintenance stuff.
4. The ability to have a mountain cabin or a beach front house within one unit.
5. Not having an alarm clock dictate my life.
6. Flexible planning. Plans written in Jell-O.
7. NO Real Estate taxes.
8. Small town politics
9. A smaller space. Everything is in its place and easy to find.
10. A feeling of contentment I have never felt in my life before.

You mentioned values. Your values don't and won't change. What will change is your focus. We feel that when working, we had our "time in the sun."

Now we give back, doing things we love to do: Campground hosting.

It never gets old. Heck, it is too much fun!

I worked 18 hours a day for years, including weekends not only at a regular job but a business as well. It is hard to slow down. About 18 years ago I slowed my pace to 8 hour a day then about 13 years ago fulltimed. I was totally bored. The pace was way too slow for my energy level. Sold the RV, bought a ranch and went back to work. This year I finally retired at 75. I still have far too much energy to fulltime but a trip or to is very enjoyable. I still need to have a lawn to mow and projects to keep me busy. I suspect running your own business also kept you busy many hours a week. It will be difficult to slow down.

Yes. While I was sleeping in to 7:00 am this morning I longed for the days when I had to get up at 5:00 to drive the 30 miles to work so I could get there by 8:00 am and leave at 6:00 to avoid the rush hour traffic for the 30 mile trip home; for the last 26 years of my working career. Yes, those were the days...