What do you spend more time thinking about?

[holstein13]

I just saw a great post by Shane Evans on the Xscapers Facebook page about the 10 things RVers spend thinking about more than regular folks. His list was good, but I think we can improve upon that. Here's my list:

1. Our neighbors and surroundings
2. Area / navigation / grocery locations
3. The weather
4. Sunrise and/or sunset
5. Fuel prices, Gas, diesel, and propane
6. Space saving items
7. What goes in and comes out of the toilet / black tank
8. Water consumption / storage
9. Energy management
10. Wi-fi / Cellular availability and quality

NOTE: I enjoy thinking about these things. For example, it makes me happy to find a collapsible fishing rod that works as well as a full sized fishing rod.

On virtually every post I write on this forum, one or more people will tell me to stop worrying. This post is not about worrying. I'm not worried at all about any of these items. I'm just wondering what are the things that we think about more than non-RVers. i.e, what makes us different?

[michigansandzil]

Wow, lot's of people worry about dogs and some even worry about kids! I have 3 kids and 2 huge dogs. You might leave if you saw us coming.

What do I think or worry about regarding camping? Not that it keeps me up at night, but here is my list:
-Did I budget enough for this trip?
-Will the axle break again? Will the camper catch fire again?
-Will the tow vehicle break down again preventing us from getting to our destination?
-Will we arrive before the gate closes?
-Will we be too tired from working all week to even want to make the trip?

[olfarmer]

leeper wrote:
SEX

How it was and....how much I miss it. :W

[Snowman9000]

I tend to think about how I could make our RV better, alternating with what other type of RV would be better for us, and what if we just drove a car and stayed in sticks & bricks.

None of that is a good thing. I'm a tinkerer/ optimizer. Hard to break it.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

When I camp, I tend to not "think", but to "wonder" and "wish": I wonder where that road goes? I wonder what kind of bird is singing that song? I wonder how long it will take to paddle that stretch of river. I wish I knew what kind of tree that is. I wish my kids/grandkids were here to see this!

[eichacsj]

Happy Prospector wrote:
My Number 1 thought-

When out boondocking in the desert with acres and acres to park in, why somebody decides that their "perfect spot" is 100 feet from my camp and then they start up their loud generator!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Exactly, it just bothers me to no end.

[toedtoes]

Back to the idea that people with RVs think more about these things than other people, I disagree.

I've known parents who think a whole lot more about what's going in their toilet than an RVer does - because they have a kid who likes to flush things down it.

I thought more about my neighbor at home than I ever have about neighbors when camping - he was an alcoholic jerk who had sex in his hot tub directly under my bedroom window and had the whacka-whacka music and disco lights going, and he'd get drunk and yell through a megaphone at 3 in the morning, etc.

I have a friend who cannot go 5 minutes without internet/text/email and is always thinking about WiFi connections.

I also think that a lot of this is perspective: "some people think" and "some people do".

An example of what I mean my that: Dutchmansport wrote that they think about their dog - they think about potty time, feeding, hydration, access, and so on. For me, I don't "think" about those things, I just "do" them. In reality, we are both thinking and doing the same, it's just where we perceive the emphasis - my perspective puts the emphasis on the doing, Dutchmansport puts the emphasis on the thinking.

And of course, there is the difference between people who think as they go and people who think before they go. I put my thinking before I go - I can plan a trip for years. By the time I go, I have every potential scenario plotted and analyzed, and have 5 solutions worked out. Someone else, just hops in the RV and goes. When it's time to stop, they think.

[IBcarguy]

I realize it's highly unlikely, but the only thing I worry about when camping is the remote possibility of running out of beer. I shutter to think about it.

[Goostoff]

Its just to tow the 5th wheel. I even tried to explain there is room on the back to take the golf cart along. The bed has been removede from the bunk and 3 bucket seats installed so we would no longer need to take an extra car to haul the boys. Still even enough room left in the back for my dog. Its perfect.

[holstein13]

Goostoff wrote:
Yep. Been trying to convince her for the last 2 years. She now finally agrees that we need a truck, but still has reservations on the class 8. Here is the one I am tring to get my hands on.

I assume the class 8 will be used to generate revenue, won't it? As long as it is profitable and the economics work, how could she object? Or will you be using this solely to tow your 5th wheel?

[Goostoff]

holstein13 wrote:
Time for a new truck and a class 8. Sweet.

FunnyCamper wrote:
Can we say you are DROOLING for a new truck 🙂 🙂 🙂

Yep. Been trying to convince her for the last 2 years. She now finally agrees that we need a truck, but still has reservations on the class 8. Here is the one I am tring to get my hands on.

[minnow]

DutchmenSport wrote:
My dog and were we are limited where we can go and what we can do with him. We take our dog with us everywhere. We never leave him in the camper. This is #1 on our list of thoughts ... always!

Edit:
At the campsite it's always about the dog. Getting up in the middle of the night to let him out. Keeping him on a leash. Walking him, exercising him, picking up after him. He controls our entire life.

On the road traveling, its about keeping him hydrated, fed, and finding places he can potty.

Our dog consumes about 99% of our attention. Everything else is just trivial.

I gave all that up when are 3 kids got grown up. Why anyone would want to return to those days is a mystery to me.

[FunnyCamper]

Goostoff wrote:
Will the damned truck start when I get home from work so I can be set up before it gets dark?

The wife better have remembered the cheese or she will be going to get some.

She better have not forgotten to pack the dog food.

If I shut the truck off at the gas station will it start or should I just leave it running while I fill up?

Man I sure hope I can make that deal on that class 8 this year so the dog isnt slobbering all over the windows and blocking the mirror with his big melon.

Is the truck going to start so we can get home before it gets dark.

Can we say you are DROOLING for a new truck 🙂 🙂 🙂

[holstein13]

Goostoff wrote:
Will the damned truck start when I get home from work so I can be set up before it gets dark?

The wife better have remembered the cheese or she will be going to get some.

She better have not forgotten to pack the dog food.

If I shut the truck off at the gas station will it start or should I just leave it running while I fill up?

Man I sure hope I can make that deal on that class 8 this year so the dog isnt slobbering all over the windows and blocking the mirror with his big melon.

Is the truck going to start so we can get home before it gets dark.

Time for a new truck and a class 8. Sweet.

[Ivylog]

What's the temp of my NoCold 1200 poor excuse for a refrigerator. OH wait, I have not looked at the remote temp display all week... love my residential refer which has COLD beer and ice cream you have to put in the microwave to scoop.:B :B :B :B