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?

[2oldman]

What kind of generator is that guy with no solar panels going to fire up? Is he going to run it to watch TV?

[Goostoff]

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.

[infogeek]

1) Will my neighbors be getting a power wash?? (Last trip 5 people near/next to me all got power washes... on different days.)
2) Will I have to dump before the honey wagon comes by again (traveling with teens on a sewerless site)
3) How far is it to the laundromat?
4) What it would be like to have a nice 42' DP
5) Why I have to go back to work

[BCSnob]

I'm not a normal RVer
I'm not normal
You may not want to know what I think about....

which is a better sample for long term DNA sample storage (blood vs saliva vs buccal swab)

Will the pigeons be rousting where I can shoot them with my pellet gun

I wonder if our lambing percentage will be higher this year

Will the van get stuck pulling the trailer into the camping field

[Naio]

It's funny how many people in this thread think that thinking means worrying, and get all het up about whether other people are doing that. Most thinking is just fun!

Chuck_thehammer wrote:

Why do people have/need to have dogs? Animals?.

I brought my kitty with me this year because he developed diabetes. I thought it was going to be a big hassle, but it turns out I love having him around :).

[bpadamson]

Since we bought the 5iver a little over a year ago ... I think about how to tweak it and prepare for the next trip. My wife thinks about the food. Since the snow appeared in November, I have been thinking about the next trip in April or May and moving snow.

[2oldman]

Low hanging tree branches.

[toedtoes]

I would say that most of my thinking is done before I leave the house. I'm a huge planner (the anal word has been used to describe me), but once the planning is done, the thinking gets pushed away for the enjoyment.

This is the same in everything I do, so i'm not thinking more or differently with the RV than without.

I'd say the only time "thinking" gets in the way is when someone joins me and starts throwing wrenches in the machine. Then I get into the "how can I make this work better next time" thoughts.

[rhagfo]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Sunrise, no way, got up early all my life and there is no way I am getting up to look at a sunrise.

Oops, sorry I fixed it. Still not getting up.

Come on, once in your life, go to the Florida keys, get up early and watch Sunrise then watch Sunset that night, nap allowed in the middle of the day. :B

[Padlin]

Gas prices/mileage
Choosing and reserving a campground/site
Pet
weather
avoiding traffic
holding tanks
conserving
Tow Vehicle health
Trailer upkeep
The empty house

Funny that $ isn't on there.

Not in any special order, and not that I worry about any of it, just what we spend time thinking about in relation to traveling.

[FunnyCamper]

holstein13 wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I'd be interested in knowing the original "thoughts" that inspired the OP. Since he says "we can do better", i'd like to know what the standard is.

Here's the original list:

1. Our neighbors no thoughts, they are who they are and we deal.
2. Our surroundings no worries, I book my site so I know what it will basically be so...
3. The weather yes I do put importance on this. we are beach vacationers and sun and hot is important! no storms please!
4. Sunrise and/or sunset nope
5. Gas pricesnope. the price is the price
6. Gas mileage hubby YES. he loves his calculations and tinkering to improve mileage. me, nope
7. Traffic few thoughts HOPING the journey is easy and not congested but no biggie, it is what it is
8. Water consumption/use nope. we have our usage down pat and have a blue tote so....no extra thoughts on it
9. Electrical use we always camp with elec. at least and we have a genny on board. never a thought
10. 4G/wi-fi availability

nope, no 'puter when we travel. just phone and it has its own hotspot if needed

Hmm, we really don't 'think more' about alot of things just cause we RV. Animal. the dog is forefront cause he has to have needs met and more controlled situations since he is with us.

Never worry about what might break etc. Why worry about what didn't happen?

I guess our thoughts are more about maintenance on the RV. Have to put time and effort into pre-maintenance to keep it all working best but everyone has to do that with their hobby/recreation purchases. be it RV, boats, ATVs or whatever you enjoy.

[holstein13]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
there is NO OFF switch for my brain...:)
can I make this better/faster/lighter/etc.

I love this. I'm the same way. Constantly thinking about how things work, why folks do what they do, and wondering how I could improve something. I'm always happy to meet folks like you.

[Chuck_thehammer]

Thinking will make you OLD!
Thinking about your troubles/problems make you OLD,,, FASTER.

Why do people have/need to have dogs? Animals?
Why do RV's that are parked for more then 2 days.. Look like a Christmas tree. (lights) ornaments, trinkets .

YES I am OLD. and being a retired auto mechanic.. always in the back of my head.. what is about to break/fail/wear out...

as for sunrise/set... I am up at 4am and go to bed at 11pm.. have for 50 plus years. Working or not.

there is NO OFF switch for my brain...:)
can I make this better/faster/lighter/etc.

recent... wife could not find trailer in the dark..(no campground lights) even with a flashlight... I rigged up a switch to jumper the trailer battery to the running lights (at 7 pin connector)... so she can find the trailer ...

will make permanent when we return home... in 2 months.

[Tom_Diane]

holstein13 wrote:
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?

I was going to post tonite about my favorite month but I will post it here.
Since I live in Iowa I always look forward to the month Of February! This is because its a short month and March can bring some chilly wet weather but I can still think about getting out to the campground! So I think of February from starting around late October!
As to the OP I think of all of the things except I find WI-FI a plus but not consumed with it. I do focus on the price of gas!
I'm on oxygen so I am always thinking about having to have a site that has 50 amp service so I can run my concentrator and A/C or heater!

[Naio]

Weather, weather, weather! I check it on my phone about 5 times a day -- for about 5 different locations. I look at the 3 month forecasts. I look at historical climate data... all the time trying to figure out where to go and when, for the best climate and thinnest crowds :).

I also spend an inordinate amount of time looking at google maps street view for remote mountain roads. Informative, and sometimes so beautiful!