This journal is going to do some back-tracking in order to catch up to the current day. Who knows where we will be or what we will be doing when this journal goes live.
We would hope to be very close to hitting the road, but who knows.
Right now as I’m writing this entry, it has already been three months since the inception of our conversations and research of the possibility of becoming full-time RVers.
It all started with Lori’s hair-brained notion that we could sell all of our stuff (99.9% Lori’s stuff), and buy an RV and hit the road. (Everyone that knows Lori and is reading this right now is laughing hysterically – more on why later in the journaling).
All I had to do was convince Tom. He’s Mr. Practical. Mr. Reasonable. Mr. In-Charge-of-the-Finances. I was sure that he would shoot it down right away.
Sooooo, I got my ducks in a row first. I started researching and reading about full-time RV living. I read lots of articles and got hooked on a website that was full of great information and a fabulous and entertaining journal, RV-Dreams.com. I read just about everything they have on their site and one year of their journal before ever even looking at actual RVs AND taking Tom to go see them.
The first RVs I went to look at were at Grapevine RV in Lebec, CA since it was right across the street from the post office I’m at every day. I first went through a huge motorhome since that’s what I had originally thought I wanted. It was nice, but even with the slide-outs out, it just didn’t seem large enough for full-time living. I went through a couple other rigs and none of them were quite right. Then, I stepped up into a 2005 Alpha Leisure See Ya! 5th Wheel and was blown away! Wow! This thing was awesome! It had three slide outs, two of which were adjacent to one another so it made the living area so nice and roomy. The first thing I noticed was the kitchen island! Then, the double fridge! Then, the KING sized bed and real closet! The whole layout was perfect!
I went home and started looking at a BUNCH, and I mean A BUNCH of different styles, and shapes, and sizes of RVs. I never found another one that I like as much as the Alpha!
So, now, I wrote up a plan, ideas for jobs we could do from the road, and an inventory list of our “stuff” and what we would do with all of it. Give to family and friends: sell on eBay and craigslist; have numerous yard sales; and donate the rest.
I had read that living in an RV is very limiting for possessions due to space, but mostly weight. So, “I” was going to have to do some SERIOUS downsizing. I can do it!! I’m determined!! I mean, if it gets us out of the crazy rat race and traveling WITH our home, then I can do it!
Next step, sell this whole idea to Tom! Oh boy! I felt ready. I had researched and read, and had all of my rebuttals ready. So, one Saturday morning I got all ready to go “out” and I told Tom I was going to take him somewhere and I wanted him to keep an open mind. First, I showed him the huge motorhome and then I took him to see the Alpha 5th wheel. I knew that there wasn’t any point in showing him anything else on the lot. He really liked it! He also checked out the Ford F350 Turbo Diesel dually truck that came in with the Alpha. We would have to buy both.
We went home and discussed things and Tom started his own researching. One thing he said was that “I” was going to have to go get a job. We would have to pay down a couple things before we could do the full-time thing or even buy the vehicles.
So, that next Monday, I went out and got a JOB! Determined I tell ya!
The journaling I started actually began on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.