This may not be what you're looking for but I think it's pertinent. We took the kids on RV trips when they were young. I see them now wanting their kids to also enjoy the outdoors. Our trips taught them to appreciate and respect the environment, to wonder at nature's spectacles, and to realize that fun doesn't have to be found in amusement parks. RVers and campers are some of the biggest environmentalists and preservationists out there. We want the unspoiled beauty to be there for our grandchildren!
Here's a link that might help you out:
view linkCheers!
Donna aka Froggi
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I do not know about others, but I reply with:
I educating my kids, they are seeing places that they would not normally get to see except from a history book, and now they get to see history upclose and personal.
Even at high gas prices, the cost is less than air fare, and then we would have to rent a car one we reached our destination, and they would not have seen the country between airports.
My wife and I have worked hard for this lifestyle, we may not have the largest house in the township, but we have a home, we also have a motorhome that allows us to enjoy the family time.
RVing takes teamwork, which your title does not encourage. When there is a couple RVing, both should acquire as much knowledge as they can about the RV, and both should be capable of driving the RV, whether a Class-A (bus or whatever) or a heavy-duty truck and a 5th-wheel or trailer. Perhaps the best RV club is the Escapees (SKPs) based down at Livingston, Texas. Their interactive Internet forum is structured with literally hundreds of subject areas, along with an extensive list of "birds-of-a-feather organizations which members can join (separate from the actual membership. However, there are numerous cliques throughout, and if you rub someone the wrong way you will be ostracized. The Good-Sam club has state and regional clubs, along with discounts at campgrounds nationwide. FMAC club is based in Ohio, and limited to people with a Class-A RV (no trailers). Another group is the RVers club. You should be aware that a large percentage of the general public may consider an RV as an unnecessary luxury, which consumes an enormous amount of fuel. Others think that the larger RVs can be classified comparable to those semis out on the road which slow traffic and interfere with the use of our cars. Being psychiatrists, you should expect plenty of questions concerning your RV experiences. Many people would also assume that your careers are off-limits until they pay for your responses. Some may even think that one or both of you might have failed as shrinks, and were RVing to possibly find yourselves. Better prepare to answer their questions.
Very good stuff, QOTR... Got a kick out of your links and wish you great success! Don't forget us when you get even more famous and let us know how it goes, okay?
Now, let's explore........... um, "guilty". How does that make you feel just to be asked such an assinine question?
Kidding aside, as you can see RV people are very protective about this lifestyle choice. For many this is their primary home; and for the rest of us, this is our second home. Even the IRS lets us deduct interest for the kitchen and bath. When we travel in our rig, EVERYTHING, including the newspaper is shut down at home... We also stimulate the local economy by SPENDING MONEY every place we go!
I personally am sick and tired of the media types telling me what is endulgent and what is earned after years of half way decent planning, luck and lots of hard work.
In conclusion, you can consider telling them off... (Oh, guess that won't work either. We have books to sell!)
Truly... have fun with it. We try to.
My motor home with tow vehicle gets approximately 10 MPG. My Jeep Commander gets 17 MPG on the open road. Some would consider both to be gas guzzlers and suggest that I should travel by air to my destination thus saving fuel and making more available to others. The concept being, I guess, that if I and others like me would use less fuel the cost of fuel would go down. I would disagree.
I have done an unscientific study of travel by RV and by air. Here is what I have found. Flying would entail driving to the airport and parking my car at a cost of arou8nd $10.00/day. Then there is the cost of the airplane ticket. On arrival at my destination I would need to rent a car to support my vacation needs. Then there is the cost of my hotel/motel for the duration of my stay not to mention the cost of resturant meals. Depending on the length of stay I would need to expense my laundry/dry cleaning. Since I am married I would need to purchase TWO airline ticket (round trip). To obtain a good price I would have to book well in advance of my planned departure. Since I have four dogs that travel with me I would also need to facture in the cost of boarding my pets while gone. You get the idea.
On the other hand traveling by motor home I forego the cost of airline tickets, hotels, meals car rental fees, and kennel fees and replace them with the cost of fuel, propane and campsites. You can make an argument that I should factor in the cost of the motor home, but then I already own it and would be making payments even if parked.
While traveling in my motor home I stay at Wal-Marts, travel plazas, and rest areas where necessary and stay only in campgrounds upon arrival at my final destination or to take on fresh water or drop grey/black water.
The bottom line is that it is still cheaper to drive than to fly (for me). Not as cheap as a year ago at this time, but still cheaper.
Recently my wife and I, with our four dogs, traveled to Florida to attend the wedding of our nephew. We ended up staying 40 days visiting the various tourist sites. The trip cost me $39.40 per day (Diesel Fuel/ Jeep Gas/Camping fees/Propane cost). I did not include meals since we prepared and ate our meals in the RV, and I didn't include the cost of WDW, Universal Studios, or Sea World Tickets which would not change regardless of my mode of transportation.
One day off property in a motel would cost me at least $39.40 per day. On top of that I still have the airline expense, airport parking, car rental fees, and meals to add in.
Yes I hate paying $4.50 plus per gallon for deisel fuel and $3.59 for gas but it's still more economical for me to drive my motor home. Since I've factored in a refueling before parking my coach in my driveway I'm ready to head out and do another 1500 miles before having to refuel.
Had I not made the decision in 2001 to buy a motor home I would not have the mortgage payments and tax breaks, or been able to visit some really neat places for extended periods of time or meet some really fascinating people.
But then who of us knew in 2001 that our congress would allow to cost of fuel to rise to such ridiculous levels while still offering the oil companies lucrative tax breaks resulting in $213 BILLION dollars in profits in 2007. Unlike the congress of two decades ago our congress doesn't see fit to cap fuel prices or in any other way restrict profiteering by the oil companies.
I still believe it is cheaper for me, my wife and four dogs to travel by motor home than to fly and vacation.
Hope this helps
Leave it to the press to try to find something to criticize. It's really a matter of perception. I think they are referring to those in the 45' $500 to Million $ motor coaches rather than the average RVer.
No, I don't feel guilty about what impact our RV has on the environment. It's a matter of perception. Ours uses much less in utilites. It has Energy Star appliances. The RV has flourescent and LED lights. Our unit has great insulation and good cross ventilation when windows and vents are open.
I can recycle at many of the RVP's we stay at. We gave up the 2nd vehicle so no waste there. Since my hubby is still working, he uses the tow vehicle for work. Dual purpose and we always try to find an RVPark as close to jobsite as possible. How many people can afford to move closer to their jobs to save fuel?
We are no longer collectors since there's very little space to keep anything. Use it or give it away to someone who can. "Simplify, Simplify" is the Motto of most Fulltimers. Even those who use their RV for vacations or Snowbirding only have a greater appreciation of living in a smaller space without carrying around all their possessions.
Those who place their RV's in a seasonal site aren't watching TV all day long at home, using computers/video games, driving around town needlessly, eating at fast food restaurants. They come to the CG, to cook over a campfire, play games, fish, visit with family and gain new friends and memories.
Thank you all for your replies! It's been very interesting to me how the press is latching onto something they feel they can froth up in this very political season, whereas booksellers seem to be embracing the book (it's already in it's 2nd printing and won't even hit stores until June 3rd. Borders has chosen it as their June nonfiction book club selection and I just found out today it’s going to be a Target Breakout Book!). The book is a very humorous travel memoir with inspriational/transformational aspects. Had no idea it would stir such controvery!
Techie44 – I hadn’t thought of the issue of instilling a love of nature in our children – this can only help the environment.
Donna – great link!
BounderBob – I especially like what you said about working hard for this lifestyle. I’m also getting snide remarks from the press about isn’t it “nice” how we could “afford” to take the year off. My husband and I worked hard for 20 years, neither of us grew up rich - he, in fact, as I say in the book, so they should have realized if they'd read it - grew up dirt poor, was the first person in his family to go to college and worked himself through school, including medical school. We saved our money and used part of our retirement to fund our trip so we could “afford” the year off. I thought with America being the land of opportunity and all, people would applaud those that work hard and then get to reap the rewards – ie do something out of the ordinary with their lives. Guess not so much, as least as far as the media is concerned.
MtnLady – How does that make me feel? LOL – thanks, I needed that! I should come up with a snappy retort, like I do whenever people ask me the most asinine question shrinks probably get asked, “So, you’re a psychiatrist? Have you been analyzing me this whole time?” My response: “Why? Do you think if I were a proctologist I’d want to look up your butt?” And, yes, we DO stimulate the economy in a lot of places that need it – great point!
Abmonty – Glad to have the benefit of your experience. I spoke to the RVIA today and they just did a study proving that it IS cheaper for a family to RV than fly to take a vacation. I’ll see if I can get hold of it and post the link. It’s such a shame that the great American tradition of the road trip seems to be hitting the end of the road (hmmm… I think I’ll use that line) due to fuel prices. (Memorial Day car travel was down for the first time in years.)
Hitchup – Great points, as well. I’d forgotten that we recycled everywhere we went (unlike most hotels/motels/restaurants) and if a town had no recycling center, we hauled the stuff in our bays until we got to one that did. You also hit on one of the themes of my book (so reminded me to point this out – thanks!) that we learned we could be happier than we ever were with less stuff. As a result, we plan to sell our house and full time indefinitely, because we learned we’d rather support each other than things.
Dansk1 – Thanks for your concerns, but I’m not worried about those other issues. Anyone who reads the book will see we had VERY busy, successful practices… that was part of the problem. We were working too hard. But, that does bring up another of the things we learned that I mention in the book, that I’ll be sure to mention in the article – don’t put off your dreams. I’m so glad we did not. The trip truly changed our lives. Even the disasters we experienced (fire, flood, armed robbery and finding ourselves in a nudist RV park, to name just a few) turned out to be blessings in disguise. I hadn’t realized how important it is to keep challenging and stretching ourselves. That’s yet another great thing about RV’ing - you never know what’s around the bend. It keeps the spark in life stoked!
So, again – thanks so much to all! Sorry for the long post, but it gave me a chance to get my thoughts in order and organize my piece, so thanks for that, as well! If it’s published in the Huffington Post or elsewhere (we’re also considering it for various newspaper op eds) I’ll post the link. In the meantime, I’m still writing it, so any other input is very appreciated! But, you’ve all been so helpful – information-wise as well as the support. THANK YOU! And, hope to see you on the road...
If the book is half as fun and interesting as this post was to read and write, we have a winner folks! I'll be looking for it next month.
QOTR,
I'd be very interested to hear how you managed to keep your "blessings in disguise" in the nudist RV park. =:-O
