until we pick up the trailer. Now in my last post I talked about getting a part-time job. One of my "requirements" is that a job will not interfere with camping. It will have to be only 1 day per week and fit with my volunteer schedule so that the other day of the week will be free to get out into nature.
We're almost ready to pick up the trailer. Just a few more little things to buy and we have to visit the insurance agent to transfer the trailer into our name.
Monday morning we hit the road at 7am to start our journey to the factory where "Tony" will be waiting patiently for us.
Oh, and we found a new location to store the trailer. The people where we were going to leave it wanted us to sign a liability waiver. We weren't comfortable with that. So I called around and found a commercial storage lot for just a few more dollars per month. It is fenced and monitored and doesn't have trees overhanging. (Which was one of the drawbacks of the private yard we were looking at.) Anyway, we're much more comfortable about leaving our trailer at the new place we found. All's well that ends well.
Friday, 30 September 2011
To work, or not to work...
...that is the question.
Well, if you've been reading this you know I'm a mercurial guy. Impulsive-Obsessive, if I were to offer a diagnosis. Anyway, I volunteer one afternoon a week at a tourist information kiosk. I just love it. Lots of superficial interaction with very nice people. Mostly the tourists are in a very good mood and looking forward to their adventures. So that got me thinking, if I enjoy doing this so much why not do it one more day a week? Two days a week "working" would round out my week nicely and more than satisfy my need for socializing and more importantly satisfy MY RESTLESS NATURE. But then I said, why give my time away? Why not get a part-time job, like in a coffee shop, or store or some other place that provides a bit of socializing?
Step 1. I went to a local employment counseling agency. You know the kind, they are funded by the government and mostly just provide employment for the people that work there. They don't actually help you find a job, they just offer advice and hand-holding. But the lady I met with was very nice and encouraging and actually offered to "dumbsize" my resume so I can present it to the kind of employers I'm targeting.
I really want something that's fairly menial, where I don't have to think to hard, where I don't have a lot of responsibility. It is for fun after all. For a bit there I did consider doing contract work in my field (I am a professional) but quickly decided against that because it would just bring me stress. I retired to get out of the stress factory, so I ain't gonna jump back in.
Well, if you've been reading this you know I'm a mercurial guy. Impulsive-Obsessive, if I were to offer a diagnosis. Anyway, I volunteer one afternoon a week at a tourist information kiosk. I just love it. Lots of superficial interaction with very nice people. Mostly the tourists are in a very good mood and looking forward to their adventures. So that got me thinking, if I enjoy doing this so much why not do it one more day a week? Two days a week "working" would round out my week nicely and more than satisfy my need for socializing and more importantly satisfy MY RESTLESS NATURE. But then I said, why give my time away? Why not get a part-time job, like in a coffee shop, or store or some other place that provides a bit of socializing?
Step 1. I went to a local employment counseling agency. You know the kind, they are funded by the government and mostly just provide employment for the people that work there. They don't actually help you find a job, they just offer advice and hand-holding. But the lady I met with was very nice and encouraging and actually offered to "dumbsize" my resume so I can present it to the kind of employers I'm targeting.
I really want something that's fairly menial, where I don't have to think to hard, where I don't have a lot of responsibility. It is for fun after all. For a bit there I did consider doing contract work in my field (I am a professional) but quickly decided against that because it would just bring me stress. I retired to get out of the stress factory, so I ain't gonna jump back in.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Getting out into nature
MWP and I were discussing the question of "what are our goals for this new trailer?". Both of us agreed that our primary goal is to "get out into nature." We're very fortunate in this part of the world to have multiple, beautiful, wilderness-like campgrounds within a short drive. We're looking forward to having "retreats" away from the phone and internet. To just hang out at the campsite reading a good book or hiking in the nearby trails. Sitting by the campfire in the evening is fun too! Our second goal is to travel to different parts of the US and Canada. For instance, we want to spend time in New Mexico and enjoy its vibrant arts scene. Or perhaps pull our little guy across Canada and see the Maritime provinces. A third goal would be limited "snowbirding." Perhaps spending a week or two in Palm Springs on our way to New Mexico or swinging by Texas on the way back from who-knows-where. Hanging out by a pool for a few days would be nice, but we are leery of the big RV resorts. Who wants to be cheek to jowl with 40 foot monsters parked on cement pads?.
So to sum up, our goals in order of priority are: Nature retreats, travel/sightseeing, snowbirding. We're very lucky to have these experiences to look forward to!
So to sum up, our goals in order of priority are: Nature retreats, travel/sightseeing, snowbirding. We're very lucky to have these experiences to look forward to!
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Why 13 feet?
This has been one of the hardest posts to write. Many of the factors deciding the length of our new trailer are subjective. First, there's the whole mystique of the small fibreglass travel trailers. Fascinating little buggers.
Cleverly designed, using every square inch to re-create the comforts of home. Call it the "cute" factor.
A bigger toy doesn't necessarily mean a better toy. When is enough enough? If 13 is nice then 15 might be nicer, or 17, or 19? OK! Just go small and enjoy the advantages of small. Sure the bed's a bit on the narrow side, but the ease of towing and parking make the little guys very attractive.
And speaking of towing, the tow vehicle was a big consideration in our decision. We wanted something small and easy on gas for everyday driving but big enough to safely tow our trailer. One of the small SUV's fit the bill perfectly. A towing capacity of around 3,000lbs gave us a good margin of safety & doesn't restrict our ability to carry extras to make our life at the campground more comfortable. And the smaller the trailer the more closely it tracks to the tow vehicle so it's much easier to maneuver on multi-lane highways, in parking lots and at gas stations.
And finally, there's the travel stress factor. In my experience stress increases exponentially with the length of the RV. This trailer is for holidays and fun!!!
Cleverly designed, using every square inch to re-create the comforts of home. Call it the "cute" factor.
A bigger toy doesn't necessarily mean a better toy. When is enough enough? If 13 is nice then 15 might be nicer, or 17, or 19? OK! Just go small and enjoy the advantages of small. Sure the bed's a bit on the narrow side, but the ease of towing and parking make the little guys very attractive.
And speaking of towing, the tow vehicle was a big consideration in our decision. We wanted something small and easy on gas for everyday driving but big enough to safely tow our trailer. One of the small SUV's fit the bill perfectly. A towing capacity of around 3,000lbs gave us a good margin of safety & doesn't restrict our ability to carry extras to make our life at the campground more comfortable. And the smaller the trailer the more closely it tracks to the tow vehicle so it's much easier to maneuver on multi-lane highways, in parking lots and at gas stations.
And finally, there's the travel stress factor. In my experience stress increases exponentially with the length of the RV. This trailer is for holidays and fun!!!
Monday, 19 September 2011
Progress
The trailer is coming along
Every Friday, after our trailer went into production, Tammy from Escape Industries emails photos of the in-progress trailer. The last week's photos showed an outer shell sitting on the frame. It has wheels but no door or windows installed. Inside, the cupboards and seats are framed in, the walls are covered, electrical wires have been run and I can just make out a couple of water pipes near the tank under the dinette seat. It's going to be a beauty!
Two weeks today
It is exactly 2 weeks today unitl we pick up the trailer. Time drags waiting for "the big day" but at the same time, when I look back on the last 6 weeks since we placed the order, the time has flown by.
I weighed stuff
At the moment, a lot of the stuff we've been buying for the "camping lifestyle" (remember I said it was like furnishing a house?) is sitting in our hallway. I weighed myself dry (now there's some trailer lingo for you) then I picked up all the boxes of stuff one by one and weighed myself while holding them. I did the math and presto! the total weight came to about 100 pounds. There's a bit more in the car, then I estimated the weight of water, propane, bedding & food (I hope I remembered most everything) and the total came to somewhere between 500 and 600 pounds. Wow. With the trailer weight of 1,400 pounds the total tow weight should be in the neighbourhood of 2,000 pounds. The car's capacity is 3,200 pounds, but I read in Trailer Life that a good rule of thumb is keep to about 70% of that. So, even fully loaded we'll be well within our safety range. Ain't that great?
Every Friday, after our trailer went into production, Tammy from Escape Industries emails photos of the in-progress trailer. The last week's photos showed an outer shell sitting on the frame. It has wheels but no door or windows installed. Inside, the cupboards and seats are framed in, the walls are covered, electrical wires have been run and I can just make out a couple of water pipes near the tank under the dinette seat. It's going to be a beauty!
Two weeks today
It is exactly 2 weeks today unitl we pick up the trailer. Time drags waiting for "the big day" but at the same time, when I look back on the last 6 weeks since we placed the order, the time has flown by.
I weighed stuff
At the moment, a lot of the stuff we've been buying for the "camping lifestyle" (remember I said it was like furnishing a house?) is sitting in our hallway. I weighed myself dry (now there's some trailer lingo for you) then I picked up all the boxes of stuff one by one and weighed myself while holding them. I did the math and presto! the total weight came to about 100 pounds. There's a bit more in the car, then I estimated the weight of water, propane, bedding & food (I hope I remembered most everything) and the total came to somewhere between 500 and 600 pounds. Wow. With the trailer weight of 1,400 pounds the total tow weight should be in the neighbourhood of 2,000 pounds. The car's capacity is 3,200 pounds, but I read in Trailer Life that a good rule of thumb is keep to about 70% of that. So, even fully loaded we'll be well within our safety range. Ain't that great?
Saturday was not a good day
When I say restless I mean it...
I woke up feeling agitated. It's a bit like getting in your car, putting it in neutral, and stepping on the gas. The car revs up but doesn't go anywhere. It's an awful feeling. I'd rather be depressed any day. I tried to channel it in positive ways: I took a long walk on the beach, cleaned the bathroom, washed the floors, baked bread. Luckily that "spell" only lasted the day and I was able to get a good night's sleep that night.
I woke up feeling agitated. It's a bit like getting in your car, putting it in neutral, and stepping on the gas. The car revs up but doesn't go anywhere. It's an awful feeling. I'd rather be depressed any day. I tried to channel it in positive ways: I took a long walk on the beach, cleaned the bathroom, washed the floors, baked bread. Luckily that "spell" only lasted the day and I was able to get a good night's sleep that night.
Saturday, 17 September 2011
So much to do!
Where are we going to store this baby?
A little complication. We live in an apartment and have no place to store our little baby. No problem, there are several RV storage yards in the vicinity. I call several. Yes they have space, but yikes! they sure charge a lot. I finally locate a good, affordable possibility, but it's a long way away. What to do? Craigslist comes to the rescue. I place a "wanted" ad for a spot nearby and get 2 responses! The one closest has no security and I'm worried about vandalism. The second place, a little further away, is a private, fenced yard of some very nice people. They have a 13 foot trailer so ours will have company. The only drawback is that there are large trees in their yard and I fear out trailer will become covered in falling leaves. Oh dear!
The solution is a trailer cover...
fiberglassrv.com is a great resource. There's a link to a place that sells covers. Perfect! It will keep the leaves off. I email the nice people and tell them we are definitely taking their offer. I order a cover. It comes in less than a week. Looks good. Soft breathable material. Should do the trick.
We need a lot of stuff
MWP says it's like furnishing a house. Cutlery, pots, cooking utensils, rugs, etc. etc. etc. I make a list. I go comparison shopping. I divide the list by store. The dollar store has the largest list! I start shopping!
Well, this is fun.
A little complication. We live in an apartment and have no place to store our little baby. No problem, there are several RV storage yards in the vicinity. I call several. Yes they have space, but yikes! they sure charge a lot. I finally locate a good, affordable possibility, but it's a long way away. What to do? Craigslist comes to the rescue. I place a "wanted" ad for a spot nearby and get 2 responses! The one closest has no security and I'm worried about vandalism. The second place, a little further away, is a private, fenced yard of some very nice people. They have a 13 foot trailer so ours will have company. The only drawback is that there are large trees in their yard and I fear out trailer will become covered in falling leaves. Oh dear!
The solution is a trailer cover...
fiberglassrv.com is a great resource. There's a link to a place that sells covers. Perfect! It will keep the leaves off. I email the nice people and tell them we are definitely taking their offer. I order a cover. It comes in less than a week. Looks good. Soft breathable material. Should do the trick.
We need a lot of stuff
MWP says it's like furnishing a house. Cutlery, pots, cooking utensils, rugs, etc. etc. etc. I make a list. I go comparison shopping. I divide the list by store. The dollar store has the largest list! I start shopping!
Well, this is fun.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Step 3: getting the Santa Fe ready
The Santa Fe came with a tow hitch and basic trailer wiring but it need a brake controller and a proper 7-pin trailer plug. I got several quotes. Why so expensive? I finally found a guy just out of town who has a great little RV maintenance business who gave me a fair quote. Got that done.
Step 2: buying a tow vehicle
Our faithful little car just wasn't going to cut the mustard as a tow vehicle. Well, we didn't need anything too big to pull the Escape. Ford Ranger? Sorry, MWP just ain't a pickup guy. How about a "compact" SUV? Ford Escape and Hyundai Santa Fe were good contenders. An Escape pulling an Escape had a certain symmetry. On the other hand, Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of our favourite places. Our only criteria was that we didn't "trade down" meaning no older and hopefully less mileage than our current car. In the end the Santa Fe won the day. After an agonizing negotiation session at the dealer's we were the proud owners of a blue, 2006, low-mileage Santa Fe. Which, by the way, feels truly luxurious compared to what we had.
Step 1: ordering the trailer
August 5th, 2011. What a day! Called Tammy at Escape and gave her the deposit for a brand new Escape 13 Plan A trailer. The Plan A comes with a rear dinette that makes into a double bed and a narrower front dinette that can be made into a single bed. That way we can leave the larger bed made up and use the front dinette as our eating area. No bathroom. We order the optional porta-potti. That's it. Escape trailers come amazing well equipped with furnace, fridge, awning, Maxx fan, etc. Man, I'm so excited I'm practically wetting my pants! The trailer will be ready on October 3rd. Eight weeks to wait. It's gonna seem like forever. But there's lots do do...
Decisions, decisions
Gosh there's so much out there! Big vs small. New vs used. After lots of research and discussion we decided to get a new, light-weight, 13 foot trailer. We looked at different brands. Escape, for their quality and design, soon became our favourite. Our enthusiasm was at a fever pitch. Go for it!
Where did this come from?
Well, I've already owned 5 (yes, 5) RV's so I'm not stranger to them. Anyway, I was reading an article in the LA Times about a young architect who had beautifully restored an old Airstream trailer. That got me dreaming about trailers again. I went to the local library and borrowed a bunch of back copies of Trailer Life. I got more excited. Talked to MWP (my wonderful partner) about RVing again. "Well, you do have a restless nature," he said.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Some people just never settle down!
Hey! Are you talking about me? Well, I've had lots of adventures and there's more on the way. I retired 2 years ago, and I've got to say that retirement is the best job I've ever had! But after a couple of years of everyday-is-a-Saturday time starts to hang a little heavy. So what does a guy with a restless nature do? Buys a recreational vehicle, of course!
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