Poo-Poo Surprise

Before we decided to make RVing a full time way of life, I mentioned to Jeff that the one event that would be pure misery is if we all got the stomach flu while living in the RV. Well, for our initiation of having our family together in our new RV, that is exactly what happened—except our entire family didn’t get it---just Jeff and I...and on the same day. Unfortunately, we brought back a souvenir from Huntsville…..the same stomach flu that Anna, Harold and Gail had. I didn’t sleep well Sunday night and awakened to frequent bathroom visits on many occasions. Not exactly the way I wanted to start out our first week in our new home together. Praying to the porcelain God is never a pleasant activity but doing so with an RV toilet is even less desirable.

I can’t say that suffering with this would’ve been any more pleasurable being in a large home. However, Jeff and I had the good fortune of having this hit us both on the same day. Not a good thing when there is only one bathroom and both of us wanted nothing except to collapse in our bed. The really difficult part was that the girls wanted to be outside playing and they can not make their own dinner, etc. Both Jeff and I were extremely weak after not being able to hold down any food all day and we simply felt awful. Again, this wouldn’t have been any better if we were at our other home because with or without the extra bathrooms and space, we were both sick at the same time and that misery doesn’t dissipate with more square footage. It is times like this that I have a renewed respect for single parents.

The good thing is this stomach flu seems to be a 24-hour type. So the misery is great but for only a short time. Thank God for small blessings.

Of course, you would think "pooping" would be the last thing that Jeff would want to discuss at this point but as usual, he has sought out a place to use his talents. His employer is hosting a picnic for the employees in October. They have asked for volunteers from the employees to enter an ice cream contest. Jeff suggested that we enter with the following flavor: "I thought we could make some chocolate ice cream and call it Chocolate Diaper Surprise…with it being served in diapers! I think we would win…or at least have a lot of ice cream to our selves."
Here is the label for his proposed ice cream concoction. I'll leave it to your imagination as to what my rebuttal was to his suggestion. I do agree with him...I think we may be the only ones to partake of this ice cream.

There won't be anything exciting to share for this weekend. We plan to stay in town through this weekend to allow Rachel and Anna to get "settled" and to further allow Jeff and I to get an established routine going (not to mention we need to recoup from this illness). Rachel and Anna started their pre-k classes yesterday so they are getting accustomed to that new routine and their new teachers. I think we could all use a good solid week and a weekend of resting before traveling again. However, I have to say that Rachel and Anna are doing extremely well thus far.

Our next trip is planned for September 7-12. We'll be heading to Tennessee for our annual trip to Gatlinburg and our hike up Mt. LeConte to stay at the lodge.

Sweet Home Alabama

“Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes” --Sweet Home Alabama lyrics by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Alabama is where Jeff and I were born and raised and it is still home to the majority of our family members and many of our friends.

Our children have been in Alabama for the past week and a half in Huntsville. So, our ultimate destination on the whirlwind trip was to go to Huntsville to retrieve our daughters now that we are “settled” in our new home. However, we made a pit stop in the Birmingham area on Friday night to deliver our fish. We had a 25-gallon fish tank with fancy goldfish in Anna’s room. Obviously, we could not keep the tank in our RV and we were too attached to them to just give them away to someone we didn’t know.

We arrived late Friday night in Hoover. We would like to try some of the other camping spots but chose to stay the Hoover Met (home of the Birmingham Barons baseball team) because of its convenience to my Mom’s apartment complex. We have stayed there once before. Essentially, it’s the RV parking lot for the Hoover Met. It’s not much to look at since it is a parking lot. But, it provides full-service hookups, it’s quiet, it’s in a nice area of town, and is extremely convenient to everything we need.

My Mom and Grandma live in an apartment complex for elderly people. They had a fish tank in their lobby already but all it had were neons. Our fish were placed in that tank in the lobby of her apartment complex. I decided the trip and the effort was worth it when I saw the elderly people’s faces light up when they saw our fish swimming in that tank. Of course, one of our fish is sort of lazy. He spends a good portion of his time sitting at the bottom of the tank or floating upside down---usually not a good sign of health where fish are concerned. We warned my Mom not to flush him as this is normal behavior for him.

My Mom is always good for some entertainment each time we visit. She has always had a creative way of pronouncing words. She was telling everyone at her apartment complex that her son-in-law brought them some “guffies.” (That would be “guppies”…but even then, that is not the type of fish that we brought). Jeff, who never misses an opportunity to exploit the ease in which my Mom can be manipulated, jokingly gave her the proper name for the fish. He told my Mom they were “pancy moldfish” (instead of fancy goldfish) after she told him she had been telling everyone they were “guffies.” As I said…my Mom is always good for some entertainment…and Jeff is never one to shy away from the fun.

My Mom and Grandma drove out to the see the RV before we left. My Grandma, who is 89 years old, had a tough time getting in but she made it. She was determined to see it.

We left around lunch time on Saturday morning to continue our journey to Huntsville. We arrived in Huntsville early in the afternoon. We stayed at Ditto Landing in Huntsville. This was our first time to camp there. Our first camp site did not provide adequate power. So, we moved to another site. This was somewhat of a hassle but we had a better peace of mind after moving. We no longer had to worry about our power intermittently shutting off. The second site’s power was somewhat questionable but wasn’t causing the issues that we experienced with the first. Both were supposed to be 50 AMP sites but I’m not convinced they were delivering 50 AMPs. The campground was peaceful but definitely not as nice as others that we have stayed at.

It was so good to be reunited with our daughters again. We had missed them terribly but fully recognized that we needed that time alone to pack, move and get settled. They were thrilled to see us too and couldn’t wait to see their new home.

Saturday evening, we hosted a cookout at our RV. Our friends, Pete & Gabrielle and their daughters Krista and Lia visited with us at our camp site. My mother-in-law, Gail, also joined us. The girls enjoyed playing together and watching Zathura on our outdoor TV. My father-in-law, Harold, passed on the cook out as he was under the weather with the stomach flu…..the same stomach bug that Gail and our younger daughter has just had the night before. We were all hoping that none of us would get it.

We bought a tablecloth early Saturday morning that we will have out when our friends and family visit us in the future so they can sign it with a permanent marker. This will be our keepsake for our adventure. I only wish we had it on Saturday morning when my Mom and Grandma also visited with us.

After awakening on Sunday morning, we visited the playground at Ditto Landing and then walked out to view the Tennessee River and the replacement bridge for the Clemont C. Clay (or C.C. Clay) Bridge.
The Clemont C. Clay bridge is one of two cantilever truss type bridges that spanned the Tennessee River just south of Huntsville. The C.C. Clay bridge was a 75-year old bridge that has now been dismantled and has been replaced with a reinforced concrete structure. The Ditto Landing trail provides a nice trail for walkers and bikers along the river. I can see why the locals would visit this area for a peaceful walk or bike ride. While looking out on the river, Anna spotted a play area on the other side of the river. She pointed at it with her middle finger on her right hand. So, I suggested to her that she point with her other finger. She obliged pointing again with her middle finger but on the left hand. What can I say….she’s not exactly a conformist.

We left around lunch time on Sunday to head back to Georgia. I started feeling nauseous early in the trip. I hoped it was due to the RV movement as I can be subject to moving sickness at times. We had also hoped to make it to our campsite before it was dark. That too…didn’t happen. But, Jeff backed the RV into our campsite like a pro in the dark.

While we were setting up, I decided to get a flashlight and show the girls the play area. On the way, we spotted an armadillo. Usually, the only time I see these that close are when they are sleeping (aka dead) on the road. But, this armadillo was alive and quite active. Rachel and Anna were thrilled to see this animal walking around and to be able to get so close. And, they enjoyed viewing the moon over the lake. It’s moments like these that make you treasure the changes we have made.

RV Lingo

We were bilingual. We speak fluent English and fluent government acronyms (let's not forget the whole acronym language used in e-mails and boards on the net). Most people probably don't recognize government acronyms as another language but if you ever have the opportunity to work around the government you will find that employees speak a language entirely known to them. It is interesting how quickly you get sucked in. I speak it and am not aware of how ingrained it is until I am meeting with a new employee who is looking at me like a deer caught in the headlights.

Such is the same with RVing. We are learning yet another "language".....RV Lingo. So, I guess that means we are trilingual now? Well, we're not fluent in RV language yet but fully expect to be soon enough.

Let's see...here are a few terms to share so that those who haven't been exposed to RVing will know what I'm talking about when I mention these terms.

1. Class A Motorhome-An RV with the living accommodations built on or as an integral part of a self-propelled motor vehicle. Models begin at 24 feet long and go up to 40+ feet. We have a 39 foot Class A motorhome. I've heard my husband call it a "coach" too. I'm not quite sure if the term "coach" only applies to Class A motorhomes or not.
2. Cockpit-This is the area where the driver sits. I've worked around aircraft a good portion of my professional career and I'm here to tell you....this is not like any cockpit I've ever scene.
Edited to add: My husband read this post after I had posted it. He sent me the following email in response: "I must say, I read that [cockpit definition] with some concern…fully expecting to read “this is where my husbands sits…how appropriate….” I figured everyone else would get a laugh from that comment as well.
3. Basement-This is the storage area around the bottom of the motorhome.
4. Boondocking: Camping in your RV without water or electrical hook-ups. Most commonly, people talk about boondocking at Walmart parking lots. Have you ever noticed RVs parked in the lot of a Walmart? It is because most Walmart stores do not mind RVers staying the night just to have a place to rest if there aren't any campsites nearby. I'd like to think its their way of giving back to me the thousands of dollars that I have spent in Walmart over the years.
5. Full-Timers: RVers who live in their RV year around. That would be us.
6. Slideout: An option in many RVs where a portion of the unit can expand to create more room in the RV. We have three of these with our new RV. It definitely adds more living space.
7. Rig: Another name for the coach
8. Galley: Kitchen
9. Full-Hookup: No. It's not something you did in college. This means they have the direct sewage connection, power and water at each individual campsite.

These are just a few terms that I have learned over the past few months. I'll share more as I become more fluent with RV lingo. I'm still a novice at this point. I'll publish the masters guide when I've become completely fluent. There has got to be a market for that.

Home Is Where.....

When I was active duty, I remember some of my friend's homes having a plaque that stated "Home is Where the Air Force Sends You." And, there is a lot of truth to that. Truly, when all is said and done, the structure that surrounds us does not define our home. It's the memories and love that dwells within it that makes a dwelling a "home." So, for our new adventure...."Home is where the RV is parked."

During the weekdays, we plan to park our home at the local military base FAMCAMP. I have to say, the FAMCAMP is peaceful and convenient. It is within a 5 minute drive to our jobs, groceries, the gym and our daughter's pre-k school. So, while we are spending money on fuel when we travel on the weekends, our gas expenses have significantly decreased during the weekdays.

We now live near a lake and the playground area backs up to our RV so our daughter's won't miss the one we had in our yard.

There is a building located nearby that can be rented for parties which would be perfect for a birthday party, etc. Although, it doesn't seem to be used often and we have eaten lunch in there before when we visited the base to feed the ducks. It is a nice facility because it is screened in and has ceiling fans. So we can enjoy a meal outdoors without the bother of bugs when the facility isn't being used.

As for the RV, I'm sure many are interested in seeing the inside of our new home. It has three slides on it which provide additional living space when we are parked and the slides are extended (the picture shown here was taken when we were at George L. Smith State Park last weekend). Our older model Fleetwood didn't have the slideouts and it made it a bit cramped at times.

There are many updates with our new RV that we didn't have with the 1997 Fleetwood. Some upgrades we needed...others we just wanted.

Essentially, our set up time has been significantly reduced. We park and do the following:
1. Push one button that activates the automated leveling system.
2. Push two other buttons which causes the slides to extend out.
3. Push another button that causes the large awning to extend.
4. Hook up sewer, power, and cable (if available).
5. Align the satellite dish.
Voila....we are in business.

Our new RV has all of the creature comforts of a home. We can sleep up to 7 people (master bed, two sleeper sofas and dining booth converts to a bed).

There is a queen size bed in the "master" bedroom. It features a sleep number pillow top air mattress. There is also a washer/dryer combo unit in that room along with a large closet, overhead storage, and a cabinet area that has drawers and a sink and medicine cabinet above. We also have a TV that retracts along with a DVD/VHS player and surround sound.
The main living area has two sofas that convert to beds. It also has a full-size fridge with ice maker and water dispenser. The kitchen has corian counter tops and stainless steel appliances. It has a convection microwave oven and a gas cooktop with three burners and a regular oven fueled by propane. It also has a built-in central vacuum. The dining table has an extension and two fold away chairs so we can have seating/table space for 6 if needed. The main living area also has a TV and DVD/VCR player and surround sound.
The cockpit has an XM radio, backup camera and lots of bells and whistles that I hope Jeff knows how to interpret or we're in trouble. Both the passenger and driver's seats can be turned when parked so that they function as extra seating. Both have warmers in the seats. And, the passenger seat is a powered recliner. There are automated sun blinds and curtains that close for privacy. There are day/night blinds throughout the coach on all of the windows.
Outside, we have a few more creature comforts. There is a built-in satellite on the roof. And, an outdoor entertainment area complete with a gas grill, sink and small refrigerator. There is also a TV and DVD player/radio. This will be nice when we want to watch a football game but the girls want to play outside. Now, we can watch the game and keep an eye on the kiddos at the same time.

See....we all have the comforts of home...minus the extra square footage and the lawn to mow. :-)

Our Maiden Voyage

For our first trip, we didn't venture far....mainly because time was short. We closed on our home last Tuesday and picked up our RV on Friday. We had to be out of our home on Saturday. Needless to say, we were rushed. So, we chose to go back to George L. Smith State Park in Twin City, GA. We had a nice relaxing day there. We hiked their trails and saw a turtle and an armadillo on the hiking trail. It was a bit warm and the bugs were in high gear which made the hike a little less enjoyable. However, the walk was peaceful which is just what we needed. The grounds are immaculate at this park and the staff is extremely pleasant. They even provide firewood at each site. The comfort station is very clean also. We recommend sites #15 and #18 for those with large RVs and for the best views. This park is also a great place to fish or just canoe. The only negative aspect is that if you want to eat at a restaurant, you'll have to drive to nearby towns...Metter,GA, being the closest. There is a restaurant there called Crabby Joes that we like and the food is yummy. Of course, Statesboro has a larger selection to choose from but is a bit further of a drive from the park.

We also stayed last month at George L. Smith with some friends and visited a water park in Statesboro, GA, called Splash in the Boro during that trip. We didn't go there this trip since we didn't have our children with us but do recommend it for families if you are seeking a water park. The entrance fee and the cost for food in the park were extremely reasonable and the staff seemed to keep people from getting out of hand. Definitely worth a visit if you get the opportunity.

We didn't do much on this trip except for walking in the park and recovering from packing/moving last week. We'll be heading to Birmingham, AL, and Huntsville, AL, this coming weekend to pick up our children. My husband and I will have this week to get "settled" in our new home before the children join us. Next week, we'll be getting adjusted again. The weekend of September 1st we plan to stay locally and just relax. I think we'll need a down weekend just to recoup from all of the adjustments. Then, its off to Townsend, TN, for several days.

Things I've learned thus far....
1. I no longer find "buy one get one free" or super size anything appealing at the grocery store. We simply don't have the room. It's hard in this super sized world to find small containers of anything.
2. I am going to have to learn how to modify recipes or stick to recipes with common ingredients. I no longer have pantry space to store every spice known to man.

I'm sure there are more lessons to be learned and I'll share them all. As for now, I feel very good about our decision and am looking forward to this new simple life.

Our New Adventure

We have sold our 3,000 square foot home (shown above) and have recently purchased this 2006 Fleetwood Providence 39S Diesel RV. We have placed the majority of our belongings in storage and plan to full-time in the RV for at least a year. Here is the interesting part....we are not a retired couple. My husband is 37 and I'm almost 36 and we have two young children....ages 3 and 4. We decided that we did not want to wait until we were retired to do what we truly enjoyed and that none of us have guarantees of a tomorrow. So, we decided to do what we wanted to do now instead of waiting until retirement. We owned a 1997 Fleetwood Southwind 34L previously and sold it two weeks ago. We figured if we were going to full-time it for a while, we'd do so with the creature comforts that we had become accustomed to....minus a lot of square footage.

We will still be in our current home town during the weekdays as we still have jobs. But, on the weekends we will be on the road to where ever our heart desires to nearby towns and states. For our longer vacation trips, we'll be journeying across the country.

Our children aren't in school full time yet and they are the perfect age where a large amount of space isn't required. We felt we had this window of opportunity so we are taking advantage of this time period. We will buy another home eventually but it will be much smaller than we what previously owned. Instead of having our money tied up in a home, we'd prefer to keep our finances free to continue doing what we enjoy the most---traveling. I'm sure there will be a day we'll be ready for another home but for now, we are going to try the nomad life style.

This journal will be dedicated describing our travels over the next year so that our family and friends can see what we've been up to. Hopefully, it'll be an inspiration to others....Carpe Diem!