We had a travel trailer for many years, just so we could escape from NYC life on the weekends and de-stress. We really loved it but the RV sprung a leak at 11 years old and we just weren't inclined to deal with it, having gone through the same situation with it a few years earlier when it was just past its warranty.
The upside of trailer and other RV camping is that you bring your house with you. Your bed, your refrigerator and food that isn't deep fried if you don't want it to be. I can make sure my lettuce hasn't been handled by someone who didn't wash their hands, I don't have to deal with long waits for a sticky table and no song and dance when all I want to do is eat and leave. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of staying in an upscale hotel with a pool but I am never fully comfortable in them, either the rooms are too dark or the chairs in the room too uncomfortable to read in and someone else has slept in my bed.
We had been talking about getting a small motorhome for many years, just because it was easier to handle than a trailer and tow vehicle. So this past October we purchased a 26 footer which has 1 slideout on the back for the bed. Its the perfect size for the dog and the two of us, is easy to drive and park. Its too small for our kids to borrow though, which means I don't have to worry about it being borrowed and returned in less than pristine condition if you get my drift.
We've only made 1 trip so far, as my vacation time was limited. We took a few days and went to Fairystone State park here in Virginia for the shakedown cruise, where we figured out where things needed to be stored, where hooks for caps and other equipment needed to go and how to use all the extras in the RV such as the outdoor TV, the loft bed (mattress pad removed so we can store things up there.) and the microwave/convection oven. I've never used a micro convection oven before so it was a learning experience. We knew from past experience with the trailer most of what we needed to stock the RV with, such as the stinky slinky, extension cords, antiskid lining for the cabinets and so on.
We found that we needed heavy duty padding on the mattress to keep my back happy. Also that a hanging shoe bag was perfect to hang from the loft platform over the drivers seat in order to store the dogs leash and brush and our shoes. Future plans may include small gas grill and a toad vehicle. We are hoping that next year we will be able to rent cars at the towns we are camping at and have them bring them to us. We'll see how that works out.
My plans for next year are to visit my far flung cousins, fellow escapees from the city, some of whom I haven't seen in a few years. I am hoping to retire in June of the coming year. We'll see!
