TherapyBound

We do a lot of restaurant reviews as part of our work, and every time a chef tells us his or her food is "farm to table" I'm reminded where all the best produce is going (that, and being shipped out of state), and why it isn't in the stores. Very interesting that you spoke with a chef who is also having that problem. I do wonder if exporting brings in so much more profit that locals are left behind. Wish they'd send more superb Midwestern beef down this way...!

Well, "Hello" to a fellow Michigander! So much to love about the state. If it weren't for the cold winters I could see us moving back. Just love the idea of finding farms and orchards for fresh produce. I grew up canning and freezing, and it usually started with going to a farm or orchard and picking the produce ourselves. I do miss that. Wonderful childhood memories.

The goals we're setting in place are the reason we can't start until May 2021. We do love our work, and we'd be lost and unhappy without it, but we need a re-focus that involves less time sitting and more time experiencing. The RV lifestyle seems to encourage that. Along with the two-year goals we're already setting in place, we've got several that are work-related but don't involve churning out copy for 12 hours straight. I do like the idea of adding State-specific goals once we're underway, too. We've been to most States, some of which we probably won't visit again, but the ones we do want to see might be even more fun with a "themed goal" in mind, as you suggest, Kirk W. Interesting thought! We love to kayak, hike, paddleboard, go boating, and get under the skin of an area's history, all of which are terrific fodder for our work AND have the benefit of being healthy pursuits. It's figuring out how to transition so that there's TIME for those focuses. Great idea to choose a State-specific goals that move in that direction.

I've wondered about this. We eat a healthy diet at home, with almost no processed foods, but produce in Florida is just appalling. All the prime produce gets shipped to other states for greater profits. I was shocked by that when we moved here from Michigan. I remember great farmers markets in Michigan that had produce that actually came from farms. Here in Orlando all of the farmers markets we've found get their produce from the same distributor as Publix. Some don't even bother hiding it, and just leave their produce in the distributor's boxes. I was hoping most states have much better fresh produce. Maybe not?

richfaa, would you say you've had more adventure, more mental stimulation, more interest in an involved life than you might have if you had stayed in a permanent home and been somewhat confined to your community most of the time? None of us can "know" what we'd have done, but as a guess, would you have been as active and involved had you not taken to the road? At 82, and still enjoying your great adventure, it seems to me you're an excellent example of what I'm getting at: being in a situation that encourages new horizons, literally and figuratively, offers more reason to get out of bed and enjoy a fuller life. I just wonder if it's harder to be in a rut when your view is ever-changing.

If you're in or near Florida, the show in Tampa is excellent (HUGE!). There is also a massive dealership nearby (LazyDays) as well as several smaller (but still significant) dealerships. They're all in the same general area. I can't say we were overly impressed by the salesman's knowledge at LazyDays, but we were there mainly to get a feel for various floor plans and brand qualities, so his lack of insight didn't really matter. Great area to visit if you want to see a LOT of rigs within a 10 mile radius.

x2!!

I guess my point (not well made, apparently! ) was that the questions we had about what was right for us didn't come from reading about various RVs, it came from actually being IN them and imagining how we'd live while we were actually IN different types of RVs. We initially thought we wanted a 28-30 foot Class C, but once we were in it for 10 minutes or so, it quickly closed in around us. I'm quite certain that isn't the case for many, many people. So I was trying to say, for US, at least, being IN lots of different RVs answered that question, and maybe it would for the OP, too. We subsequently narrowed down a lot of the options and floor plans by spending a lot of time in different Class As. I hope it's helped us get our ultimate decision as right as we can, while still being very aware that hanging out in an RV that isn't yours and is parked in a lot somewhere isn't the same as actually living in it!

Empirical evidence works for me in this instance. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, so there's no guarantee when it comes to health, but it does seems like a lifestyle that encourages new perceptions, more movement, and an overall better attitude, if that's the change you're looking for. And we are.

Thank you for that insight, LiveWorkDream! If you're the LiveWorkDream I think you might be, your situation is a LOT like ours. The demands can be crushing at times, and working from home it's just too easy to sit down at 8am and not get up again for 12 hours, other than to grab a meal and use the bathroom. We plan to change that with a change to our business. Although we'll still be working, it will have a slightly different focus. It does seem like the changing scenery and the chance to see new places and meet new people would be a big inspiration. Even if it isn't a massive change physically, the mental side of it seems so much healthier, and that counts for a lot. Interesting to read the replies. We're definitely interested in being active, but our current workload doesn't really lend itself to that, hence the need for a life-changing move in another direction.

A Class A motorhome. Since the OP's question was, "So with this information, which RV would be my best option?" I was responding only to that one question, not with the TYPE of RV that's right for HER, or the FEATURES in any given RV, but with the process we used to decide which TYPE of RV would work best for us. Nothing more, nothing less. We eliminated Class Cs because we want something larger than the biggest Class C, we didn't care for the Class C cab (it's right for many, but not for us), and we had some concerns about the wheel base (I think that's what it's called; the amount of overhang behind the rear tires) on larger Class Cs. We eliminated Trailers straight from the get-go because that isn't right for our needs, and while we thought about 5th wheels, ultimately the Class A works best for us. But this isn't about me, it's about the original poster. I just answered the question she asked as best I could.

Of course. I'm interested in hearing how it worked out, in general. Are you more active than you used to be because the lifestyle encourages that? Or do you find you still sit around reading or watching TV as you did in a permanent home, but maybe with a better view? Not looking for a hard-and-fast rule, just whether or not people do tend to BE more active, or if they've noticed an improvement (overall) in their health because of the lifestyle.

As we're moving closer to our "start date" one of the things we've been asking ourselves is, how much healthier will we be by doing this? Right now we work 12 hour days, 7 days a week, mostly (but not exclusively) sitting at our computers. We get very little exercise, and when we do get it, it tends to be in intense bursts, on our feet morning until night at media events, sometimes for up to 5 days in a row. Are we correct in thinking the RV lifestyle tends to encourage a LOT more movement? A lot more ability to take advantage of fresh foods (I'm thinking local farmers markets, etc)? A lot more mental engagement outside the confines of "home"? A lot more inspiration and excitement about getting up each day? Or did your S&B lifestyle simply follow you on the road?

It may not solve the question of diesel or gas, but the best thing we did to get a firm fix on what kind of RV we wanted (and needed for the style of travel we'll do) is to get into a LOT of RVs, of every kind. Attend one of the big RV shows and spend a couple of days walking through rigs, pretending you live in them. Sit on the toilet. Lay on the bed. Sit at the dining table. Stand in the galley and imagine prepping food for a meal. Think about how that rig will feel if you're stuck inside for a few days during bad weather. Open and close the cupboards and feel the quality (or lack thereof). Look around and imagine your belongings in it. Take note of which kind (and especially which size) you CAN put a washer/dryer in. For us, it very quickly became obvious which kind of RV we would be happiest in. All the reading I'd done gave me an idea of what we might want, but being IN several dozen RVs made it crystal-clear.

Question: If you arrive at a campground at, say 2pm (or even 4pm), how do you know if you'll be near drunk adults? Is there some sort of warning sign? I ask in all sincerity. Is there a typical location drunks gravitate to, or is it really just the luck of the draw? How do you move if you're already there, already set up, and drunks move in 'next door'? Do people really leave in the late hours of the evening? I'm not seeing how this works.

Husband and I are travel writers, freelance journalists and book authors (with publishers Simon & Schuster in the US and Foulsham in the UK). We absolutely love our work, and can work from anywhere, but for the last 15 years we've put in 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week (with exactly 13 vacation days in 15 years!) and we need to hit Reset, so we're ready to make a big change and take to the road for a while. I've just signed another book contract with Simon and Schuster, and have another one going through their editorial process toward a contract, so we're not able to start traveling full-time until 2021. We've got several book concepts we'll be working on while we travel (not RV related), along with our regular freelance work, and we're currently establishing relationships and organizing more work we can do on the road to transition our business for the year or two we'll be traveling. Very exciting, and a bit daunting at the same time. Even though we'll still be basically doing what we do now, we really need this change, if only for a year or two.

Is it fair to say, though, that a pet on the road does add an extra dimension of care and concern? There are issues, I think, that crop up when one lives in an RV that don't crop up when you're in a s&b, including being in a different location often, and (God forbid!) any medical issues or emergencies that might occur when you're out in the boonies. All of that is solvable, but it's still more to think about. Kind of like when your kids are babies and toddlers. SO much fun, but also a great deal more worry than when they're older. It isn't about who is more or less willing to sacrifice (to me, anyway), it's about loving your pet enough to know if you'll all travel happily, safely, and without resentment. JMO, of course!

Wasn't the actual point more along the lines of "a motorhome has a benefit versus a TT or 5th because you don't have to hook up or unhook in the rain" rather than "it's scary/fun/exciting/dangerous to drive in the rain"? I'm pretty sure that's the case, since I'm the one who made the point: "I think it was the idea that if we HAD to leave quickly we could. IIRC, the conversation was about someone who had a stranger knock on their door the night before, and there was something about the person's demeanor that made them feel very unsafe. That led me to think about other instances when we might feel the need to make a speedy departure. It's a small-ish thing, but something we did take into consideration. That, and not having to hook up in the rain. "

I dunno. That "poop geyser" I was just reading about seems worse. But point well taken.

We have a Lab, and while she's the sweetest dog you could hope to meet, she travels well, she adores children, and she's an older dog who is happy to just hang out at our feet, we still have concerns about traveling with her. With the dozens of decisions related to the lifestyle RVers have make on a daily basis, it does feel like a pet adds to the already long list of things you have to pay attention to, even moreso than in a s&b. We don't think we'll be turned away from most campgrounds because of our dog, and certainly won't be kicked out because of her, but it does feel incredibly daunting just the same.

Our thinking, exactly!

I think it was the idea that if we HAD to leave quickly we could. IIRC, the conversation was about someone who had a stranger knock on their door the night before, and there was something about the person's demeanor that made them feel very unsafe. That led me to think about other instances when we might feel the need to make a speedy departure. It's a small-ish thing, but something we did take into consideration. That, and not having to hook up in the rain. Obviously, this won't be an issue for everyone. It's just something that caught our attention and, along with much bigger reasons, helped solidify our decision.

I'm not really qualified to speak on this topic, but as we were going through the process of deciding what kind of RV we wanted, ONE of the clinchers--though certainly not the only clincher--for us was a comment someone made on a forum. They said, "If, for any reason, you're uncomfortable in the place you've planned to overnight, you don't have to get out and hitch up a trailer, you simply start up the engine and leave." Oddly, that mattered to us quiet a bit, but I suspect it depends on what options appeal to you for overnights (will you boondock? Stay over at truck stops or WalMart?) , and where you plan to be (will there be bears?). The other thing, and possibly the BIGGEST thing that helped us make up our minds was getting into a LOT of motorhomes, TTs and 5th wheels. It quickly became clear which one was best for us. If forced to choose, I'd agree with Barbaraok. Small-ish Class C with a tow car. Part of the fun, though, is discovering what's right for YOU.

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