I thought this "itch" had gone away but once again it has come back with a roar! Maybe even worse than having poison ivy in the middle of a hot summer day. What is that "itch" I speak of....RVing full time and traveling with 3 great hounds.
Am I crazy?
Read on and if let me know....I really wonder sometimes.
I am sitting here 2 years and 7 months from retirement, a great job, along with a military retirement check that shows up the 1st of every month in my bank account no matter what happens.. I live near my favorite university (alumnus), a great rural setting for my house dogs, and a house that is close to being paid for. I have lived and traveled all over the United States, either by car or bicycle. I have lived in a small beach town (no longer small), on an island in the PNW, the mountains of Colorado and a small rural town in southern Indiana.
I had everything planned out until just last Friday when I caught the story about Glen on the Yahoo main page. That led me to his blog, where I went home after work and started reading his story from day 1. I then started wondering if I could RV full time with my best friends, ones that I would never give up. I spent this past week looking at different RV's, reading all kinds of different blogs from full time RVer's and even looked at some YouTube video's of RVers.
Today after I had Googled "Full Time RVing with dogs", I found more and more blogs to read but one that really caught my eye was Me and My Dog & My RV. I then spent the rest of the day reading her blog from day one, gaining valuable information from someone that went full time and had no previous RV experience.
I keep thinking to myself .... WHY?
I have everything that I need right where I am at. I have lived in this house since 1997 and yet I have an urge to "hit the road"?? I've traveled before. I've lived in some great vacation spots. One of the best summers of my life was riding a solo bicycle trip across the USA from Indiana to San Diego and then up the coast highway from San Diego to Seattle. Is that traveling experience the core of this desire I can't get out of my mind? I don't know. I hope the answers are right around the corner.
Maybe this blog will be read by RVer's and/or people that have basset hounds or bloodhounds and THEY can comment and let me know if I am losing my mind or not.
I will continue to read as much information as I can find, taking notes along the way, about full time RVing with dogs. I will continue to following my current plan of an ongoing simplification process in my life. Hopefully as time passes on I will find an answer to this desire to RV full time, that is driving me insane right now. My mind is going Mach 1 with all the possibilities.
For those that find this blog and read to this point, all comments are welcomed and any advice is appreciated.
Hi - I DID find you. thanks for following my blog.
ReplyDeleteAs to RVing with dogs, I wouldn't do it without a dog. My dog, Katie, is perfect for me. She is great company and I'd never take all the wonderful walks if I didn't have her. I'm TOO lazy!
My rig is small and so is Katie, so she doesn't take up much room. Now...three dogs? That's a lot, but I'm sure you can do it. Most of the time I'm sitting on the dinette bench and Katie is on the couch or the other bench. There's lots of room for lounging dogs. And maybe you'd have a bigger rig than I do.
All the traveling you've done, it sounds like you're a Romani (male Gypsy?), so this yearning will just keep coming until you DO IT. :)
Hi - I DID find you. thanks for following my blog.
ReplyDeleteAs to RVing with dogs, I wouldn't do it without a dog. My dog, Katie, is perfect for me. She is great company and I'd never take all the wonderful walks if I didn't have her. I'm TOO lazy!
My rig is small and so is Katie, so she doesn't take up much room. Now...three dogs? That's a lot, but I'm sure you can do it. Most of the time I'm sitting on the dinette bench and Katie is on the couch or the other bench. There's lots of room for lounging dogs. And maybe you'd have a bigger rig than I do.
All the traveling you've done, it sounds like you're a Romani (male Gypsy?), so this yearning will just keep coming until you DO IT. :)
We have had the joy of meeting Barbara and Katie and she is a great one to tell you about full-timing with a dog. We are not full-timers but we are retired travel in our motorhome whenever we can.
ReplyDeleteWe had given up RVing several years ago but the "Itch" just never went away. Right now we have the best of both worlds...a stix and brix and our RV. Someday we may have to make a choice but for now, having both is perfect for us.
Our dogs are older and one has difficulty with travel. Luckily we have a great housesitter if we need him. Generally, travel with dogs is a wonderful experience and they enjoy it as much as you do.
You can always rent a MH for a short excursion and see what you think. But I don't think the "Itch" ever goes away once you become infected! Good luck and keep us posted on your journey of discovery.
We have had the joy of meeting Barbara and Katie and she is a great one to tell you about full-timing with a dog. We are not full-timers but we are retired travel in our motorhome whenever we can.
ReplyDeleteWe had given up RVing several years ago but the "Itch" just never went away. Right now we have the best of both worlds...a stix and brix and our RV. Someday we may have to make a choice but for now, having both is perfect for us.
Our dogs are older and one has difficulty with travel. Luckily we have a great housesitter if we need him. Generally, travel with dogs is a wonderful experience and they enjoy it as much as you do.
You can always rent a MH for a short excursion and see what you think. But I don't think the "Itch" ever goes away once you become infected! Good luck and keep us posted on your journey of discovery.
My husband and I RV'd in a Class A. We were planning to fulltime at retirement because we loved the lifestyle. We never made it. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. So, you know what I'm going to say, DO IT!
ReplyDeleteWe RV'd with two Labs--the loves of our lives. I had to sell the motorhome. I bought a little trailer and a big truck and traveled with both pups until I lost my beloved Lizzie New Years Eve 2009. Jack and I took a 6 month trip in 2010--our story is on our blog (between April and October of 2010). We're hoping to go, again, this year. Love the name of your blog, btw.
My husband and I RV'd in a Class A. We were planning to fulltime at retirement because we loved the lifestyle. We never made it. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. So, you know what I'm going to say, DO IT!
ReplyDeleteWe RV'd with two Labs--the loves of our lives. I had to sell the motorhome. I bought a little trailer and a big truck and traveled with both pups until I lost my beloved Lizzie New Years Eve 2009. Jack and I took a 6 month trip in 2010--our story is on our blog (between April and October of 2010). We're hoping to go, again, this year. Love the name of your blog, btw.
Hi, I'd say go to as many RV places as you can. Find an RV that is comfortable for you & your dogs. No need to rush into this, take your time & do what is comfortable with you. I live in a 22' RV & have show dogs, (salukis) & two rescue dogs along with them as well. They LOVE to ride & travel in the RV! Most of our trips have been to dog shows, but those trips also included cross country trips, with stay overs at state parks or boon docking. I always ask to be put away from other people when in campgrounds. I tell them I have dogs that sometimes like to sing & I don't want them to be bothering others. They are never, ever off lead, so I make sure that the campground folks know that. I feel more comfortable if they let me park away from others so that if my dogs do bark or sing (I try to keep them under control, but it can happen), they won't be seriously bothering others.
ReplyDeleteYou can always get an RV with a sofa & a dinette area where you can drop the dinette, put a pad over all that & the dogs can hang out on that if you are comfortable with that. Mine travel in crates, but I don't tell others that it's how their dogs must travel. Everyone has to do this with their own comfort levels.
It's fun to take them on trails, hike with them, hang out with them. They ARE family & I'm sooo happy to see that you feel the same about your guys too. :-) I rescued a bloodhound once, had him for about 2 weeks before bloodhound rescue could meet up with me. They usually take the rescues & turn them into service dogs, so that's really cool. I called him BigRed & put a video of him up on youtube. The account is reignbeauhounds if you want to view the video.
I read a lot of blogs, I love blogs. There's a lot of folks that travel with their cats as well & the concerns are pretty much the same as with dogs. We all want to keep them comfortable & find places where we can safely park our RV's for their safety as well.
When I got my RV, I didn't need a very big one, but wanted a ClassC. Now I wish I had a bigger one to make it more comfortable for the dogs, so take that into consideration. Also, I wish for a SuperC with basement storage as we get crammed in here from time to time with my other projects! So again, take your time & get what will really work for ya'll. You will find the RV lifestyle very rewarding!
Hi, I'd say go to as many RV places as you can. Find an RV that is comfortable for you & your dogs. No need to rush into this, take your time & do what is comfortable with you. I live in a 22' RV & have show dogs, (salukis) & two rescue dogs along with them as well. They LOVE to ride & travel in the RV! Most of our trips have been to dog shows, but those trips also included cross country trips, with stay overs at state parks or boon docking. I always ask to be put away from other people when in campgrounds. I tell them I have dogs that sometimes like to sing & I don't want them to be bothering others. They are never, ever off lead, so I make sure that the campground folks know that. I feel more comfortable if they let me park away from others so that if my dogs do bark or sing (I try to keep them under control, but it can happen), they won't be seriously bothering others.
ReplyDeleteYou can always get an RV with a sofa & a dinette area where you can drop the dinette, put a pad over all that & the dogs can hang out on that if you are comfortable with that. Mine travel in crates, but I don't tell others that it's how their dogs must travel. Everyone has to do this with their own comfort levels.
It's fun to take them on trails, hike with them, hang out with them. They ARE family & I'm sooo happy to see that you feel the same about your guys too. :-) I rescued a bloodhound once, had him for about 2 weeks before bloodhound rescue could meet up with me. They usually take the rescues & turn them into service dogs, so that's really cool. I called him BigRed & put a video of him up on youtube. The account is reignbeauhounds if you want to view the video.
I read a lot of blogs, I love blogs. There's a lot of folks that travel with their cats as well & the concerns are pretty much the same as with dogs. We all want to keep them comfortable & find places where we can safely park our RV's for their safety as well.
When I got my RV, I didn't need a very big one, but wanted a ClassC. Now I wish I had a bigger one to make it more comfortable for the dogs, so take that into consideration. Also, I wish for a SuperC with basement storage as we get crammed in here from time to time with my other projects! So again, take your time & get what will really work for ya'll. You will find the RV lifestyle very rewarding!
I think a lot depends on the layout of whatever RV you choose. I chose mine because my dogs could have the queen bed right inside the door, and I used the bunk above for storage. I put the table down into a bed, put a foam mattress on it (twin size) and it's fine. Now that I only have Jack, he sleeps down with me. After a couple of months on the road, I put a matching sheet on the couch so that he had a choice. We really lived outside, anyway, but we were very comfortable. As far as driving in the truck, my backseats folded down into a floor. I put orthopedic beds stacked two on each side and they (now Jack) were very comfortable riding. I use the Champion Seat Belt System so he can stand, sit, or lie down, but is safe. This is my floor plan. http://tinyurl.com/2jj2a7
ReplyDeleteI *think* I probably have as much living space as a 24 foot C if you count the room for the driver and passenger seats.
This is just my opinion and I have no experience with an RV to back it up. If I were buying used, I'd buy from a private party. I think it would be harder for a person to look you in the eye and sell you something that has undisclosed defects. Many dealers have no conscience. I have a friend who bought a Class C from a dealer and it's been endless expense. Might be a good idea to pay an independent person or mechanic to look it over.
I think a lot depends on the layout of whatever RV you choose. I chose mine because my dogs could have the queen bed right inside the door, and I used the bunk above for storage. I put the table down into a bed, put a foam mattress on it (twin size) and it's fine. Now that I only have Jack, he sleeps down with me. After a couple of months on the road, I put a matching sheet on the couch so that he had a choice. We really lived outside, anyway, but we were very comfortable. As far as driving in the truck, my backseats folded down into a floor. I put orthopedic beds stacked two on each side and they (now Jack) were very comfortable riding. I use the Champion Seat Belt System so he can stand, sit, or lie down, but is safe. This is my floor plan. http://tinyurl.com/2jj2a7
ReplyDeleteI *think* I probably have as much living space as a 24 foot C if you count the room for the driver and passenger seats.
This is just my opinion and I have no experience with an RV to back it up. If I were buying used, I'd buy from a private party. I think it would be harder for a person to look you in the eye and sell you something that has undisclosed defects. Many dealers have no conscience. I have a friend who bought a Class C from a dealer and it's been endless expense. Might be a good idea to pay an independent person or mechanic to look it over.
Teri … Good idea and that is the way I am leaning.
ReplyDeleteMe & My Dog … My dogs are definitely "loungers" on the nearest pile of mexican blankets. Besides being a possible "Romani", I always wanted to be a cross-country truck driver but ended up getting an accounting degree and "crunching numbers" in various jobs.
Donna K … Stix and brix with an RV may be the way to go. I am thinking of doing that for at least a couple of years just to see if I change my mind.
hobopals … Sorry for your loss. I understand when you say "DO IT", you never know what tomorrow brings. Surviving a high speed truck and trailer hitting me while stopped at a 4-way stop sign coming home from work, taught me that you never know what may happen. I will take at look at your trip notes. Thanks for the advice on buying an RV and what to look for.
TexCyn … My dogs are allowed on the leather furniture, so the dropping the table for a sofa is a good idea or most of the time as long as they can lay in the sun on their mexican blankets is good for them. Thanks for the advice of taking my time and what to look for.
Teri … Good idea and that is the way I am leaning.
ReplyDeleteMe & My Dog … My dogs are definitely "loungers" on the nearest pile of mexican blankets. Besides being a possible "Romani", I always wanted to be a cross-country truck driver but ended up getting an accounting degree and "crunching numbers" in various jobs.
Donna K … Stix and brix with an RV may be the way to go. I am thinking of doing that for at least a couple of years just to see if I change my mind.
hobopals … Sorry for your loss. I understand when you say "DO IT", you never know what tomorrow brings. Surviving a high speed truck and trailer hitting me while stopped at a 4-way stop sign coming home from work, taught me that you never know what may happen. I will take at look at your trip notes. Thanks for the advice on buying an RV and what to look for.
TexCyn … My dogs are allowed on the leather furniture, so the dropping the table for a sofa is a good idea or most of the time as long as they can lay in the sun on their mexican blankets is good for them. Thanks for the advice of taking my time and what to look for.