The RV Sabbatical Journal

Friendly Fulltimers
Part of the “Life In 300 Square Feet” Series

I’ve noticed, during our first year on the road, that RVers, and fulltimers in particular are a VERY friendly bunch. Especially around parks that cater to those of the gypsy-variety, it’s not uncommon to get to know all your neighbors within a few minutes of parking, putting down the jacks, and pulling out the slides.

They start to congregate as you’re backing into your site, often offering suggestions… “a little more to the right… no, more to the left… no, STOP”. Once parked, I’ve learned to keep the door closed (and locked) until we’ve got the basics of setting up house done. But once I open the door to hook up power, for example, we’re inundated:

“Hey, Wisconsin, uh? Where ‘ya from… in Wisconsin I mean? You know I have an uncle that lives in Occonomoc almost, just outside, you know. He’s a big fan of Brett Farve’s. Too bad he’s retiring… Brett I mean. You know, I think he could come back yet… you know he hasn’t officially resigned… in writing. Anything’s possible you know. Hey, did you bring any cheddar cheese? Hey we’re from South Dakota, not really from there, just the tags you know, no tax you know, we used to live in Kentucky, but sold the house, been fulltiming 7 years next September…”

Alright, I really like people and I love making connections with those doing the same thing we’re doing. But what could possibly account for this overwhelming need to be so friendly… this gregariousness … this desire to connect with others?

I’ve developed a theory, a hypothesis really, for all this warm sociable congeniality.

Simply put, after two people are cooped up together in three hundred square feet for hours or days at a time, they CAN’T WAIT to get out and talk to somebody, ANYBODY, NEW!

Being just a theory, I’m open to other explanations. But until I hear something better… It’s my story and I’m stickin’ with it.

Thom Hoch

What’s Going On in the Showers?
Part of the “Life In 300 Square Feet” Series

What in the world is going on in the campground restroom and shower house every morning? This is one of those great unanswered questions that we, as first-year fulltimers have. Is it a card game? a meeting of some sort? people plotting the overthrow of the government?

I get up in the morning, usually with the sun. The first thing I do… (ok, maybe not the first thing)… is to make a pot of coffee. While coffee’s brewing, fire up the computer and the internet router. Once coffee’s brewed, pour a cup, punch up the list of blogs and news I like to read every morning, and read, sip coffee, and watch the goings-on around the campground.

Almost every morning, I see people… sometimes one or two and sometimes more… climb down out of their expensive campers and, with towel and some little bag in hand, head over to the public restroom and shower house building.

OK, what am I missing here? We have a lower end diesel pusher camper and ours came, no extra charge, with a complete bathroom. It’s got a great shower, two bath sinks, a good reliable toilet, mirrors, cabinets — and all of these things have one thing in common… they’re mine. I know what’s been going on with these fixtures, who’s been using them, what diseases and maladies those using them might have. They’re comfortable, you know how they function, and you know they’re clean, and if they’re not clean, it’s your “not-clean“.

I can only surmise that these people bought nice campers but chose to save a few bucks by ordering the fifth-wheel without bathroom fixtures. Or did they simply forget to ask and didn’t realize until the check had cleared that there’s no friggin toilet or shower in the motorhome? Huh?

I suppose it’s possible that the bathroom fixtures are “in-op” — not in a functioning condition — busted. Or that they had been using the facilities normally until the tanks filled up and they haven’t figured out how to dump yet? But it seems to be so many people. I don’t think the “busted fixture” or “full tank” hypothesis are going to hold water. {rim shot} Wouldn’t anybody prefer to use their own bathroom fixtures rather than those in a public restroom?

So my question remains… What’s going on in the restroom and shower house every morning?

Thom

The Decision Making Process
Part of the “Life in 300 Square Feet” Series

Living on the road, in close quarters, on a fulltime basis requires a lot of flexibility and tolerance. In addition, I believe it’s important for you and your partner to have pre-arranged rules for how decisions will be made. Living together in 300 square feet makes a good decision-making protocol essential to harmony and a durable relationship — not to mention a long life. Making decisions on the basis of who can yell louder, who’s stronger, who’s bigger, or who’s better with a gun just doesn’t work the way it used to.

When fulltiming, the two of you are also managing a big hunk of machinery. Whether it’s a fifth-wheel, travel trailer, motorhome, or old school bus, these are big awkward pieces off equipment that require maintenance, upkeep, safe driving skills… and good decision making.

So after a few months on the road we established a decision-making protocol for our fulltiming life. Here’s what we came up with. All five steps must be followed:

1) Either of us can propose something, but it must be stated clearly and in a form that can be put to a vote.

2) Since we’re equals, Dar has a vote and I have a vote.

3) In the event of a tie, and because safety is so important, the Safety Director breaks the tie.

4) Dar is the Safety Director.

5) All parties will agree and be happy with the outcome.

You see, with a simple, but effective decision-making process like this, you’ll never have any arguments and will always be in complete harmony. Dar is certainly happier and has fewer of those moody spells she used to have from time to time. She also thinks the process is so useful that any couple could use it whether or not you’re living in an RV.

I’ve been taking a lot more late night walks, which we’ve decided are good for my blood pressure.

Thom Hoch