Computer Education for Travelers

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We just completed 4 days of teaching computer seminars at the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Ass’n) rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. We taught 8 seminars to audiences of 200-400 people. It was very gratifying to see so many RVers hungry for the computer education we have to offer. One woman came up to me with a big hug saying she loved me! Apparently, after our seminars, she realized that she was doing so many things the hard way. We had just made her life so much easier, she exclaimed.

Why do travelers, in particular, need computer education? Read more

Let the Computer Navigate with GPS

I’ve had some conversations with fellow RVers that went something like this: “What kind of GPS navigation system do you use as you travel?”, I asked. They responded with something akin to: “I don’t need no stinking GPS to do my navigating! I can read a map just fine.”

hmmm, that got me to thinking. I’ve told many people that I won’t travel without a GPS navigation system anymore, Read more

Mail Forwarding on the Road

If you use a computer and the Internet as you travel, you may not even need your mail forwarded! Some forwarding services are now adding the ability to scan your mail so you can read it online. Read more

Workamper Life: A Typical Day

Terry and I have been fulltiming for almost nine years and volunteering /workcamping for nearly 8 of those. Most of our jobs/positions have been fairly predictable. Several of those have been places that we have returned to for many years because we love the job, area, etc. Most times the jobs are predictable…set hours, duties and very routine. There is some degree of comfort in predictability, but to us, that is not why we became fulltimers! We like to experience new things and adventure is high on our list.

One of our favorite places to work is at Heise Hot Springs in SE Idaho. This is our 4th season here and we plan on more. Terry and I are not the typical workcamper here. Those have set hours to work in the office, park campers, clean buildings and those type jobs. We, on the other hand, have no set hours and wear many hats.

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The Squeeze on the Food Dollar

As if $4 gas and diesel didn’t dig deep enough into your RVing budget’s pockets, now it appears that we are in the spiral of a major upward shift in food prices. Much of the upward price pressures come from the increase in the cost of fuel, running tractors and other farm machinery, as well as transporting food to markets.

But that’s not all. With the government subsidies on corn, wheat, and soybeans, farmers have been switching over from radishes, scallions, and tomatoes that have no subsidies. Fruit and nut growers also receive no subsidies, and in growth areas where suburban development is crowding fields and orchards, farmers are throwing in the towel and selling out to developers and retiring, rather than take the financial risk of planting and harvesting just to barely squeak by. So with farmers producing less non-subsidized crops, lower supply translates to higher prices.

The farmers that persist say they have to make greater profits to survive, that we Americans not only have the cheapest fuel among the non-oil rich nations, but we also have the cheapest food. They’re right, of course. The Texas Farm Bureau says that 81 cents of every food dollar goes off the farm–only 19 cents goes to the farmer.

But the disparity lies rather with the government’s agricultural policies, that enrich the wealthy farmers (most of the subsidies go to corporate mega-farms) instead of to organic and small family farmers.

We RVers have three major expense categories, unless you’re also into recreational drugs or collecting French wines: fuel, food, and campgrounds.

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Fulltiming - Living The Dream!

Ahhhh, living the dream! I don’t know about you, but I often have dreams of full timing. Now I know that some of you out there reading this blog are doing just that and I envy you! I think it’s the yearning to have independence. It seems like it would be nice to just get up one day, pull up stakes and move on to another town. Perhaps it’s the gypsy in me!

I have been very involved in the forums on RV.NET and and occasionally I look at people’s signatures and read their thread entries. I have met many full-timers and they have answered questions for me, especially when I am in the process of making decisions. I feel that if they are doing this stuff everyday, they are the closest thing to an expert I know!

One of the most impressive full timers I have bumped into on the RV.NET forums is a guy named Sean. It’s not that he has re-invented the wheel or anything with regards to full timing, but he has shown that RVing can be very practical. You see, Sean is a college student who is living the dream while going to college. Sean has a nice website that I would highly recommend, especially if you are a college student, soon-to-be college student or parents of either of the aforementioned, then his site is a must to explore.

I also did a Google search on ‘full timing’ and was surprised by how many websites are dedicated to this subject. Here a couple hits that I found interesting; All ABout Full Timing for RVers, Budgeting for Full-Timing, Trailer Life Full-Timing, What is Fill-Timing & Who Are Full-Timers?

When I go into the fantasy of full-timing, I try to figure out what kind of rig I would want. My current travel trailer would be very comfortable. At 33′ with a rear living room, a master bedroom a nice bathroom, it’s really like a portable cabin. But then I get concerned about the expense of pulling such a large trailer because I think we can all agree that the fuel prices probably wont’ drop. So, then I start thinking of alternatives and found a forum where people are full-timing in small (less than 20′) trailers. You can find that thread here. I suppose it really depends on what one would do while full-timing. If the idea is to travel once per month, that may not be bad, but if the idea is to travel every few days, that could be difficult.

While doing my research, I found a small travel trailer that I have to admit I really like. It is a fiberglass egg shaped travel trailer called an Oliver. Now I have heard of Scamp, Burro and some of the others, but Oliver was new to me. Check out their website and I believe you will be impressed with their product as well.

Of course, I can’t help but to ponder on whether I would choose a motorized RV. I think if I went that route, I would go big and lots of options, such as washer/dryer, satellite, etc. I have to say that if I do full-time I would probably go the Class A route. Although, if the oil companies keep raking us over the coals, I may not be able to afford operating one so time will tell on that one.

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Getting Ready To Hit The Road

Wow…I can’t believe that we have been here in Apple Valley for nearly 3 months! We were supposed to spend the winter working at a KOA in Texas. We were so looking forward to it and loved the area and the folks. 10 days into our position we received a phone call…Terry’s 80 yo mother had fractured her back, falling off the roof. (Don’t even ask … we won’t go there!!!!) We explained the situation to our employers and hit the road for So Cal. Four days and one blow-out later, we arrived.

We own an RV lot in a resort in Apple Valley, CA that we bought 8 years ago. Both Moms live here as well as our son and family and we knew that at some point we would have to spend time here. We have used the lot very seldom, maybe 8 months total in 8 years, but we are glad we have it. We have been sitting here, trying to stay busy and not fret, but it is hard. His Mom was released for the Dr a week ago, so now we can start making tracks for ID.

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Computer Offices in a 30 ft. Motorhome

When you need a home office, and you live in a motorhome, you need to make some modifications. We’ve been living and working in our 30 ft class C for almost 5 years now. I’ve compiled some photos and put together a slide show/video of how we customized it to include 2 computer offices. You should see a Google video below. I’ll let the video tell you the rest. btw - this video is made using Photo Story 3 which I introduced in a previous post.

Or you can choose to view the High Resolution Windows Media player version.

We know this isn’t for everyone - most people need more space. Jim and I just don’t need much space. We even enjoyed plenty of tent camping before living in a motorhome. This is luxury. And, we especially like being able to go lots of places that the big rigs can’t - like friends’ driveways, or national Forest campgrounds.

All the photos used in this slide show (and more) can be found on our Web Album.

Our friends who are skilled at remodeling can be found at HaveToolsWillTravel.us. Check out the beautiful wood floor they put in their own motorhome.Chris Guld
www.GeeksOnTour.com

What Skills Do I Need?

A good question was posed today on the Workcamping Forum….” Good skills to have for workamping” …Is it helpful to acquire some additional skills before hitting the road?

We have found, over the years, that the skills we developed in our former lives were all that were needed when starting to workcamp and volunteer. Most everyone who decides to leave the world of stix and bricks to hit the road and volunteer/wc has these skills. Have you been a homeowner or lived in a s/b that required you to mow the lawns, fix a faucet, paint a wall? Can you clean a kitchen or bathroom, wash windows, make a bed? Can you wield a hammer and change a lightbulb? Do you know how to budget money, make change, keep records? Can you interact with people in a non-confrontational manner? Can you rake a path, plant a flower bed, build a stone wall? Clean a firepit, count vehicles and hand out literature?

Certainly, if you can do any or most of the above, you can find a place in the v/wc world. Most of the skills you already have will apply. One of the best skills, tho,  is a willingness to follow directions. Many of us who have owned our own businesses, been in a position of authority or a professional  in some field may find it difficult , at first, to do this.

One of the first positions we accepted was at a State Beach campground. Fortunately, the supervisors had put together a handbook for the volunteers which spelled out most everything that we would need to know. It was not difficult to follow their instructions and learn the job. Another position was a bit different. It was at a  county campground where we were to tend the pools and maintain and improve the trails. We were pretty much on our own. We were able to do it any way we liked as long as the job was done. We had years of experience doing those things so it was not hard to get into a routine.

We have always been willing to do things the way our supervisors have wanted. After a while, if we see a better way, and the timing is right, we may make suggestions. One thing we will never do is push our way into  a situation and try to change it. That is the quickest way to make folks upset. Sure, you make think your way is better, but they do it for a reason.

Be willing to listen and learn new things. The life beyond the stix and bricks can be exciting and satisfaction will know no bounds. Get out there and give it a try!

When paramedics don’t know your name!

If you have read my biographical information you might have noticed that I am a paramedic. What does that have to do with camping? Well, imagine this, you are out camping and are allergic to bee stings. Your wife is out hiking with the kids while you stay back at camp to relax. Then it happens — that can of “beverage” you are drinking out of has a bee drinking out of it too. After the brief battle, the score is bees 1 and you nothing! Now you need help and badly!

But even if you can talk to the dispatcher to give directions, who is going to talk for you when the paramedics (like me) arrive? What if, instead of an allergic reaction, you have an asthma attack or any other problem that impairs your ability to communicate? What if you flat out get so flustered and worried about an illness that you forget you are allergic to the very medicine they want to give you?

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