Helen Waddell

Hi, Helen.  Welcome!

My husband and I bought a 1984 Winnebago Itasca last May that had been sitting up for 3 years.  It was in pretty good cosmetic repair but it needed TLC bad.  My husband is a guru about everything (humble opinion here) and thus, spent the next 3 months bringer her back to health.  We left on our retirement adventure in September and got home January 19th!  It is definitely the world we want to be in.  You'll love it out there and find out about the comradery with each day.  We met a lot of wonderful people doing the same thing.  Wishes on your hunt for a motor home of some sort.

Helen, thanks for your nice remarks.  You know, Helen, you wrote that you thought the Airlight was about the right size.  I have traveled, camped, visited for one month with this little trailer -- and it is little -- but it's a perfect size if you don't want to use a truck for a tow vehicle.  I use a Toyota Highlander, which is basically a Sienna mini van, a beefed up Camry.  I have a commode, which I think is essential (I'm not a kid anymore) but no shower.  I can go a couple days and most campgrounds have hot showers, some you gotta put quarters in, but some are part of the fee.  I know how to keep clean without the luxury of a shower.  I use a 15" laptop for watching movies and television, webrowsing and emailing.  In May, my wife and I are taking off on a six week odyssey into the Pacific Northwest.  I figure 6000 miles at $4/gallon gas will be about $1700 or so.  And I'm figuring that at 14 mi/gal or so. 

Two folks in my little trailer will be like living on a small boat.  Everytime you take something out you must put it away where it goes.  Or you'll never find it again.

Michael

(You sound to me like a thorough person, Helen, wanting to write everything down and have it in one place.  That is decidedly a feature of your character.)  About my laptop.  I have a MacBookPro because in the movie business (where I made my living for 35+ years before recently retiring) everyone goes Mac. But this goes for PC, too, I am sure.  I have an ElegatoTV device plugs right into my laptop like a thumbdrive.  Small,simple. a href="http://tinyurl.com/4erxn35>">http://tinyurl.com/4erxn35>; When I am in private $ campgrounds that provide a cable signal at the utility post (where you hook up your water, electric, and sewer if you want) I just run a 20' cable out a corner hole in the window screen, hook up the coax, and plug it into the Elegato TV gizmo.  Then I'm hooked up for television.  I also have a powered HD television antenna for when I'm boondocking.  I raise it up on an extension pole, rotate it around till I have a fat signal, and start clicking through the channels.  These gizmos will record the television show for you onto your computer hard drive. 

But mostly, Helen, at the end of the day, I feel old and tired and want to sleep.  But when I wake up in the middle of the night, I have great options.

Your pal on the westcoast,

Sheesh, read the second one first... I had to split my letter.  I type too much because I type very fast.

Michael

     I had typed a long detailed message to you when it disappeared into cyber space.  Don't know if you received it or not.  I bought an older Lark trailer 13 ft., put a hitch on my 1991 Olds Cutlass V6, and have been on several trips to a nearby private lake.  It tows fine and I am getting ready to go a little farther this summer.  I recommend that you start out close to home and get used to the whole experience.  

     Just keep looking, something will turn up.  Hope this gives you some hope for getting started.

Alas, Helen, I can type faster than I can think.  To paraphrase Pascal I would have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time.  Lest I ramble too much more in public, please drop me a line at Katzfilm1@me.com -- I wrote so much about travel I didn't get to the point of it...

Yours,

Michael

Helen,

I am touched by your courage and enthusiasm for living your dream.

Having been around RV's all my life yet still there was much uncertainty and risk about going full-time. At first I kept everything. I loaded what I needed into the old motorhome and left everything else in storage "just in case." Months later I rid myself of everything which remained in storage. I never once regretted it.

You wrote that you felt a need to simplify. Many intelligent people have arrived at that same conclusion. A few quotes from my journal:

"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have even lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor." (Henry David Thoreau)

"Our life is frittered away by detail ... Simplify, simplify." (Henry David Thoreau)

"We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without." (Henry David Thoreau)

"Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature." (Thomas Kempis)

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” (Plato)

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

“A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (Albert Einstein)

Helen, I wish for you the continuing courage to realize your dream, the grace to fully enjoy your new lifestyle, the joy of ever-continuing discovery and adventure, and the blessing of good health for many happy years to come.

Helen,

   Glad to hear you got a trailer.  I also have a 13 foot Lark.  Mine was in very good condition when I bought it for $300.  Hope you are enjoying yours.  Let me hear from you.

Helen:

   Glad to hear from you but sad to hear you are having a few challenges with your trailer.  It will be even more fun when you work for it.  Plus, you might enjoy the process.

   I have had a few physical setbacks, but am fine now.  Can't wait for spring to go camping in my Lark trailer with my weinie dog Feisty.  I think she enjoys the outings more than I do, but we do it together.  Plus, you meet the best people while camping.  Keep in touch.

   Your friend,

            Steve

Hi Helen and Dixie,

   Hope you are both doing fine.  What a coincidence we both have headstrong, spoiled wienie dogs.  Feisty sleeps with me every night, and she is the best dog in the world.  I have to pet her for a few minutes, then cover her with a pillow, and she stays in the same position until we get up in the morning.  She is a very stubborn little girl, but we get along fine.  

   She loves to bark, but only for good reasons.  Like anytime she hears a sound outside.  I could not live without her.

   Let me know how the trailer rehab is coming, and any problems you may be having.

Always good to hear from you,

          Your friend, Steve

Helen,

   Merry Xmas to you and yours, and the best of holidays!

   Feisty and I are doing well.  I bought her a big pork bone for Xmas, and also one for my friend's dog.  I am going to give my friend's dog the larger bone.  My dog does not like to share (as I am sure you are aware of, since you own a little dog like I do).

   You mentioned a Santa Fe trailer in your last email.  Is that a Lark?  I thought that I read that you had purchased a Lark.  But I misread occasionally.  

   Thanks for all of your correspondence via email, and remember "JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON".  Peace on Earth and good will to all campers.

Your friend,

   Steve