RV Living

March 3rd, 2016

This is the best, ya'll.  It's raining here.  My Dad always said there is no sound better than rain on a tin roof.  We don't have a tin roof but the thin fiberglass skin of the RV really accentuates the pattering sound of raindrops overhead and I love it.  Zuma has buried herself under the covers and refuses to rise to venture out for her last evening trot.  She met a Yorkie next door this evening and now she is fixated on Lucy-Lou and can't concentrate on bodily functions.  

I suspect Zuma will shove a wet muzzle into my eye sockets around 2 a.m. requesting relief.  I'm fine with it.  I'm learning to relax and chill out and not push myself to fit into a time schedule.  
We're on Tybee Time.

I seriously need to find a rescue Yorkie for Zuma.  She just loves them, their feisty confidence is perfect for her.  But I am concerned that she will lick it to pieces, she is a matronly soul.

RV living is definitely different from anything we've ever done in our lives.  Never did I imagine dwelling in a crowded campsite in a "tiny house" but we have found this fabulous place with excellent services and a surprising amount of privacy.  Best of all are the people and the dogs. We RVers are all "gypsies" in a sense, wandering around the country, admiring and enjoying America.  

Our RV "Hula Girl" is 25' in length, a "land yacht" as Carol (whom we met in Ocean City) calls it.  Yep, it's not unlike dwelling on our sailboat SURGE.  Everything is scaled down.  If you haven't watched the documentary "TINY HOUSES", it's a must-see before tackling RV life.  You just have to be flexible.  Both emotionally and physically.  

We went to look at RVs and found this vehicle and fell in love.
This is Doug at what I call "Ground Control".  He has his laptop set up in the passenger seat so he can work from here.

It's really nice.  A 2015 model with less than 3,500 miles, it's brand new.  The kitchen/galley is roomy other than lacking counter space. We just get inventive in our Tiny House.  The dining area is compact but really cozy and I can work on the computer during the day and shove it all aside for dinner. Who cares?  It's just "stuff" and there's a fabulous king size bed waiting.  Yeh, the bedroom is pretty simple but it's a fantastic retreat at the end of a long day outside.  The bed is fabulously comfortable and we don't feel like we are "camping".

Several years ago, my friend Johnna and I rented a teeny camper for weekends when our girls were showing horses.  We wanted to be "on site" and it seemed like a fun way to spend a horse show weekend.  Johnna made a stellar comment about the tiny shower stall:  "You just spray soap on the walls and spin around"; this always cracked me up.  Our shower stall is bigger than that but it's uh .... compact.  And if we need to stretch out,  the bath houses here are spotlessly clean.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING about this whole traveling experience (I apologize if I'm repeating myself) is the people we are meeting.  OMG, people are so nice.  I'm invited for cocktails/dinner tomorrow night with two groups of people on two different sites and I've only known them for a few minutes.  People "on the road" are so friendly, interesting and welcoming.  For those who know me, this is out of my comfort zone.  I realize now that I'd become a recluse back in Maine.  Never wanting to go to parties/large group functions.  Sure, I love hosting a party, having people over for an evening, dinner, lunch, etc.  But now, away from my secure home in Hope, Maine, I'm loosening up and enjoying getting "out there".  I'm just overwhelmed by the generosity of people (thanks to Zuma The Ice Breaker).  Zuma is invited to all the campfire parties, she loves it.  I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Here is a photo of our RV ("Hula Girl") at night:  

We picked up some lights to surround the area where the picnic table is; it's just enough subtle light to see where we're going.  

This trip and this blog is all about Zuma.  She and I need stimulation, sunlight and exercise.  Yeh, Doug and I wanted to escape a horrific Maine Winter.  Last year was Winter HELL. Thankfully for the folks in Maine, it's been a really mild Winter this year.

At this stage, Doug's work schedule keeps him away from here half the time; he is totally dedicated to his work but that's okay, he has to do what he has to do.  Once he gets through his Boat Show and travel commitments we will have more time together.  He's not yet ready to retire and I don't blame him.  We both need to be busy and he loves his work.  He makes calls, texts and e.mails all day from here, then he goes back to Maine frequently to touch base.  The guys at the office are champs and Emma is doing a fabulous job holding things together at the farm.  

We have been meeting with a lot of youngish retirees.  It's a struggle to recognize that we are into this stage of life but hey, that's reality.  I remember a wise elderly man saying to me years ago:  "Don't be too busy making a living to make a life".  
Oh, so true.