Well, you never know what life is going to throw at you. We became fulltimers the end of March. We traveled from Florida to Louisiana, to Missouri, to New England where we spent nearly 3 months. Love living in the RV!
From there we took 2-1/2 weeks traveling across the continent to our son in British Columbia where we spent 3 weeks. Had our 'adventures' on our travels but loved the traveling and getting to spend time where we wanted to, when we wanted to.
Then.....Mike got a workamping job in Coffeyville, KS at Amazon.com. I drug my feet (have you seen the ruts in the highways from BC?) all the way here cause I knew the weather was going to be horrible (I get physically ill in extreme heat). It was 100° and high humidity when we got here and stayed that way for nearly a month. Our air conditioner decided to be tempermental during that time and the refrigerator wouldn't keep anything cold.
This campground up until a year or so ago was a hayfield. Once they'd finished putting in all the utilities (133 sites), they didn't plant grass; just let the hayfield grow back. People here probably think I'm anti-social but I am so allergic I've been miserable! My immune system is worn out and I've gotten infections. All that combined with getting sick with the heat makes me NOT a happy camper!
Mike is finding the work at Amazon very taxing (he injured his back a few years ago). So, although he enjoys the people and they like his work, he's sorry we came here.
And we've both been sad that we can't take the rig to New England for the Winter but it's not insulated for Winter. We'd freeze to death.
Enter our eldest son who lives in New England where we're originally from......He contacted us Saturday saying that he was getting us a little bungalow up there that's a Winter rental fully furnished and we're not to concern ourselves with the cost - it's his gift to us. He really misses us and wants us nearby. So we're putting the rig in storage and heading to New England in 2-1/2 weeks. I am so excited to be going 'home' for snow weather! (I know, I know...I'm a nut!)
So I guess we're going to be full-timers half the time. We'll come back out here in the Spring, reload the RV and head back up to our son in BC for 4 months.
Love this lifestyle but also love being close to our family. Guess this way we'll have the best of both worlds.
NorCal Dan said
10:10 AM Nov 1, 2011
Sorry to hear of your troubles...but I agree that you have found a happy medium. We have decided to do something similar, using our condo when we want, then traveling in the RV when we want. Like you say, best of both worlds.
Having done the Amazon thing in 2009 I fully understand. I try to tell people what to expect, but until you do it, you don't really know, and it all depends on what job you get, it's impossible to know if walking 20 miles a day or standing in one place, so it's impossible to get in shape training before you get there. But like you we made some great friends and had a great time. As for the CG, we stayed at River Crest for 1 week, the city park, and it was a glorified cow pasture that turned into a swamp when it rained. We moved to Elk City State Park near Independence and while the drive to work was longer, the surroundings were so much nicer.
As crazy as it sounds, I also miss winter sometimes. Growing up in southwestern New York in the snow belt, true 4 season territory, and now living in California, I do miss winter occasionally. It's true I can drive up in the mountains and enjoy snow and the ski slopes, it's not the same thing.
PIEERE said
12:08 PM Nov 1, 2011
I don't miss the snow and below zero weather of Northern NY. I miss being nearer to family at times. Enjoy the travel and wish I could do more of it. I am doing the Amazon gig in Ky and yes; it is difficult, but for ten weeks and the friends I have attained are benefits to behold. Other is the better rate of pay, some free lunches, and the drawings for prizes. The supervisors are very helpful also. I have worked at campgrounds and done some back breaking work for them for less pay, perks and a couple for just site and a few discounts. I hope you all best in your endeavors and Happy travels. Pieere
janni said
04:03 PM Nov 1, 2011
Your last line says it all! You will now have the best of both worlds. I don't think I will ever miss the snow but I do miss my kids. There is a learning curve to this living mobile fulltime and bumps in the road for all. Sorry for your problems and now let us know how it works out.
Trabuco said
08:31 PM Nov 1, 2011
IMO family is everything and I think your new plan is great. Call me nuts but I was Born and raised in southern California and still here for awhile, but I'm getting tired of all the sunshine! Four seasons would be nice, something about 80 degrees on Christmas day just doesn't make it. Lots of family in the Washington state area so we'll be spending time there.
janieD said
11:53 AM Nov 2, 2011
Everyone needs to figure out how they want to do the RV thing. Meet lots of pat time/full timers. I'm a midwesterner and I do miss the snow a little but not enough to stay very far north in the winter. We are at Amazon working now and it is hard work but doable for the time we are here. I will definitely be in better physical shape when we leave. You are right about the RV parks in Coffeyville, they definitely are not destination parks and not much to do here. I wish you the best on your new digs for the winter. Enjoy.
Ckerr said
11:28 AM Nov 4, 2011
Glad you're figuring out how to do the RV thing your way. Enjoy the time with family and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.
Mike and Gloria said
09:02 AM Nov 5, 2011
Glad to know I'm not alone as a person that likes Winter and snow. LOL Yes, Mike has met lots of great people and Amazon really likes his work. Yes, the money is good (I understand not every Amazon warehouse offers the same deal that we have here - a great wage + our camping fees are paid by Amazon). But 6' 8" Mike can barely get up the rig steps when he comes home and has an even harder time getting up and down out of a chair after working 10 hours. He had a major back injury a few years ago that had him not walking for 6 weeks and put him in physical therapy. It's not been right since and he has to watch what he does. But he gave it a shot. It would have been nice to get those paychecks right up to the end of December, but oh well.
Bigger thing is getting to New England before the weather turns AND to be there in time to have Thanksgiving with our kids. We're excited!
The only thing that has bugged us about Coffeyville is the # of places that aren't open on Saturday. Like the dry cleaners, tire stores, even some hardware stores. Seems if you're not a chain store, you close for the whole weekend! We've never run into that before. I grew up on a farm in Southwest Iowa. Our little town had a town square with stores around all 4 sides plus a couple of grocery stores, dry cleaners, etc. Everything was open on Saturday (and still is); it was the farm families biggest shopping days.
Have gotten over to "Little House on the Prairie". Seeing the one-room schoolhouse brought back a lot of memories as I went to one until 6th grade. Went through the Brown Mansion. But because of the way I've been feeling since we got here, haven't done much else.
Anyway, we're excited about our Winter but also looking forward to Spring and getting back into our little home.
Well, you never know what life is going to throw at you. We became fulltimers the end of March. We traveled from Florida to Louisiana, to Missouri, to New England where we spent nearly 3 months. Love living in the RV!
From there we took 2-1/2 weeks traveling across the continent to our son in British Columbia where we spent 3 weeks. Had our 'adventures' on our travels but loved the traveling and getting to spend time where we wanted to, when we wanted to.
Then.....Mike got a workamping job in Coffeyville, KS at Amazon.com. I drug my feet (have you seen the ruts in the highways from BC?) all the way here cause I knew the weather was going to be horrible (I get physically ill in extreme heat). It was 100° and high humidity when we got here and stayed that way for nearly a month. Our air conditioner decided to be tempermental during that time and the refrigerator wouldn't keep anything cold.
This campground up until a year or so ago was a hayfield. Once they'd finished putting in all the utilities (133 sites), they didn't plant grass; just let the hayfield grow back. People here probably think I'm anti-social but I am so allergic I've been miserable! My immune system is worn out and I've gotten infections. All that combined with getting sick with the heat makes me NOT a happy camper!
Mike is finding the work at Amazon very taxing (he injured his back a few years ago). So, although he enjoys the people and they like his work, he's sorry we came here.
And we've both been sad that we can't take the rig to New England for the Winter but it's not insulated for Winter. We'd freeze to death.
Enter our eldest son who lives in New England where we're originally from......He contacted us Saturday saying that he was getting us a little bungalow up there that's a Winter rental fully furnished and we're not to concern ourselves with the cost - it's his gift to us. He really misses us and wants us nearby. So we're putting the rig in storage and heading to New England in 2-1/2 weeks. I am so excited to be going 'home' for snow weather! (I know, I know...I'm a nut!)
So I guess we're going to be full-timers half the time. We'll come back out here in the Spring, reload the RV and head back up to our son in BC for 4 months.
Love this lifestyle but also love being close to our family. Guess this way we'll have the best of both worlds.
Having done the Amazon thing in 2009 I fully understand. I try to tell people what to expect, but until you do it, you don't really know, and it all depends on what job you get, it's impossible to know if walking 20 miles a day or standing in one place, so it's impossible to get in shape training before you get there. But like you we made some great friends and had a great time. As for the CG, we stayed at River Crest for 1 week, the city park, and it was a glorified cow pasture that turned into a swamp when it rained. We moved to Elk City State Park near Independence and while the drive to work was longer, the surroundings were so much nicer.
As crazy as it sounds, I also miss winter sometimes. Growing up in southwestern New York in the snow belt, true 4 season territory, and now living in California, I do miss winter occasionally. It's true I can drive up in the mountains and enjoy snow and the ski slopes, it's not the same thing.
Bigger thing is getting to New England before the weather turns AND to be there in time to have Thanksgiving with our kids. We're excited!
The only thing that has bugged us about Coffeyville is the # of places that aren't open on Saturday. Like the dry cleaners, tire stores, even some hardware stores. Seems if you're not a chain store, you close for the whole weekend! We've never run into that before. I grew up on a farm in Southwest Iowa. Our little town had a town square with stores around all 4 sides plus a couple of grocery stores, dry cleaners, etc. Everything was open on Saturday (and still is); it was the farm families biggest shopping days.
Have gotten over to "Little House on the Prairie". Seeing the one-room schoolhouse brought back a lot of memories as I went to one until 6th grade. Went through the Brown Mansion. But because of the way I've been feeling since we got here, haven't done much else.
Anyway, we're excited about our Winter but also looking forward to Spring and getting back into our little home.