PART 2 – MORE (IN) Frequently asked Questions

HOW'S THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE RV?

There’s a lot that we are still learning (even Alan, who built a house before ever reading a book about house building has been reading the Roadtrek manuals).

There are many amenities which also means there are many systems to adjust to. For example, at home, one – other than the designated plumber – goes to the bathroom, flushes the toilet, and hopes for the best. In an RV, one needs to keep track of how much waste is in the system and then manually (well, hopefully wearing gloves and using a hose) empties into a “dump station.” Enough said about that.

Two other concerns:

Shake, rattle, and roll – Drawers and doors must be latched and various items padded to lessen the rumbles and movement as we drive. The first week we had a few minor mishaps like being bopped by a flying book and being startled by the bathroom door swinging open. Now we mostly have that part of our routine down.

The biggest thing for me to get used to is the refrigerator settings. For the Trek refrigerator to work under all conditions there is an ingenious 3-way system. When driving, the frig is run on DC power and when we are plugged in to campground electricity (providing the van system with 30 amps), we switch to AC. But when we are parked (or camping without hookups) we have to switch to propane.

The actual adjustment (turning the propane valve on the outside of the van – near the back license plate – and pushing the correct button on the refrigerator) takes less than two minutes. It is the remembering to do it.

And my mantra has become…”Lefty loosey, righty tighty.”

HOW’S SMALL SCALE LIVING?

It’s been said that everything should have its place. A principle that us compulsives try to follow to limit chaos in our lives! But in a small vehicle like ours many items have separate daytime and evening positions. From our water bottles and coffee maker to couch and bed cushions there is a daily shuffle.

HOW ARE YOU SLEEPING?

A little problematic when first started out but now most evenings are pleasant – nice views and aromas (except the night we camped at the Terry Bison Ranch and smelled those bison all night) and cooled by the breezes through our bedside windows. But I must admit most nights we sleep like Ozzie and Harriet (how many of you remember them and other TV couples –who slept in separate twin beds with a night table in between them?). It is easier to leave the beds in the U-shaped couch position rather than complete the jigsaw puzzle of assembling the king-size width bed.

DID YOU THINK OF SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY THAT YOU FORGOT TO PACK – AND IF SO HOW FAR DOWN THE ROAD WERE YOU?

Wish I had a good story here but nothing comes to mind. If anything, there is too much stuff and we are over-prepared. But, hey, it makes me feel more secure to have a stack of clean undies and lots of reading material.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR OFFICE IN BINGHAMTON?

We are happy to report that our Walnut St building was sold. Although we had hoped to close prior to the beginning of our trip, it didn’t happen till about two weeks later. With phone calls and emails we were able to take care of last minute details. And we were very pleased with our “team” there in Binghamton –thanks to John B and Beverly H at John Burns Century 21 Realty and to Patricia M at the law office of Xlander

AND WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE SHOES?

Are you familiar with the 80/20 rule? I wear 20 percent of my shoes, 80 percent of the time. Every day I wear Birkenstocks and Keens depending on the activity.

I’ve worn probably four or five of the seven pairs – but I am not YET willing to say I brought too many.

WHAT WAS THE GAS MILEAGE ON THE HELICOPTER BARBARA WAS PILOTING?

About the same as we get in the Trek. And I am happy to report that the helicopter blog entry got the most comments of any – mostly via emails to us.

As we say, keep your cards and letters coming…in this case, comments and emails.