RV Lifestyle Expert

Here we are on Thanksgiving eve looking out over hundreds of RV roofs OR possibly a lovely vista with not an RV in sight. We take this moment to give thanks to the Universe for giving us this wonderful choice of lifestyle, to be free of the hum drum of living and the world’s troubles, even if just for a few weeks.

If you are heading West for the winter, you might want to readjust your expectations about the RV Lifestyle. Safety is now at the top of my list for this winter’s trip. No more pulling into a dark shopping center lot for a few hours rest, certainly not stopping on the side of the road. I yearn for the carefree days when everyone including the environment was my friend. Here are a few tips to keep you safe.

We may have to reexamine our lifestyle and break out of the loop we have created for our lives. Without an increase in income, it gets tougher to meet today’s overhead and still have enough to enjoy all the pleasures the RV life offers us.

*RV Lifestyle Expert Podcast - Hot News*

Starlink Article: [ https://www.rvtravel.com/starlink-news-spacex-gets-green-light-for-two-new-dishes-loses-200-satellites-rvt-1123b/ ]

Emergency Alert Info: [https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023 ]

Workampers Article [https://liveworkdream.com/2022/03/23/new-workampers-today/]

News about 2024 Quartzsite AZ

Rock & Gem Show: January 5th - 14th, 2024. Show Hours 9 AM – 5 PM each day.

PowWow Gem & Mineral Show: January 17th-22nd, 2024

Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV show runs Jan 21 – Jan 29. 9 AM to 5 PM

New Quartzsite RV Park Desert Gardens Quartzsite RV Park off exit 17 on i-10, full hookups.

Free camping as usual at the Plamosa Road BLM area Exit 17, then north on US 95 about 5.7 miles.

Traveling at any time with a pet means having a plan for emergencies and the expenses that follow. Below are a few websites mentioned in the podcast that you can explore to make travel safer for your pets.

With the problem of homelessness now front and center, some states are taking action to help RVers find safe parking spots. States that are popular destinations for RVers are facing multiple problems finding RV accommodations they can afford. Here is the latest information in the news.

Oregon's Long-Term Stay Laws [ https://www.rvtravel.com/oregon-law-alters-rv-park-tenancy-1117b ]

Los Angeles, CA New RV Homelessness Project [ https://yovenice.com/2023/03/23/los-angeles-city-council-takes-steps-to-address-rv-homelessness/ ]

San Jose, CA [ https://abc7news.com/rv-parking-site-san-jose-city-council-homeless/13353089 ]

Phoenix, AZ [ https://www.azfamily.com/2023/06/29/phoenix-city-council-approves-homeless-campground-downtown/ ]

Texas: Operation Texas Strong: [ https://operationtexasstrong.com ] RVs for Vets

Washington: Washington Christian Ministry, Minister William Sweet, 63 Cosmic Lane, Richlang WA 99354 [Phone: 509-438-8974 eMail: wmrsweet@gmail.com]

Oregon: Home on Wheels Project, David Strahan - Facebook: Hope on Wheels Strahan

National: Vehicles for Veterans [ https://www.vehiclesforveterans.org/ ] National organization

We are now past the ability to project weather with any predictability. Snow in the summer, hot weather patches in the winter, it is crazy. Unfortunately, for those of us that live the life, it throws a kink in our plan to make the RVing lifestyle pretty effortless.

Here are some tools to help smooth out the lifestyle:

RV Weather [ https://rvweather.com/weather-for-action-2 ]

Hazard Call [ weathercallservices.com/hazardcall-for-rvs]

Campflare [ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/campflare/id1670055811 ]

CampNab [ https://campnab.com ]

Dyrt Alerts [ https://thedyrt.com/alerts ]

4-person Survival Kit [ https://www.stealthangelsurvival.com/products/stealth-angel-4-person-emergency-kit-survival-bag-72-hours ]

We are now very aware that the weather itself holds some hazardous signs for summer travel. It does not seem to matter where you head for the summer, expect sudden changes to affect your plans. Since making reservations for destinations and even nightly travel stops are important right now, be prepared to change course mid-stream.

Websites Addresses to save for traveling in dangerous weather:

We are so blessed to have the months and years living real freedom on the road. But at some point, we must all “hang up the keys” for the last time. Possibly your first exposure to death comes from your neighbor in the next site, or your travel partner for many years. Find out what to do in the first few hours of your panic.

Call someone to talk to: Crisis Call Center (775) 784-8090

Get details on donating their body to science for a no-cost cremation:

The latest polls taken among RVers point to spending more time outdoors, using a base camp to explore the area. Buying luxury fifth wheels and motorhomes is not what the millennial age group is interested in right now. Evidently they want to develop their careers or fortune-building period of their lives and see the USA at the same time.

For those of you just starting your RV adventure, one of the mental preparations to make for the first trip (and really all future trips) is patience. You may have heard the rumor that maintenance can be ongoing and expensive. “Be maintenance ready” is a phase that resounds with all RV travelers, and many that just live in an RV all year.

Ah… traveling down the road on your first RV adventure. It is exciting but scary too. All alone except for the sound of barking … or purring by your side. Making all the decisions about where to go, when to stop, and even the choice of what’s for lunch. Exhilarating isn’t it.

RV Clubs that cater to solo travelers:

In the RVing world, we are often on the road with little or no real information about what is going on in the world in which we travel. Although we are not affected as much as people stuck in one place, any time our online world is challenged with a new development, we need to be read in. Artificial Intelligence is just the latest adventure.

The Village Lifestyle Now Available

The world we live in here in the United States is finally catching on to the real RV lifestyle. It is not for everyone, just for the adventurous freedom-loving among us. To really GET this life you must be ready to put materialism in the past. This is not as easy as it seems. Letting go is tougher than you think.

Now what! New Legal Changes That May Affect You

This year with crowded campgrounds being the rule, be a good neighbor and make reservations early and be there on time. Most states are creating new rules to handle this overload. Changes in legal definitions that apply to RVers are in the works.

In this issue:

Causal photography Restrictions in the National Park system

Tune into the News Update from Margo that covers the closing of RVillage, new voter registration bills coming out of the South Datota legislature, FMCA Rally date change and travel trends for 2023.

Volunteering is good for your health!

Websites that provide volunteer opportunities:

Is the thrill of the RV lifestyle fading? Is boredom setting in? Are you dealing with loneliness? Think about volunteering for a few hours a week or more. Here are 7 steps to make the transition work out for you. Start loving life again!

The New Year brings thousands of new pre-boomer age RVers to the road. After a few months, or perhaps after the first maintenance repair bill, their thoughts turn to finding work on the road. The RV lifestyle is not the carefree and thrifty lifestyle they envisioned.

Planet Friendly Products for the New Year

2023 brings many changes to the Lifestyle. Okay RVers, the time has come to change our old habits as the ecosystem changes. Some of the enjoyable features of RVing in the past have to change if we want to live on this planet a while longer.

Quartzsite Fun

If you are on the road in January and February, stop by Quartzsite, Arizona and join the circus. A great time is had by all. RVers, rock hounds, gold panners, and people watchers - Buyers and Sellers united again. 

How Will Electric Vehicles Change the RV Park?

What decisions will RV Parks make about charging for EV service?

Thankful for Our Lifestyle

Here we are near the Thanksgiving holiday looking out over hundreds of RV roofs OR possibly a lovely vista with not an RV in sight. Perhaps we take this moment to give thanks to the Universe for giving us this wonderful choice of lifestyle, to be free of the hum drum of living and the world’s troubles, even if just for a few weeks.

As weather everywhere becomes more chaotic, here are a few travel tips:

The focus of this post is to prevent you from finding that lemon and avoiding any legal hassles. If stuck with a lemon, you cannot legally re-sell it, so pay attention. 

Solar for my RV, do I Need it? 

If you are confused about whether you need or want to install solar on your RV, hopefully this podcast helps sort out the details. 

Let's take a look at quality RV Manufacturers that have closed up shop. What is left in the quality RV market today, in my humble opinion.

Here is the latest in the Starlink Internet saga plus new info to help you make the wise choice for RV road service.

Having lived through the tension of 2021 and 2022, most of us are heading out in the fall season to spend some time in a healing place.

Summertime fun is in full swing. Check out all these ways to entertain the family.

The current concepts for electric vehicles in the trailer and motorhome category displayed on the Internet recently. The eStream from Airstream and the eRV from Winnebago are the first to hit the spotlight.

Finally, the idea of cheap, no-frills RV parks is coming of age. Get the latest information here.

Take the Full-timers test to find out if you will succeed on the road with this lifestyle.

If you are approaching the magic age of 65, it is time to prepare your travel list for Healthcare.

Explore Mindfulness. Relax and let go of all the tension around you. Be one with your beautiful surroundings and enjoy the life. Explore full-time living at its best.

Common sense steps for RV drivers facing the windy season. A few thoughts about awnings and high winds. Plus the latest news about generators and emission laws.

The Escapees' "Rethink Remote Work With Us" online conference starts March 4 and runs through March 8. Grab a free ticket to the main event or choose a paid ticket to additional sessions and video replays. 

New updates on electric-powered RVs, new RV parks, the increase in the roaming homeless and Starlink's progress.

How do you handle an unexpected death while living on the road full-time. It can be complex and nerve-wracking while you are grieving. We need all the help we can get while away from family and close friends.

Find out the steps to take and who to call for comfort. As mentioned in the podcast, below are the numbers to call and the web addresses to find help.

Call this number to talk to someone during your crisis (free): Crisis Call Center (775) 784-8090

Heads Up! Verizon and Quartzsite

If you use Verizon as your cellphone provider, don't miss the latest attempt to take away your privacy. It's a little scary.

Plan to visit Quartzsite this season and participate in the largest gathering of RVers in the country, maybe the world. January and February offer RVers, Rockhound enthusiasts, and travelers a circus for grownups.

Good news for the RVer in the New Year...across the pond in Europe. What about the USA...sorry, quality is still in the gutter. 

Views about campgrounds for the future and how you can adjust to the changes.

If you are just finding out about the batteries in your RV, this podcast should be helpful. 

How often and what kind of batteries should I buy and maintain? 

What is new in batteries this year?

Here are a few websites to visit to get the latest information:

This podcast features "Life Made Easier in Today's RV Lifestyle."

Whether its the new solar awning, RV directories that help you find the perfect place to park, or the online booking service that does it for you, all these make the RV lifestyle experience easier.

Mentioned in the Podcast

Just starting out on the RVing Lifestyle? Here are a few tips to help make boondocking a favorite way to travel.