rv stories from nm
READER SUBMITTED STORIES ILLUMINATE DIFFERENT TRIPS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT STORIES
The rv lifestyle is a perfect fit for us—everything
about it spells freedom. When you’re in your RV full-time you are able to live outside the norm, which defines most people’s life. For instance, you don’t want a bigger house or more stuff; you want new experiences that focus on the present moment and enjoying where you are.
We are both artists and have been creating our own definition of the “good life” throughout our 40 years together. Our work life was on the road as we traveled to art shows all across the country in an RV. We worked side-byside, 24/7 and now that we are full-time “RVers” we found that our relationship work we did during life helped us adjust to living in a 300 square foot home.
The work we’ve done achieving harmony in our relationship feeds our RV life in a way nothing else can.
No one talks about what it’s going to be like living in a very small space together, as well as the importance of teamwork. While one person drives, the other navigates and when one person gets the inside ready to move, the other prepares outside of the rig. Needless to say, over all the years we’ve been butting heads and becoming clear on how to “be” together, which has become our expertise. RV couples face all the daily challenges that comes with this lifestyle with much more equanimity. So many amazing experiences that are right outside your door are appreciated so much when you do them with a companion you enjoy.
One of the places we have our best conversations about getting along is when we are looking out at the road. Remember the 1959 movie with Doris Day and Rock Hudson called “Pillow Talk”? So we call our conversations “Road Talk” in comparison with that movie.
Our most recent travel experience was Puerto Penasco, Mexico. This summer we hope to complete a dream to go all the way across Canada. We experienced western Canada two years ago and hope to complete our tour to the eastern coast this summer. We can’t wait for all of the new experiences to come.
Living life on your own terms is never easy, but it is a lot easier as an “RVer”!
Janice Jacobs
In August 1991, my husband borrowed his parents’ beautiful RV and we loaded our 12 and 13-yearold boys and our 18-year-old daughter and made our way to San Diego. What a good time we had— well, that was until we were on our way home.
Our daughter wanted to drive us from Gallup to Albuquerque, which was fine since my husband was tired. We enjoyed a lunch in Gallup and my daughter took the wheel and was driving us home. I was sitting in the front passenger seat enjoying the beautiful New Mexico scenery when I had noticed a car on the side of the interstate. I told my daughter to be careful, as the driver might pull out in front of her. Sure enough, they pulled up on the interstate, forcing my daughter to slam on her brakes to prevent a car accident— she did everything just right.
Unfortunately, her father was in the RV’s restroom and came flying out completely horrified and still answering nature’s call. As funny as we had all found his reaction to be, he wasn’t very pleased. Till this day he won’t laugh when we all reminisce about our trip to San Diego, thankfully he was perfectly fine with me sending in this story. Life is made up of those times in which we never forget and are passed down in families. I’m sure he wasn’t the first, nor will he be the last caught in such a predicament.
Barb and Bruce
A few years ago, after my husband and I retired, we purchased an RV with the intent to travel around the United States and explore this beautiful country. While we have visited family/friends in Albuquerque many times before, this year we made the first visit towing our RV. We investigated the campgrounds around the area and settled on the Enchanted Trails RV Park--this campground did not disappoint.
We enjoyed the retro setting, the Route 66 memorabilia, and also the retro cars and trailers on display. The staff could not have been friendlier, taking the time to answer our questions. In fact, we plan to stay there next year when we come down for the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Unfortunately during our stay we had a minor issue on the RV, but thankfully the La Mesa RV Service Center had the part we needed and were very friendly and accommodating. While in Albuquerque we also had the chance to visit the zoo and the Botanical Gardens, which we enjoyed very much.
Brenda Lopez
It was 2007 when my husband, Hector, and I decided to purchase our first Airstream trailer RV. There was plenty to see not far from our Denver home, such as New Mexico, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and not to mention the rest of Colorado. We were also dreaming about the possibility of driving through North America. The following year during a cruise to Alaska we met a couple who were “fulltimers,” which is a term used for people who live and travel in their RVs fulltime. We had also discovered that there are many “fulltimers” traveling around the country; some were retired, semi-retired and some still working while on the road. We decided that we were not going to wait until retirement to fulfill our dream, as Hector said, “tomorrow is promised to no one.” So we began hatching a plan to take a few years off of work, but realized that it would take us several years to be financially prepared for that.
We decided to sell our vacation condo, downsized our home and began to save money for what we named our “walkabout”. We read books and blogs written by other “fulltimers” and began developing a budget for our trip. We went to various RV shows and dealers and decided to upgrade our travel trailer to a 39’ motorhome, we named her “Island Girl.” After years of planning and saving, Hector retired from his corporate job and became a full-time photographer. We rented our home, got rid of a lot of our stuff, put the rest in storage and moved into our motorhome.
We traveled around the United States and Canada for three and a half year, and shared our adventures and Hector’s photographs on our blog www.islandgirlwalkabout. com. It was an experience that went beyond our wildest dreams and one we will never forget.
Part of our plan during the trip was to find our next home. We had fallen in love with New Mexico years earlier and it was high on our last. When our “walkabout” came to an end we found our lovely home in Corrales, where we now live. It is wonderful to have a home that wasn’t on wheels, but there are still lots of beautiful places that we still want to see. There will be many more road trips in our future.
The RV lifestyle is a perfect fit for us—everything about it spells freedom. When you’re in your RV full-time you are able to live outside the norm, which defines most peoples life. For instance, you don’t want a bigger house or more stuff; you want new experiences that focus on the present moment and enjoying where you are.