8 Full-timing Years Today!!

Today is my and my husband's 8 year anniversary "on the road". We began our full-time adventure from Portland, Oregon - eager to escape the cool, rainy weather. Our original intent was to tour about until we found a place we wanted to "settle" in...and go figure, 8 years later we still haven't come across that elusive location. Don't get me wrong, we've fallen in love with many places - Maine, the Florida Keys, Port Aransas, Morro Bay to name some (but not nearly all) - but it always seems that after a couple months the old hitch-itch returns no matter how spectacular the area. We've learned that it's much better to leave a place wanting more rather than use it up and not want to return.

The way we see it we've been in "RV school" all this time - beginning, as any kid does, in kindergarten - learning the basics. After these eventful 8 years we're perhaps in high school - still tons to learn but some great adventures and experience behind us.

Some things have changed while others have remained the same. RVers are still the friendliest bunch...always willing to give a hand, share advice or chat about wonderful things to do, see and (my favorite) eat. We still love the adventure of going somewhere new - that never gets old. We're consistently amazed that in the evenings, when we close our blinds, we could have any number of awe-inspiring views just out the window. Of course, and as to be expected, costs have risen but to us it's still preferable to owning and maintaining a stick home.

Tomorrow we celebrate 8 years and 1 day. Life couldn't be better!

Take a look at the first in a series of "Young Full-time RVers" videos here. You may find it interesting.

Drop a line below if you have any comments, questions or simply observations about full-time RVing. I'll be on the lookout for you!

Evanne
RV Cooking Show

It finally happened - $5/gallon diesel!!

Well, it finally happened. I was driving by a station in San Rafael, CA - just north of San Francisco - and there it was in shocking black and white - Diesel #2 - $4.99.9/gallon. Yikes!! I kept on driving.

Perhaps you'll agree - it's much less painful to "fill-up" when you need only a quarter tank. I decided to bite the bullet and pulled into a no-name station serving up diesel at $4.95/gallon intending to top 'er off but they didn't take credit and I certainly don't carry that kind of cash so...I'll move on north and report back from there.

Thoughts or observations?? Leave a comment...

Evanne
RV Cooking Show

See the SMEV in action on the latest RV Cooking Show

The latest RV Cooking Show is a real treat. We explore some small-town, historic Georgia gems then make one of my favorite side dishes - sweet potato fries...in the SMEV oven!! See the SMEV in action, pick up an RV travel tip or two and enjoy those good and good for you sweet potato fries in this episode.

Evanne
RV Cooking Show

Small Town USA Police & Fire Log

There’s nothing funny about crime but you might not realize this by reading this local small town paper’s police and fire log. Let me share a few entries with you and see if you don’t at least chuckle…

Crash: Police responded to the 2600 block of XXX where a woman, 70, got into a tussle with a chain link fence. No injuries were reported but the fence will no doubt need some rehab.

Cigs: Police cited a juvenile boy or girl in the 1100 block of XXX for possession of tobacco, a hanging offense in these parts.

Theft: Police arrested a juvenile boy or girl for shoplifting in the 900 block of XXX, but at least they weren’t smoking.

Fraud: Someone in the 2700 block of XXX reported fraudulent use of his Vallero gas credit card back on April Fool’s Day, but with the price of gas, who’s the joke really on?

Ah, don’t you love life in a small town??

Evanne
RV Cooking Show

Full-time RVers Voting Rights Denied in TN

This year more than ever, American citizens are jazzed to vote – regardless of party or candidate choice. In 2000 a suit was brought against full-time RVers with a Texas domicile claiming that since they did not “reside” in the state they were ineligible to vote. As you may or may not know, Livingston, Texas is home to the largest full-time RVing club in the country – Escapees – and offers an excellent mail-forwarding service – providing a legal address to the thousands of full-timing members. A federal judge sided with over 9,000 RVers upholding their right to vote, thank goodness.

In 2006 the 286 full-timing folks in Bradley County, Tennessee were bumped from the voter rolls. The disenfranchised Americans brought a lawsuit against the county that was dismissed by US District Judge Curtis L. Collier this last February. Apparently the county is delighted to collect licensing (drivers and vehicle) fees, taxes and other government dues and happy that full-timers hard earned money goes to local insurance agents, mail forwarding services and financial institutions but nope, that’s not good enough to participate in our democracy.

According to TN state election officials, residency means more than a mailbox. I’d wager that these full-timers pay their fair share in government fees (and by the county accepting them acknowledging the full-time lifestyle) but minimally tax the services that their fees go towards including roads and maintenance. When in town they purchase products - financial and other - from local businesses, patronize local campgrounds, shop at the local Walmart and are in general excellent, low-maintenance citizens. They hold Tennessee documentation such as driver’s licenses and motor vehicle tags – maybe even library cards and church memberships. Chances are that most of them are retirees that gave the majority of their lives contributing to growing the US economy, were upstanding citizens that raised strong families (that now contribute to the US economy), and may have even fought overseas for our freedoms.

Personally, I think this is an outrage. Every bonafide American should have the right to vote – no matter where or how they choose to live. This just doesn’t seem right to me – how about you??

Leave a comment below…I’d love to hear your take on this issue.

Evanne
RV Cooking Show