Laurie asks:
Hi... read about your travels and WOW..
GREAT pictures and descriptions of your travels.......so many great
photogs and stories about you and your cat and dog.....BUT..what
is the status of your Airstream? I SO MUCH want to do this after
I retire..but the stories about floor rot and frame failure (Airforums)
have me scared to go any further in my dream of owning an AIrstream
and getting out on the road... Thanks...!
Sharon replies:
Hi Laurie - I too am very disheartened by Airstream, especially the
new ones, considering their cost. I might buy an older one, because
you can find nice ones for a very fair price, and they were apparently
built better in the 80s. I've
heard that '85-'89 were some of their best years. Airstream will
likely patch up my rotten trailer after I swap it and resell it...but
it should not have happened in a trailer that is not even 4 years
old, that was supposed to be built to last. Some Airstreamers have
trailers that have been problem-free, and it seems like some model
years had more quality-control issues than others. It's a tough
call. Certainly, the Airforums (www.airforums.com)
are the best place to learn about real-world experiences with any
model year. As for my issue, check my Jackson
Center page to
follow the status of my trade deal.
Robin asks:
Got some great info from your travels about Florida and had a couple
of questions. In the past I have tried to map out and reserve ahead
of time the months we go south. This doesn't always work since you
can book someplace you've never been, then when you get there go
... Ugh! I wondered how difficult you found it to find places along
the way. In other words, do I need to get over my fear of having
to see Florida via Walmart parking lots!!!!! I am a planner so it
is hard to just goooo!
Sharon replies:
Hi Robin - Whenever possible, I try to scout out campgrounds in person
before making long-term commitments to stay there. Sometimes this
means a day of driving and often it means not making a reservation
until I get to see it. I actually prefer not to make reservations
too far in advance, because things change so frequently for me.
But Florida is tricky, because many parks book up an entire year
in advance...though you can still almost always find a place to
stay for a few days while you scout out other places, even if it
means for next year. Still, sometimes you can be lucky enough to
get a cancelled reservation. In the end, though, if you
haven't seen it for yourself, there's just no telling what it'll
be like....so there will always be an element of mystery if you
can't get there to scout it out ahead of time - think of it as
part of the adventure!
Dawn asks:
You're living a life I've often contemplated...living full time on the
road. I'm beginning to realize that it is possible for a woman alone...your
story and a few others are convincing me. But I wonder...how do you back
up and hook up the hitch to the trailer without someone standing back
there telling you how much further to back? And traveling with a dog...I've
wondered how to manage that...because you can't leave the dog in the
car, or the trailer and often I'd want to go hiking, or painting or doing
photography where I might not be able to take the dog...so what do you
do about that? Thanks for any advice...
Sharon replies:
Hi Dawn - I've gotten used to hitching up on my own. I have a very
handy telescoping mirror that sticks on my hitch so that I can see
the ball when I back up - I can often even get it in one shot! There
are also cameras that you can get, and other methods to help you
align. As far as having a dog around, Harley is almost always included
in whatever I do. I CAN leave him in the trailer, but if it is very
hot, I leave the vents open with the air conditioner running....and
I don't leave him for very long. I leave the vents open in the off-chance
something happens to the electricity and the air conditioner cuts
out. If the vents are open enough, the fan will kick on when it gets
too hot. Still, I prefer to stay in areas where the temperature is
not too hot or cold. I've also got covers on my roof vents, so they
can always be open even in stormy weather. He is the BEST hiking
and photography partner, so he comes along on photo hunts. It's one
reason I love having a dog with me. So, yes, it does limit me to
some degree, but not much more than if I had a regular house or apartment.
Monique asks:
I hope the summer is treating you well. I wanted to touch base with
you because I stumbled upon your website while researching the F/T
RV lifestyle. It's nice to see another young, adventurous, self-employed
person living the dream. My husband and I are seriously contemplating
making the transition into F/T RVing next year. We have saved up
some money to buy a rig and travel, but we are still exploring ideas
to earn an income while on the road. My husband is an advertising
exec and I am a video producer. I see
that you're a successful graphic designer and photographer. Would
you be open to providing me with quick feedback (given your experience)
regarding a couple ideas we had on how we could generate revenue
using our skill set (mainly video related)? I would really appreciate
any words of wisdom you could share.
Sharon replies:
Hi Monique - I'm not sure I can be of any assistance to you in regards
to generating income with your skillset. I am very lucky that I
have been working with the same clients for many years...and still
am. I established my graphic design business before I hit the road
and wouldn't have done it if I didn't have the support
of my client base. The additional clients I get beyond my "core" tend
to find me by word of mouth or my website. Good luck with your
decision to hit the road! Once you start, you may never stop :
)
Cindy asks:
Hi Sharon, I admire your lifestyle and am contemplating a similar
one. What do you know about a motor home and pulling a more economical
vehicle vs. yourset up? I do not at this time plan on traveling
as much as you are. Thank you for your input. Hope you and Harley
are having a wonderful day.
Sharon replies:
Hi Cindy - Thanks! I don't know a whole lot about a motor home and
toad. I continually consider other rig options, and still think
what I've got suits me best - because I like having a large truck
for the dog, for camping out of when I don't want to move the trailer,
and for storage of bike, kayak, etc...There IS more involved with
hitching/unhitching a trailer, though, and I can see why some people
prefer the convenience of a motorhome. Sometimes, I have wished
I could just get out of the driver's seat and not have to go outside
to reach the kitchen or bed. Sometimes I really just don't want
to do the job of hitching/unhitching...there will be a compromise
with any rig you choose. Good luck with whatever you decide!