By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers
RVing is Great! I said that in my previous article, and I stand by that statement … despite the anti-RV list that follows. I mentioned 11 good things about our infatuation with the recreational vehicle life; yet, I have to face the realities – the dark side!
After reading this I welcome your negative (but, please, not cruel) comments. By the way, the response to the first part, The Good Side, was overwhelming. Lots of interesting comments that added to the discussion.
Now, in no particular order, here are what we consider to be the 11 Most Adverse Things about RVing:
1) This whole topic occurred to me while we were in a coin-operated Laundromat. In the sections of towns with more expensive homes, each house has a washer-dryer. Those residents don’t go outside the home to do the
No. 1 On the List -- Using Coin Laundries
laundry. Where do we usually find the coin-op laundry? In less desirable parts of town. [There are many exceptions] 1a) Making it even worse, after an uncomfortable three hours watching shirts tumble, it’s time to return to the rig and sprawl out to make the bed. Rarely an enjoyable day on the road. [If you have a washer/dryer in your rig and you actually use it, you have a right to be thankful]
2) Monique frequently trips over my shoes in the “grand salon” of our trailer. “Where do you want me to put them?” I ask. No. 2 on the list is definitely limited storage, which is even worse for those of us prone to long trips where you need every type of clothing, all the tools, and everything else nearby to have an almost normal life.
3) Ever go into a campground where there is everything you expect? Soap over the sinks, phone service, level parking. Well, maybe once in a while, but my No. 3 is disappointment at campgrounds. If you checked into into a typical motel, everything you expect is usually there, plus a hair dryer. Campgrounds don’t get that message.
4) Houses in most parts of the country don’t shake, so repairs are only sporadic. Seems like all the bouncing, the sharp turns and hitting the brakes take a toll on rigs that requires fixing. Okay, handyman chores give me something productive to do; however, 4b) trying to find RV parts in the middle of nowhere is another challenge to the good life on the road.
Fun at the Dump Station
5) Dumping. Dumping in the rain. Dumping in the snow. Dumping when the pipe sticks out six inches above the muddy trough. Waiting to dump when a 48-foot Class A is ahead of you.
6) The greatest joy of RVing for us is being in the world during days of good weather. Doesn’t always happen. Two or three days staying inside the RV can get a bit uncomfortable. We remember being outside of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, when temperatures stayed over 100 degrees for 13 straight days. Even with a/c, it got old. Days of rain, with everything feeling damp, is also not RV-friendly.
7) This one is good/bad. We gladly accept the challenge of dry-camping for days and even weeks on end. There are times, however, when we fail at the task and begin living under the threat of overflowing tanks.
8) Many people are hobbyists. Space considerations do hamper the ability to spread out and/or save the products of most hobbies and crafts.
You're Sometimes All Alone in the World
9) People are social animals. Most of us like to spend time with others, especially family and long-time friends. AHA, along has come “social networking,” but is that a substitute for going down the street to join friends for their backyard barbecue? And visiting relatives is a must for many. That becomes more of a production than it would be in normal houses-on-the-ground neighborhoods.
10) Of course, you can still use the phone now that cell service is overwhelming the old cord-into-the-hole-in-the-wall version. Can you always get service? Nein. Can you always email and Skype? ‘course not. Can you always get TV reception? Nope, but it seems so contrary to plan a trip around phone reception and those other communication conveniences. I’ve been scolded in a past blog for mentioning the importance of reception, but when you live on the road, it’s a reality.
11) And finally, mail. We have a service in South Dakota, a state where we don’t have to pay state taxes for road maintenance on highways we rarely use. Our registration and insurance are also more reasonable (Texas, Florida and a few other states have similar benefits). Our service is very satisfactory, but from time to time there are glitches. I gave the forwarding zip code for a post office in Hot Springs, Arkansas, that doesn’t accept General Delivery. For three days we bounced over hot, crowded under-construction streets playing dodge ball with different postal stations. Ready to admit defeat, we were blessed to find one postal employee who was willing to track down the mail and forward it to our next stop.
Consider this my lesson in what to expect as an RVer. It’s the dark pattern in the white tapestry, the character-building part of our chosen pursuit of the great outdoors in our great nation (plus other great nations). I feel like this lifestyle of RVing is wonderful, even with a few drawbacks.
And now, we all look forward to reading your comments.
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.
© All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved