10/31 What a journey this trip has been! From the mountains to the forest to the deserts to the great lakes. I’ve met so many people from all over the country who each had great stories to tell about why they are RVers. Not every one was full time, but the travel bug was in all of us. The most important lesson I learned was to be friendly and kind. For the most part, it was easy, but my patience was tested from time to time and I had to learn how to bite my tongue. I did bite my lip a few times and that really hurt! This will always be a work in progress for me. I am blunt and direct, and sometimes rude. At least I admit it.
Lesson #2: it’s OK to get dirty and not shower every day. Yep, that was me. There were a few people who showered daily, but in the cold weather it was not appealing or actually necessary to stay that clean. Lew let me use his shower a few times and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I paid him with Margaritas, a couple of meals and my awesome company!
Lesson #3: Don’t pack too much food. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I have so much dry food that I will probably give some away. I also need to remember to keep fresh produce in the van and that is the hardest thing about camping. Tomato and orange juice were my staples, but the raw variety is better for digestion, if you know what I mean. I also need to learn how to make meals with items I already have on hand, rather than buying random stuff. Since I don’t have a microwave, I have to make sure that I can reheat leftovers easily. Lining a pan with aluminum foil works very well.
Lesson #4: Keep a chore list: I can’t tell you how many times I forgot to unplug my electric cord and drove away with it trailing the van. I also had to remember to unplug some appliances so I wouldn’t blow a fuse, but now that’s engraved in my head mostly.
Lesson #5: RV’s, especially small ones will be messy and need to be cleaned frequently. However, most people’s RV’s are messy, so it’s OK to show them off in that condition. Maybe not for photos, though :).
Lesson #6: Shop at the thrift store. I scored a pair of Rockport boots that were only worn once for $6.00. Books are also a cool buy and I donate them back when I’m finished to save space. Some stores have good camping gear, but I didn’t find anything in the shops I visited in Michigan.