Central Oregon KOA - Aug 08 - Oct 08

So, we left Central California and headed to Central Oregon. We were much more nervous going to this park. The first park, we didn't know what to expect at all and weren't even sure if we'd stay in the first place. Now, we had an expectation. And we hoped there wouldn't be anymore employee drama. What we really wanted (and still do) was to have as much fun as possible while we work and have our kids with us to learn and enjoy life together.

Well we got what we wanted in OR. And we didn't have much time to worry since we were put to work straightaway. As soon as we arrived at the park, we were welcomed and shown to our site. We then had an hour to get settled and meet back. When we met up an hour later, our family was taken in by their family, right off the bat - and we worked through the day until 9 o'clock at night. That's how our stay was in Oregon; we were busy, and we all worked hard, and treated every camper and each other like family. And that's what made it fun. When you welcome guests to the park with your daughter by you side, your husband and another daughter escort them to their site, while the third daughter and the owner set up an Ice cream Social, that's when work is fun!

We learned so many great things at the Central Oregon KOA and were given so many cool opportunities. One, super fun experience was performing a controlled burn of a 20 acre field. The field sat along side and behind the campground. Jason and I may have a tad bit of pyromaniac in us because we really enjoyed ourselves. =-9

By this point, we had been living in our "camping" motorhome for about four months. We had not felt hindered at all by our living arrangement but we were starting to see what was really out there. Being as we had never owned a motorhome before and now we were seeing all kinds. So once a week, we drove 30 minutes to Redmond to stock up on groceries. Each time we went, we'd see this motorhome sitting on a small lot near the store. Everytime we passed though, no one was there. Well, that got us thinking, so we spent a day looking at motorhomes and fifth wheels. This was the first time we had ever looked at RVs in person, with the thought of living in one. Eventually, we decided that a diesel pusher would be the best option for us - for many reasons. (1) Our goal is to spend more and more time traveling and less and less time staying put. That being said, with the kids - it's much more fun to travel when you have all the comforts of home around you while driving. Sitting in your living room while you travel is always better than sitting in a back seat all day. (2) When traveling by motorhome, there is no real packing. Sure you have to secure your things, so as not to have your belongings slide off counters or fall off shelves. But preparing for travel in a motorhome is not the same as packing for a road trip in a car (or truck - if you're pulling a fifth wheel or travel trailer). (3) In the diesel pusher, the engine is in the rear, (under the bed) hence, pushing the motorhome. When the engine is in the back, it frees up precious floor space in the front of the motorhome, between the driver and passenger seats. In a gas motorhome (like our first one) the engine protrudes up through the floorboard creating a hump between the seats. (4) Diesels typically have a longer wheel base which means they are on the larger side and give even more square footage.

So we finally decided to stop in and look at the motorhome, on the little lot, with no one ever around. Again, no one was there, but we found out that all the RVs on the lot were on consignment. We did alot of lifting each other up and hoisting to see in the windows. What we saw impressed us. Although it was dated, the price made it a steal. Still, the price was more then we had. So, we went about our lives for the next few weeks, until Jason (being the avid internet surfer and researcher that he is) found the motorhome from the small lot - online. It was for sale, for even less than the price it was listed for, at the lot. So we contacted the company and asked to meet, so we could explore the inside. Once we got inside, our entire mind-set changed. Suddenly, we pictured how much more comfortable life could be with so much more space. 10 more sqft! :) Going from a 27ft (189sqft) motorhome to a 37ft (296sqft) motorhome equates to a gain of 107sqft. That's a huge difference when you're talking about such a small space to begin with!

So inevitably, we bought the motorhome. I imagined it would take an afternoon to move all of our belonging from one to the other, being as we just got rid of what seemed like EVERYTHING WE OWNED. WRONG!!! It took us about four days to get all our things out and into the new place. Since then, we've done some upgrading, updating, reconfiguring and replacing - to make it more our style and feel like a home. Now we have "basement storage" and althouth it's not nearly the size of most homes' basements, it sure helps.

Our time in Oregon was action packed, fun. We worked all different hours, with many split shifts (working 8-11a, 4-9p). That would have been dreadful for me in the "real world" but when you live where you work, it's fun. We would go in; open the office/store, collect garbage, mow the grass, clean out fire pits and check campers out. Then we'd have 5 hours in the middle of the day to go swimming, hiking or ride our bikes. And then, we'd go in for the evening to; check in and escort guests to their sites, sell and deliver ice, firewood and various other camping items, having ice cream social and generally helping campers have a nice stay. We also bought and sold a car. Bought a motorhome and traded another. All in just 2 1/2 months!

Life is meant to be fun! And although we all think of fun differently, I hope that, whatever you spend your time doing in life, it's fun for you!

Happy Travels!

D

The Beauty of RV Living - July 2008

So let me continue the story, where I left off...
It's difficult to filter through all of the memories in my mind and decide which ones to tell, but I'll try my best. I'd love for this blog to have a "stories around the campfire" feel. Especially the stories that come out late in the evening, after everyone's had a few drinks and all guards are down. But for now, I need to just get you up to date and then we can delve deeper, peel the layers, and get to the nitty gritty.

So we're in this tiny town in central Cali (N of Fresno and S of Yosemite National Park) and we're working with a variety of people who come from very different backgrounds. Now, take a second to image how this lifestyle works. People who live in RVs don't do it because they love small spaces. They do it because they love the outdoors and want to spend more time outside. (Plus you get to move your house everytime you're ready for new scenery.) So, as a workamper, even if you're not working, you see your coworkers everywhere. As you walk your dog, hang out at the pool, play a game of pool in the clubhouse or do laundry, they're there. (Imagine EVERYONE you work with living on the same street as you.) The combination of coworker personalities' with the fact that everyone lived on-site, over time, created a tumultuous work environment. Thankfully, we stayed out of it but we still became the go-to people, who heard each story from all sides. These differences caused quite a bit of drama that began to snowball until finally a "fight" ensued. Nothing physical, just a culmination of several different factors that all came to a head. During the same time; the managers gave their resignation, a workamper couple was warned of their pending termination (which lead them to quit prematurely), money went missing, police were called - you can begin to see the tip of the iceberg. All the stories I'll tell at the "campfire" are the ice, that built the berg, of which the tip, is atop. (That almost sounds Seussical.)
I'm starting to feel like I'm trying to create one of the Reader's Digest condensed novels, that my mom passes on to me. It's not as easy as they make it look - by the way!

Ok, so the shit hit the fan! Thankfully, we felt the rumbles prior to the eruption so we had already started searching for work at other parks. That's what this is all about, right? Our home is on wheels! That's one of the luxuries of living this way. If you don't like where you're at - you change it. There's no house to sell or boxes to pack and move, just put the key in the ignition and pull away. Although we still believe in two weeks notice, we've learned that workampers are notorious for leaving in the middle of the night. So anyway, right when the hoedown became a showdown, the job in Oregon came through.

Yeah baby, time to hit the road! (I've been meaning to get that song.) Willie always comes to mind when we're pulling out of a park ... "just can't wait to get on the road again". It was perfect timing because we were beginning to feel the roots grow out of the motorhome.

So that was our first lesson in the new mobility of our lifestyle. Go when you want to go, stay when you want to stay and never compromise on what's best for you and your loved one.

Happy Travels!

D

Holy Days - 2009

Happy Holidays and New Year!

The holidays always seem to heighten my state of mind. During stressful times, the holidays have felt like a weight - on my shoulders, on my heart, on my mind. But during times of joy and peace, the holidays feel enriching and fill me with appreciation. This year has been the latter.

We started the holidays off with a great Thanksgiving week. Jason, the girls and I packed up our little wagon with luggage, (12hrs worth of) entertainment, our two dogs (a rat terrier and a pitbull) and ourselves. We hit the road in the early morning, to make it by dinner time in South Florida. We hadn't taken a road trip in a CAR in a long time. We are used to making lunch, going to the bathroom and doing Highlights activities while we travel. The girls, as always, handled the long car ride like champs.

We then spent a day driving by our childhood homes and the homes we owned. Our older girls had memories of these homes but our youngest didn't. This lead to all sorts of memories, within our family and as children ourselves. It's amazing how, throughout different times in your life, you revisit the same memories and you view them differently. Your perspective shifts and life experience whispers in your ear.

We then spent a few days of good, old-fashioned, quality time with both sides of the family. We soaked up hours of fun-loving entertainment, talking and hanging out with the nieces and nephews. When we left, some were in elementary school and now they're in middle and high school! The baby is now in kindergarten! We also spent time catching up with the adults and of course, enjoyed plenty of food and drink.

By the time the vacation was over, our hearts and car were bursting at the seams. We enjoyed our time there and are still talking about it. The time we spend bonding with the kids was immeasurable. We also spent most of a day outfitting our car with a roof rack and cargo container - just so we could get all of our stuff home.

Christmas this year was fun and quiet. The five of us spent the day opening presents, making food, and playing with all the new toys. Ahh, another year of precious memories!

The new year has begun with another level of appreciation for family and loved ones, friends new and old, and most of all my children. I've enjoyed reconnecting with so many people this holiday season. I appreciate the differences that we each bring to the table. And my perspective has changed so much in the past few years that I am able to cherish each moment without prejudice. I've learned to follow my heart, or listen to my gut, or whatever you want to call it when you start tuning out other peoples' opinions and knowing and doing what you think is best.

Of course, "absence makes the heart grow fonder". So I always find more reasons to appreciate the ones I love, when I don't see them every day. ;) On the other hand, I enjoy spending each and every day (24/7) with my girls. And although (I feel like) I appreciate them each day, I now realize, I have just touched the surface. Today, the girls left on a two+ week trip to FL with their grandparents. WOW - forget what I said about life experience being just a whisper, some times it's a yell, and you hope it doesn't become a scream. Either way, it only takes one moment for life to present an experience that shows you an even truer sense of appreciation.

So, thank you 2009 for all the life experiences that have brought me to this wonderful point in my life! And thank you all (whose life I've crossed paths with) for enriching my life!

..... to a new year!

Happy Travels!

D