Some people are "new" house people.
Some people are "fixer up" house people.
Some people buy used cars and deal with repairs, or better yet do them themselves. Some people are mechanical and getting under a hood and fixing an engine or repairing an appliance is fun for them.
We are none of those.
We've never bought a new house. I can't imagine Craig working with a builder to make all the decisions involved in a new house together.
We've had fixer uppers, but the fixing up has almost always been painful.
When we were young, we had a couple of used cars, but that was because it was all we could afford. Craig has never been a "car guy."
The last six vehicle we have had, were bought new. We always had all the required maintenance things done for the first ten years or so by the dealer, and then, when breakdowns occurred, we took them to either a dealer or repair shop.
Oil changes, and new tires were always bought as needed.
We have probably held onto to our cars a lot longer than was sensible, but that is just the way we are.
When I was thinking "Full Time," a gently used Diesel was our first choice. It is said that diesel engines are just getting broken in at 50 - 100K miles! Besides the price for a new large diesel is pretty high.
But now. Well, we just don't need a big diesel for "Anytime." I would like to try to 30' -32" Class A. Either would fit much nicer in State parks and on BLM land.
I know you loose a lot when you drive a new rig off the lot. But that pain can be lessened by looking at new but last year's models.
I haven't found the "Lazy Days" of Norther California. The few used salesmen I have talked to say No warrantee, As Is on used rigs. I don't see any major reconditioning like Al and Karen got on their Monaco.
If we had had more experience with RVs I might have a better idea of which way to be looking. But for now I'm pondering NEW vs Used.
One year warrantees sound pretty attractive. But on a used rig can't you buy an extended warrantee for less than the depreciation of a new one?
What have you done?
Have any of you had inspections done before buying, and how do you find an inspector?
We may ignore advice, but we welcome it.
At the Camel Farm, Julian CA
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Trips I want to go on: Grand Canyon
It's not that Craig doesn't care, or doesn't have ideas of his own, it's more that he is just not a "planner."
Me? I'm a planner.
I know most of the time things change, but that's usually OK. Sometimes I think planning is more fun than doing!
I would rather "Just Do It" but if thats not possible, I'll have to settle for planning!
My #1 trip is to go to the Grand Canyon. Yesterday a friend sent me a file of excellent Grand Canyon pictures and I made a desktop slide show with them.
Every five minutes I have another breathtaking view of the canyon.
I WAS there once. For about 15 minutes. In 1984 we moved from Dallas to San Jose. Craig had a new job, so we didn't have a lot of time to make the drive. We left a few days after Christmas, and I believe he needed to be at work on January 2nd.
We checked whatever long range weather was available at the time and decided to take 40 straight across. Our other alternative would have been to take the Southern route thru El Paso.
I looked at maps and figured out about how far we could get each day, and hoped we could spend most of an afternoon at the Grand Canyon. A place I had ALWAYS wanted to see. I knew it wasn't very long, but this wasn't a vacation trip.
As we drove that morning, Craig started looking at the map. He saw that the Petrified Forest was also along the way and decided we should go there. Out of our way by 100+ miles round trip, plus hike time, plus visitors center, plus gift shop ... well it took most of my Grand Canyon time!
When we got east of Flagstaff it was already late afternoon. I remember taking a winding road east of the canyon that didn't have very many signs and no traffic. I remember being a bit upset because it was mid-winter and we were driving a very old van, with two kids, and the gas gage was running very low. I was worried that if we broke down or ran out of gas we would freeze in the night.
I remember we got to a gate that was closed, but the padlock was not locked. We had no choice but to go thru it, because we were pretty sure we would run out of gas if we turned around and went back.
I think it was a back entrance to the park.
We continued our climb, and got to a vista point just as the sun was setting. The view was breath taking. I wish I had been more relaxed instead of mad and worried about the gas tank.
We might have been there for 15 minutes, not much more before it got dark.
I do remember I picked up a small stone and mentally attached all my worried about starting a new life in California to it, and tossed it into the canyon.
We did get gas in time, and drove half way into the night. I think we slept in Needles.
Someday I'm going back and I'm going to stay there for a lot longer than 15 minutes!
Next time I'll have a plan! (And an RV.)
Me? I'm a planner.
I know most of the time things change, but that's usually OK. Sometimes I think planning is more fun than doing!
I would rather "Just Do It" but if thats not possible, I'll have to settle for planning!
My #1 trip is to go to the Grand Canyon. Yesterday a friend sent me a file of excellent Grand Canyon pictures and I made a desktop slide show with them.
Every five minutes I have another breathtaking view of the canyon.
I WAS there once. For about 15 minutes. In 1984 we moved from Dallas to San Jose. Craig had a new job, so we didn't have a lot of time to make the drive. We left a few days after Christmas, and I believe he needed to be at work on January 2nd.
We checked whatever long range weather was available at the time and decided to take 40 straight across. Our other alternative would have been to take the Southern route thru El Paso.
I looked at maps and figured out about how far we could get each day, and hoped we could spend most of an afternoon at the Grand Canyon. A place I had ALWAYS wanted to see. I knew it wasn't very long, but this wasn't a vacation trip.
As we drove that morning, Craig started looking at the map. He saw that the Petrified Forest was also along the way and decided we should go there. Out of our way by 100+ miles round trip, plus hike time, plus visitors center, plus gift shop ... well it took most of my Grand Canyon time!
When we got east of Flagstaff it was already late afternoon. I remember taking a winding road east of the canyon that didn't have very many signs and no traffic. I remember being a bit upset because it was mid-winter and we were driving a very old van, with two kids, and the gas gage was running very low. I was worried that if we broke down or ran out of gas we would freeze in the night.
I remember we got to a gate that was closed, but the padlock was not locked. We had no choice but to go thru it, because we were pretty sure we would run out of gas if we turned around and went back.
I think it was a back entrance to the park.
We continued our climb, and got to a vista point just as the sun was setting. The view was breath taking. I wish I had been more relaxed instead of mad and worried about the gas tank.
We might have been there for 15 minutes, not much more before it got dark.
I do remember I picked up a small stone and mentally attached all my worried about starting a new life in California to it, and tossed it into the canyon.
We did get gas in time, and drove half way into the night. I think we slept in Needles.
Someday I'm going back and I'm going to stay there for a lot longer than 15 minutes!
Next time I'll have a plan! (And an RV.)
Friday, July 1, 2011
All Creatures Great and Small
Because we live in a wooded rural area, and do not have any outdoor cats, I have to actively take care of a number of mouse and rat traps in the garages.
I don't mind disposing of the stiff, but I really hate it when one of the rodents gets caught by a leg and isn't killed.
That is what I have today. There is a rat caught in a snap trap in the fireplace clean out access closet.
Looks like it got him by the foot, and he can neither free himself, not get thru where ever he came in.
We have all the holes screened over, but he still got in, and if he was not trapped, he would go up into my attic.
Craig will kill it for me when he gets home.
But for now, I feel very sorry for it.
I want to catch it and take it to a vet!
No, I will not do that.
It is a dirty disease carrying rodent, and he doesn't belong in my house.
But I feel like a horrible person!
Update: the deed is done.
I don't mind disposing of the stiff, but I really hate it when one of the rodents gets caught by a leg and isn't killed.
That is what I have today. There is a rat caught in a snap trap in the fireplace clean out access closet.
Looks like it got him by the foot, and he can neither free himself, not get thru where ever he came in.
We have all the holes screened over, but he still got in, and if he was not trapped, he would go up into my attic.
Craig will kill it for me when he gets home.
I want to catch it and take it to a vet!
No, I will not do that.
It is a dirty disease carrying rodent, and he doesn't belong in my house.
But I feel like a horrible person!
Update: the deed is done.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
RV shopping - Time table
Thank you for all the great comments on my post yesterday.
Although shopping for an RV is fun, it is also quite scary.
EEK, what if I actually find the right one?
I really want to hear any and all of your thoughts, either thru comments or emails. Your experiences and insights will be very helpful.
I have been looking at the forums too.
I also am thinking about a towed. I really want to choose the least expensive option there! We had talked about using a tow dolly with the Prius, but that probably wouldn't be a good option for a smaller gas class A.
A correction for yesterday's post. For those of you that know this area, the Winnebago dealer I went to is Pan Pacific in Morgan Hill.
Now some thoughts about my time table:
When I started this blog, I hoped to have the house on the market this fall and be able to go full time in Spring, or whenever the house sold.
Because Craig is still working, and all of our weekend time is taken up by the house, I still don't see any trip time until after he retires at the end of the year.
One of the things I was thinking is that there are more big dealers in Southern California than up here. Since we will be going down to San Diego for a week before the Rose Parade we would have several days to look at dealers there. Also we wouldn't have any pressure to hurry home after the parade and could spend a couple of days in the LA area. Possibilities!
I'm thinking that if the right rig comes up before then we should go ahead a buy it, but if not, that's OK too. But since I think the best way to pay for it is to finance it instead of pulling the money out of our retirement account and pay income tax, it might be easier to do the financing before he retires.
Hmmm ... I hate paying interest, but I hate paying taxes even more!
If we don't find the right rig by November, I might just pull a second on the house. We have plenty of equity, and they don't need to know he plans to retire.
Any advice is welcome. We may ignore it, but it is welcome.
Although shopping for an RV is fun, it is also quite scary.
EEK, what if I actually find the right one?
I really want to hear any and all of your thoughts, either thru comments or emails. Your experiences and insights will be very helpful.
I have been looking at the forums too.
I also am thinking about a towed. I really want to choose the least expensive option there! We had talked about using a tow dolly with the Prius, but that probably wouldn't be a good option for a smaller gas class A.
A correction for yesterday's post. For those of you that know this area, the Winnebago dealer I went to is Pan Pacific in Morgan Hill.
When I started this blog, I hoped to have the house on the market this fall and be able to go full time in Spring, or whenever the house sold.
Because Craig is still working, and all of our weekend time is taken up by the house, I still don't see any trip time until after he retires at the end of the year.
One of the things I was thinking is that there are more big dealers in Southern California than up here. Since we will be going down to San Diego for a week before the Rose Parade we would have several days to look at dealers there. Also we wouldn't have any pressure to hurry home after the parade and could spend a couple of days in the LA area. Possibilities!
I'm thinking that if the right rig comes up before then we should go ahead a buy it, but if not, that's OK too. But since I think the best way to pay for it is to finance it instead of pulling the money out of our retirement account and pay income tax, it might be easier to do the financing before he retires.
Hmmm ... I hate paying interest, but I hate paying taxes even more!
If we don't find the right rig by November, I might just pull a second on the house. We have plenty of equity, and they don't need to know he plans to retire.
Any advice is welcome. We may ignore it, but it is welcome.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Window Shopping
I had second thoughts about publishing this post because I know everyone has their own preferences and feelings about their own rigs. Every brand has pluses and minuses. These are just my feelings about what I have looked at.
When my thoughts turned from dreaming about "Full time RV living," to "Any time once he retires, " my ideas about what kind of RV we should be looking for has changed.
Full Time = diesel
Full Time= Class A, minimum 35' but could go longer
Full Time = 3 years or newer
Full Time = Warranties!
Full Time = Tiffin or Winnebago
Full Time = $10K repair/tire fund
Any Time = ???
I don't think we need to get a huge class A for shorter trips. And we don't need to have as much cargo space. I think it would be sensible to buy something smaller, easier to maneuver, and less expensive. Something we could park on the upper drive.
There are two things I know I must have:
A walk around queen bed, and a reasonable cooking area.
Everything else is up in the air.
Any Time = Class C, or Class A
Any Time = Gas
Any Time = 29'-32'
Any Time = 3 + years (or maybe newer)
Any Time = Probably buy extended Warranty
Any Time = Open to other brands
Any Time = Good price + $10K repair fund
I've been doing a lot of browsing on the internet and making a spread sheet of what I find interesting. I bounce back and forth between class A's and class C's. I've been pretty busy during the day working on the six animal order, but on Wednesday I took a day off and went shopping. The nearest RV dealers are about 25 - 35 miles from here. There are four dealers within a few mile of each other.
My day did not start very well. I went to the Camping World because they had an Add that said if you took some kind of survey and listened to their product presentation you would get a $25 coupon on anything in the store. Well, since that location did not have any RV's I couldn't get the coupon!
I did see a nice outdoor rocking chair that I might want someday. In fact it was what I was going to buy if I had been able to get the coupon.
Next door to Camping World is a Used RV dealer. " See Grins." I looked at several 29' - 31' class C's and a couple of 32' class A's but they were all pretty old and depressing. I did like one Minnie Winnie, and one Tioga that had an entertainment system up and over instead of the bed. I gave the sales man my name and told him to call me if a Minnie Winnie with a similiar entertainment system, or better yet just storage cabenitry came in.
They are moving to a new location next week, where they will have a larger lot. It would have been impossible to take a test drive today the way the inventory was jammed onto the lot. I'm not writing them off, but was totally unimpressed with the place today.
My next stop was to a dealer that had a new 2012 Georgetown 28'. I had seen it on the internet and thought it might be interesting. Not. Even though it was brand new it didn't appeal to me. Pieces of paneling were already peeling up. I also did not like the fact that there was a raised section next to what would be my side of the bed. I need to get up several times a night and I don't want to have to crawl off the end.
There was nothing else on his lot of interet.
The third place was all light trailers so I didn't stop.
The fourth place was on my list as having a new 30W Winnebago Vista. It turns out this is the Winnebago Dealer for our area, and everything they had in my size range was new. I also looked at a 32' Sightseer and at a couple of Access (What they are calling Minnie Winnies these days.)
I really like the Winnebago product line. Everything just felt so much nicer tome than some of the other brands. Of course except for the Georgetown, the others were used and not really clean.
I brought home some brochures for Craig to look at. He of course was drawn to the 37' floor plan.
Sometime in the next few weeks I will be driving up to Livermore, about 40 miles from here. There are several dealers up in that direction and a couple of brands I want to see.
Eventually Craig will go with me for some test drives.
I hope to finish the last of the animal heads by Friday, and will post another work in process then.
Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July.
When my thoughts turned from dreaming about "Full time RV living," to "Any time once he retires, " my ideas about what kind of RV we should be looking for has changed.
Full Time = diesel
Full Time= Class A, minimum 35' but could go longer
Full Time = 3 years or newer
Full Time = Warranties!
Full Time = Tiffin or Winnebago
Full Time = $10K repair/tire fund
Any Time = ???
I don't think we need to get a huge class A for shorter trips. And we don't need to have as much cargo space. I think it would be sensible to buy something smaller, easier to maneuver, and less expensive. Something we could park on the upper drive.
There are two things I know I must have:
A walk around queen bed, and a reasonable cooking area.
Everything else is up in the air.
Any Time = Class C, or Class A
Any Time = Gas
Any Time = 29'-32'
Any Time = 3 + years (or maybe newer)
Any Time = Probably buy extended Warranty
Any Time = Open to other brands
Any Time = Good price + $10K repair fund
I've been doing a lot of browsing on the internet and making a spread sheet of what I find interesting. I bounce back and forth between class A's and class C's. I've been pretty busy during the day working on the six animal order, but on Wednesday I took a day off and went shopping. The nearest RV dealers are about 25 - 35 miles from here. There are four dealers within a few mile of each other.
My day did not start very well. I went to the Camping World because they had an Add that said if you took some kind of survey and listened to their product presentation you would get a $25 coupon on anything in the store. Well, since that location did not have any RV's I couldn't get the coupon!
I did see a nice outdoor rocking chair that I might want someday. In fact it was what I was going to buy if I had been able to get the coupon.
Next door to Camping World is a Used RV dealer. " See Grins." I looked at several 29' - 31' class C's and a couple of 32' class A's but they were all pretty old and depressing. I did like one Minnie Winnie, and one Tioga that had an entertainment system up and over instead of the bed. I gave the sales man my name and told him to call me if a Minnie Winnie with a similiar entertainment system, or better yet just storage cabenitry came in.
They are moving to a new location next week, where they will have a larger lot. It would have been impossible to take a test drive today the way the inventory was jammed onto the lot. I'm not writing them off, but was totally unimpressed with the place today.
My next stop was to a dealer that had a new 2012 Georgetown 28'. I had seen it on the internet and thought it might be interesting. Not. Even though it was brand new it didn't appeal to me. Pieces of paneling were already peeling up. I also did not like the fact that there was a raised section next to what would be my side of the bed. I need to get up several times a night and I don't want to have to crawl off the end.
There was nothing else on his lot of interet.
The third place was all light trailers so I didn't stop.
The fourth place was on my list as having a new 30W Winnebago Vista. It turns out this is the Winnebago Dealer for our area, and everything they had in my size range was new. I also looked at a 32' Sightseer and at a couple of Access (What they are calling Minnie Winnies these days.)
I really like the Winnebago product line. Everything just felt so much nicer tome than some of the other brands. Of course except for the Georgetown, the others were used and not really clean.
I brought home some brochures for Craig to look at. He of course was drawn to the 37' floor plan.
Sometime in the next few weeks I will be driving up to Livermore, about 40 miles from here. There are several dealers up in that direction and a couple of brands I want to see.
Eventually Craig will go with me for some test drives.
I hope to finish the last of the animal heads by Friday, and will post another work in process then.
Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
BIG NEWS .. HAPPY NEWS
As I worked on my "art work in process" blogs, there hasn't been time to weave in the other exciting plan that has been developing around here.
I just can't keep it to myself any longer.
For years I have wanted to go to the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Years day. But, for one good reason or another, we did not do it.
When I was "dreaming" of going full time, it was one of the things I was determined to do.
About two weeks ago I said to Craig, "I want to go to the Rose parade this year."
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
So I began doing a bit of research on tickets etc.
My daughter and her husband live in San Diego and we will be going there for Christmas. It is really hard to think of Christmas gifts for them. I absolutely hate to buy gifts that are not really wanted or needed.
So the next night, I said to Craig, "I think we should ask Deidre and Andrew if they want to come, we could buy tickets for them and for our two grandsons as part of their Christmas gifts."
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me ..."
Oh, and Andrew's parents are coming from New Zealand for Christmas too. We could give them tickets as a gift too.
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
Our grandsons are at great ages. They will be eight and eleven this fall. So I suggested we take them to LA for a few days before the parade to see the float building and the band practice program.
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
To do all of this from their home in San Diego would be very hard. Driving back and forth several hours each day would be impractical. In particular, getting to Pasadena to the reserved parking lot by 6:00 AM on the morning of the parade would be unbelievably painful.
So wouldn't it be nice to rent an RV and park it there the night before? (It's expensive, but possible.)
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
I also made reservations at a KOA for Friday thru Tuesday. The parade is on Monday but we can't return the RV until Tuesday.
Although we will park the RV at the parade on Sunday night, the cost of an over night parking space for our car is more than the KOA fee, so we will just leave our car in our space at the KOA and go back for Monday night.
Finally when I told Craig about all of this, I added the words, "Maybe we should just buy an RV!"
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
We shall see.
Meanwhile the Cruise America reservation can be canceled with no penalty thru November.
And I do have a list of RV trips I want to take after he retires...
I wonder what Craig will say?
When I was "dreaming" of going full time, it was one of the things I was determined to do.
About two weeks ago I said to Craig, "I want to go to the Rose parade this year."
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
So I began doing a bit of research on tickets etc.
My daughter and her husband live in San Diego and we will be going there for Christmas. It is really hard to think of Christmas gifts for them. I absolutely hate to buy gifts that are not really wanted or needed.
So the next night, I said to Craig, "I think we should ask Deidre and Andrew if they want to come, we could buy tickets for them and for our two grandsons as part of their Christmas gifts."
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me ..."
Oh, and Andrew's parents are coming from New Zealand for Christmas too. We could give them tickets as a gift too.
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
Our grandsons are at great ages. They will be eight and eleven this fall. So I suggested we take them to LA for a few days before the parade to see the float building and the band practice program.
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
To do all of this from their home in San Diego would be very hard. Driving back and forth several hours each day would be impractical. In particular, getting to Pasadena to the reserved parking lot by 6:00 AM on the morning of the parade would be unbelievably painful.
So wouldn't it be nice to rent an RV and park it there the night before? (It's expensive, but possible.)
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
- I bought 8 grandstand tickets,
- reserved RV night before parking
- reserved a Cruise America RV
- and reserved parking for my daughter.
My daughter and her in-laws will be staying at a hotel in LA Sunday night and meeting us for the parade.
Although we will park the RV at the parade on Sunday night, the cost of an over night parking space for our car is more than the KOA fee, so we will just leave our car in our space at the KOA and go back for Monday night.
Finally when I told Craig about all of this, I added the words, "Maybe we should just buy an RV!"
And Craig said, "Sounds good to me..."
We shall see.
Meanwhile the Cruise America reservation can be canceled with no penalty thru November.
And I do have a list of RV trips I want to take after he retires...
I wonder what Craig will say?
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