migrantdawgs
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Posts posted by migrantdawgs
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This is a really good question - we have run into this many times. Frequently, the RV parks have rules that state there is no leaving dogs unattended, period. We have 3 dogs - a small rottweiler, a chihuahua and a jack russell/chihuahua and the little ones tend toward barking. They are not easy to take sightseeing - as everyone knows most places they are not allowed and we're not going to leave them in a hot car.
We built up to leaving them alone slowly. All the dogs in the bedroom, door shut, the 2 little ones in their crates, and the blinds closed so the rottie doesn't get all crazy about being protective if someone walks by without us home. We started with just 15-20 minutes (we'd go for a walk) and extended to a meal out, and then a movie, and we've worked up to about 4 hours but we have to do it regularly or they forget to stay quiet and we start over. It's working. After being used to doing things with the dogs all the time, we have to remember to stay on top of getting out and keeping them used to being alone! This was actually our biggest challenge since as fulltimers, we are with them 24-7.
Some places have dogsitters available but it seems rare. We don't do things like all day rafting trips because of the dogs - we'd have to have someone watch them and we do hire a sitter once in a while when we know folks where we are.
It takes planning and forethought and in our case, some training too.
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We winter the early winter in Silver City, New Mexico - a month at an RV Park is only about $330, plus electric. We do mid-late winter in Patagonia, AZ - very sleepy town, eccentric, lots of bird hunters, great produce and (surprisingly) restaurants, very affordable at about $400/month. We found the RV parks in Tucson and Phoenix way too overcrowded and more like huge parking lots. We're thinking of trying out the south Texas region soon.
You could also try out Quartzite, AZ - LOTS of snowbirds around there and lots of activities in the winter.
Mostly, though - HAVE FUN!!
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I'm not familiar with the Gypsy Journal or Escapees - I will check those out - Thank You!
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Sheri, Welcome to FMCA and the Forum. Check out the areas you may be staying in for Flea Markets. Most of the time there will someone the makes Wooden signs. Get one with your name and where you are from (John & Jane Doe Someplace, Utah). Put it in your window or better on a stake or something and put it in front of your coach. Then spend more time enjoying the outdoors. If you see people that walk by say hi. Most of the time they are in the same boat you are in. Don't be shy, great them warmly. I have even met people that became customers. Lots of RV Parks have met and great social. Go have fun.
Good Luck
I like this idea a lot. Will attend to it! I am going to up my skills on the people front. THANK YOU!! Someone told me just the other day - GET OUT MORE! - I am laughing because I am seeing it really is that simple. DUH.
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I never liked the idea of having a sign in my window with our names. I guess it's just me, but I could easily get caught off guard by a crook who comes to the window and says "Bill, are you in there?" You make the assumption that you are about to open the door to someone who knows you rather than taking the precaution necessary to ensure your safety.
Bill I think our rottweiler slows down that kind of thing...she has very good manners, and is clearly capable of ramping it up with a word. Many years ago, a law enforcement detective told me that a hearty dog is the best protection, bar none - because criminal types don't like to risk messing with dogs. The detective told me that even little dogs with big mouths work - it's just more hassle for the criminal - and the criminal will move on to an easier target.
(Outside of my belief in good dogs, Life is too sweet and too short to live scared of other humans. My opinion.)
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Thank you that is helpful! If they used to hand out 'yes' and 'no' cards at the Rallys, it sounds like this has been a point of wonder for others too - I like that idea quite a bit - I've also noticed folks who set up camp w/ an introduction (names, sometimes origin) staked out front or posted on the rig, that looks inviting.
We're new members of FMCA and so we're noticing who's got the little plaque on the rig, that seems more inviting as well.
We could also work a little harder at being outside more, rather than hunched over computers inside the rig! We tend to stay at parks that don't have much in the way of social functions - not on purpose necessarily - that's just the way it's worked out so far. We're learning so much full timing! It took most of the year to just get comfortable and tightened up with the rig maintenance.
Sheri
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We've been full-timing a year this week and enjoy the lifestyle immensely. We work - run a consulting business - in our RV and spend a great deal of time on phone and computers. Our social life suffers unless we are in an area where we know folks in stick houses to play with.
One time a woman I knew happened to be in the same RV park. I invited her to visit. I never saw her - and she told me a few days later that she had stood out front of our RV (a 40' coach) and since I didn't appear, she left. Since then, I've wondered about the protocol - do we knock, or do we hover?
Also, what is the best way to meet other folks in parks? When we're somewhere long enough, we get to know folks a little ("Nice rig!" "Where you from?") - but in general we're not clear on how folks like to roll with meeting new people. Thanks in advance for any advice and input! Sheri
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We just last week shopped around and got a 'full timing' insurance policy on our rig - we spent a year w/o it (ignorant - didn't know!) - but put the toad and the rig on the same policy. Came out to a very reasonable price, considering. David is a through shopper and it only took him about 2 days to narrow it down and make a decision...
Sheri
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I gotta agree w/ Tom on this one - we're 'younger folks' and don't like to do more than 4 hours of driving or so - and even after a couple of those I need to sit still somewhere - preferably with hookups! - that's a lot of gorgeous country you'll be traversing - I'd say pick your most interesting spot to spend a (day? a few hours?) and plan to do it again in slo mo...
Sheri
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Let's not confuse the 2 wireless technologies here.
All wireless data uses Radio Frequencies. Just like any other radio, more power and a better antenna will give you better connectivity. Remember, it is a 2-way radio connection. Transmit *and* Receive.
Public WiFi like you find in RV parks and McDonalds, etc. is set up to provide shared Internet access. It is "hot-spot" technology and uses 2.4 GHz radio frequencies. The signal does not generally go farther than 300 feet and is very susceptible to degradation from metal objects and moisture.
WiFi adapters built in to computers are not very powerful. There are no "boosters" for the built in adapters. There are, however, higher powered replacement adapters that will increase the effective distance. These are typically connected via USB and you should turn off the internal adapter when using them.
Another, even better (for distance) solution is a WiFi bridge. That is what Brett is using. A bridge takes the WiFi signal and changes it to a wired network signal that can be connected directly to a computer or an internal access point, effectively creating another local hotspot.
Cellular data uses different frequencies than WiFi. The antennas are not compatible. There are many amplifiers and antenna solutions for cellular communications. They extend the distance from the cell tower to your devices, both voice and data.
We have a tremendous amount of free information on our websites. Links from Geeks On Tour.
We will also be presenting our computer seminars at RV rallies in Louisville, Redmond FMCA, Elkhart, and Goshen this summer.
Jim and Chris Guld
www.geeksontour.com
Will ya'll be in Madison this August?
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We were considering attending and am wondering - the seminars posted are both kid-family oriented, and we are curious is this convention GEARED toward traveling families as in, with kids? We are an adult couple with four-legged kids and not so interested in the kid aspect...can anyone give me some info on this? thanks!
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We use the 4' high pen from Pet Smart as well - we don't ever leave our dogs outside in it when we are not right with them so 'escaping' hasn't been an issue - we look at it as letting us hang around outside w/o leashing the dogs to our chairs or whatever - some parks do not allow these but most do not have a problem with it, in our experience.
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I see that this is an 'older posted' forum but still a lively topic for those of us new to the FMCA - so I'm gonna jump in here. We've been full-timers for a year now, and are a little unusual in that we are not retired.
I own a consulting business in the health field and do a lot of travel. The last year before fulltiming, I was only home one solid month out of the entire year! All the travel was taking it's toll on me - the hotels, the restaurants, and not having my dogs with me for extended periods. It was my dream that 'when I'm older' I'd move into a RV full time...but I thought that was years away.
Then last June, I went to bed frazzled over travel and woke up the next morning with a clear plan: move into an RV. I knew NOTHING about RV's, had never even been in one - but the RV passion was somehow ignited and my husband decided it was dangerous to ignore it. I went and bought a book on RV's and full-timing ('for dummies'), all the RV related magazines I could find, and pulled up all the internet sites I could find. I researched the **** out of every topic. We decided on a Class A because we knew we'd want some room (still glad we did that...) and started shopping.
We got took a bit by the dealer when we bought a used Holiday Rambler Endeavor - there are things I would do different in that transaction - but by July 4 of 2010 we drove away in our new home. The first year we've learned a LOT of lessons that no one can really help you with. A lot of what we learned had to do with working together as a team on the road so that all went smoothly. We watched couples 'have at it' over backing in a rig, and so we figured out how to do our hand signals...things like that. We figured out how to save money - and we're still learning the ins and outs of maintenance. Little things - like buying an air compressor - saves so much stress looking for a gas station that will fit our 40' class A w/ toad to air up tires...
We work on the road - so we limit our travels to areas where we know we can get internet (we also have a Verizon air card, but it's not good 'everywhere' - ) and cell service. We love waking up in new scenery, finding new Farmer's Market's for fresh local foods, new hikes and bike rides, and our dogs are much better behaved now that we are with them consistently for training. We see more of the grandchildren.
After a year of fulltiming, I can't imagine why we didn't do it earlier. Seriously. This so suits our lifestyle. I also like the lack of sheer 'stuff'. We are still whittling things down, even on board. It's really quite fun. We were warned the first year was the hardest. Now that the first year is almost over, I'll agree with that. I expect things to keep getting easier.
SIde note - we thought we would trade in our rig - a 2001 - once we had some time under our belt. You know, trade up. But we really like our rig, it's just right - and so we're remodeling instead to make it more office-space friendly. Also dumped the LazyBoy recliner for an Ekornes stressless recliner....ahhhhhhhh.....
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I have also encountered this discrimination. We have a rottrieler, and he is gentle.
A friend told me about the disability laws, he said if you have a service dog or therapy dog they cant be discriminated against.
so I had my dog certified as a therapy dog. I take him to nursing homes now.
Under the law he can go anywhere. He wears a vest for id, and I've never had a campgrounds problem since then.
Under the law they can't ask what the disability or therapy is for.
The law is very strong, and I carry a copy of it with me. I've never had to show it but if there ever was a problem I would have the copy with me.
I recommend to check this out, so your dog can go anywhere you go.
This is great advice! We have a smallish wonderful rottie, a vicious chihuahua and an overly intelligent jackchi. We will look into getting the rottie certified. That would help us a lot. For the park owners, they would know that dog has been trained. (and I don't think anyone should own these powerful breeds without tending to quite a bit of training.)
As a side note, our normally sweet tempered rottie once ran out the screen door of our rig and knocked over a gentleman walking by - didn't bark, didn't bite, just knocked him over and waited for us to come running. Turns out he had a gun in his sock. But the point is, you never know what a dog will do, and our pain-in-the-*** chihuahua can't knock anyone down. -
When we're traveling we consult Woodall's and/or the internet for parks. We always check the park rules (we have a small rottweiler, a chihuahua and a jackchi) because of the dangerous breed issue and the quantity restrictions. We find that if we call ahead and talk nice, sometimes we can get by it (we feel our chihuahua is more 'dangerous' than our rottweiler, but we know she looks scary) and we are respectful either way. I met a rottweiler at an RV park once that was huge, chained to a picnic table, and acting really mad. I understand park owners not wanting that kind of an issue! We have never been turned away on site, but that is because we always check before arriving.
We do not travel in California much (and we have family there) due to the dangerous breed rules - and it's an insurance issue in CA parks, they all have it. It's the only state we've had to avoid due to that. We had the rottie before deciding to go full-time; if we'd known, we would not have chosen this delightful breed to full time with. The smaller dogs are easier in terms of the rules but not actually easier in terms of barking!
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We, too, sorted through all the 'stuff' and put what we felt were essentials into storage. Then, 3 months later, we sorted that down and stored some boxes at my brother's house in New Mexico. Now, everytime we roll through, we sort and get rid of more things. Pretty much, now we are down to solid memorablia and office (we own a business) files. We've been full timing for a year and we love it! I also like that when we go shopping, it's much simpler because we don't have space to take on any crap. So mostly we shop for things that we can trade out to lighten up or simplify what we do. I like the lack of sheer consumerism. We buy less at the holidays to send to kids/grandkids as well since our emphasis on THINGS has gone down so much.
We've found it to be a relief to simplify. David read a rule somewhere on full-timing that suggested when you take something on the rig, get rid of something else. That helped us out in the first 6 months but now we've adjusted and don't need a guideline!
Name That Thing
in General Discussion
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HOLY COW! I was staring at that thing this morning in OUR bedroom and wondering what the heck it was, as I have many many many times before!!! THANK YOU!!!