ScoutsPal

My wife and I have owned our 2008 Bounder 38P for two years and just recently joined FMCA. Previously we roamed the country with a 26 foot travel trailer. The story of how we came to be owners of our coach is, I think, worthy of a chuckle. We began our marriage going on camping vacations with her parents in their trailer. There were many good trips in those years, along with the expected issues when living in such close quarters with the in-laws. When our daughter came along she was added to the entourage. As she got older vacations were planned around places and activities to be enjoyed by children. Since Rving was pretty much the mode of travel our daughter was accustomed to she grew up not being too enamored of stays in hotels (she liked having her own bed and not sharing it with thousands of strangers). Then my father-in-law passed away in 1997. My mother-in-law sold the trailer and when we went anywhere we became guests of various hotels. After a couple not too pleasant experiences it became obvious to all of us we had to get back into taking our beds (and bathroom) with us. In 2000 we bought our own travel trailer and used it for the next ten years. By this time I said I wouldn't buy another. My wife grew up going to her grandparents lakeside cottage and from those years she has many wonderful memories. Once we sold our camper she got the bug to look for a cottage. So we started looking, and looking, and looking. But we just didn't find the right combination of cottage, location, and price. In June, 2010 we went to one of the lakes we were scoping out to check a couple more prospects and my wife said since we will be close let's go to a nearby dealer and see if they have any motorhomes of interest. Well, they did, we got nostalgic for the RV lifestyle, and we went home that day as owners of a coach and at the same time became former cottage prospectors. A couple weeks later our daughter got married and two days later we picked up our "new to us" coach. Needless to say daughter was quite happy with our purchase. It became her job to convince her new husband (who was not a "camper") that this was going to be fun. In the two years since, my wife has not completely settled the issue of coach vs. cottage. She still likes the idea of a cottage and has on more than one occasion suggested maybe we do both. Since I still have a few years to work I keep telling her we don't have time for both. I am convinced one or the other will be under utilized. And both are too expensive for that. In the meantime we now have a new grandson we will be introducing to the motorcoach life. And that makes his mommy very happy. So I will be continuing the battle "To Travel" for as long as I can.