What needs fixin’
April 21, 2005 Transportation | Comments (0) | by Administrator
Here’s my list for the Service Dept at Johnson RV:
Most important:———————————————
1. Why does the gas line hang down so low under the chassi? Not sure why but it’s been fixed.
2. How do I get hot water for dishes and a shower? I think it goes like this… 15 minutes before I want a shower, turn on the LP Water Heater. This heats faster than the Electric Water heater. DO NOT RUN THE MICROWAVE WHILE THE WH IS ON or the circuit breaker will flip. Supposedly, I could take a shower after 15 minutes of heating up. But, if something comes up and I don’t get to take the shower then, I believe the temp goes down. Or will it stay warm if I switch to electric? Can I leave it on all the time?
3. The locks and keys for every cargo space. The troublesome locks have been adjusted.
4. How do I fill the fresh water tank? Nothing got labeled while in service. So I drew my own diagram. Valves are ON when parallel to the line they are on. So, if I want to fill the fresh water tank, leave the top valve pointing up. Now, if I overfill it, I guess the line leaks. At least now I can pump water, since I can’t use the shore water hose without losing gallons of water. When the tank is empty, I’ll try the hose again. If the Service tech forgot to fix it, then they can buy my gas and rental car to get it fixed!!!
5. Why is the water pump so loud? The new one still sounds like a jackhammer. Is this normal?
6. Why doesn’t the black water tank guage say full when I can see the stuff 8 inches from the toilet bowl? Must be clogged. I’ve switched to disinigrating paper and use lots more water.
7. Can we move the fuse box? Nope, but it can get strengthened and used as a step.
8. Fix the hole in the bedroom floor. Sealed now with wood and calk.
9. Fix three drawers and prepare all drawers for future driving. Tabs were adjusted and stronger brackets were added to all drawers. I vow not to use heavy glass dishes for traveling now and will resort to very unhealthy plastic baking dishes.
10. Replace the dropdown speakers above the cab bed with flat speakers.This cost me way too much and we now have very ugly black speakers that stick out just an inch rather than 5 inches. Too bad they didn’t have any to match the flat white speakers.
Maintence questions————————
1. What’s the best cleaner for the sidewalls and roof?
2. At what pressure do the tires need to be?
3. Do I really have to check the lug nuts before every trip?
4. Can I move the spare tire over to the left? Yes.
5. Why does the sock drawer stick? Tabs need adjusting.
6. What do I do to the slide to maintain it? Baby POWDER (not oil).
New things to do————————–
1. Can we remove the big speaker under the dining seat? Nah; leave it.
2. Can we drill a hole in the side of the panels under the dining seat? Yes. Thank you.
4. Replace some light bulbs with lower wattage for reading. Order them from Jayco. Steve what’s the number?
5. Add cupboard shelf and doors beside refridgerator. What will this cost?
6. Hook up the iPod to the house speakers. Stereo King added a receiver and new CD player that handles an auxilary device. It’s working great.
8. Add mud flap on back from Camping World.
9. Add bug sheild on front from Camping World.
10. What instahot system can I install on the shower if I am unable to get enough hot water for a shower?
Finally, some pictures of our new home
April 18, 2005 Journeys & Adventures | Comments (0) | by Administrator
It’s already got that lived-in feeling, where only some of the decor matches, stuff is sprawled on every surface, and the dishes are always in the drainer. But it’s home.
First trip to the beach
April 17, 2005 Planning | Comments (0) | by Administrator
As a new motorhome owner, the RV dealer gave me a free weekend at Thousand Trails in Pacific City. The location is just beautiful; a natural setting, complete with bunnies (though guests are encouraged to feed them; guess they aren’t wild anymore). The staff and guests were very friendly. I am considering a membership, though I have this feeling they like their guests to be all white meat. In all the ads, magazines, and posters I saw while there, only one had African Americans represented and I didn’t see any Asians represented. Besides the cost, this may keep me from signing up.
Whoa is me
April 11, 2005 Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
Dumping the tanks was no fun today. I got water all over the bathroom and runnig down into the living room. I think it’s all dried out now.
None of the valves are labeled so I am still trying to remember what’s what. The design of the water system is, imo, lousy! The pump sounds like a jackhammer, the hose to help flush the toilet is a bit too short, and unless you leave the bathroom to look at the control center, you have no idea if you’ve filled the tank.
When I was all done, I decided to fill the tank. Well, then I realized I’d filled it with “dangerous” water. Hope we don’t get sick. Not sure where the the water filter is on our rig; I see a loose one rolling around in the bathroom cabinet; am I supposed to install it or is it an extra?
I’ve been waiting for the service tech to call back for 2 days now. I’ll have to be more aggressive.
Security
April 6, 2005 Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
Try this when it’s time to set up security for the RV:
http://www.phpkitchen.com/article.php?story=20030706063603763
2 weeks into full-timing
April 6, 2005 Planning | Comments Off | by Administrator
We are settled in now, and out of the house. It took 14 days to move! Yuck. I’ll never stay somewhere 10 yrs again!
A friend has let me know about insta-hot alternatives to water heaters, so we can shower. In the mean time, we’ll pretend by washing with disposable wipes and washing our hair in the neighbor’s sink.
I have yet to take some pictures. Guess the rain has stopped me there, and the exhaustion of moving. Perhaps this weekend I’ll have a chance, before Maya’s birthday party.
We take our first real trip to Pacific City next weekend. It’ll be a breeze; now that I have the hang of driving, parking, backing up, leveling, and turning on the systems. What I need before we go is the iPod connection to the house speakers.
I’m hoping the next weekend to buy a recumbant tandem bike to use for alternative transpertation. I’ll be cheaper and easier than towing the car.
Eventful week
March 31, 2005 Planning | Comments Off | by Administrator
We are almost at the end of 14 days of Hell. Moving from a 4-bedroom 2-bath house into a 31 foot motorhome is a challenge.
We’ve lived through 3 days of no heat, no stove, and incessent rain. The heat problem was indeed an empty propane tank, not the fuse. I just neglected to turn the gas on when I returned from filling it. Never assume the service dude has left it on!
Maya tried the shower tonight; too bad we ran out of water midway! At least now I understand the Command Center lights; E means empty! The hot seems to be intermittent (sp?). Bummer.
At the garage sale, I gave away as much as possible, and sent many large items to the ARC for consignment. They pick up, so that saved me a headache. I expect to have all the junk out of the house tomorrow afternoon, however. And on Sunday, all the garbage will be picked up.
Since I can’t officially close until Monday or Tuesday due to World Savings horrible policy of making me wait 10 days to get a payoff letter, I didn’t get to close on Wednesday as planned.
Sunday will be a day of rest, except for the client site I need to finish, and making Maya’s birthday invites.
First night in new home
March 27, 2005 Planning | Comments Off | by Administrator
Maya and I slept well in our new home (filled with stuff) and are trying to enjoy packing up the last bit of stuff, which seems to be the hardest, with everything else already taking up space.
The more I think I’m close to being done packing the sooner I see another room with junk laying on the floor that must be either kept, stored, boxed for giveaway, or thrown away. I was getting more and more depressed until I realized the problem was I had no where to put it–BOXES are needed. So we’re taking a break to go get lots of boxes. That should speed things up.
Electricity
March 24, 2005 Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
So after 3 days parked with no hookup, I finally ran the battery down; though I don’t know which one. An alarm sounded and the lights dimmed, so I turned everything off and tried the generator, which didn’t work. So I ran the car engine for a few minutes, and voila! The generator started up and so the lights came on.
The extension cord I have would work if I had the muscle to plug it in. Oh well; I bought a new one at Searing Electric and the salesman put the adaptor in for me, which I will not take out (since I can’t get it back in). The cord has a light which helps to see where it is.
I’m starting to get the hang of things. . . the steps can stay out so we don’t use up electricity every time we open the door. One light switch will control 3 in the living room.
Packing up
March 24, 2005 Planning | Comments Off | by Administrator
We brought the RV home on Sunday and have been packing up. The house is slowly coming apart and looking baren.
I’m storing many books, baby clothes, memorabilia, and art at Philomath Self Storage in a 5×4 unit, which may not be enough. Do I really need 3 large boxes of books? Will I need the heated unit?
I’ve sold a few pieces of furniture and will probably sell the rest at our garage sale Saturday. The garage is filling up with stuff to sell. I have about 200 CDs, some of which I sold to Happy Trails. What do I do with the rest if they don’t sell? Ugh!
All the important stuff is fitting nicely into the RV; my art cart, canvases, clothes, books, and food!
Oder Eater
March 9, 2005 Transportation | Comments (0) | by Administrator
I found some stuff at the pet store that eats oders. The sales staff assured me that it would help eat away fumes from the vinyl in the RV. We’ll see how it does. The pet store uses them to eliminate animal and cat litter smells (it works).
I want to try the kind sold in Art Supply stores that supposedly rids the air of harmful fumes from oil painting.
Articles about WiFi
March 9, 2005 Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
- Why You’ll Really Want WiMax
- Frank Rose. Wired Magazine. Forget broadband as you know it – 802.16 is faster, wireless, and works for miles.
- Trailer Parks Convert to Wi-Fi
- Joanna Glasner, Wired Magazine
- Wireless Caravan: Geeks on Parade
- Michelle Dilio, Wired Magazine
- WiFi Caravan
- Viarena
- Fun Roads
- Many articles
VOIP
March 8, 2005 Inspiration, Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
Check into voice over IP Broadvoice internet phone and xten.com’s xlite free online phone software. We already have a headset; does it sound good?
Web Ring possibilities
March 8, 2005 Inspiration | Comments Off | by Administrator
check into this http://h.webring.com/hub?ring=falcor
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
March 7, 2005 Inspiration | Comments Off | by Administrator
Recommended by Ben J. Reportedly distracts you from doing anything else, so may not be safe to listen to while in heavy traffic.
First Driving Lesson
March 6, 2005 Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
Pat Brody, the Johnson RV Sales person I worked with this weekend to purchase my motorhome, gave me my first real driving lesson. He left the lot going South on 82 and stopped on a residential street to switch drivers. We proceeded through lots of traffic and up a hill to test out the overdrive.
Overdrive allows you to easily move up a steep hill when pulling a full load. Then it helps keep you “geared down” and breaked while descending.
I practiced viewing corners and stop sign poles while turning left and right, to see how close I am to curbs. Don’t want to snatch any poles or run over pedestians at corners. I have to turn wide, watch the mirrors, and remember the height of the rig so I don’t scrape the roof with low-haning branches.
I will have to practice judging 11’6″ so I don’t knock off hardware on top, or scratch so badly that I have to premeturely replace the roof.
I bought the RV!
March 6, 2005 Planning | Comments Off | by Administrator
Yesterday, I put 10% down on a 31SS Class C Jayco Grayhawk! It’s fun to drive, roomy, pretty on the inside, and has all the amenities I need.
On Monday, I’ll hear how the credit report looks and which lender will take me at which interest rate.
When the home sale is final, I’ll refinance the RV at a lower interest rate and put much more down to keep the monthly payments manageable.
We’ll sign papers Friday and pick it up the next Friday or Saturday (March 19), at the beginning of Spring Break. That gives us the week to pack and play before Spring Term starts. We’ll move over to Cindy’s by March 31.
Follow your dreams.
Time to purchase!
March 3, 2005 Planning | Comments (0) | by Administrator
Now that the house has sold, I will be doing my final RV shopping this weekend. I have rig picked out.
Maintenance
March 3, 2005 Transportation | Comments (0) | by Administrator
I’ll be consulting with a local RV Repair shop about how to maintain the RV. There is a lot to be learned from the experts not just the manual.
Driving Schools
March 3, 2005 Transportation | Comments (0) | by Administrator
To make my trips safer, I want to take an RV driving class. I’ll need to practice turning, backing up, getting out of trouble, etc.
Bon Voyage Party slated for August 2005
March 3, 2005 Bon Voyage Party | Comments (0) | by Administrator
Now that the house is sold, we’ll be buying the RV very soon. After we get ourselves comfortable in the new rig by taking short weekend trips, we’ll be ready to head South in the Fall of 05. That gives me time to teach 8 weeks summer term.
I’ll set a date for soon after the term ends.
New and Improved
March 2, 2005 Transportation | Comments Off | by Administrator
Moving forward with my dream at a rapid pace now, so decided to learn a bit of xml and rss to help me get my blog for i-journey started in a more serious way. This is the third location for it, and it’s resting place, since I have the domain.
Installing WordPress was a breeze and I finally found a way to add someone else’s news to it. I added Wired Magazine using What are RSS: and Feed: Links? soderlind.no Simple Aggregator.
Later, I’ll see what I want to do to the theme for this site.
Still want to incorporate a moving RV at the top.
National Women’s History Month is March
March 1, 2005 Inspiration | Comments (0) | by Administrator
Find out what’s happening around the nation in March regarding women’s history, at the NWHP.org site.
Boxes
January 12, 2005 Landscapes | Comments (0) | by Pam Van Londen
Cigar boxes of light-weight balsa wood make great gifts. They are handpainted with acrylic on top, sides, and inside.
Keep memorabelia and other treasures inside these unique boxes. The price per box is just $17 plus shipping.
Choose a design from the list below, or make a request. Each box is signed by the artist.
Initial analysis of financing a dream to live the full-time RV lifestyle
December 28, 2004 Planning | Comments (0) | by Administrator
Our 31 foot Jayco Grayhawk motorhome. © Pam Van Londen 2005
I have found it hard over the years to really take a vacation, get enough sleep, or take a complete break from working 11 hrs per day. The jobs I’ve held have been exciting, invigorating, exhausting, and over time, not as rewarding financially as they should have been. After 20 years in the workforce, I am burned out, gray, flabby, bitchy, and itching to do something different.
So I’m going to travel full time and work part time. Yikes! How can I do that? I’m in debt, have no savings, and need a job that lets me work from the road. Plus, I’d rather be painting than working in a cold, dark office all day.
Voila! I’ll paint and teach online. I can always continue to build web sites for clients as well. This can be done.
Two sets of friends and I would discuss this idea of traveling full time but it seemed so daunting to get from here (day job, kids, car, mortgage) to there (anytime/anywhere job, motorhome, gas money, kids). One way I overcome a daunting future is to dream. So I visualized every aspect of living on the road…what would the motorhome have to look like? What tools would I need? Where would I park? Would I feel safe? Could I take the dog? Could I homeschool my daughter?
Personal Finances
Whether I’m dreaming or not, I like to get out the computer to help me. The following 3 screenshots are taken from Quicken’s customizable budgeting reports. Because I have used Quicken to track all home and business expenses for the past 7 years, it was able to automatically set up the budget for me! Quicken showed me my monthy and annual expenses and income based on past years.
Before I put the house on the market, I reviewed my budget from 2003 and projected what it would cost to live in an RV 1) while still in Corvallis and then live in an RV 2) while traveling for a year. The screen shots below are examples of these budgets.
The budget shows me that I’m trying to live outside my means! But, the idea about working part time (not 11 hours per day like I have been), traveling, having and accumulating less, and having FUN will keep me alive longer, which, day to day, should cost me less per month. We’ll see.
Quicken allowed me to customize my columns and rows to generate a report that fit my mindset. I was able to hide/show detail of expenses depending on my needs for a report.
Budget Projections and Variations
The next thing I did was to project what it would take to get rid of the debt; pay a year’s worth of health, life, and auto insurance; and purchase the motorhome. For this task I switched to an AppleWorks Spreadsheet file.
The three columns below use a few common calculations to show what I have available to spend on the motorhome and other expenses if I sell the house for $190k or $180k. If I changed the downpayment amount then referenced cells will automatically adjust themselves. If I add more income then I can put more down on the RV or if I sell the house for less, I can see how much more income I need to maintain the budget. The columns adjust themselves.
If I purchase a used or lower-priced rig, and teach distance classes, paint murals, and continue developing web sites for clients, I should be able to stay on the road for a year (or more).
Who else is living this dream?
Thousands across the country are quitting jobs, selling homes, and living full-time in motorhomes and trailers. Some are what might be considered trailer-trash, but many are retired or semi-retired professionals who want to see the world and live where it’s warm. Many work while on the road.
WorkCamper magazine lists many jobs for fulltimers (as we’re called).
Workers On Wheels covers many topics for
And Full Time RVer tells us how to save time and money while on the road.
Motorhome Magazine published a great article about the cost of fulltime RVing in 1999. I haven’t seen another one since, it’s time to update the figures; I believe costs have doubled.
Barriers?
When I was asked to teach a distance course, I knew I was on my way to living my dream. And not one of my friends or family has tried to persuade me to continue life as is. The only barriers are time, organization, and money.
I project the process to go from fulltime worker to fulltime RVer will be about 9 months. I must stay focused on preparing the house for sale. I must continue to seek out other online teaching opportunities and start painting more.
Along the Path at Tryon Park
December 14, 2004 Commissions, Murals | Comments (0) | by Pam Van Londen
My first mural was painted at the home of Cindy Miller in Corvallis, Oregon during a peaceful snowstorm over Winter break. The 14-foot wall was white reflected too much sunlight in the large room, so I provided a cooler atmosphere by painting this old growth forest scene from a photo taken while we were walking along the path at Tryon Park in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Clear Lake Workshop
August 3, 2004 ** A Sale! **, Landscapes | Comments (0) | by Pam Van Londen
$90 SALE © Pam Van Londen 2007 Clear Lake #3 acrylic on canvas on 18 x 14 x 1 canvas
I finished this painting after many years of contemplation. I had not painted water successfully in acrylic or oils, so I took a workshop from Mark Allison, art instructor at LBCC and Bill Shumway, owner of Pegasus Gallery, in Corvallis. Though I did not get to participate in the entire weekend’s activities, I learned vital skills which are always with me in my daily and plain air painting.
Signs for businesses
August 12, 2003 Sign Projects | Comments (0) | by Pam Van Londen
Corvallis Walforf School
Road to Discovery ~ contest submission
May 18, 2003 Portraits | Comments (0) | by Pam Van Londen
In 2003, I entered a contest to provide art for the da Vinci Days poster. Though this piece did not receive the honor, I enjoyed working on each portrait . The large area of sky was left to add the theme title, Road to Discovery, which would be done electronically.
During the festival, this painting sat on an easel in the foyer of La Sells Stewart Center at Oregon State University. Other contest entrants were to display their work as well, but chose not to (what an opportunity for me!).