The weather was inclement through April, so we spent the nice weather days working and playing outside. The first thing I discovered was that we still had too much stuff. So more things went to my mother-in-law's garage and more bags to charity. I also installed extra shelving in and around the rv to hold spices. I have found that it doesn't take long to move into your rv. But it takes a few weeks to find a good spot for everything. And continue readjusting after that.
I gave Bill most of the wardrobe space in the beginning because he had more stuff to store. We discovered that he didn't use it all and I moved him over and consolidated so I could make more room for me.
Hanging curtains over the kids' bunks helped to create a sense of privacy. And since we were used to sharing the bathroom, that wasn't much of a stretch. Except for the fact that we can hear every sound and bodily function...
The biggest challenge is having less floor space to move around in. Only one person working in the kitchen area and we are on top of one another. It gets cluttered and dirty faster. But it also cleans up faster.
All in all, we are pleased with the class c.
Showing posts with label purging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purging. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
New Beginnings
We are a week away from moving from the Clear Creek RV Park in Golden, Colorado, where we have spent the last seven months. This is our second winter here and it has felt like home. But something is different this spring. I have wheels and a motor attached to my mobile residence --instead of just wheels. When I watch a rig or motorhome pull into or out of the park, a twinge of envy no longer sparks through my heart. Now, I too can come and go as I please!
About two weeks ago, we traded our Forest River Sierra fifth wheel bunk-house in for a Forest River Sunseeker Class C motorhome. The decision to trade our rig in for a motorhome happened over a period of several months, but the process only took a week.
click for a bigger picture
Here is a link: http://www.rvamericainc.com/rv/aurora+co/forestriver+classc/429/forest+river+sunseeker+3170ds
It boiled down to a few issues. Namely, the finances are cheaper with a Class C as opposed to a truck and trailer. For the same monthly payment a decent truck costs, we have both our home and our means of transporting it. RV America also gave us a good value for our trade-in.
Other reasons for buying a 32' Class C: Ease of parking; with a shorter rig, it is easier to get a spot and park in --especially if we are staying at a state or national park. Flexibility during the drive; the kids and I relish the idea of being able to use the bathroom or stretch out during those long hours on the road. And my husband likes the fact that he can get to where he is going without stopping every couple hours for a "potty break".
Mind you, the difficulty in paring down to a smaller space was much harder than I anticipated. I've been preparing for the move since January. Going through boxes full of papers, that you would normally gloss over and toss aside for another day, and purging old picture albums was tedious. I often find that we fill the space we occupy. In fifteen months of living in the 40' Sierra, we packed the cabinets to overflowing. As I slowly and meticulously combed through each nook and cranny, it amazed me to see how many bags went to charity, a friend, or the dumpster. I pulled at least a hundred bags and boxes out --on top of the items we sold on craigslist or ebay.
Finally, after longs weeks of cold winter weather and the ever-present goal of "preparing, packing, and purging," finished in time for our move (which happened in between heavy spring storms).
We had previously scouted mutiple rigs online and visited at least four different kinds of class C motorhomes with extra bunks. We settled on the Sunseeker because it had a nice balance of indoor cabinet/counter space with decent storage underneath. It also had linoleum throughout the rig, except for the bedroom in the back. I prefer this because it's easier to clean (especially under the table after dinner).
View inventory for this floor plan.
RV America provided us a very smooth transition, between the finances and being sensitive to the fact we were fulltimers. They parked both rigs side-by-side, with the doors facing each other about six feet apart. We are expert packers and movers, so had everything emptied from the fifth-wheel to the Class C within an hour.
I drove our Kia behind the rig (which barely had enough room to sit and maneuver with all the boxes and bags piled) and called my mom, crying. My long-awaited birthday/anniversary/Mother's Day/Christmas present finally arrived.
It took us a few days to get settled in and a very depressing fact became apparent. I had too much stuff. No matter how much I reshuffled and stuffed, we didn't have enough room. So I resigned myself to packing up those things that we wanted to keep, but could live without --like the kids' lego sets, expensive camping gear, books and keepsakes. We stored the excess in the rafters and shelves of my mother-in-law's garage. After purging anything we didn't absolutely need, we finally fit.
I don't regret this decision because our family wants to taste life through experiences and adventures; not be defined by our stuff. The rig fits us perfectly, albeit a little snug.
Now that I have means to move my home; I can't wait for the next adventure around the corner!
About two weeks ago, we traded our Forest River Sierra fifth wheel bunk-house in for a Forest River Sunseeker Class C motorhome. The decision to trade our rig in for a motorhome happened over a period of several months, but the process only took a week.
click for a bigger picture
Here is a link: http://www.rvamericainc.com/rv/aurora+co/forestriver+classc/429/forest+river+sunseeker+3170ds
It boiled down to a few issues. Namely, the finances are cheaper with a Class C as opposed to a truck and trailer. For the same monthly payment a decent truck costs, we have both our home and our means of transporting it. RV America also gave us a good value for our trade-in.
Other reasons for buying a 32' Class C: Ease of parking; with a shorter rig, it is easier to get a spot and park in --especially if we are staying at a state or national park. Flexibility during the drive; the kids and I relish the idea of being able to use the bathroom or stretch out during those long hours on the road. And my husband likes the fact that he can get to where he is going without stopping every couple hours for a "potty break".
Mind you, the difficulty in paring down to a smaller space was much harder than I anticipated. I've been preparing for the move since January. Going through boxes full of papers, that you would normally gloss over and toss aside for another day, and purging old picture albums was tedious. I often find that we fill the space we occupy. In fifteen months of living in the 40' Sierra, we packed the cabinets to overflowing. As I slowly and meticulously combed through each nook and cranny, it amazed me to see how many bags went to charity, a friend, or the dumpster. I pulled at least a hundred bags and boxes out --on top of the items we sold on craigslist or ebay.
Finally, after longs weeks of cold winter weather and the ever-present goal of "preparing, packing, and purging," finished in time for our move (which happened in between heavy spring storms).
We had previously scouted mutiple rigs online and visited at least four different kinds of class C motorhomes with extra bunks. We settled on the Sunseeker because it had a nice balance of indoor cabinet/counter space with decent storage underneath. It also had linoleum throughout the rig, except for the bedroom in the back. I prefer this because it's easier to clean (especially under the table after dinner).
View inventory for this floor plan.
RV America provided us a very smooth transition, between the finances and being sensitive to the fact we were fulltimers. They parked both rigs side-by-side, with the doors facing each other about six feet apart. We are expert packers and movers, so had everything emptied from the fifth-wheel to the Class C within an hour.
I drove our Kia behind the rig (which barely had enough room to sit and maneuver with all the boxes and bags piled) and called my mom, crying. My long-awaited birthday/anniversary/Mother's Day/Christmas present finally arrived.
It took us a few days to get settled in and a very depressing fact became apparent. I had too much stuff. No matter how much I reshuffled and stuffed, we didn't have enough room. So I resigned myself to packing up those things that we wanted to keep, but could live without --like the kids' lego sets, expensive camping gear, books and keepsakes. We stored the excess in the rafters and shelves of my mother-in-law's garage. After purging anything we didn't absolutely need, we finally fit.
I don't regret this decision because our family wants to taste life through experiences and adventures; not be defined by our stuff. The rig fits us perfectly, albeit a little snug.
Now that I have means to move my home; I can't wait for the next adventure around the corner!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Winterizing
Now that winter is officially upon us, there are certain things one must address while living in an RV.
Unfortunately, our new rig doesn't include a polar package -though it is a tad warmer then the Jayfeather. And the fresh water tank had mold.
My temporary solution to the water (since we still hadn't properly winterized the hose), was a 7-gallon water tank from Walmart. I could attach a hose during the day to wash dishes and cook, then drag it inside at night so it didn't freeze. This worked for a couple weeks.
Then Bill finally had a couple days where he could look at the hose. Wouldn't you know it -he got it working. Now I have running water that doesn't freeze at night.
We open the cabinet doors, under the sinks, at night to keep the pipes warm and set the thermostat to 60 degrees. Since electricity is at a flat rate, we run a ceramic heater in each bedroom, during the night, and in the main room, during the day.
In doing so, we've managed to stretch a thirty pound tank for two weeks instead of three days.
Bill put bubble wrap over the windows in the living room and then covered them with plastic to cut down on the cold. We still have to insulate the bedrooms and get a skirt attached. But at least the we stay toasty warm at night and during the day (have to wear socks and a sweatshirt...) and have running water. Plus space.
I have had visions of warm apartments and second guessed myself. But apartments are cold- at times- too and twice as expensive. My trailer sits twenty feet or so from Clear Creek and I am surrounded by mountains. I can walk to the rec center, along the creek and to the library. Bill drives fifteen minutes to work, as opposed to one hour. And we love Golden. The colors. The ambiance. The financial freedom in our budget that we haven't seen in over ten years. And the hope of a debt-free future.
I no longer take running water, warmth and comfort for granted. I may be inconvenienced at times (having to use a laundromat for the first time ever) and have to deal with nuisances (like less pantry space), but I also have simplified my life. Pared it down to the essentials. Cut out the extraneous stuff that somehow collected in the corners.
And know that come spring, the cold will be a distant memory.
Unfortunately, our new rig doesn't include a polar package -though it is a tad warmer then the Jayfeather. And the fresh water tank had mold.
My temporary solution to the water (since we still hadn't properly winterized the hose), was a 7-gallon water tank from Walmart. I could attach a hose during the day to wash dishes and cook, then drag it inside at night so it didn't freeze. This worked for a couple weeks.
Then Bill finally had a couple days where he could look at the hose. Wouldn't you know it -he got it working. Now I have running water that doesn't freeze at night.
We open the cabinet doors, under the sinks, at night to keep the pipes warm and set the thermostat to 60 degrees. Since electricity is at a flat rate, we run a ceramic heater in each bedroom, during the night, and in the main room, during the day.
In doing so, we've managed to stretch a thirty pound tank for two weeks instead of three days.
Bill put bubble wrap over the windows in the living room and then covered them with plastic to cut down on the cold. We still have to insulate the bedrooms and get a skirt attached. But at least the we stay toasty warm at night and during the day (have to wear socks and a sweatshirt...) and have running water. Plus space.
I have had visions of warm apartments and second guessed myself. But apartments are cold- at times- too and twice as expensive. My trailer sits twenty feet or so from Clear Creek and I am surrounded by mountains. I can walk to the rec center, along the creek and to the library. Bill drives fifteen minutes to work, as opposed to one hour. And we love Golden. The colors. The ambiance. The financial freedom in our budget that we haven't seen in over ten years. And the hope of a debt-free future.
I no longer take running water, warmth and comfort for granted. I may be inconvenienced at times (having to use a laundromat for the first time ever) and have to deal with nuisances (like less pantry space), but I also have simplified my life. Pared it down to the essentials. Cut out the extraneous stuff that somehow collected in the corners.
And know that come spring, the cold will be a distant memory.
Logistics
Part of the agreement with my DH to purchase the Sierra was moving out of our storage unit. At $70 a month, it nearly covers the extra monthly increase.
In theory, this works great. But how do you stuff a household -no matter how pared down- into an RV. And as much as I love all the cupboards, I do not like the lack of interior shelving.
We committed a full weekend to visiting IKEA; the Container Store; Home Depot; Lowes; Bed, Bath and Beyond; Ace Hardware; Camping World; and even Walmart. This also included Christmas shopping, but we were desperate for any form of efficient shelving.
My final conclusion: Lowes and Home Depot are great for houses, but not practical for very specific needs. Ace Hardware is good for some creative solutions --like installing a hanging rod in cabinets that don't have a place to hang them as the walls are too flimsy. IKEA and the Container Store have some solutions. IKEA has a great table I'm eyeing to replace the dinette. I would eventually like to rip it out and put in something more efficient. Plus, the couch is ugly and has to go. Bed, Bath and Beyond had some interesting pieces that may work -but they are soo expensive.
The bottom line: Besides waiting until our financial reserves are restored -there are no simple solutions (though we found some online -like the double-decker 18" lazy-susan) and each space will have to be tackled one at a time.
Meanwhile, after emptying 75 percent of the storage unit and washing 5 loads of laundry, I am officially moved in! With all my clothes hanging in the closet... It's the small victories that count.
The kids love their new room and all the extra space. We like the privacy of a closed door (mornings are much more fun again) and the luxury of three separate spaces.
The one thing I miss from the Jayfeather: Hiding the litter boxes underneath versus in a cupboard. But like everything else: we'll figure it out.
In theory, this works great. But how do you stuff a household -no matter how pared down- into an RV. And as much as I love all the cupboards, I do not like the lack of interior shelving.
We committed a full weekend to visiting IKEA; the Container Store; Home Depot; Lowes; Bed, Bath and Beyond; Ace Hardware; Camping World; and even Walmart. This also included Christmas shopping, but we were desperate for any form of efficient shelving.
My final conclusion: Lowes and Home Depot are great for houses, but not practical for very specific needs. Ace Hardware is good for some creative solutions --like installing a hanging rod in cabinets that don't have a place to hang them as the walls are too flimsy. IKEA and the Container Store have some solutions. IKEA has a great table I'm eyeing to replace the dinette. I would eventually like to rip it out and put in something more efficient. Plus, the couch is ugly and has to go. Bed, Bath and Beyond had some interesting pieces that may work -but they are soo expensive.
The bottom line: Besides waiting until our financial reserves are restored -there are no simple solutions (though we found some online -like the double-decker 18" lazy-susan) and each space will have to be tackled one at a time.
Meanwhile, after emptying 75 percent of the storage unit and washing 5 loads of laundry, I am officially moved in! With all my clothes hanging in the closet... It's the small victories that count.
The kids love their new room and all the extra space. We like the privacy of a closed door (mornings are much more fun again) and the luxury of three separate spaces.
The one thing I miss from the Jayfeather: Hiding the litter boxes underneath versus in a cupboard. But like everything else: we'll figure it out.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tight Spaces
I was feeling pretty good about how the RV was organized. Each cabinet had shelving and I worked around the limited space. But my biggest frustration had to be the enormously huge PC. And TV.
When we first moved in, my husband's computer was neatly tucked under the end of the bed. When he wanted to use it, he pulled out the keyboard and mouse and voila --instant computer. That's fine for watching movies or surfing the net. But when it comes to processing pictures, he needed a sturdy flat space.
So now we lost half of our dinette table as he worked on our recent wedding shoot. My first time working with him as an assistant photographer :)
That's all well and good, but after he decided the TV-as-monitor wasn't working and bought a new one...and converted the TV to our new XBOX screen; now I had no flat working space.
The kids did their school work on the little bit of dinette space left or scrunched on the little couch.
And don't get me started on the detritus left behind when we had a busy weekend or my husband got home. Coats, toys and stuff got tossed on the couch, or my bed, or under the tv or...
I felt my stress levels rising. Thank God we could go to the rec center nearby. I'd pack the kids up with lunch, school work and bathing suits. We would be there most of the day.
Then the first cold snap hit. Now, we've been battling the cold with a couple ceramic electric heaters and staying toasty warm, while stretching the propane. Condensation was a concern. I'd wake up in the morning with water running down the walls and soaking the bathmats along the edges.
One particular morning, it froze. The kids had been complaining of their blankets sticking to the walls as well.
On top of the lack of water and lack of space, I just wanted my kids to be warm. Was that too much to ask?
What is a girl to do?
Look at new RVs...
When we first moved in, my husband's computer was neatly tucked under the end of the bed. When he wanted to use it, he pulled out the keyboard and mouse and voila --instant computer. That's fine for watching movies or surfing the net. But when it comes to processing pictures, he needed a sturdy flat space.
So now we lost half of our dinette table as he worked on our recent wedding shoot. My first time working with him as an assistant photographer :)
That's all well and good, but after he decided the TV-as-monitor wasn't working and bought a new one...and converted the TV to our new XBOX screen; now I had no flat working space.
The kids did their school work on the little bit of dinette space left or scrunched on the little couch.
And don't get me started on the detritus left behind when we had a busy weekend or my husband got home. Coats, toys and stuff got tossed on the couch, or my bed, or under the tv or...
I felt my stress levels rising. Thank God we could go to the rec center nearby. I'd pack the kids up with lunch, school work and bathing suits. We would be there most of the day.
Then the first cold snap hit. Now, we've been battling the cold with a couple ceramic electric heaters and staying toasty warm, while stretching the propane. Condensation was a concern. I'd wake up in the morning with water running down the walls and soaking the bathmats along the edges.
One particular morning, it froze. The kids had been complaining of their blankets sticking to the walls as well.
On top of the lack of water and lack of space, I just wanted my kids to be warm. Was that too much to ask?
What is a girl to do?
Look at new RVs...
Friday, December 9, 2011
Moving on
We'd been home almost a month and I had reached an equilibrium in my emotions. Godliness, with contentment, is great. God had a plan for us and until we left Keenesburg -that was where he wanted us.
Then, we contemplate renting out the house. After much prayer and deliberation, we put it up on craigslist. Within four days, I had several calls. Amazing! God's timing is always perfect.
After some false starts, we got a young family who wants to buy the house next year. We filled out a contract. And just like that, it's time to move.
So we have the boxes and the storage unit. Bill took the week off. We filled the trailer with necessities and boxed the rest.
After a year of planning and six years of yearning to live in an RV, I was finally getting my dream. And you know what? I wasn't a roller coaster of emotions. What is meant to be, will be.
Wouldn't you know it, but my dryer stopped working right before we moved. It would go roundy-roundy, but not heat up. All the loads of bedding and clothes to clean before moving into the trailer.
We made it work, though, and then gave the whole set away. Moving is never easy. But at least we didn't have lots of stuff. Or so I thought. Until we started packing up and trying to figure out where everything went.
Do toys breed in secret? I think computer accessories reproduce like rabbits...
In the end, we got it all out and the house turned over in record time.
And we are off!
Then, we contemplate renting out the house. After much prayer and deliberation, we put it up on craigslist. Within four days, I had several calls. Amazing! God's timing is always perfect.
After some false starts, we got a young family who wants to buy the house next year. We filled out a contract. And just like that, it's time to move.
 |
| We buy boxes |
 |
| And rent a Public Storage unit. (kids are taking pictures now) |
So we have the boxes and the storage unit. Bill took the week off. We filled the trailer with necessities and boxed the rest.
After a year of planning and six years of yearning to live in an RV, I was finally getting my dream. And you know what? I wasn't a roller coaster of emotions. What is meant to be, will be.
 |
| only place to spread out wet sheets |
 |
| last bits of chaos |
Wouldn't you know it, but my dryer stopped working right before we moved. It would go roundy-roundy, but not heat up. All the loads of bedding and clothes to clean before moving into the trailer.
We made it work, though, and then gave the whole set away. Moving is never easy. But at least we didn't have lots of stuff. Or so I thought. Until we started packing up and trying to figure out where everything went.
Do toys breed in secret? I think computer accessories reproduce like rabbits...
In the end, we got it all out and the house turned over in record time.
 |
| last morning in Keenesburg |
 |
| House covered in snow |
 |
| It had to snow while we moved |
 |
| Good old truck leaking power steering fluid everywhere |
 |
| May be little, but she is sufficient for now |
And we are off!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
No Fear
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (1 Timothy 1:7)
So here is our house. Months after we finished the interior and put it up on the market. Long after we were supposed to be gone. With no furniture in the house except camp chairs and cots for the kids (we kept our master bedroom furniture). Trying to be faithful to the Father every step of our journey.
Purging, packing, and planning --the theme of my life since September 2010, when I felt God prompting me to prepare for moving.
While I stayed in Indiana enjoying a respite, my DH stayed here trying to sell the house. We had plenty of lookers, but no buyers.
Then Bill flew out to Indiana around the middle of August and we took our time coming back to Colorado. I dreaded returning. After all my hard work and effort. All the hours poured into paring down our furniture, getting rid of everything except the bare necessities. It all seemed wasted.
We decided to list the house on the MLS using a flat-fee service, in which a Realtor posts our information for a flat fee. We could afford $400 out of pocket versus $5000. Through August, September, and now October, our house has been listed on the MLS. With only two phone calls. How depressing. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel. Just refill the house with furniture and stick it out. But every time I went back to God, he made it abundantly clear that Keenesburg wasn't in our future.
What to do? Well, since the real estate market is soft and the rental market is strong... we decided to become landlords and rent out the house. After much prayer and deliberation, I crafted an ad and posted it on craigslist. Within an hour, I had two phone calls and an email. Within four days, I had countless phone calls and emails.
Apparently, this was the right door. So currently, we are screening potential tenants. Is it nerve-wracking? Oh, yea. Am I sure I want to be a landlord? No. But do I feel this was the right decision? Absolutely.
What did I gain from the trip to Indiana and several "wasted" months of trying to sell the house?
My husband.
Being in Colorado by himself made him realize what was most important: his family. Within a couple weeks of our return, he assumed the finances and started paying the bills; for the first time in our 16 1/2 years of marriage. He scaled back his outside commitments, re focused his passion and energy toward our financial future and began including the family in all his hobbies.
As hard as it has been to wait on the Lord and wonder at what was happening, I look back over the summer and realize that God had a plan which didn't include selling the house. It was a means to his end. But he has opened the door for us to leave via turning the house into a rental.
Financially, this makes sense for our family. We don't lose the money and time we invested and learn a whole lot about being prudent. As nerve-wracking as looking for the right tenant is, I have absolute peace about God's plan for our future. No fear.
Next post: About our fun journey traveling from Indiana to Colorado!
So here is our house. Months after we finished the interior and put it up on the market. Long after we were supposed to be gone. With no furniture in the house except camp chairs and cots for the kids (we kept our master bedroom furniture). Trying to be faithful to the Father every step of our journey.
Purging, packing, and planning --the theme of my life since September 2010, when I felt God prompting me to prepare for moving.
While I stayed in Indiana enjoying a respite, my DH stayed here trying to sell the house. We had plenty of lookers, but no buyers.
Then Bill flew out to Indiana around the middle of August and we took our time coming back to Colorado. I dreaded returning. After all my hard work and effort. All the hours poured into paring down our furniture, getting rid of everything except the bare necessities. It all seemed wasted.
We decided to list the house on the MLS using a flat-fee service, in which a Realtor posts our information for a flat fee. We could afford $400 out of pocket versus $5000. Through August, September, and now October, our house has been listed on the MLS. With only two phone calls. How depressing. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel. Just refill the house with furniture and stick it out. But every time I went back to God, he made it abundantly clear that Keenesburg wasn't in our future.
What to do? Well, since the real estate market is soft and the rental market is strong... we decided to become landlords and rent out the house. After much prayer and deliberation, I crafted an ad and posted it on craigslist. Within an hour, I had two phone calls and an email. Within four days, I had countless phone calls and emails.
Apparently, this was the right door. So currently, we are screening potential tenants. Is it nerve-wracking? Oh, yea. Am I sure I want to be a landlord? No. But do I feel this was the right decision? Absolutely.
What did I gain from the trip to Indiana and several "wasted" months of trying to sell the house?
My husband.
Being in Colorado by himself made him realize what was most important: his family. Within a couple weeks of our return, he assumed the finances and started paying the bills; for the first time in our 16 1/2 years of marriage. He scaled back his outside commitments, re focused his passion and energy toward our financial future and began including the family in all his hobbies.
As hard as it has been to wait on the Lord and wonder at what was happening, I look back over the summer and realize that God had a plan which didn't include selling the house. It was a means to his end. But he has opened the door for us to leave via turning the house into a rental.
Financially, this makes sense for our family. We don't lose the money and time we invested and learn a whole lot about being prudent. As nerve-wracking as looking for the right tenant is, I have absolute peace about God's plan for our future. No fear.
Next post: About our fun journey traveling from Indiana to Colorado!
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