We're Not in Kansas Anymore

This might be our last Christmas in this home. And then again, it might not 😊 Two years ago we thought we might take advantage of the seller's market. We weeded through excess stuff and donated several trunkloads to local charities. We planned to downsize to a smaller place by the spring. So we documented Christmas 2019 in great detail. As we gathered around Geoff's grandmother's antique table for what we thought would be the "last" Christmas Eve Vigil, we all photographed the feast for posterity. RVing was not a blip on our radar. But then again, neither was a global pandemic. A lot has changed in these past 24 months. Some good and some not-so good. However, all these combined experiences brought us to this point in time. We released our plans to travel around Europe in exchange for an American RV adventure. And we declare God is Good . Totoro Holiday Traditions Our family is steeped in holiday traditions.  We begin Labor Day Weekend when I proclaim Christmas

One of the features we most admired the first time we saw Toto (besides the impeccable exterior, neutral decor, and ample space for dogs on travel days) was the amount of interior storage. Shelves lined the cabin on both sides. The kitchen pantry was roomy. The linen closet huge. And we each had a small hanging closet - one on each side of the bed. While it's just the two of us, I'm certain this 40 ft coach could easily accommodate a family of four. You have to be willing to think outside the box and get a little creative with storage options. And you must remain flexible. RV storage solutions are in a perpetual fluid state... what works today might be modified tomorrow. But for now, this is how I organize. Bedroom Both of us have a hanging closet on our side of the bed. While great storage space, it is not as convenient as we first thought. First, the closet is narrow, only about 11 inches wide and 20 inches long. In addition, the depth is a hair too small for normal hangers.

Travel days can be stressful.  There's a lot to remember before leaving the campground. We've heard horror stories of people ripping the electric hook-up out of the ground because they forgot to unplug 😳 Once on the road, the driver must monitor traffic, weather, and road conditions. And if you're the passenger, you must tend to anxious dogs who don't enjoy the bumpy ride 😆  For these reasons and more, the 2-2-2 rule is good to follow:  Travel no more than 200 miles a day Travel no more than 2 hours without a break Stay a minimum of 2 days at each campsite Divide and Conquer As with most of our household chores, Geoff takes care of outside duties on travel days while I focus on the inside. I don't know ALL that Geoff does to prepare us for travel (perhaps I can convince him to write an article someday...) but I do know he has a rather extensive checklist. Disconnect all hook-ups (electric - water - sewer) Roll up the awnings and tightly secure them Bring the slide