When Your Survival Guy was 12-years old, my family traveled across the country in a 21-foot Winnebago Brave. Winnebago was on to something with the name because we saw the country all right, including the major national and state parks. But we also saw a lot of gas stations and even a few friends for an unexpected, extended stay in Cincinnati, OH. But that’s what’s great about RVing. You remember stuff you never planned on seeing.
When we were “stuck” in Cincinnati, we went on a riverboat, played Wiffle ball, went to the club pool, and to the Kings Island amusement park where we rode “The Beast,” which my dad and I still talk about to this day.
When you’re RVing, life on the road can be anything but on schedule. But you figure it out. I know a lot of you do the same during your own trips on the road, in the air, and/or on the water. In my conversations with you, you tell me you just finished a winter season in the sunny Bahamas on your sailboat, and when it was time to pick up the hook and head home, you didn’t want to leave. That’s the sign of a good trip.
The best things in life are free. Your Survival Guy is here for you. Stick with me.
In another conversation with you this week, you told me you’ll spend weeks exploring the national parks in the southwest in your RV for your summer job. How? Well, you went on vacation with an RV group, and liked it so much you became ambassadors helping to guide them now. Your job is to be the forward team helping with the paperwork before the group arrives at the next campground or a gunner bringing up the rear in case there’s a problem. And there are always problems. It’s RVing.
But that’s what makes it fun. Fun, that is, once you’re sharing a glass of wine with your new friends gathered around the campfire, talking about your day and anticipating tomorrow. The RV life—and any adventure for that matter—is always easier when you’re in it together. It’s always easier to get out of bed when you know you’ll be missed if you don’t. It can be work. But it can also be a way to see the world. My clients will be heading next year to New Zealand/Australia as vacationers. Who knows what that will lead to.
Action Line: The hardest part about big trips like these is getting out the door. But like a lot of experiences in life, that’s how they start. Sure, there will be unexpected stops along the way. But if you have a plan, I believe you’ll get to where you want to go.
Hard to miss the drumming of the late Jeff Porcaro’s signature bass drum work here.
P.S. Your Survival Guy loves getting your pictures from the road.
