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In my quest for new adventure, I decided I wanted a motor home.  The reasons were varied and included rationalizations such as:

  • being able to go from driver’s seat to kitchen counter for a sandwich would be so much more convenient than getting out of my car and going around to open the door of the trailer to get to the kitchen;
  • it would be more secure (read that “safer”) for this older white woman to cruise around the North American continent in a vehicle that she could go from bed to driver’s seat in 10 steps or less;
  • having one place to call “home” would be simpler than having a vehicle and a towed trailer – would it be too confusing to have two different wheeled “somethings” to call “home” – as in, if I’m in my car, is that “home” or is the trailer I keep my bed in “home”?
  • it would be more convenient to have all the potential repair-ables in one place;
  • having six tires in one place on one vehicle would just make keeping track of them easier;
  • add whatever variation of any of the above that comes to mind.

So I started methodically researching the type, style, size, and different fuel types of motor homes in my price range, and dramatically narrowed down the possible pool of contenders.  Once I decided on what I was searching for, I began in earnest looking on craigslist and eBay for something that would be the perfect fit for me and my girls, that is, my 15-year-old Golden Retriever mix, Dinah and my 10-year-old tuxedo kitty,  Louise (the surviving half of the kitty duo known as Thelma and …).

I found lots of motor homes available due to the economy forcing people to sell their “toys” and with the price of gas continuing to rise, leading people to down-size their homes-away-from-home, replacing them with tents.  I began making a list (or two) and decided to head back to Washington to make my purchase in the Pacific Northwest, since that’s where my residency is, and registering it would be easier.  Again, another one of those logical reasons behind this whole process.

However, once I arrived in the cold, wet, grey north, every single one of those motor homes that fit the prescribed bill had disappeared from any kind of listing site, either sold or deleted, making it pretty clear to me that I was not going to be finding a motor home any time soon.  Keeping an open mind, and occupying my time with tasks other than hanging out on craigslist and eBay 24 hours a day, after ten days, a friend introduced me to an incredibly tiny and very old travel trailer that was owned by a friend of hers.  It wasn’t love at first sight.  It wasn’t even “like” at first sight!  It was everything I had decided I was going to replace in my “new” home and here it was sitting in someone’s farm outbuilding, collecting dust and the ever-present mossy sheen that everything here in the Pacific Northwest eventually gets if it’s outside for any length of time.

I politely said “no how, no way” and after chatting with the new little goat kid and resident kitty, we left and went home.  That evening, I began to re-think my “no way” decision and thought that maybe it was do-able and could even be fun and definitely would be a great adventure and conversation-starter on the road…. problem was, my friend had decided she would buy it since I didn’t want it!  Oh no!  Now I want it and so does she!

In the end, we decided I would buy it, apply some TLC and elbow grease, and whatever updating and fixing up it needed for our immediate purposes and maybe next year, she would take it when I’m finished with it.  We made a phone call, drove over the next day, negotiated a price, hooked her up (she’s now a gender, instead of an “it”), brought her back to the farm and installed her in the workshop, where I can work on her to my little heart’s content.

I’m excited beyond words, and so anticipating this new adventure that I get all giddy inside just thinking about it.

Please join me in welcoming the newest addition to my little traveling family:

Keep coming back – watch as we get cleaned up and spiffed up, soon to be seen on the road, possibly somewhere near you!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the “New” Motorhome
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12 thoughts on “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the “New” Motorhome

  • March 8, 2012 at 6:01 am
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    I love her Lois! Happy venturing!

    • March 8, 2012 at 4:36 pm
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      Thanks, Janice! Wait’ll you see her all spiffed up!
      Perhaps we’ll see you on the road some day 🙂
      Happy journeys!

  • March 9, 2012 at 12:28 am
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    I know that you will have her “shiny new” in no time! You are right about a great “conversation starter”!! I look forward to see her when she is new again!

    • March 9, 2012 at 4:07 am
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      She’ll be bright and shiny soon, Lorna! Thanks!

  • March 9, 2012 at 5:08 am
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    I am just wondering how can you fit a bed, a bathroom and a kitchen in there? And then, in addition to that, a dog, a cat and yourself? I am looking and looking and thinking…

    Can you post some inside photos?

    • March 9, 2012 at 6:26 am
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      Photos coming soon! Keep checking back!

  • March 10, 2012 at 8:01 pm
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    How exciting! All the justified reasons go out the window when we find something that we know just feels right. It was great to see you the other day.

    • March 10, 2012 at 10:13 pm
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      Isn’t that the truth! Amazing what happens when following heart instead of mind! Great to see you, too…. looking forward to the next time.

  • March 10, 2012 at 10:25 pm
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    Life is perfect isn’t it? You always find just what you need even when it was not what you thought you were looking for. She is going to be a beauty and will serve you well on this next adventure. I’m looking forward to seeing you when you return to Portland. Maybe you need a helper in the beautification process. Let me know.

    • March 10, 2012 at 10:49 pm
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      Yes, it is so perfect! Thanks for being a part of this journey we call life!

    • March 13, 2012 at 3:36 am
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      The link works great! I’ll check it out 🙂 Thanks!

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