It's birthing was at an RV show in Toronto but quickly denied due to believing it would be impossible.....fears of such a drastic lifestyle change, lack of confidence , fears of the unknown, etc.
And so, I continued to live in a more familiar way, working and apartment living with a regular and predictable routine.
However, I was always restless, often traveling, searching for my place on this earth. Whenever I saw an RV go by, my heart would race a bit but I denied the feeling immediately, going back to my familiar secure lifestyle.
Last Christmas, the topic of RV living came up during a visit with my brother Tony in Ontario.He challenged me by reminding me that I had been mentioning RV living for many years and to "Just do it!"
Well, I had all sorts of excuses....too expensive, too old for a change now that I'm retired, I wouldn't know how to live like that....
His response "If you don't try it now, you will always regret it.
And so I decided to go for it.
First there was joining an RV forum do begin my research, then some RV shows and more internet search.
Finally I decided to drive from Nova Scotia where I was living, to Atlanta to rent one for 2 weeks. It was a 19ft Class C motorhome
and I knew the first time I slept in it that this is the lifestyle I wanted.
Back to Canada to do more research by checking out many different models.
A few months later I made the decision to buy one.
I gave notice to move out of my apt in Pictou, NS at the end of July, sold most of what I owned at flea markets, garage sales and Kijiji, giving away many things not sold.
From there I drove to northern Cape Breton, NS to look after "The Jumping Mouse Campground" for about 5 weeks for my sister Margrit who went on a well deserved holiday, seeing many RV's while there (including many rentals from Canadream).
The experience of looking after the campground was fun and meeting many RVers was great.
I then sold my car and flew to Calgary, Alberta to stay with my sister Trudy while looking for an RV.
The second day I was in Calgary, I found an RV I loved at Canadream RV rentals and sales. I had expected a difficult couple of weeks trying to find "the right one". Instead, it was a fun, low stress experience thanks to the wonderful staff there. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable, listened well to what I wanted, and helped me go through the process easily.
I was also very fortunate to have my friend Joseph come and help me as he has had several years of experience living in a motorhome.
I found a 2011/2010 "Forest River Lexington 235CDS" which I never thought I could afford but ended up being an excellent deal and within my budget. To sweeten the deal, they included 6 new tires, an awning, a ladder up the back, and a solar panel!
The next day, Trudy came with me to take it for a test drive and it handled very well
Now I had everything I wanted!
I was so excited and happy with my decision, I forgot to take photos and will have to patiently wait for a week or so while they get it serviced before delivering it to me.
I'm so looking forward to moving in and beginning my journey of adventure!
My initial plan is to drive back to NS with it (about 5000km), visiting family and friends along the way. Then head south along the east coast of US towards the Florida panhandle and westward from there. One dream is to spend time in the desert during the time when it is blossoming.
Watch for photos and news!
No comments:
Post a Comment