Class C rvs are wonderful in many ways.
A disadvantage, however, is you have to unhook your power cord and water hose, lift the stabilizer jacks, pull up the steps, and remove the levelers and chocks before you can go to the store for groceries. And then, of course, put it all back when you return. Fellow camper Bridget has a Minnie Winnie, so I invite her to join the crew and me on a trip to Walmart in the PTV. She appreciates the chance.
I have three important purchases to make.
First Bridget helps me pick out an electric ceramic heater (Sunbeam). She has had one a long time and recommends it. Next I pick out a 4-quart Crockpot and the ingredients for chicken stew. Last I get a 12volt charger for my Samsung phone.
I now have South Dakota plates and registrations for the PTV and the Casita!
We stop at the Elephant Butte post office on the way back to the campground. After finding the plates and registrations in my bundle of mail, I find a check for $600, a refund on my homeowner’s insurance! Then I find a bill from the dermatologist in Georgia. Of course the bill is larger than the refund.
The Casita is like a giant crockpot!
I start the chicken stew around nine this morning. By noon the entire Casita smells like chicken, onions, celery, carrots, and potatoes. Spike goes nuts! He sits below the kitchen area whining and fussing. I should have opened a window and turned on the Fantastic fan to blow air out a lot sooner than I did. I put them in their suits and we go for a long walk up to Lion’s Beach campground. There are a few sailboats on the lake. The wind has died down to slight breezes.
I learn a lot from the camp host there.
I ask Mary Lou a zillion questions. She has fulltimed for five years, starting a year after her husband died. Her pick-up pulls a 33-foot travel trailer with a large solar panel on top (She couldn’t remember how large, but she lived in the Nevada desert for six weeks and had plenty of electricity). Sometimes she can’t stay at a campground because her trailer is too long.
I ask her where she spends the winter and she says, “I stay right here. My pipes are heated and I put heat tape, insulation, and gorilla tape on the water hose.” She’s in Elephant Butte for three months or so and then travels about nine months of the year. She already has the next nine-month travel time planned.
I don’t even know where I’ll be next week!
The chicken stew came out great (anybody can cook with a crockpot) and yes, Bridget and Spike got their share of chicken. I want to continue living here.
rvsue
Grin…… glad you like it here! Nice folks around these parts!
So true, Geri!
So glad you got to talk to Mary Lou. Does she have a blog too? Five years of full timing! I will bet she has some stories to tell and lucky you to have gotten to hear some of them! I want video of her winterizing her rig! I just paid Camping World to do mine. I have only had it a couple of months and haven’t even learned how to empty the tanks yet, so I haven’t used the toilet or shower. Wish I had someone to show me the ropes! I will have to go online and read to find out. Still working full time, so, I have plenty of time to learn.
Happy new crock pot! It sounds like where you are might be a nice place to hang around for a while longer.. I mean, where else do you really HAVE to be? Enjoy that left over chicken stew. (I will just bet there are plenty of left overs! Yum!)
I don’t think she has a blog.
Don’t worry. You’ll learn all you need to know. One thing at a time . . . A lot of the things I thought would be hard to learn, turned out were easy.
There’s a lot of youtube videos that might be helpful for you.
Once you’re in a campground there will be plenty of people willing to “show you the ropes.” Good luck!
Worked with a fellow whose wife round out on him for another and took all his money; while down and out he had several of us over for a crockpot dinner of veggies and venison, his statement was, “who needs a wife if you have a crockpot”. Anyway you’re right about cooking with a crockpot.
I’ve never made a bad meal in a crockpot. You just can’t mess it up.
Sue,
If you do not want to smell up the Casita, plug your crock pot just outside the front door. It cooks just as good there and doesn’t linger in the RV.
Hey, yeah, I could do that.
But looking around this campground I figure I’d have 2 Australian shepherds, 2 border collies, 1 poodle, 1 golden retriever and 2 dachsunds in addition to my 2 rat terriers. whining and fussing for their share of chicken!
hahahaahaa! I can just see all those doggies sitting around the crock pot, tails wagging and mouths drooling!
I recently got a small crock pot, too, but I haven’t used it yet. Your description sounds so good, I’ll have to get it out soon.
Get crockin!
Hi,
Thought I would say, I have a 1989 Class A 27 ft. No “stabilizer jacks or levelers”. My refrigerator manual says if it feels comfortable to walk around in motorhome than the frig is fine. The original frig is still working great !
I mostly boondock on Padre Island in the winter so no hook ups….just drive away…….dump tanks and fill water about every 2 weeks.
This RVing is usually only complicated if you make it so. (have never back flushed my tanks in 15 years either….just dump in some Dawn soap down the commode)
Guess I am spoiled…..Summer time I am back to my house in MN.
Good luck to all and RELAX………
Hello, Minnesota Gal!
You DO have a nice life, split between MN and Padre Island. The best of two very different worlds . . .
I shouldn’t have generalized about Class Cs (or any motorized rv). What I really was talking about was the way my friend and many other rvers do their camping. . . in campgrounds that aren’t as level as the beach at Padre Island (and with full hookups). Sometimes you HAVE to level here or when you fry eggs, they sit on top of each other on one side of the pan!
Hi Sue,
The tone of your posts are… comfortable. Isn’t that what RV’ing is all about? You shouldn’t, and obviously don’t, feel obligated to keep driving. You will always find a way to enjoy the money you save by not driving. I smiled at the vision of leaving the crock pot outside the front door. It reminds me of a Walt Disney cartoon; release the hounds LOL.
Enjoy!
Barrie
Hey, Barrie!
What if the coyotes got a whiff of crockpot aroma and visited, too? Actually the suggestion from Greg and Cindy is very good. My Casita has outlets outside. (I forget that they’re there.) The stew smell went away, but over time the Casita could start smelling like old carpet and I don’t want that!
About the “comfortable” tone (nice way to put it) . . . I find my life goes in cycles. I’ll be adventurous, active, and curious for a while, then I slow way down, read, reflect, and mosey around home.
If anyone’s looking for an exciting, new adventure every day, they’ve come to the wrong place!
Sue,
I don’t see anywhere on your site a way to e mail you direct ….so ….another reply.
Please, Please, remove my “real name” from my comments I made today. I would never have replied had I known my name would be up for all to see on the internet. (not good in todays world)
Please remove my complete comments if that is what it takes !
Thank you,
Andrea
ps, how about using the usual blogger set up where ones “real name” is not a broadcast item on the internet ?
I took your last name off both comments. You should be okay since there are many Andreas in the world.
My advice is don’t give out your last name. I’m assuming wordpress doesn’t require your last name as many people comment here with just their first name or an alias.
Crock pots rock! Poor Spike. I always feel for Doris when I come home after a day at work and the succulent roast has been simmering for hours well within smelling distance. (But I don’t feel bad enough to stop doing it).
Oh Sue, is it wonderful to sleep till you wake up, eat when you’re hungry, and move when you’re ready?
Yes, it IS wonderful! I lose track of what day it is . . . and I rarely know the time!
Thanks for validating my feelings of envy – LOL!!!!
Sue,
Thank you so much for removing my last name.
When I signed on it asked for my name and then said “required”. I take things like that for face value (usually….so my trusting nature made me type my first and last name….I thought I had too….) (But, did not think it would show…)
What a crock! …and I mean that in the nicest possible way hahahaha! Yes, meals in the crock pot are always yummy and the anticipation is part of the appeal. That tantalizing aroma tempts for HOURS and then finally, it’s done and you know it was worth the wait.
We have used our crock pot plugged into the outside electrical outlet. Put a little table up next to the RV and it worked great. However, you do need to be aware of who might be coming around for dinner.
Hi, Donna!
The leftovers are yummy, too! The crew agrees.