RV Friends

The RVing lifestyle provides an exceptional opportunity to have new friends drop into ones lap.  We have found many great couples with whom we had instant rapport.  While at the Pima Community College we found ourselves standing under a large umbrella tasting chips, dips and beverage from other countries, and beside us was a man and woman, a bit older than us, doing the same thing – whiling away the afternoon.  They are very friendly and soon we found  many things in common.

David and Marge

Marge and Dave were from Connecticut and have thick eastern accents.  They are retired, recently recovering from a health crisis, are Jewish and vegetarians, and they like to go, do and see everything.  We shared a few tips and recommendations, and made an appointment to get together.  Happily, we liked them and they liked us.  We spent about 8 or so lunch dates with them and found them most enjoyable.  They were house sitting while in Tucson, and previously had been volunteering their hard work for an organic farmer in Washington in exchange for a room/board and a nice experience. Marge and David plan their retirement doing this kind of thing, and it makes travelling around and experiencing the country, affordable.  They taught us a good deal about stretching a buck and, I hate to stereotype any ethnic group, but… they are the best at being frugal, and were the first to admit it!  We will miss them.

Janelle and Lee are another couple, that I mentioned before, when we ere in Richland, but I still think of them often.  We have a tentative plan to meet them in southern Utah later in the year and spend some time in the Escalante area.   Lee is one of those guys that works and works, is good at what he does, would like to retire, but just can’t stop quite yet.  We find this phenomenon everywhere we go.  Americans work way too hard.  It seems that folks are used to making X dollars and can’t imagine living on less, and perceive that they will take hit in their comfort, status, that is, there socio-economic level.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Lance and I have found that goofing off is a tremendous reward for a little budgeting and management.  Anyone can do what we are doing.  When we are out and about, folks say things like, “oh, we dream of RVing someday, to see the country, to retire someday!”  It is the American dream!  I say, don’t wait.  Old age comes way too quickly.

While walking down Sabino Canyon, we met another couple, Cindy and Skip.  He too is retirement age, but is working another job while collecting a retirement from law enforcement.  They would like to sell the house, or downsize at least, but can’t quite pull the trigger.  They both have their health now, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.  Folks just like them are all over this country.  We see it in every RV park we stay at, the same story.  Lance and I are glad we are doing what we are doing.  True, it is not too showy or glamorous, and many folks retire in much grander style, but we couldn't be happier in the Little House on the Highway.