Real Estate Book on Motorhoming by Dan Novak the Broker of Prime Time Real Estate Sarasota Florida.

The full Time Motorhome Family. This is a draft.

This book is dedicated to my wife Juliet. She had the courage to go on this adventure with me while homeschooling our two boys and carrying on many motherly related tasks. Her free spirit has made this life possible. She has willingly let go of good things in search of a better life. Experience has made us wiser and together we grow.

This book has been created for those of you who would like to or are considering living in a motorhome on a full time basis. A motorhome is referred to as a vehicle with an engine and wheels that can drive without being towed. A motorhome is similar to a trailer in many ways but also very different. Much of this book will refer to living in a Class A motorhome. My personal experience has been with 3 different models of Class A Motorhomes that all have been over 30 feet long. Motorhome living has dramatically increased the level of experience and excitement in the life of my family. It will do the same for you. It is a thrilling adventure that you too can enjoy if you are prepared. If you are considering the lifestyle that a motorhome can provide… If you are new to the lifestyle and want to make the most of it.. This book is for you. Please note that the suggestions therein are based on the author’s experience. You must carefully apply, not apply or modify the ideas provided to your own circumstances.

Chapter Outline

1)Why Live in a Motorhome

2)Should you do this, Can you do this?

3) Choosing the right vehicle for your needs

4) Preparing for the ultimate Journey

5) Maintaining your Machine

6) Family and Marital Maintenance in 300 Square feet

7) Dry Camping

8) Full Hookups

9) Charting the course

10)Financing your lifestyle.

11) Living the dream

12) The future of Motorhoming

Glossary:

Dry Camping: Parking in a place where you are not connected to water, electricity or sewer. (usually free of charge)

Boondocking: Parking overnight in the wilderness or a place where you don’t check in or make a reservation. Usually with no hookups and no permission.

Chapter 1: Why Live in a Motorhome

Life can be a fulfilling and exciting journey or it can be a let down. How you want to live it is largely up to you. Are you willing to take the risk of giving up what you already have for the prospect of something better.

As l write this book, I w-as sitting by the Colorado River in the sun. It was too bright and hot. It took a small amount of thought and courage to decide to get up and drag this chair across the dirt to a comfortable place in the shade. How much greater thought and courage will your journey require of you?

Let’s say that you decide that it’s a go, and you actually do this. You will likely enjoy a tremendous amount of freedom and flexibility that you have never experienced before. Are you ready for this amount of freedom? The best results will come if you are willing and able to remain a growing and productive contributor to the world. How you use your freedom may determine your ability to keep it. You are able to go almost anywhere and then leave as freely as you came. Most of society programs us to work on a more geographically committed level. We work our whole lives in one place with the same scenery and people we have always known. Breaking away from this philosophy of life is rewarding and exciting but comes at a cost. As with most habits, changing them often places us in a position of fear and discomfort. Expect the unexpected. You are in for a wild ride when you take your life into your own hands and wheels.

I have traveled to almost every part of the United States with my wife and two boys. Our first motorhome had two twin beds in the back. Since we had a baby at the time, I had to create a set of bars which formed a crib-like structure around one of the beds. This motorhome also had a small tub like structure at the base of the shower, great for bathing the baby. It was exciting to find solutions to make life work in the space provided. You too will be able to apply your creativity to make your space work for you.

Today’s technology has made it easier than ever to live on the road. The internet gives us the ability to travel in a way that our parents would never have been able to enjoy. GPS, cell phones, online banking, climate data, digital signatures are just a few of the benefits that make things so much easier than they ever have been. Of all the past generations, you are the first to have the ability to take advantage of these benefits.

You can learn to use technology to adapt to a smaller space. Your desktop might become a laptop, your dish rack will shrink. Piles of clothing you don’t even wear will be consolidated to a few drawers and mini closets. Many success and financial gurus agree that less is more and decluttering your life will bring more freedom and clarity. You will learn to live with less and ultimately, you will have more. More time to do what you love. Why mow the lawn or clean the gutters when you could be doing something you really enjoy? Of course work will always be part of your reality. Do you wish to decrease the less preferable type of work?. Do you know what type of work you prefer and are interested in doing? Read on. Enjoy the knowledge of which type of work is specific to the Motorhome Lifestyle. By the end of this book, you will understand if you are willing to give up your current work. You will understand a new and different style of work-life balance.

Proverbs 28:8 States “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”. You are about to create your vision and people will thrive. Where are you wanting to go, what are you wanting to do. Is God leading you?. Do you feel freedom to choose your own direction? Perhaps you don’t believe in any directional forces. What’s important to you? This is your time to think about these things and begin to keep a notebook of your thoughts. When traveling, your life becomes your own book and you must write it. This may be challenging to initiate because most people are used to letting someone else write the book. Your job dictates your schedule, your grass needs mowing, your life is grounded in a certain time zone. You may be used to the way things are. Have you ever moved a frequently used item to a new location? Shortly thereafter, you are looking for it in the old location? Were you frustrated or amused by this part of your human nature. Get ready to laugh at yourself and enjoy the ride. Live for the moment and understand that the mistakes are not what they seem. You must go through the normal process of failure. You can not escape the required steps to reach the top; except by reading this book of course.

So many people dream of being rich, famous, or some sort of notable personality who did something significant. It’s your turn to consider the reality of what will make you feel significant and accomplished with your remaining time on this earth. I hope that by reading this book you will be one step closer to whatever that is. Maybe you just want to rest and relax in your later years and have minimal responsibility. This book will give you some new ways to enjoy life in the location of your choice and on your terms.

Chapter 2: Should you do this, Can you do this?

Motorhoming can be challenging and comes at a cost. This chapter will help you determine if you are ready and willing to enjoy this type of lifestyle. First of all lets address the finances. Can you afford to buy a motorhome? Motorhomes can be as cheap as a used economy car if you buy used and do the repairs yourself. You can also pay more and get something nicer with less problems. If you are mechanically adept or you will be motorhoming with a mechanic, a cheap fixer upper might be right for you. Motorhomes are a huge mechanical responsibility. There are a lot of moving parts and little things that you can do to repair and keep things in good working order. If you have mechanical skill or you travel with someone who does, this can be a huge asset. If your skills are limited, you should look for a motorhome with as few problems as possible. It will be helpful to have some savings or income. There may be unexpected expenses on the road. You may have to pay for tires, repairs, oil, fuel, parking, sewage dumping and more. Fortunately,, your budget is very much under your control and you will have a lot of options. You can park for free at many places we will discuss. You can use solar and a generator and live off the grid. If you are like most, you want to travel as economically as possible. On the other hand you can stay at an unlimited number of beautiful resorts with all the ameneties you could ever want.

Family and Relationships

Do you have relatives? Where do they live? Would you feel guilty leaving them behind?. Maybe you have a close knit circle of friends you are connected to. Are you ok with skipping a wedding or funeral?. Do you feel guilty that you are abandoning others who rely on you? For many people, their social circle gives life comfort and meaning. Can you accept this change and be ok out there alone on the road with the companions of your choice? It can get really lonely out there on the road, you may find yourself reminiscing thoughts of home. You might want to call a friend or family member just to hear a familiar voice. Fortunately you will be mobile. You can go and see distant friends and relatives. There are also many online RV groups and meet ups to connect with. You can read books, watch TV and play games. When I am on the road, I like to visit different churches. It’s the closest thing to family when you find a good church and the people are loving and welcoming. I remember a time in Napa California, after attending a couple of services, a family invited us over for Christmas Dinner. They gave us a variety of gifts. Our children were ecstatic when they received expensive scooters. Another time, I realized my exhaust pipe was falling off. I needed a part. I pulled to the side of the road and began to work on it. A man who lived in the local apartments offered me assistance and food. He and a friend of his drove me to a local hardware store to get the parts I needed. You can find lots of great people on the road. Of course there are the not so nice people out there. It’s a good feeling when you can drive away from them. You are not stuck with any one group of people longer than you want to be.

Safety

When I first started motorhoming all around the country with my family, I was concerned about keeping them safe. I bought a shotgun and some pepper spray. It made me feel good to have them. Fortunately, I have never had any need for them. In fact, I keep a safety lock on the gun. If I were to need it, I am not sure I would be able to get it unlocked in time. I assume it’s safer than a loaded unlocked gun.

Pepper spray is my first line of defense. I keep a bottle within reach from the driver’s seat. You want to get the good stuff that will take down a bear. Southern states sell a stronger version. One time I saw my brother use it on three aggressive neighborhood kids. They dropped like flies and appeared to be experiencing something similar to hell. If you choose your parking carefully, you will be unlikely to have problems. Be sure to avoid inner city ghetto areas. Rural areas are safer than urban ones. The most dangerous thing you will be doing is driving. Keep your eyes on the road, avoid being distracted when you are driving. Your vehicle will be much bigger and heavier than most. Statistically you are safer in a large vehicle. You could easily plow through an average sized vehicle. Many people like to stay overnight at well lighted rest areas along the highway when they are enroute to a location.

Health and Wellness

How is your health? Do you rely on a specific doctor or are you well enough to rely on the walk in health clinics that are available throughout the country. You can save a lot of money if you are willing to cross the border into Mexico for your dental, vision and prescription needs. Los Algodones is right near Yuma Arizona it’s a great place to start on your first visit to Mexico. During stay at the Rivers Edge RV Park which is in Winterhaven California near the border of Yuma Arizona, I made my first trip into Los Algadones. I knew it could be dangerous. I made my first trip in without the family. I found the indian reservation parking lot that an old man had told me about. After the paying the $6 dollar fee and leaving the car on the US side of the border, I headed toward the entrance to mexico. I noticed the large steel walls. The barbed wire was thick and razor sharp. Near the entrance, a youthful mexican man asked me if I needed dental work. He then urged me to follow him to the clinic that he recommended. Reluctantly, I followed him. We walked toward the walls and through a one way turnstyle. Suddenly I realized that I could not go back. My new guide zigged and zagged through streets and alleys. He then opened a glass door and introduced me to the dental secretary. They gave him the thumbs up and he slipped out the door and left me in the office. Next thing I remember, I woke up in a strange hotel with woman’s clothing on. Just kidding. Inside the dental office I met two old men who were waiting in the lobby. These guys had really nice teeth and began to endorse the dentist. I took a business card and then walked out to the street alone. I saw poorly fed children peddling trinkets on the street. Stray dogs were wandering the streets eating scraps. Both sides of the streets were packed with street vendors selling everything from straw hats, mexican clothing and shrimp. Peddlers who spoke poor english were trying their best to persuade me to stop and view their products. One man insisted that his poor mother made the dresses he was selling. On another street I saw a beat up old Mini Van. This proprietor wearing torn clothing had unloaded what seemed like hundreds of gallons of Honey onto the sidewalk. I went over to inspect the product and found that most of the honey contained dead bees. Continuing to stroll through the streets, I realized that this town thrived on american tourist money. There were numerous pharmaceutical and dental clinics. I did not see any tourists with children. Just mostly older people. Over the next few days, I took both my 8 year old and then my 11 year old boy on a dad guided tour back into Mexico. For less than half US prices, we got haircuts, dental fillings and cleanings, lunch and souvenirs. My wife decided to stay back at the motorhome. If you like a carnival setting, low prices and fair quality dental work, The entrance is just south of exit 166 of route 8 near Yuma California with parking at the Fort Yuma Indian reservation.

Finances

Are you prepared to do your banking online. Some online banks will re-emburse you for the fee to withdrawl cash at any atm. Your deposits can be made from a photo of a check taken on your phone. Banks have made it really easy to do everything through the computer. Alternatively you can choose a popular bank that has branches all over the country if you wish.

Financial Freedom:

Can you afford to purchase and maintain a motorhome. Are you prepared for a breakdown or unexpected expense?

Parking storage issues:

If you are full time, you do not need to consider storing your motorhome. We will discuss where to park in a later chapter. If you are part time, you must have a place to keep your motorhome when not in use. Do you have a property with enough space to keep the motorhome? Some communities do not allow motorhomes. Perhaps you can store it at a relative’s property. There are also many paid storage facilities of all types. Near Kansas City, you can store your motorhome in a man made underground cave. The temperature is kept stable with no rain or sun damage. The best storage is a place where there is low humidity, the temperature does not get above 90 or below 32 degrees, there is no sunlight, and bugs or rodents can not access your investment. This Ideal place would be in a temperature controlled garage.

Chapter 3 : Choosing the right vehicle for your needs.

It is absolutely amazing how many choices you have. Here in the United States, brilliant minds have been hard at work working to create a mobile world of freedom and convienience for you. Motorhomes come in all shapes and sizes. There are class B van style campers that can fit in a regular parking space, there are medium sized class C motorhomes (often identified by their over cab sleeping area). Finally there are class A motorhomes. Class A motorhomes are the most luxurious and are most likely to resemble a real home. The drivers area often has the same floor and ceiling as the entire rig. The feeling behind the wheel is commanding. You are driving something that resembles the size of a school bus. At first it can be intimidating to drive, but can become as comfortable as the family mini van with enough time spent behind the wheel. Most roads are suitable for a class A motorhome. Everywhere a school bus can go, you can go.

The good news is that you have a lot of choices and at reasonable prices. My first motorhome was a 1990 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. It was about 30 ft long and 24 years old. It had no slides, a large gasoline generator and a Chevy 454 carbureted gasoline engine. I found it sitting alongside and old mans house with a moldy for sale sign on it. I paid $5,000.00 for it. I had no Idea what I was getting into and 5,000.00 was a lot of money for me. The motorhome had sat for a long time and was covered in mold. The only good news was that It only had about 20,000 miles on it. Youll want low miles whenever possible. However in this particular situation, the RV sat over a damp unpaved driveway for way too long. Fortunately, It started and I was able to drive it home. I remember the look of shock on my wifes face when she saw me coming down the road in that old clunker of. I spent all my free time for an entire summer working to make this huge vehicle roadworthy. My wife told me that I loved the motorhome more than her. Obviously this was a most humble beginning and I can only recommend this route if you are both brave and have a fair level of mechanical skill. There were problems that I could not solve. In those cases, I called on a friend or a mobile mechanic that I found on the internet classifieds. I was able to find parts on the internet. I never wanted to bring the motorhome to any mechanic or shop on my budget. In fact, most auto mechanics prefer to avoid servicing motorhomes because they are large and hard to work on.

If you wish to purchase a used low priced motorhome, Gasoline powered motorhomes will be much cheaper than diesels. It will likely be an older model with problems. Common issues you should be aware of are: Water damage from exterior leaks, mold, mice or insect damage, rust, and expired tires, belts and hoses. Any part of the RV that is rubber or plastic will break down over time and become brittle whether it is used or not. It will be helpful to have a qualified friend or mechanic look it over prior to purchase. My first rig had all of the above problems. Fortunately the engine, frame and transmission were all in good working order. I sold my home and took my wife and two small children all around the United States, living full time in this old motorhome. I sold it for the same 5,000.00 that I had paid for it. None of the money and time I had invested into it was returned to me, except in the experience

Motorhomes are a terrible investment as they depreciate quickly. The advantage of buying an older unit is that most of its depreciation will have already occured.

The second motorhome I purchased was an upgrade to a 36 ft 1995 Fleetwood Southwind with a Cummins diesel engine and a diesel generator. This was also an older model motorhome with about 70,000 miles on it. It was about 36 feet long. I paid about 16,000 for it. I was impressed with the reliability and consistent power of a diesel engine. It got about 10-11 MPG. Having the engine in the rear of the vehicle was much quieter and made the front of the motorhome feel more spacious. This Motorhome had a diesel generator which was an upgrade from a gasonine generator. It also had Hydraulic leveling jacks. At the press of a button, I could lift the wheels off the ground. This was handy for leveling the RV when parking. It was also beneficial if I needed to lift the wheels of the RV off the ground for any reason.

Like my first motorhome, this motorhome had 2 axles, with four tires on the back axle. It had no slides. It had a built in propane storage tank, and a refrigerator that ran on propane or electricity. An upgrade that I enjoyed was that the hot water tank could be heated with electricity. My old unit heated the water with propane only. Having no slides made it really simple to move around. I never pulled a car. I always just drove it like a school bus. I drove through inner cities and we did our shopping with no problems. If we were parked and needed groceries, we would just unplug and go get them. Having no slides was extremely simple and has many benefits except for having less space.

Upon purchase, this motorhome seemed mechanically sound Until, I brought it to the state required inspection station. The first place failed it and gave me a laundry list of Items they wanted to do to it. They wanted me to leave it with them. After reviewing the high repair estimate, I brought it to a second inspection station. This second inspector noted a small exhaust leak which required dismantling the engine!. He also could not give me a pass to register the vehicle. By this time I was really frustrated and concerned that I had bought a lemon. Next, I went to a third inspector and he passed it with no problems found. I was really happy. I carefully inspected and monitored all of the problems that the other inspectors had cited. In my opinion the RV was good to go. Over the next few years, I drove the RV all around the Country. I always made sure to bring it back to the same inspector and he passed it every time.

I very much enjoyed operating my first two motorhomes. I lived in them both full time with my family. Neither one gave me any problems that cost me more than a few hundred dollars to repair. The most expensive part was tires. On the second motorhome, tires cost me about four times as much as it would cost to replace all tires on an average car. I enjoyed the simplicity of no slides because I would move often from place to place and do a lot of dry camping.

While living in our second motorhome full time, my wife wanted more space. She started shopping online for the most luxurious motorhome brands such as Newell, Bluebird and Wanderlodge. Since this was going to be our full time home and the kids were pre-teen, we wanted to upgrade. We decided upon a 44 ft Monaco Executive. It included a Roadmaster chasis, a Detroit diesel engine, tag axle and 3 slides. It was by far the nicest we have owned. It weighs about 25 tons. We paid much more than I thought I would ever pay for a motorhome. I knew it would depreciate quickly, however I rationalized that quality of life and experience is worth more than money. I have achieved about 6 miles per gallon of Diesel. Major differences from the cheaper motorhomes included, the Aqua Hot system. This diesel fired system provides a hot water style of radiant interior heat, engine preheating and an unlimited supply of on demand hot water. The plug is 50 amp rather than 30. The batteries are larger than I have ever seen. They are a gell cell type. They power inverters that can run the microwave, glass stovetop and full size residential refrigerator. All without the generator being on. The need for propane has been eliminated. My wife does miss cooking on a gas stove. The washer and dryer are combined into one appliance. There are no leveling jacks and the entire cabin is supported by at least 10 adjustable height airbags. I press one button to level the cabin and it sits very firmly without shaking. The floors are ceramic tile and the wood is mostly Cherry. If you can afford this type of motorhome and will use it often, you will enjoy the quality.

The size of the rig and the slides have changed our patterns of travel. We stay in one place more. Some parks wont admit rigs over a certain size. Some parks wont allow rigs over a certain age. Some parks are only for senior 55+ individuals with no kids or pets. Other parks only supply 30 amp electricity. 30 amp is workable but not preferable. It is more work to open and close the slides upon each move. I use a leaf blower to clean the top of the slides before closing them. I pay my son to wipe down the roof often so that the pollen and dust does not drip down and tarnish the sides of the rig. The slides intermittently leak water into the RV, especially if it is not perfectly level. I am glad I bought it even though it is not a good financial investment.

When you are ready to buy a Motorhome, you will find the largest selection in warmer states. Arizona and Florida have an excellent supply of both dealer owned and private owned motorhomes. You can often find them online and then arrange an in person tour. Check that everything works. Shop around if you have time. If you are not qualified, have a mechanical person look it over for you. All RV’s have problems and you have to choose as best as you can with the resources you have. Reading this entire book will help you know what to look out for. Once you make your purchase, you have a few options for registration and insurance. You should insure it immediately with at least basic insurance. If you are away from your home state, registration becomes a challenge. If you can drive it home legally, you can register it at your local municipality. Some full time motorhomers who do not own a primary home use another option You can have an attorney create a non profit LLC for you in Montanna. You then mail the attorney your new purchase documents and they register everything under your LLC name. They E-mail you back printable temporary plates in a few days and mail you permanent plates in a few weeks. If your rig is older than 10 years old, you qualify for a lifetime registration. You never have to visit DMV and you never have to bring your rig in for safety inspection. Some situations allow you to avoid paying sales tax on your purchase.

4: Preparing for the Ultimate Journey.

Full time motorhome living at its finest requires total dedication. You want to be able to fully enjoy what your new life has to offer without strings attached. The best way to ensure total freedom is to only take what you can bring with you. Everything else must go. This is really hard to do. We live our lives acquiring stuff; often we overvalue it. Our sentimental nature can be a ball and chain. If you let go of something good, you will have room to take on something new. If it is of any solace to you; remember that you can re-acquire most of your basic necessities at a convenience store. If you ever need to furnish a home and go back to your old life, you can get heavily discounted items at a thrift store. You can buy things such as mattresses online and have them delivered to your door. Fortunately we live in an amazing time in history. Everything we need to live is readily available and at reasonable prices.

Our first time moving into a motorhome full time was one big experiment. My wife and I began to plan for living in a motorhome when we had a lot of responsibilities. I had three single family homes with a mortgage, a two year old and 4 year old. We were married for about 6 years at the time. We had cars, tools and as much stuff as my wife and I could acquire. My job in sales was thriving and I was doing better than I had ever done. My friends and relatives made me more aware than ever that I was giving up a career and a future. I was taking a financial risk.

I did the math and felt confident that the sale of our real estate and possessions would leave us with enough cash to live in the motorhome. It took about a year to liquidate everything and go. Toward the end, we were basically giving things away. I remember piling the remnants in the garage and inviting my family members to come pick what they wanted for free. To give it all away took a lot of resolve and courage that my future would be brighter than my past.

At the time we were working to sell everything, we also made sure to learn how to access our online bank accounts. We found that Charles Schwab bank allowed us to use their ATM card at any bank for free. We could also make deposits from our cell phones. We also changed our auto insurance address to the address of a relative since that was the closest thing to a home address we could come up with. Our drivers licenses remained in the address of our previous residence since we had no new address to report. Our drivers licenses were not about to expire or else we would have renewed them before we sold the house or registered them in the address of a family member. On future travels, I learned about the other options. I found that you can join one of many organizations such as Escapees RV club. For a fee, they give you an legal address and instruction on how to get a license in a few different states without renting or buying a home. You do have to go to the DMV of the state of your choice, apply for a license and register your vehicles. (Some of the most popular states are Texas, Florida and South Dakota). From that point, you can have all your mail sent to your new address and the RV club can scan it to your email. They can also forward it to any physical address of your choice.

When preparing for your journey, you’ll want to tie up all loose ends. Consider all of your commitments and organizations. Notify them of your departure as you see fit. Make sure to be caught up with medical and dental work. Stock up on medications or other necessities that may be hard to find on the road. Get digital copies of your dental records so you may be able to skip the X Rays at the next dentist. A document scanner is useful so you don’t have to carry any papers around except the essentials such as required by the government. Scan everything you want to keep. Scan and save color family photos. I prefer scanners made by Fujitsu. Of course a Laptop and printer are also handy to have with you on your trip.

There are many things you will find helpful and wish to bring with you. Here is a list of a few items that I use regularly. Many can be bought as needed as you travel. I will omit the obvious items such as toiletries, clothing and kitchen items.

120V Dehumidifier, Telephone, Computer, Printer, Scanner, Chamois, Extensive tool set, Tire pressure gauge, air compressor, pepper spray, flashlight, vacuum cleaner, fly swatter, rodent / ant poison,

5: Maintaining your machine:

Your motorhome will last a long time with proper care and protection. There are lots of things you can do to make it last. Protect it and it will protect you. Whenever possible, stay out of the rain and snow and stay in warm dry weather.

Body:

Buy a dehumidifier and always keep it nice and dry inside the motorhome to prevent mold expansion. Culk the cracks and seal the roof. Polyurethane crack sealant for the cracks and 100% Silicone sealant for the roof. I also covered my motorhome with a giant white tarp to reflect the sun and keep further moisture from seeping in. Secure the tarp with bungi cords at every possible grommet.

Engine and Frame:

It is important to change all of the engine fluids (brake, radiator, hydraulic, differential, transmission, oil, etc) immediately upon purchase unless you are sure the previous owner recently had them done. Grease all the joints with a grease gun. Look over your belts and hoses for signs of cracking and defects. Identify rust on the frame, brake lines and other rusting parts underneath the vehicle. Spray and soak the rust with spray paint to help slow the rust expansion. For exhaust rust, use a high temp spray paint. Look over your belts and hoses for signs of cracking and defects.

Tires: Keep the tires covered with white tire covers to prevent premature wear. Maintain appropriate tire pressures. Many people recommend adding the maximum cold tire pressure as listed on the sidewall of the tire. Failing to check and maintain tire pressure is the most common reason for tire failure. Some people Also on the sidewall you can find the date your tires were made ( four digits representing week and year). If your tires are old, damaged or defective, they can break apart on the highway and seriously damage your motorhome and send debris into the highway. Some tires last longer than others. Most often they become unfit for use by age and sun while still having plenty of tread.

Grey/ Black water:

Most RV’s have two tanks that collect waste water. The Grey water tank collects all waste water except for your toilet water. The black water tank collects only toilet water. You will need to monitor their levels and empty the tanks. Find the outlet and connect a sewer hose to a sewer. Release all black water first then close that valve. Release all grey water second and then close that valve. The grey water that rushes through after the black water helps to clean the hose. Drain and store your sewer hose.

In my travels, there have been plenty of occasions where I have not had access to a sewer drain. If you have too much waste water, it will overflow into the toilet, sink and shower. A common solution is to drain the Grey water through an adapter that hooks to a garden hose. You then direct the grey water to wherever the hose ends. Be sure not to try to drain black water this way or it will clog the hose. Grey water does not smell nearly as bad as black. Many people simply drain it onto the ground. Make sure it is not making a puddle and wont be detected by anyone. Releasing grey water is frowned upon by many. In cases where you wish to release grey water intermittently, leave the garden hose connected and the valve open. When you want to stop the flow, simply lift and attach the end of the hose to a higher level than the tank itself and the drainage will stop. If the hose clogs , clean the end of the hose and blow air into it with all your might. Grey water builds up the fastest and is the easiest to get rid of. Black water requires a different strategy.

Black water is thick, smelly and chunky. You can only release it through a large hose and never through a garden hose. Having your rig directly connected to an in ground sewer is ideal. Second best is having a sewer dump near where you are parked. You can drive to the dump and dump as necessary. Alternatively you can buy a tank on wheels. You release your black water into the tank and then roll the tank to the dump and release it. Some dump stations are free, some are pay per use. When you have no dump station nearby and your tank is full, you have a dimema.

I have seen people release their black water onto the ground in the wilderness where no one is around. They made sure to release it on ground that was sloping away from where they were standing. Others drain the black water into 5 gallon buckets. Some people dig a hole in the ground, lay plywood over it, and direct the hose to a hole in the plywood. These are crude and potentially illegal methods.

Decreasing the rate you fill your black tank is one solution. Install a valve to decrease fresh water flow into the toilet. You can also turn off the water pump at the appropriate time during a flush. The idea is to fill this tank as slowly as possible. Less water will decrease the frequency of having to dump. Too little water can also result in sludge, smells, a dirty toilet, and tank clogging. If you decide to use less water, make sure you use enough water. Before dumping, drive the rig a little bit to mix up the sludge into a consistency that will flow through evenly through the large hose.

My first two motorhomes became stinky as the tank began to fill. I tried every toilet treatment possible with no success. My wife insisted that I try every cleaning method. I cleaned the tank religiously to no avail. My third motorhome emits no smell at all. I never use any toilet treatments. I have never seen any beneficial results of cleaning my tank and I never clean it anymore. I just drive around before dumping. There may be a need for you to clean your tank and there are plenty of hose sprayer attachments and chemicals you can buy. I recommend that you avoid chemicals and cleaning tools unless you are absolutely sure you need them. If you do clean it, the most appropriate time would be prior to sale or storage so it does not dry up or rot in there.

Cold Weather

Your best protection is to stay above freezing temperatures. Cold weather dramatically increases the wear and tear on your rig. Cold weather causes most things to shrink which causes cracks to form. Water gets into these cracks and expands. Freezing water expansion is destructive. If possible park in a heated garage or keep a large white tarp over your rig. Many cold weather RVers place a covering skirt around the bottom of their motorhome. The skirt provides a barrier to help prevent cold weather from getting under the rig. Heated electric lines can be wrapped around your water pipes and sewer hose. In severely cold weather, you are likely to experience frozen pipes. Besides having no running water, the pipes can break.

If you do end up in cold weather, remember to check your tires, as cold weather causes decreases in pressures. Don’t forget to preheat your engine if you have that option. In cold weather, you may experience a significant decrease in fuel economy.

In cold weather, your interior windows are likely to condensate and you’ll have to wipe them down before driving. I remember driving through snow in upstate New York. I was returning home from a long trip. The engine belt began squealing and I thought I was going to break down. It was really scary to think about breaking down. I would have to leave it. There would be no way to prevent freezing and pipes bursting. I pulled over and found an outlet to plug a portable heater into. This helped supplement the interior rv propane heat and battery usage. Fortunately I made it home the next day. In cold weather, plug in whenever possible to help keep the rv warm and charge the batteries. Operating in weather below freezing is not advised. Once, I was in Livingston Texas enjoying the beautiful February weather. I noticed the weather forecast was showing below freezing temperatures on the way. My wife and I decided to get out before it got bad. We abandoned our paid campsite early and headed for Florida. Later we heard that we had escaped a treacherous ice storm, which would have left us immobile and without power for over a week. The moral of this story is that you should drive away from bad weather and stay in good weather.

Normal Wear and Tear

Unless you have a high dollar motorhome, an rv is basically a lightweight disposable house. As you would handle a plastic fork or a disposable cup, so should you handle your motorhome. It is lightweight to keep costs down and help you travel efficiently. There are a lot of cheezy plastic parts inside that can break. The internet can help you find those replacement parts. I carry zip ties and a couple different types of glue.

Driving

Driving slower is almost always safer and increases fuel economy. When you are on a three lane road, always try to stay in the middle lane. This will help you avoid both the fast moving vehicles and the merging traffic. Try to keep up with the speed of traffic. Make sure to keep plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Monitor your gauges regularly. If you see your temperature get higher than normal or your alternator charge lower than normal, you might still have time to drive it to a safe area to further evaluate or repair your problem. One time I was driving and not watching my gauges. Suddenly I looked down and realized that a yellow caution light had illuminated on the dash. The engine temperature was as high as it would go and the alternator was not charging. I proceed to drive it real easy to a side road. I turned off the engine and examined carefully. The main belt had broken and was just hanging there.

Storage:

A climate controlled garage is best. If you have to store it outdoors, it’s best to cover it with a weather resistant cover or tarp. Distribute poison bait to protect from rodents and insects. Check your bait and add more. Some locations will require more care and protection from pests. Generally city and suburban areas have less pests, while country areas have a great abundance of wildlife looking for a home.

If acceptable by your manufacturer, charge your batteries to full and totally disconnect the negative terminals. They should not be sending any power to the motorhome while in storage. When they are left on a full charge and disconnected, they should not incur freeze damage for an entire winter. A dead lead-acid battery can freeze and self destruct in freezing weather. If an electrical source is nearby, connect a trickle charger to the batteries to maintain them while you are away. A trickle charger may be built into your rig.

Winterization:

If your rig is kept in below freezing temperatures during storage, you need to winterize it. First, level your motorhome. Totally drain the fresh water tank, grey water tank and the black water tank. Most RV’s are winterized by connecting a tube to the intake side of your house water pump. Then you place the open end of the tube into a gallon of RV anti freeze. The the pump should suck up the fluid and pressurize the system. You then proceed to open each faucet until the pink stuff comes out. Its really pretty simple. Take care to drain and isolate your hot water tank based on your manuals instructions. Most RV’s will use 2-4 gallons to do the entire job. Pour a cup of Anti-freeze down each drain to prevent the trap from freezing. Open the drain for the grey water and black water tank. Pour some down the toilet and down the drain until you see it come out. Leave the faucets slightly open to prevent pressure from being able to build in the pipes. Basically what you are trying to do is replace all trapped water with antifreeze. Trapped water will freeze, expand and break things.

My personal experience:

The most expensive part was tires. On the second motorhome, tires cost me about four times as much as it would cost to replace all tires on an average car. The hardest part of the maintenance was in keeping it covered from rain and sun to prevent leaks, I bought a huge white tarp and bungee cords. Each time I was not going to use it for more than a week I would cover it. It was hard to get the cover on when it was windy. The bungee cords would also pop off and need to be checked frequently. The tarp method worked well to keep it dry, however it was a dangerous endeavour climbing on top of the rv to install the tarp. A tarp is the cheapest route. You can also buy a custom fitted cover. Remember to cover your tires with white covers to protect them from heat and sunlight. Sunlight significantly increases wear on the tires. Also be conscious of the ground you are parked on. 6”+ thick concrete is best. On asphalt, your tires might sink in over time. Large crushed stones are the most economical. Dirt or grass is the worst. If you have to park on dirt or grass, park it on top of a giant tarp. The tarp will help prevent the grounds moisture from rotting out the bottom of your rig. It will also prevent plant growth from growing under your rig. Plants touching your rig, creates a bridge for bugs to easily make their way aboard. If the ground is soft, place the tires on pressure treated boards or plywood under your tires to prevent sinkage. The ground may be firm on the dry day you park it there but an impossible mud bath on the wet day you try to move it. Frozen ground is the best because it’s firm and produces less moisture and bugs.

6) Family and Marital Maintenance in 300 Square feet

Things break when they are not maintained. Your relationships are no different. This chapter will address the fundamentals of keeping good relationships while living in your motorhome.

Before you leave on your journey, seriously consider who you are bringing. You can’t unscramble scrambled eggs. Don’t travel with someone who is angry or is addicted to drugs. My father told me that the best way to win a fignt is to avoid it. The same applies to your travels. Don’t trap yourself in a bad situation. You have been warned.

Now let’s assume that you have foregone the preceding advice and you need to make this journey work. This chapter will help. Here is the list of basic guidelines that I will elaborate upon.

Encourage your companions

Stay out of their space

Nourish your body and mind

Communicate and journal your plans

Encourage your companions

Build up and encourage your companions. The purpose of this is to build their self esteem. By building the self esteem of another, you help to create an individual who is happy and fun to live with. Be sure that the majority of what you communicate is encouraging and positive.

Stay out of their space

When you are walking through the tight spaces of your motorhome, always be conscious of who might be in that space. Step out of the way of others that are coming through. Train others to do the same. In the kitchen, do not crowd the cook. Wait until the coast is clear before you go to the trash or to the bathroom. Avoid ever making the other person aware that you are waiting for them to get out of the way. Keep good manners, avoid flatulance and burping. Use the bathroom vent. Do everything you can think of to avoid the nusiance that your physical body creates for others.

Sleeping

The simple solution is to all go to bed and wake at the same time. This is rarely possible. The sleeping party should have access to a night mask, earplugs, sound machine and light blocking curtains. The awake party should do everything possible to keep it dark and quiet in the space of the sleeper.

In our travels we all generally go to bed at the same time. This is a constant challenge as we tend to stay up later and later. I often have to tell everyone that its time to get ready for bed in advance. If I can not fall asleep, I have a clip on book light and can read until I am sleepy.

Most mornings, I can then read again in bed. Alternatively I can grab my prepared clothing and slip outdoors for a walk. In some cases, I will stay inside and turn on the teapot. My wife will hear it and awake gently because I have been careful to keep low light and noise levels. Since the children sleep later than us, we gently awaken and ask them to move into the back bedroom. They sleep as long as they wish.

Food

Eat alltogether whenever possible. Talk about happy things at the meal. Never criticise, complain or be be negative at mealtimes. Keep prepared and cooked proteins in the fridge. Eat as little as posible after 6pm. Avoid junkfood and sugar. Get a smoothie blender and drink all the dark leafy greens you can. Take a daily multivitamin.

Chores

Keeping your space clean and organized is helpful. I wanted to make sure that my wife and I were not overworked so I trained my two boys to do chores. I walked them through how to vaccum, make the bed and do the dishes. Then I wrote a list of the chores on a calendar and rotated them on odd and even days. This was very helpful but often required me to remember and initiate the chores actually getting done.

Chapter 7 Dry Camping

Dry camping refers to camping with no water, sewer or electric connections available. Boondocking is a term used to describe spending the night in parking areas that do not require payment and are off the grid. Dry camping and boondocking often go together. Dry camping opens the door to an abundance of beautiful places that you can stay for free. The ability to dry camp and boondock most comfortably requires that your RV is outfitted properly.

A good working refrigerator, generator and heat source are the essentials. The ideal refrigerator can be run on battery power or propane for many days at a time. The best generators are diesel powered. With the right accessories, you should only need to run your generator for about one hour a day or less. The Ideal heat source is a diesel furnace such as aqua hot and second best is propane. My first two motorhomes required propane for heat and refrigeration. A large propane tank was welded to the frame of the vehicle. The heaters were forced hot air and the refrigerator was powered by a small flame that heated an amonia coil. Now I have upgraded to a motorhome which requires no propane. The refrigerator runs off hure inverters that are fed by huge batteries. Interior heat is created by a diesel flame which heats liquid boiler antifreeze. This liquid is circulated throughout the motorhome to create a radiant heat. Radiant heat does not dry out the air and is much more comfortable than the propane heat systems. Unlimited hot water is a nice benefit; also heated by a diesel flame. There are many systems that you will be able to pick from and enjoy. Get what you can afford and begin your journey.

For many years, I was determined to save money by parking for free almost every night. Finding a place to stay the night for free became sport to me. My wife was caring for our two boys of 2 and 4. She prefered quiet locations. On one 6000 mile trip, we went 100 miles per day for 60 days. Each afternoon, I would begin to search for our next boondocking location. We have spent hundreds of nights at free places that were last minute end of the day decisions. Sometimes, before dark, we would simply drive down the nearest back road and look for an area where no one was around. When we found a suitable pull off spot we would spend the night there. When visiting towns or cities, we would carefully examine the parking signs and then park on the side of the road in the town or city of our choice. A handful of times, I remember waking up after hearing someone knocking on the door.

One night, I backed into a quiet spot deep in the woods. I was sure that it was a safe and quiet place. We watched a movie, ate popcorn and went to sleep around 10pm. At about 2am, I was sleeping in the back bedroom and heard banging on the door. The kids were asleep and my wife had awoken; her face was white as a ghost. I told her to remain still and keep quiet. I peeked between the curtains. It was the police. I opened the door and two cops began to question my presence. It’s a good thing I don’t drink. I explained that my family was inside and we were tired and stopped for the night. They told me that someone had reported a suspicious vehicle and we were on private property. I was now concerned about going to jail for trespassing. Also, I was carrying a shotgun under the couch. The cops raided my vehicle and arrested my entire family. Just kidding. So after talking for a couple minutes and checking my license, the police decided that I was no threat. I was shocked when they graciously offered to ask the landlord for permission for me to stay the night. Like a deer in headlights I said UH OK… They came back a few minutes later with the all clear to enjoy the night. I agreed to leave in the morning.

Eventually we learned how to identify locations where there was less chance of a late night knock on the door. The google satellite view has proven an excellent resource. My wife became adept at scanning the satellite map on her phone and Identifying the options ahead. She would look for an open area that was level and not within view of a private homeowner. To check for level, she would move from the satellite view to the street view or a topographical map. Most often she chose a rural area on a low traffic street. After parking, I always attached a highly visible sign to the inside of the windshield facing out. It said “IF EMERGENCY CALL phone xxx xxx xxxx”.

Once we were parked in the beautiful location of our choice, we would take the bikes off and go for a bike ride or just send the kids out to play while dinner was prepared.

Finding free overnight parking is relatively easy, but you have to accept the fact that you might be asked to leave. The best places are in rural areas. Generally no one cares that you are there. The hardest places to stay for free are in touristy areas where there are lots of rules. Some popular destination towns have specific rules against motorhomes that are enforced by the local police. One night I was enjoying life in Newport Beach California near the beach. I carefully inspected the parking signs in a residential neighborhood. The sign said that It was ok to park on one side of the road until 9am. I parked, put the leveling jacks down and enjoyed a night near the beach. Before 9am, I moved the RV to another residential street where there were no street signs. The second night, I put the jacks down and was about ready for bed when the police came to my door. They verified that I was registered and insured and then they explained the problem. They said that a neighbor had reported me to be cooking in my vehicle and it was not legal to cook in your vehicle. I did not remember cooking, and I did not argue. I put my levelers up and left town where I found another quiet place to sleep.

Over the hundreds of nights camping for free, I can only remember a handful of times where I have been asked to leave. I have never gotten a ticket or fine. Surprisingly, There have also been many cases where my choice in parking has worked to my benefit.

One night I parked near a brick building in Idaho. I looked up at the building and noticed security cameras all over it. A gentleman exited the building and began to walk toward my vehicle. I stepped outside with a smile and began a friendly conversation. In a short time, the man offered that we could plug into his building for the night. In the morning, he came out again and invited us in for breakfast with his family. Once inside, he chained us to the wall and beat us. Just kidding. Breakfast was delicious and the guy was a total conspiracy theorist, he warned us of the perils of government and explained that we should carry our cell phones in lead cases to prevent information theft. He was a former marine. He offered to show us his secret hideout in the nearby mountains but we declined.

On another occasion, I was parked at Walmart and was trying to replace my alternator in the parking lot. A man and his wife came over and offered assistance. He helped me finish the repair and then invited us over to his home where he had 30+ acres and plenty of parking. Once at their home, they held us at gunpoint and demanded our money. Just kidding. They ordered barbeque and had all four of us in their dining room for breakfast. Their son and daughter entertained our children and we all sat around a bonfire that night at their home. We left in the morning and exchanged contact information. They encouraged us to come again. We have met a lot of interesting people.

Dry camping has been a thrilling adventure for me and I hope it will be the same for you. If you are not quite the risk taker, there is always Walmart, Elks clubs, Truck stops and rest areas. While you are traveling you are likely to need to fill your fuel tanks and water tanks. Fuel is easy to find. Most Uhaul locations can fill your propant tanks. Water can be a little more tricky. I have always made a point to carry a significant amount of water in my fresh water tank. Some people are concerned about the weight and gas mileage. I have never noticed a difference. One time, I overfilled the water tank and the top began to flex and bulge in an akward way. Now I normally dont drive with more than 80% of a tank of water. Its a good feeling to know that you have plenty of water if you were to become stranded or break down. You will need water often, it is helpful to carry a 4 way water key. After shopping at your local restaraunt or retailer find their water spicket outdoors. Connect your hose and fill up. Many truck stops and gas stations also have water spickets in various places. Always attach a filter to hose to prevent the inflow of unwanted sand or debris that would clog your faucets. The best and cleanest water is often in the high elevations, while the dirtyest water is in the southwest and the desert. I have installed a reverse osmosis system under my sink which makes almost any water safe to drink. The wastewater from the RO system can either go into your grey tank or your fresh water tank.

A 100 gallon tank of water in your motorhome can last quite a long time of you use it sparingly. Laundry and showers are the biggest consumers.

Chapter 8 Full Hookups & Long terms stays

Full hookups is a term used to describe a parking place that has electrical , water and sewer connections. There are a variety of places with full hookups. Which one is right for you is largely dependent on your budget, lifestyle, and your desired environment. If you are busy and working in the area, full hookups make life as easy as living at home. Just pull onto a level surface, connect your sewer, water and electric and start living. This is the easiest and simplest method of motorhoming. Many older folks who want as little work as possible will choose this method.

Full hookup sites are sold at daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal prices. The shorter the stay, the higher the price. Campgrounds and state parks often have the lowest daily rates. They are less likely to offer monthly or seasonal stays. Campgrounds and state parks often allow you to drive up and reserve on the same day if there is availability. Some require phone or online registration. During undesirable weather and school days, these places are most available. There are plenty of state and private campgrounds to enjoy. They often provide bathrooms, showers and garbage and sometimes internet. The state parks are some of the most beautiful and natural places you can stay. RV resorts and RV Parks are in a different class. They often do not produce the same camping feel. Many RV parks have full time residents who live in semi permanent structures that are called park models. RV parks and Resorts often provide a community pool and recreation room. The pricier ones provide more and more amenities such as waterslides, libraries, live entertainment and much more. Remember when reserving rv parks. Short stays cost more per night and are easier to book at the last minute. Staying over one month in high demand areas can require a year or more notice for a seasonal reservation which is usually for a minimum of 5-7 months.

Any place you stay is going to have rules. Rules can be lax or strict. some RV parks cater to both year round and overnight campers. The rules are designed by the management to keep everyone happy. Once At a 6 month stay at an RV park near Saratoga NY. The management threatened to throw us out after a series of infractions. One night, I used the campsite fireplace on the vacant site next to us. The kids threw some pine needles in. Next thing I knew , a golf cart pulled up and began putting out the fire. We were promptly scolded for burning pine needles and trespassing. A few days later our son was caught climbing a large pine tree which is against the rules. The next violation came when my wife went out to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby convenience store. The Park workers came to our door and knocked and found the kids alone. Coincidentally they had also come to tell us of another violation. Since I was not home and the kids were alone. I was called by phone into the office. The manager led me out to the back of the office and showed me a cart full of garbage. The manager looked at me and said is this yours. I was unsure what this was all about. She reached into one of the bags and pulled out a piece of mail with my name on it. She accused me of throwing my garbage in the woods. I quickly realized that one of my boys had been taking a shortcut. He decided the dumpster was too far away. In the end we paid a $100 dollar fine to the rv park management. Due to numerous infractions over a short time period, the management made it clear that we could be thrown out at any time. We really needed to stay in the area to complete a few business transactions. In a quick scramble for security we made some calls to find that all the local parks were full. Ultimately we made it through this troublesome phase and everything went back to normal at the park. We did not have to move.

When you stay long term, you are a tenant and subject to the management’s decisions. Do your best to maintain a low profile and avoid any disagreements with management. Be aware that you will have neighbors that might be next to you for a long time . You will smell their smells and hear their sounds.

As much as I enjoy the convenience of full hook ups, The best and most memorable times have been at places with partial hookups or no hookups. You can go much deeper into nature and solace when you can live in remote places and be self-reliant.

CHAPTER 9: Charting the Course

Your future on the road is totally up to you. You could explore and Boondock in a new place every night, or you could reserve parks around the country and set a goal to be there on the day of your reservation.

The more often you move your rig, the more risk you take. On our nights boondocking across the country, I remember wondering whether the RV would start each morning. Maybe the battery would be dead or maybe the RV had sunken into soft ground overnight and we would be stuck there. Often, I had to look out the window just to remember where we were parked. One time I pulled into a sandy area near a Florida beach and quickly realized that I was sinking deep into the sand. I turned the front wheels but the rig kept plowing forward.

Chapter 10 Financing your Lifestyle.

You need to make money and save money while living on the road. If money is not an issue then skip this chapter. This chapter will discuss ideas on how to earn money and how to be frugal and save money in your daily lifestyle. Here are some ideas that you may be able to apply to help you provide for yourself while being mobile.

If you own real estate , hire a management company and rent it out for income.
If you have cash, consider investing it into a reliable mutual fund or other investment that is safe and pays dividends.
Visit fairs, sales, garage sales and festivals and sell something. The number of markets you can visit is unlimited and because you can travel year round.
Get a professional license in more than one state. Such as Accounting, Home inspector, Real Estate, Hair Stylist, etc. You can operate

CHAPTER 11: Living the Dream.

While you are motorhoming, you will have a lifestyle that many only dream of. If you do it long enough, It will feel normal to you. If your experiences are good overall, you will have less of a desire to live in a fixed home or apartment. It may be hard to go back to a traditional lifestyle. You will realize that you can live with less but still have more joy through experience. Living in many different places can be addicting. When you do something repeatedly, It becomes Habit. Repeatedly waking up in a new environment has been thrilling and satisfying. Your choices are endless.

There have been many times on the road that we have even taken a vacation from our motorhome. At some times, we stay in hotels for a night or two or stay with family. Right now, I am using my credit card rewards points to stay with my family in a 350 sqft cabin in the Adirondack region of upstate New York. Here in Upper Jay, New York. Here you can see the beautiful Whiteface Mountain and the Au-Sable river. The weather here is perfect here on August 31. Being able to be in the weather I chose to be in is absolutely life changing. All these experiences are fantastic. I now find myself considering becoming a pilot or perhaps living on a yacht.

The stability of the community is good in some cases, st marys church . Going off on unfruitful tangents can become problems. My wife is getting bored and wants to try something new.

(Psychology) this Extra Chapter may be deleted

Do you have the skills?. When the rubber meets the road, is there even an engine under your hood? For many this is a pipe dream. “The phrase ‘pipe dream‘ is a reference to the dreams experienced by smokers of opium pipes.” If you don’t carefully read this book, you might get out on the road and think, what was I smoking? You are a fish out of water in a motorhome. Here again I am reminding you that failure is your friend and part of your journey. If you fail to see failure as good, you will be looking down with tears in your eyes while your dream boat leaves without you. You must be teachable and resilient. Bounce back from failure by immediately looking for what your misfortune did to your benefit. Here is an adaptation of a story I once heard..

In 1846 Swiss scientist Christian Schonbein was doing experiments in the family kitchen. Kitchen experiments were forbidden by his wife who was away at the time. He spilled some chemicals on the countertop and then he quickly wiped them up with his wife’s favorite apron. In an attempt to dry the apron, he hung it by the fire. Shortly thereafter the apron exploded in the living room. Christain had made the grave mistake of destroying his wife’s apron. Since his wife was not home to yell at him yet, he was able to notice that the apron had nearly vaporized and left very little smoke or ash. Through his error he had begun the creation of a major scientific breakthrough known as nitrocellulose or smokeless gunpowder. He was also able to conceal the loss of the apron as though it had never existed but his wife did not buy that.

Part of the question “can you do this”? Refers to your ability to see the good in what seems bad. To convert the failure into success. To accept the loss as a win. Is your mind too bent on deciding arbitrarily what is good and bad, this reacting to each in a predefined manner. Those reactions are likely going to have to change. Can you do that in the heat of passion? Your brain is your biggest asset and you are going to need to talk to your brain. Tell it to behave and to do what this book says.

Fortunately, you can enhance your limited brainpower by the input of another person who travels with you. Certain personality types work well together. Oftentimes opposites are superior because they bring both sides of the story. In short, your traveling companion must be seen as your asset. Your humility and leadership may be tested here. Chapter 5 of this book will discuss family and marital maintenance. Can your relationship be functional enough to handle life on the road.

Unfortunately there are loving people who will give you bad advice. They think they know what is best for you, they will remind you of the reasons that you can not or should not pursue any variation of that they have deemed appropriate for you. Proverbs 11:14 says: Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Who are your multitude of counselors?. This is a very important group. More importantly , your decision who they are. For the average person, electronic screens provide a steady flow of information which slowly formulates a person’s ability to relate to the world effectively. This programming is often underestimated and can be seriously debilitating. Most drug addicts will tell you drugs aren’t a problem even when they are sick and dying. If you are like most people, you are viewing a screen every day that is sending you life changing messages from someone you don’t even know. Would you let the garbage man come in and dump trash into your living room?. Please begin to seriously consider who your counsel is and in that council you will find safety. Often the best advice will come from when you ask a qualified source for it rather than when it is delivered to you by a busy body or screen. Mathew 7:7 states: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. Close your mind to unqualified programming.