Travels With Miranda

On Mondays, I write about personal issues related to full-time RVing life, from philosophical debates to homemaking topics.

Just about ever RVer will have to give up the keys at some point. Those who love RV park communities may choose to have their rig set up permanently in a favourite location.

Another option is to consider purchasing a park model unit, which offers about 400 square feet of space, at least double the space of the average full-timing rig. Park model units are larger than other towables and do not have holding tanks or a 12 volt electrical system. They are still classified as RVs, their dimensions allow them to be towed without special permits, and they and can be set up in most RV parks. Some have slides, some are only good for summer, and others are meant for full-time living. In other words, they come with the same sort of variety as any other type of RV.

Park models can be more easily towed between locations. A retiree could splurge on two RV lots, one in the north, one in the south, and have the park model moved twice a year.

On Mondays, I write about personal issues related to full-time RVing life, from philosophical debates to homemaking topics.

Unless they have traveled extensively throughout their country, Canadians tend to be unaware of the profound differences between provinces. These differences run deep; they are linguistic, social, cultural, legal, financial, and administrative. It is enough to make you wonder ‘what makes me Canadian?’

For example, a BC RVer spending a summer in any other province or territory might question why they have to pay a health care premium every month or high vehicle insurance rates. Quebecers have the highest tax burden in North America and don’t know to question it, even with health care shortages and terrible roads, unless they step outside and suddenly see their tax burden drop by 10% or more, and this without giving up their culture thanks to the pockets of ex-pat Quebecers all over Canada.

Canadians also have negative preconceptions about other regions and cities. East thinks the west is uptight. West thinks the east too buttoned down. It’s freezing in Winnipeg, Toronto has nothing to offer, and the Transcanada would be better without the section between Thunder Bay and Calgary.

As RVers travel around Canada, they have the opportunity envision many different lives for themselves and to break through those hurtful stereotypes. Is it any wonder, then, that so many cannot envision themselves ever settling down again? Canadian full-timers become much too aware of the compromises they must make, such as giving up a lower cost of living for a better climate.

Something else is gained through these travels, a tangible, yet inexplicable feeling, of being Canadian over being an Albertan, a Martimer, a Torontonian… Part of this feeling comes from interacting with foreigners and seeing our country through their eyes and the rest from little things that are province-independent… like Tim Hortons and Canadian Tire money.

On Mondays, I write about personal issues related to full-time RVing life, from philosophical debates to homemaking topics.

The following video offers an excellent solution for setting up a cat scratching post in an RV. There are also two tips for dog owners.

On Mondays, I write about personal issues related to full-time RVing life, from philosophical debates to homemaking topics.

Crestock Stock Photography

Many people who transition to the full-time RV nomad lifestyle do not realise that they are moving to another version of ‘real life’ and that full-time RVing is not a perpetual vacation. You will find yourself facing the same responsibilities, from bills to housekeeping, and ‘tourism’ will eventually become less of a priority as you discover that every town is pretty much the same.

There will probably always be a bit of an exploration component, a given when you move from one strange locale to another, but there is more to discovering a community than hitting every museum. You can learn a lot about a town by spending a morning at a diner listening to the locals.

Moreover, full-time RVing does not change who you are at the core. A homebody recluse will most likely not become the star of the Sunday potluck and the neatnik won’t forgo the Saturday morning housekeeping blitz.

For more on this topic, read Jennifer’s post Learning Nomadism at livinginmycar.com

On Mondays, I write about personal issues related to full-time RVing life, from philosophical debates to homemaking topics.

Many RVers complain of uneven heat in their propane ovens that leads to food burning at the bottom. An easy solution is to put unglazed tiles between the heat source and the rack: