Small Space Living

Sometimes, you just need to say, “You’re in my space. I need some time alone. Some privacy”.

Imagine going from an 1800 sq. ft house to a 27’ Airstream. Full time. All the time. One-bedroom. One bath. One tiny living space. Two people.

During our forty-five years of marriage, we have spent a lot of time together. We owned a couple of small businesses jointly, raised two children together. Since Covid, we have been in our little bubble, just the two of us. None of that had prepared us for being in a small space. Close quarters. All. The. Time. Before, we could at least retreat to our own space.

We are developing a rhythm, a routine for negotiating the space. With such a narrow space, we often need to take turns moving from one end to the other. This creates a unique dance. A shuffle, a scoot, then a slide, past the other, as we move from end to end. A lot of excuse me or you go first.

During meal prep, it is hazardous for us to both be in the galley. We have learned only one of us can be in the galley while the other prepares at the dining table. The morning bathroom routine had to change now that we are just one bathroom. Thankfully, the shower and the bathroom area are separate in the Airstream model we have. Thus making the morning routine less strenuous and crowded. We have his side/her side of the only table for working space.
If we need more privacy, we can always retreat outside, to the truck, and on bad weather days, one can be at the table, the other in the bedroom.
Not all of our time is spent in the Airstream. A good majority of our time is actually in even closer quarters, inside our Ford F-250. Compared to other vehicles we have owned, Jack (the Ford F-250) has a more spacious interior, so less likely to be bumping into each other while traveling. We listen to music or podcasts, get lost in our own thoughts, or just sit in silence. When we do argue, it often begins in the truck than continues into the Airstream.
After over a year of social distancing and Covid, I think we are even more sensitive than ever before about our “personal space”. And, when you are an introvert, you need downtime to recharge and regroup. It helps to learn to respect the other’s need for alone time, for quiet time or to just back off when they are having a bad day.
We also need to take joy in the time together. To be grateful that we have someone we can spend time with, enjoy their company, share the laughs and tears with.
It is okay to ask for privacy, for time to ourselves. To let our partners know that we have a need they should respect and not take offense when we say, “You’re in my space”.

And checking off some items from our Bucket List

Our Maiden Voyage  back in April was short and bittersweet, read more here. We then returned to Anacortes, where after a brief stint home we decided to try again and took to the road. This time it got off to a great start, read about it in our article, Airstreaming, Alpacas, and Sunsets.

We’re back home, again, after two months on the road, after traveling through four states (Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and Reno Nevada area.) We discovered twelve RV parks, some were fantastic (didn’t want to leave), a couple were so-so.

And when we entered Northern California in early June, we also hit temperatures over 90+, then over 100 or more by mid-June, lasting for over a month. When you are from Washington state (the west side of the Cascades) anything over 75 is considered hot. If we hit 80, we moan and groan and start to melt, so just imagine what happened when the whole PNW hit 100 degrees or more. I knew that I was finally adjusting to the heat, when I decided that 90 was considered cool after hitting over 100.  :-)

With the heat upon us, our original trip plans took a detour and instead of going where the road took us next, we had to make more concrete plans and find RV parks with full hook-ups so we could run our A/C. In an industry, where RV parks are supposedly full and hard to obtain, I was worried it might prove to be challenging, especially with a holiday weekend in the mix (the 4th of July) but with some good research and calling around, we somehow managed.

We picked locations that interest us, especially for photography, and places we had never been to. We also needed to allow time in some locations to just relax, when we could get it we would stay for a week. RV Life is fun, but it can also be quite draining when you are moving too much or doing too many activities. We needed our down time. Plus we had a few loads of laundry to do here and there.

Though it wasn’t part of any plan, I suddenly found myself checking off things that were on our list of Someday (Bucket List.)

The first Someday - River Rafting - see the article Why Are Adventures Always Fun…Afterwards. This was on my Someday list, I just never thought I would be brave enough for that adventure.

Crater Lake

The next Someday(s) - We ended up spending a lot of time in central and southern Oregon between Medford and Eugene, since we were there we decided to knock off two of our Someday items: Crater Lake and Oregon’s Covered Bridges, during the heat, these two items were great ways to cool down.

Mt. St. Helens

Our last Someday(s) on this trip, took place in Washington State. We spent a week in Kelso, WA. This is not usually a destination we would choose, but I chose it because it wasn’t normally a destination and it was a place we had never visited. It felt like a good place to have some great down time and it was. While there we finally ventured up to Mt. St. Helens, a Someday item that finally found its day. What a beautiful and scenic drive up to Johnson Ridge. We also wanted to attend a small town rodeo and on our last night in Kelso, the Cowlitz Fair started and so did the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo. It was fun and so entertaining, a great end to our final night on this journey. As a bonus - we found our first “Largest” item, right here in Winlock, WA

Due to the change of plans and having to find RV parks, most of the parks we found were along I-5. I soon called our trips, ‘the I-5 Shuffle’, I felt sometimes like all we did was go up and down I-5, especially in Oregon.

The rates in parks have gone up considerably for various reasons, even state parks, making our stays a little bit more pricey, but it was also during this time that I found I was more of a Glamping RVer (see my article What Kind of RVer Am I. At least that is what kind of RVer we were during these two months on the road.

But all of that is about to change…well, at least, slightly. Stay tuned.

We left Anacortes on May 20th and returned on July 23rd. We are home until August 12th, then it’s off to an even longer adventure…

May 20 - Midway RV Park, Centralia, WA
May 21-  Wings and Prayer Alpaca Farm (Harvest Host) Amity, OR
May 22 - Meadows Estate Winery (Harvest Host) Oakland, OR
May 23 - June 1 - Turtle Rock Resort, Gold Beach, OR
June 1-5 - Bay Point Landing, Coos Bay, OR
June 6 - Yreka RV Park, Yreka, CA
June 7 - Chico Rice Farm (Harvest Host) Willows, CA
June 8-10 - Jackson Rancheria Casino, Jackson, CA
June 10-17 - Gold Ranch Casino, Verdi, CA
June 17 - Susanville RV, Susanville, CA
June 18-21- Yreka RV Park, Yreka, CA
June 21-26 - Seven Feathers Casino RV Park, Canyonville, CA
June 26-29 - Casey’s Riverside RV Park, Westfir, OR
June 29 - July 3 - Olde Stone Village, McMinnville, OR
July 3 - 9 - Seven Feathers RV, Canyonville, OR
July 9- 16 - Premier RV Resort, Salem, OR
July 16- 23 - BrookHollow RV Park, Kelso, WA

Read my reviews on Campgroundreviews.com

Most of what I write about or post online is about the locations we have been to and the adventures of Betty Jo (our 27FBQ Airstream.) But the real hero of this story is Jack (our Ford F-250 diesel 4x4 CrewCab Lariat.)  Built Ford Tough… Good thing, because Jack has a tough job.

Diligently and valiantly, Jack, does his job… without complaining, without hesitation, without question. I almost think he enjoys it!

He is a steady rock in our travels, as he takes us from Point A to Point B.

It is Jack, who with gentle and firm strength, tows Betty Jo onto our next adventures.

It is Jack, who keeps us comfortable, doesn’t matter if it’s cold and raining or a very hot summer day. He pulls us up steep hills with little effort and easily controls our descent down the other side of all the mountainous highways we have explored. Automatic diesel exhaust brake with cruise control when going down a long steep hill is an amazingly comfortable, white-knuckle eliminator.

Yes, it is Jack who keeps us steady and safe (with the help of Tony’s driving skills).

It is Jack's strength and his subtle determination, which allows us the freedom and the ability to venture forth across multiple states & conditions.

Jack, may be a truck, but he is also a “Hero” in this story, for he is the one we rely on to keep us safe, to keep us going, to keep us in line.

We are on another "practice run" in RV life — You can read about our First Maiden Voyage here. This time we will be gone longer than two weeks. We were lucky to score a site close to the beach, at the charming Turtle Rock Resort RV Park in Gold Beach, Oregon. Ten days of relaxation, the sound of crashing waves at night, and beautiful sunsets. It sounded delightful and just what we needed.

It is a long drive to our destination from Anacortes, WA, so we took our sweet time and we meandered down the I-5 corridor to get there. Our first night on the road we stopped at the Midway RV Park in Centralia, WA. The name of the park is appropriate, meaning it is midway between Seattle and Portland. We arrived late afternoon, after skirting our way through Everett to Olympia traffic. We found our spot and glided in like we knew what we were doing.

The next morning we splurged and ate at Judy’s Country Kitchen, voted Best Breakfast, conveniently located next to the RV park. After a delicious breakfast, we scurried to I-5. Our next stop was just south of Portland, Oregon, close to McMinnville in Amity, Oregon. I was filled with excited anticipation for our next stop, a Harvest Host (affiliate link, get 15% off membership) — Wings and Prayer Alpaca Farm.

It was a beautiful drive, filled with sunshine as we wound our way through the Oregon countryside. We had never really explored this part of Oregon and I enjoyed the drive through the vast farmlands and green hills.
We arrived shortly before 4:00 pm. As newbies, backing up is still a bit of trial and error for us and our host gave thoughtful instructions and guidance with a touch of a lesson as we settled into our location for the evening. Once we settled in, I immediately grabbed my camera to venture out and explore.

After a restful night sleep, we hurried through our morning routine because we were going to take an Alpaca for a walk. They offer an Alpaca Trek experience on their farm for guests and I signed us up. We got a brief lesson, charmed our Alpaca with some goodies, then trekked up the hill with our host as our guide. She shared their story of how they came to be Alpaca farmers, how it grew, and shared some tidbits of Alpaca information. It was a delightful way to start our day and get exercise having Mondae (the Alpaca) by my side.
We thanked our hosts and bid them farewell as we continued on our journey. Our hosts recommended we continue on Hwy 99 for a more scenic view until we get to Eugene and they were right, it was beautiful.

Our next stop was Meadows Estate Winery. Located in the Umpqua Valley, the scenery was lovely. When we arrived our host greeted us and then once we settled in we ventured inside for some wine tasting and a little history on the winery and the area. It was a quiet and peaceful place to rest our heads after a days travel.

Thanks to the advice from others in some Facebook groups and our winery host, we opted to take Hwy 38 to reach the Oregon Coast, an RV friendly highway over and through the mountainous range. What a gorgeous scenic drive.

After a leisurely drive through the mountains and down Hwy 101 on the Oregon Coast, we arrived at our final destination — Turtle Rock Resort in Gold Beach, Oregon. A nice breeze greeted us as we found our site and settled in.

After ten days at Turtle Rock RV Park in Gold Beach, we headed up to Bay Point Landing RV Resort in Coos Bay, Oregon. I fell in love with this RV Park, we only a few days here and so much to see.

The mornings were gorgeous but then fog would roll in and hang out along the coastline. We traveled to see the sand dunes, but between the fog and other factors we didn’t really experience the sand dunes. Oh, well, maybe another time.

Another day, we did a scenic drive along HWY 540 aka Cape Arago HWY. It was a foggy day so we couldn’t see much off the coast, but still it was a stunning drive. Our next stop was Bandon, OR. To get to HWY 101 via Hwy 540 we discovered 7 Devils Road in Charleston. The sign said it was a “scenic” drive, at first it wasn’t much of a road but then suddenly it was more like you were in heaven, such stunning scenery from on top of the world. It was a winding road with curves and twists, fun to drive with the right vehicle, and I was sure glad we weren’t towing.

After lunch in Bandon, we drove along the coast on Beach Loop Drive to see Face Rock State Scenic Outlook and Devil’s Kitchen. By then, the fog was further offshore so our view expanded. But our favorite location and a “must see” on this day was Shore Acres State Park on Hwy 540.

A unique blend of cragged rocks and rugged nature mixed beautifully with a landscaped garden and grassy area. The scenery was nothing short of sensational, a photographer or even a non-photographer’s heaven.

As a newbie, we are still learning how to plan our trips. I depend heavily on reviews and suggestions from groups I belong too. I am learning how to mix locations, utilizing Harvest Hosts during travel days, then finding a park where we can stay a little longer and have the use of full hook-ups. We have found we do better traveling when we have a location that we stay at least a week to actually enjoy the location, also to have downtime and days for chores — like laundry and grocery shopping.

From Alpacas to sunsets, the beginning of our adventure, our second Maiden Voyage, was off to a good start.

RVing - to travel, to explore, to connect with nature, and to create memories.

Today, RVing can also mean - working from the road, learning while on the road, meetings and more meetings (and too many Zoom meetings), and just spending a lot of time online. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, they all make the life style glamorous and inviting - and it is a lifestyle. It invites the promise of so much more and so many are buying into it and hitting the road.

All we need is a good connection (WIFI) and we are happy campers…but the reality is…good connection may be easier than in years pass but is still elusive or at least sluggish in many locations. This explosion of people living in their RVs and wandering from location to location was not something this industry was fully prepared for.

Technology has taken an industry, traditionally comprised of retirees, and opened it up to all age groups and families. Their desires and needs includes WIFI at a decent speed. One of the most frequently asked questions in Facebook Groups and forum is, "How do I get Internet?" And, just as there are so many questions, there also seems to be a variety of answers. Not all are foolproof, not all of them are accurate. Many of these answers and ideas will not work for everyone or work everywhere. There is also a wide variety of cost & complexity, too.

With so many turning RVing into a life style, technology is more critical than ever before. We still need to earn a living, we still need to learn, and we still need some connection to family and friends, and children (and adults) still need to be entertained.

We ourselves are in a “semi-retired” stage, which means we still need to earn some kind of living. For us, Internet is a way to earn income on the road, to continue our RV education, and it is also a way to connect with family and friends.

We have watched countless YouTube videos on this subject and read countless answers. Various groups, some with broad coverage of RV Life tricks and tips, others more manufacture specific, like the various Airstream Groups we follow, are a wealth of information. The old adage “taken with a grain of salt” always applies. Many of which helped, some of which didn’t or were suspect, but sounded good and needed more research.

Many RV Parks offer Wi-Fi, but the main problem with RV park Wi-Fi, besides speed and connection mainly due to too many RV’s trying to connect - is security. Using our phones as a hotspots helps with the issue of security but sometimes may be slower than the RV free Wi-Fi. It’s still  a lot of hit and miss.

The solution we have been trying out recently (we are a little over a month into it) is the new, Inseego 5G MiFi M2000. The sales person told us it was 100gb per month at 5G, go over the the 100gb (or in certain areas) it will downspeed to 4G.  The cost - $50 per month. The Device is $336.00.

I am not a techie (I leave that to my husband), but what I can tell you is when we first got it, it was AMAZING!!!! Faster than the 100Gb fiber we had in our home. It was screaming fast. Working on-line, listening to Pandora & Spotify and streaming YouTube, Netflix & HBO Movies was an RV’ers dream.

The real test came when we went on our Maiden Voyage along the WA & OR coast, cell phone coverage was spotty and usually only 1 bar. And still it managed to work, even though it did at slower speeds. When it was slow, we had a harder time streaming and being online dragged but was doable – most of the time.

Then upon our return from the coast of WA/OR, about three weeks in, it just stopped working. The device showed it was getting 5G at full signal strength, our (7 Apple) devices would easily connect with it’s full strength Wi-Fi signal, but for some reason there was no internet available.

We returned it under warranty and had another one ordered for us another one (at a cost of $21 for S&H), but still the same issue. When we left for Oregon and stopped for the night at a Harvest Host, it suddenly worked fine and worked as advertised, but then it retreated back to not connecting.

We are not sure what the issue is? As soon as we are near another T-Mobile store again we will have them look at it.

We have encountered other RV’ers who swear by the WeBoost for boosting cell coverage signals. As we are currently in a very weak cellphone signal area, that will be our next exploration, as we will continue to look for that Internet Magic Answer - till then, we travel and connect just one byte at a time.