RE: Does your DW complain about all the junk you keep?
We are fulltimers now into our 12th year. One of the happiest days of our lives was when we at last divested ourselves of that final semblance of "stuff". We still adhere to the, "if something comes in, something needs to go out" rule. For us, simpler is better. When we thought we had pared it down as much as we wanted to, after a year on the road we shed another 10%. Another of our "rules" is that, if we haven't touched it in a year, out it goes. We are roughly 2,000 lbs under GCVW down the road and want for nothing.
RE: monthly budget using a credit card
they put a hold on my card because it was a charge in another state. I had to have my wife call and allow the charges and tell them I was away on business. They told us that we had to notify them when we go on vacation so that this won't happen again.
This feature is for the protection of the cardholder in case of theft, physical or virtual. We have informed all of our CC companies that we travel extensively and to ignore physicality. Works for us even though it slightly increases our risk. We still keep spending limits in place. Anything over $200 in a single purchase gets us a notification.
RE: monthly budget using a credit card
There are many CC's that offer everything from FF miles, as you've noted, to cash back ranging from 1% to 5% on all purchases. We opt for cash back. We pay everything we can with plastic. I have been known to carry the same $20 bill in my pocket for months. Of course, none of our CC's have any fees and not once in 40 years of carrying numerous cards have I ever paid a penny in interest. I have to be a CC company's idea of the worst customer ever, but I just added up the combined credit line of all cards for me and DW = $270,000. No, that was not mistyped. And, they pay us for the privilege of carrying their cards! Guess their hopes spring eternal. And just to keep this topical, we're fulltimers in our 12th year.
RE: Wifi and more in Forest Service cgs - at what price?
This "movement" has been extant for years. Currently, more than half of the campgrounds – and 80 percent of all campsites in our national forests are managed by private concessionaires. We have worked for several of them and are currently doing so.
http://www.tsweekly.com/news/features/forests-for-sale-as-more-campgrounds-come-under-private-management-what-does-this-mean-for-campers.html
RE: Grand Canyon in September - best RV park recommendation
I don't know what you would do for that much time at the South Rim.
The average length of time for tourists at the South rim is three hours!
We worked the bookstores in GC for 2 summers. In all fairness, we were situated at the east end of the canyon, at Desert View and the Tusayan Museum respectively. We highly recommend that end of the canyon, but you won't find FH there. We always had a huge laugh over comments like the above. Folks would come in and say "We have 3 hours here, what can we do?" Our response was always "grab a sandwich and go sit on the rim". Thankfully, those people were in a distinct minority.
To be sure, if you cannot enjoy the grandeur for what it is, go to Vegas. We lived about a half city block from the rim for 2 summers. The day we left, we walked the last time to the rim and it still took our breaths away again. Different strokes. And yes, we are walkers/hikers. Been into the canyon and back several times, but I assert that that isn't essential.
Waking up in the crisp morning to the sight of a dazzling sunrise over the plateau and the very real potential of seeing elk wandering through your site after a night of virtual silence and more celestial wonder than you might imagine? What's THAT worth? Again. different strokes. Should you choose to spend more than that allegedly allotted 3 hours, you might wish to go here:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cg-sr.htm#CP_JUMP_153567
RE: Things That Happened In My Space on a trip
Must be "selective moderation". There have been more (allegedly not allowed) personal attacks in this thread than I've seen in a long time. Doesn't matter to me in this thread, but it does matter when on the rare occasion that I step over that slight and ever-shifting line. Come to think of it, that doesn't matter either!
RE: Why buy ice?
Our source of weekly shopping is about a 30 mile round trip here in our current location. Being cheap, I mean thrifty, and given fuel prices, we do everything in one swell foop. That can take 3-4 hours. I buy a #10 bag of ice for $1 and put it, along with all perishables in a cooler that resides in the truck bed. We can get it all home with no decrease in temp and can buy extra stuff that will stay cold in the cooler for a couple of days. That's why WE buy ice.
RE: Unique anniversary gift...from a snorer
I'm a retired RN with experience in this field. Most snoring issues are simple physical ones and re-positioning of the epiglottis (that flappy thing at the back of the throat) either by redistributing air through the nose (As Seen On TV :) ) or adjusting body angle (those pillows) will work for many. At times, those issues are a matter of affective concerns such as allergies.
For conversations about the use/abuse/overuse of CPAP's in term of snoring, go here and then go from there:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/snoring-cause
RE: It's not a good place for lunch!!
I know that I'm going to get slammed, perhaps even this post deleted but,I don't believe the story. Surely, it makes for interesting reading and ongoing commiseration, even though it doesn't ring true.
I spent 17 years of my working life in mental health care, various and sundry other life experiences and now into my 12th year as a fulltimer and I can assert with a 99.99% certainty that NO ONE who has a driver's license, has a MH and patronizes a Flying J is that naive, stupid or arrogant, and trust me, I've seen the height of all of those. Didn't know what his DW said? Puhleeze.
RE: Has this ever happened to you?
OK. Another poster touched on it, but I still have to ask. We have a Fantastic Fan in the bedroom that is, of course, reversible. I get that. I have never heard of a fan in a bathroom that was not exhaust only. What would be the possible reasoning behind an intake fan in a bathroom? And, dear Bruce, please don't tell me it has something to do with venting(ahem)gasses through the stack.
RE: Creditworthiness To Stay In An RV Park
Actually, 100ton,I couldn't resist either. Sent them an edited email of your above. Can't wait for the response. Duh, I might have to wait a long time, eh? :)
RE: Creditworthiness To Stay In An RV Park
This should do it........... :B Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Dear (fill in the blank) RV Park, Spa, Resort,
My travels will bring me very close to your RV facility in August of this year. I really liked what I saw on your web site and would like to reserve a Class A, 42 foot site for about four weeks beginning August 10, 2012. If I like your facility, I would probably want to extend my stay another week or two if possible.
Enclosed please find a Credit Application that YOU will need to complete to assure me that you (The Facility) meet(s) my financial requirements before I confirm my reservation by forwarding my deposit.
Please do not forget to enclose your credit check fee in the amount of $50.00 to cover the (non-refundable) credit application charge. I will let you know ASAP if YOU qualify for my business.
Oh, just one more thing, I also noticed on your web site that your facility is over ten years old, eighteen years to be exact. Due to the fact that your facility is aging, once I arrive and look it over I may decide not to stay after all. Of course if I decide not to stay, I will expect a full refund of my deposit plus a 10% penalty for operating a park that was constructed more than ten years ago. I know you take very good care of your facility and over the years have invested tens or hundreds of thousand dollars...... still after all is said and done, it is over ten years old. I just say'n. ;)
Awaiting your reply (and check).
Best regards,
Mr. R.V. Travler
Although it would do no good, ya' gotta' love it. YOU are one of the few people I could consider spending some time around a campfire with. Thanks.
RE: Creditworthiness To Stay In An RV Park
To those who have/have had rental properties (in my before-fulltiming life I had 13), again, I do understand the vagaries. And again, the RV park owners must understand that they are free to implement whatever legal rules and regulations that they see fit, and that I am free not to patronize them. And again I state that I will NEVER patronize an RV park that requires and expects me to pay for a credit check. When we were doing the search for accommodations in the area, we turned up no less than 11 within 8 miles. Guess where we AREN'T going!
RE: Leaving firewood
When I leave firewood I know it is going to be confiscated by the next person who sees it and wants it. Many times this is the campground host.
It is hard for me to not think that the campground crew gathers it and re-sells it.
I'm very sorry to hear that you hold people who are working for minimum wage, or for no wages at all, in such low regard. In over 11 years of fulltiming, we have been camp hosts and/or area managers of over 1000 campsites. Yep, we and our hosts have picked up abandoned firewood. Although I'm sure it has happened elsewhere, not a single stick has been re-sold on our watch. I am currently working maintenance in a NFS campground. Just last night 12 of the staff here sat around a campfire fueled exclusively by wood gathered by the hosts. We thank those who left it behind. We are not infrequently asked by departing guests about what happens to wood that remains. They are told that hosts most likely will use it for their own purposes or that it will be left in place. Nearly always they say thanks for a job well done and are happy that that is where it is going.
RE: Creditworthiness To Stay In An RV Park
a credit check would be at the top of my checklist.
I understand your points. And if that was at the top of YOUR checklist,
YOU would pay for it!Actually, I would require the cost to paid upfront and applied to the rent
That provision was/is not offered by this establishment. In your scenario, you would pay for that check as a reduction in fees. All other things being equal, that would be acceptable.
RE: Creditworthiness To Stay In An RV Park
If your score is high, print a copy and show them. Just redact the SSN. Save's you a few $'s and they won't lose a potential tenant.
Oh, trust me, they lost that potential at "hello". Why on earth would I want to go to that bother when there are myriad alternatives?
RE: Creditworthiness To Stay In An RV Park
a credit check would be at the top of my checklist.
I understand your points. And if that was at the top of YOUR checklist,
YOU would pay for it!
RE: Yes....it's still cheaper vacation......
Recently, a guy at work asked me if I'd done a "cost analysis" on owning a camper. My response:
"I can't put a value on watching my son catch his first trout in the mountains and cooking it over our own campfire...or tubing the Little River while holding my daughter's hand...the hundreds of hikes we have taken...the many streams and lakes we have enjoyed...the family bonding time around a late night campfire...the list goes on and on.
Yes, "Mike", I have done a cost analysis. That $15K - $20K I spent was the best investment I have EVER made. My whole family has memories they can cherish their entire life...memories that probably would have been impossible to create without my good ole' camper."
I quoted this in its' entirety as it's the best response ever to these types of threads and I wanted to bring it back to the top. Although I've never had children, I thoroughly understand the sentiment. Kudos Herd Fan!
