RE: Doom and Gloom!
Well fine. I just wasted a few minutes of my time reading all the posts in the thread. Thought maybe there might be some meaningful insight into our current situation, only to see it (the thread) go into the toilet as usual.
Once again, there are two sides, with a few thoughtful and relevant posts on either side, and a whole hell of a lot of inmature finger pointing, name calling, and "don't confuse me with the facts" posts.
Maybe someday I will learn that this is not the place to learn.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: I'm not renewing my membership in FMCA, here's why!!
Well, I had no problem understanding his position.
I would also agree with him on a personal level, and I think if he believes in his position, then he should make a statement. I tend to grab my trusty lance and joust with windmills from time to time. Doesn't always lead to satisfaction, but change happens most often not because one side is right or wrong, but rather one side puts more effort into it than does the other side.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: WOULD YOU?????
I would think that full timing is a lifestyle. Living in a RV is just part of that lifestyle.
We full time, and of course live in RVs full time. We have a 37' fifth wheel we leave in Texas, and a 30 TT that we travel with about 7 months a year.
We enjoy the lifestyle, which includes living in a RV. I would think that if I were still working, had to stay somewhere for most of the year, I would want some of the amenities of a stick hoiuse. Garage, garden, yard, and critters.
The RV lifestyle has enough going for it that we don't need any of those things, but if I were stuck somewhere, working, and doing the day-in/day-out lifestyle, I would want some of those things that are not practical with a RV.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Are you satisfied?
I have survived war, stupidy (mine), bad luck, bad advice, and a bad marriage. I have lived in the penthouse, and the outhouse, and most places in between. The Penthouse was much nicer of course, but I enjoyed my life while living in the outhouse much better.
All in all, I certainly could have done better. I also could have done worse. And, I just may have been run over by a bus on the way to pick up my Lotto check. Again, all things considered, we are extremely happy.
I guess the one issue I have is: I will be enjoying myself fishing in the Gulf, or sitting around with friends sipping Margaritas, and thinking to myself "Self, things couldn't get much better", and don't ya know it, things do get better.
We are retired, and pretty much go and do as we please. Our ways have yet to overwhelm our means, so we are doing good.
We do have the normal issues that most people have. Some minor, some not so minor, but we don't dwell on them, and just a few have left scars.
So, I would say we are a 9.8 on the scale. If I ever go fishing and actually catch a fish, I may have to jack that up to 9.9
Ken Gasbarri
RE: What will future RVs be like? (opinion)
Well, RVs have been around for some time now. The whole industry has grown an developed over many, many years. Now we have had a year or so of inflation and increases in fuel cost, and already, there are many people predicting the demise of RVing, or at least RVing as we know it. That may be so, but I will wait for awhile before I accept that as fact.
Before this latest cycle began, the price of fuel and RVing in general was very expensive when you compared them to the same costs in the 60s and 70s, and RVing was but a few truck campers, some vans, and not much else. RVing grew up in inflation and high fuel prices.
It certainly is nice to speculate about the future of RVing, but technology is by far, not the only factor to consider.
RVing is one thing. Camping is another. People will accept certain conditions for a weekend camping trip that would not be acceptable for full time RVing. Differnet needs, different units.
Does anyone really see a difference from the fuel crisis of the 70s, and what is happening now. Well, ok, different media "experts" predicting whatever. I remember all the dire predictions, but when all the hand wringing was done, things were pretty much the same. The fat old station wagon pretty much went by the wayside, and was replaced by the SUV. Cars pretty much got smaller, but then, a funny thing happened. Even the smaller cars were not that efficent. Oh, there were some of course, but as usual, power, performance, gadgets, and other things trumped fuel economy.
We will pay more for fuel to be sure. We will pay more for most things that are affected by the cost of fuel. We will also see wages and salaries increase, and before we know it, the cost of fuel will return to about the same per cent of income as it was awhile back. unfortunately, some people will suffer. Jobs will be lost, lives will be changed. Some will benifit from all this by being in the right place at the right time. In the end, there will be those that can afford those million dollar motorhomes, and those that prefer PUPs, and everything in between.
Will that new "star wars" technology RV happen? perhaps. whether there will be a market for it will be another question. There are a number of small, high tech, high efficent units available now. The cost is way out of line with the value, and only those that can both afford them and wish to make a "statement" have stepped up and purchased one.
I think that there will be changes. Many companing that are/were borderline may not be around in a year or so. New companies with new ideas and more efficent ways of doing business will take their places. Many people will give up their RV's, and there will be many that will take advantage of the gluted market to get into RVing for the first time.
When those ten or twenty years have come and gone, I would venture a guess that RVing will be much the same as it is now. The units will be more efficent, the manufactors will also be more efficent. but the units themselves will be pretty much tha same as we have now.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Transmission Whine (Loud)
Wolfe10 may well be right on. I thought I was having tranny problems because of that same sound. Turns out it was the fan clutch going bad.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: CFL's - more dangerous than 1st thought!
I would recommend removing all CFLs from the home. Better yet, have a specialist do it.
Once the CFLs have been safely removed, install a HEPA filtered closed ventilation system. Seal all openings in the dwelling, and stock up on a years worth of organic food. Turn off cell phones, game boys, and televisions. Wear armored vest, padded outer clothing, and a approved helmet. Sit in a straight back chair, and listen to soothing music to keep your pulse and blood pressure at acceptable levels.
Then, and only then, can one feel just a little safe. Constant attention to your environment and physical condition is of the utmost importance.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Mexico Cracks Down on US Fuel Buyers
I thought that the fuel was ok for the new emission standards. Anyway, this post will get deleted real quick.
I have no problem with the Mexican authorities doing what ever they feel is needed to protect their economy/citizens.
I would, however, suggest that if the situation were reversed and the U.S. were doing the same, we would hear about it big time. "It just isn't fair".
I would guess that the pressure that is put on the Mexican Petrol industry by those filling aux tanks and bringing them back across the border is no greater than what the "undocumented aliens" are doing to our economy.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Denver to vegas on 70?????
I prefer I-80. It is a bit out of the way it you are going through Denver, but the grades seem a lot less steep. Now the East bound grade coming out of Salt Lake City is a bit of a chanllenge, but other than that, I enjoyed I-80 both ways a lot more than I-70.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Eating out is out for awhile
This all reminds me of back in Denver, Co. There is a radio station that has a restaurant show twice a week. The host will comment on a new or new to him eatery in or around town.
He'll carry on all about how good the food, and service is, and then make some comment like. "and very reasonably priced also. two can eat for less than $150.00 including wine." $150.00 bucks!!!! for that kind of money, I better be served by the Swedish Bikini Team, and they need not bring their bikinis either.
I don't know if I am out of touch, but $20.00 for dinner for two is "high falutin' for me. I'll do it for Peggy, and I won't even grumble about the prices, but it sure does scorch my tail feathers when the check arrives.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: ...some ramblings......my friend Keith...(Update pic!)
Mandrake;
I envy you. I had such a friend for many years. Lawrence was his name, (never Larry) and he was a regular at Waffle House. The Circumstances and details were a bit different, but the Joy his friendship brought me was the same.
Every so often, he would take a "sabbatical" for about a month. We never knew where or what, but he was always in the best of spirits upon his return.
A few years ago, he stopped coming in. We all assumed he was on another of his sabbaticals, but he never returned. Shortly after that, the Waffle House closed down, and we never did find out what happened to him.
I do miss him.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Performance Evaluations - love them or hate them......
Working for the Colorado Dept of Trans. I had to both evaluate and be evaluated. These evaluation had the least bit of value since our "performance based Pay" was never funded the entire time I was there. They were not even considered in any other aspect of employment , such as discipline, promotion, or transfer.
When I signed mine, I would sign "Mickey J. Mouse" one time, "Ronald Regan" the next and so on. No one ever questioned it.
As to filling them out on others, I gave everyone a "Superior, needs improvement" rating, and again, no one ever noticed, and my supervisors did indeed sign each one.
Now then, I will not argue the point that at some, maybe many places, these evaluations do have meaning, but not for CDOT.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Camping in todays market.
Go elsewhere, improvise, adapt, overcome. volunteer at the park of your choice. Pay more taxes. Talk to the people at the park, see what they need. If this is something important enough to you to post about here, DO SOMETHING. Take responsibility for making your life work the way you want it to. Go out there and grab your share of the fun.
Ken Gasbarri
Oh, and yes, I do need my meds
RE: "Some" Grocery Store Checkout Employees Really Chap Me!
I am surprised that kind of issue still exist. We have been whelmed, not overwhelmed, but whelmed with the service we get. There are exceptions of course, but for the most part, we have very friendly, efficient, and "product friendly" service.
We shop "Wally World" a lot for the prices, but also go elsewhere for better meats, produce, and bakery items. Both WW and the competition seem to understand we have a choice, and price may be an issue, but it is not the ONLY issue.
When we are down in Rockport, Texas, there is less competition, but there are locally owned and managed "Mom and Pop" places that act like they really want us to come back (and we do)
I guess what I am thinking is that if you don't get the service or product you want from any particular place, Don't go there. And if you don't have a lot of choices, limit your purchases to absolute minimum. It also wouldn't hurt to let management know why you do or do not shop there. doesn't always get results, but if the store is ever going to be somewhere you want to shop, they will be sensitive to your comments.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Do you remember when....?
Delivering "Raw Milk" to customers. Riding on the tailgate of a 49 plymouth station wagon. Grabbing two bottles of milk and jumping off the tailgate while the car was still moving, running up to the porch with the milk, then chasing the car. Running along behind the car and jumping and twisting so that you landed in a sitting position back on the tailgate. Oh, and the times you missed. Not fun to miss, but we survived it.
Going to Gramma's house in St. Paul and buying carrots off the vegatable wagon to feed to the horse pulling the wagon. What a racket the veggie guy had. Got paid to feed his horse.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: requirements for a Motor Home
Joyce;
To try and answer one of your questions, I too have never heard of a park turning anyone away because they had a W/D. Regardless, I would suggest that having a washer and dryer is not worth the space they take up. Most parks have a laundry, and on the occasions that one is not available, the inconvenience still does not make it worth while to have one on board. If you do decide to have one, make sure that it is a vented dryer. The unvented dryers take forever to get even the smallest load dry.
As for the different models, it is pretty much like anything else. You generally get what you pay for. I have friends that have Newmars, and they are all very pleased with them. That is a very small sample of all the Newmar owners, so take it for what it is worth.
I think buying a used motor home is the way to go (again, just an opinion) as new units loose value very quickly.
I would suggest you take your time, visit as many dealers as you can and examine the features and quality of the different models. It may be less expensive to buy from a private party, but you will need to know what you want, and which features are important to you.
One final suggestion. There are areas where many RVer spend a lot of time, and the cost of used RV's are a lot less than say, Nebraska. Some of these places would be the RGV (Rio Grande Valley) near Brownsville, Texas, or the Phoenix area in Arizona. Lots of elderly people get there and sell their units in favor of "park models".
Hopefully, there will be some nice people respond to your post and offer some useful advice. Take the rest with a grain of salt.
RVing can be a wonderful lifestyle, whether you go full time or just an occasional weekend. I wish you success and enjoyment in what ever you decide to do.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Chevron attempts to squash battery for Hybrid Mercedes
Wow, that is somewhat of a leap of logic is it not?
But, seeing that an oil company is involved, I guess we can assume that they are evil and what ever they do is greed based.
You have almost no information, and yet your have passed judgment. A shining testimonial to your pompous, self serving indignation.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: Which one are you?
We are full timers. Sometimes we sit for weeks or monhts at a time, sometimes we are chasing the next horizon 7 days a week. Sometimes we are Winter Texans, and sometimes we ain't.
We are trying to keep both the family and the government from knowing our next move. I owe the girls six months allowance, and the government ..................well, let's just say I don't want them finding me.
Ken Gasbarri
RE: why do people do this?
msmith1199;
Once again, you seem to be at odds with reality. What is it about the paragraph you cited you don't understand?
545.101. TURNING AT INTERSECTION. (a) To make a
right turn at an intersection, an operator shall make both the
approach and the turn as closely as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway
applying the English language as I understand it, that means that the operator shall enter the intersection from the right most travel lane and turn into the right most travel lane. The same concept applies to both left and right turns. The exception would be when entering an intersection with multiple turn lanes, you are required to turn into the same lane as your stared in. Meaning, if you entered the intersection from the second left turn lane, you are required to turn into the second from the left travel lane. If you entered from the third left turn lane, you are required to turn into the third from the left travel lane.
Oh, and one more thing. NO ONE has the right of way. No state assigns right of way. They do, however, require that under certain conditions, one must YIELD right of way to other vehicles.
Once again, traffic turning left is required to enter the left most travel lane, and traffic turning right is required to enter the right most travel lane.
If you have a written source that states that a vehicle entering an intersection to turn right (or left for that matter) can turn into any lane, I would love to see it.
If you look close enough, one is not allowed to change lanes while in the intersection. That would mean (even in California) that if you enter the intersection in the right lane, you must exit the intersection in the right lane.
Ken Gasbarri
