Congratulations to Marilu Nealy, winner of this week’s drawing for an audiobook of Judy Howard’s COAST TO COAST WITH A CAT AND A GHOST! 
Speaking of winners, I was reminded of the lyrics to the old Kenny Rogers song The Gambler in an e-mail exchange I have been having with a couple the last few days. They contacted me after reading the story of us building our bus conversion and told me they are also converting an MCI bus into a motorhome. Like us, they have some basic systems in and are living in it, and plan to continue to convert it as they travel. It’s not the optimum way to do things, but it’s not impossible. Miss Terry used to call our bus the buckboard bus, because every time we got a buck, we bought another board.
They seem like nice folks, and I have been answering a lot of questions about converting a bus, but they have a goal of wintering in their hometown of Alpena, Michigan, just to prove to themselves they can do it. The bus isn’t insulated yet and it’s turning into a nightmare of frozen water tanks, ice inside the windshield, and the bi-fold door froze shut and they had to climb out a window. They don’t have a propane system in yet, so all they have for heat is four cube style electric space heaters.
While she was undergoing her cancer treatment Terry and I were stuck in northern Michigan, so I know how brutal the winters can be in that part of the country. I asked these folks if they were stuck in Alpena for any reason that would prevent them from heading south to a warmer location, and they said no, it’s just to prove that they can do it. They figure that if they can survive this in an RV they can handle anything the fulltimer life will throw at them.
That reminds me of the guy years ago who drove his 40 foot motorhome down narrow, twisty Alternate Highway 89 from Prescott, Arizona through Jerome to Cottonwood, just to prove he could do it, even though big rigs are strongly discouraged. Yeah, you did it, but why?
I guess I’m just not that committed. As the Gambler taught Kenny, you have to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. It’s time to fold ’em and walk away from the table. Make that run away! They need to learn that one of the best things about the RV lifestyle is that we have wheels under our house for a reason. If we don’t like the neighbors or the weather, we can move!
Thought For The Day – Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize that you’re wrong.
Check Out Nick’s E-Books In Our E-Book Store
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Thanks Nick and Terry for pulling my name as the weekly winner. I never win in raffles or the lottery so it is really special to have won. I look forward to reading this book as all you have recommended have been good reads. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
Wintering in Alpena like those people you mentioned? I’m sure they’re nice people, but sound a little strange! I spent 22 winters in an old farmhouse 9 mi SW of Alpena… that was enough for me. We had heat, but the first 10 or so year, no indoor plumbing. Love those 2-holers with the icy wind blow up you know where. Have fun folks… enjoy to the fullest! 😀
We have an MCI 5C Saudi and don’t know any reason why we would go p there on a good day and we have insulation and heaters, LOL
Dave & Doreen Walker
A 40 Ft MH on that road? EEKS! Did they count all those crosses by the road along the way?
Good advice, Nick…there are some folks who seem programmed and will do everything in life the hard way…seems they cannot learn from the experience of others. But it is oh so much smarter to learn from others isn’t it? Heh, seems that couple you mentioned might do as well to find a log cabin heated by a wood stove…might be warmer!!
Alternate Highway 89 from Prescott, Arizona through Jerome to Cottonwood,
We have been on that road in a car. You have to be stupid to drive a 40′ RV on that road. And —— the folks in Michigan need a dose of common sense.