January Q&A

I’m back with more questions from blog readers about RVing, what’s happening in our lives since we hung up the keys, and all kinds of other things. While I try to answer all questions individually, I also share some here occasionally.

Q. We went to the Tampa RV show and I was surprised that in every new high end diesel pusher we looked at, none of the windows open. I asked a salesman why that was, and he said, “Why would you need windows open when you have climate control?” Is this a new thing? Are they all like that these days?

A. I heard that from somebody else, too, but I haven’t been in a new coach in years, so I really couldn’t say if they are all like that or not. As for us, we always liked having the windows open and letting the fresh air in.

Q. Someone said that Florida is no longer letting nonresidents get the COVID-19 vaccine. We are snowbirds who spend the winter in the central part of the state. Do you know if this is true?

A. Things seem to change by the day. I know that Florida is no longer vaccinating nonresidents who just come here for the vaccine. But as I understand it, snowbirds with a receipt showing that they have rented a site for at least 30 days are entitled to get the vaccine.

Q. We’ve been talking about buying an RV and were thinking about a new one, but it seemed like there are a lot of nice used ones coming up on the market all of a sudden. Any idea why this is?

A. There was a big boom in RV sales last year because people thought that was going to be a way to escape COVID-19 or because they couldn’t vacation in their usual ways. Then a lot of those people realized that RVing just isn’t for them or that they didn’t use them as much as they thought they would, and now want to sell them. I think there are probably some good deals to be had out there.

Q. I know you guys are not traveling anymore, and I know you’ve been out of the RV thing for a while, but we’re fairly new to it. In the past, you talked about Passport America several times. Do you still think it’s a good bargain?”

A. Absolutely. The $44 membership fee gives you access to over 1,450 campgrounds at half price. You will save that much the first two or three times you use it.

Q. I don’t appreciate you talking about your dislike for President Trump or that you seem to worship Biden. I don’t come here to see that and I’m asking myself why I read this blog anymore. You tell me, Nick?

A. The great thing about this country is that we are all free to express our opinion and read the blogs we want. We are also free to stop reading the ones we no longer care to. I’m sorry that you disagree, but you can always start your own blog and say anything you want.

Q. We met you at an RV rally in Gillette, Wyoming years ago and sat in on your seminars and have been fans ever since. We miss all of the fun travel stories and interesting places to visit that you wrote about in the Gypsy Journal and wish we had saved all of our back issues. Do you have any back issues still available, and if so, how can I get them?

A. We have fourteen years (2003 – 2017) of the Gypsy Journal available on a USB drive in PDF format. Regular cost is $75, but if any blog readers want one, contact me at editor@gypsyjournal.net, and I can send you one for $50 for a limited time.

Q. We are wintering at The Great Outdoors in Titusville and would love to get together with you and Terry for dinner sometime, our treat. Possibly at Dixie Crossroads?

A. We love meeting up with friends and readers, but due to the pandemic, we are keeping a low profile and not going out much and have not been in a restaurant since last March. Hopefully we can cross paths again when the virus is under control and will take you up on your offer.

Q. Your fulltiming days are over, but have you and Terry thought about buying a smaller camper for short trips now and then?

A. From time to time we talk about a B van, and though we haven’t been out shopping for one, it does cross our minds. We have no plans to do anything at this point, but you never know.

Q. My brother told me about your blog, and I have been reading it for a while now. His wife and him are buying an RV and going to travel in it fulltime, but I’m worried about them. He is 64 and his wife is a year younger. Isn’t this too late to take on a major life change like that? I would think it’s more for a younger crowd.

A. Many RVers don’t begin to fulltime until they are retired and in their mid-60s or older, and they have many, many years of fun and adventure.

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Big Lake Blizzard, the fourth book in my Big Lake mystery series. This is the last one of the first printing of this book with the original cover. To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to high the shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed.

Thought For The Day – Don’t join dangerous cults, practice safe sects