Mike and Jennifer Wendland’s top 10 rules for surviving and thriving while sharing small spaces.
By Mike Wendland, F426141
October 2012
At this time of year, as autumn colors begin to paint the landscape in Technicolor, RVers can pretty much be divided into three categories. There are those taking to the roads for a last hurrah of the season, before the motorhome gets winterized and stored for the cold weather ahead. There are those out enjoying the fall colors and planning to join the annual migration of snowbirds to warmer climes in the South and Southwest. And then there are those who already live in a warm climate and are now returning there after spending the hot summer in the cooler environs of the North.
Since this is our first year as motorhome owners, Jennifer and I are still figuring out where we fit. We live in the North. We are not full-timers, but we plan to visit every part of North America that we can without having to winterize our Roadtrek. Visits to our Michigan home will be long enough to give Jennifer a “grandkids fix” but short enough to — we hope — keep the pipes from freezing.
We’ve now enjoyed two seasons in our Type B motorhome and, at the time of this writing, have visited 18 states and cumulatively spent a couple months on the road. We’re just getting started, I know. But our initial trepidation about sharing the confined living space of our 22-foot coach has given way to routines.
And some rules.
Actually, the rules we have come up with are a sort of survival guide, born from trial and a lot of error on my part during our travels in our Roadtrek RS-Adventurous motorhome.
Rule #1. If you don’t get along at home, don’t expect to get along in a motorhome. Two people can share small spaces, but only with mutual respect and not trying to do two different things in the same space at the same time.
Rule #2. Don’t overpack. You don’t need more than a two- or three-day supply of clothes or food. Laundry can be done in most campgrounds; groceries can be obtained in the towns you visit. Besides, you can purchase locally grown produce from the locales you visit, and that means food will be at its freshest.
Rule #3. Everything in its place, and a place for everything. Agree beforehand where you will store things, and when you are finished using something, return it to that place and nowhere else.
Rule #4: If you travel with pets, they need a place, too. Assign them their spot in the motorhome and train them to sleep there. A word of advice, though: make sure that spot is not in front of the bathroom door where you’ll trip over them in the middle of the night.
Rule #5. As best as you can, plan your meals ahead of time. Grill outside as much as possible. And if you dirty a dish or glass, clean it and put it away right after eating. Clutter is the motorhome’s greatest enemy.
Rule #6. Don’t overdrive; 350 to 400 miles should be the farthest you travel in a single day. Remember, you’re motorhoming because it’s fun. Driving too far and too long makes everyone cranky.
Rule #7. Stay fit. Eat right and exercise. Traveling is no excuse to pack on the pounds. Take long walks. Bring a bike. Find and visit health clubs along the way. Too much sitting, like too much driving, is not good for anyone.
Rule #8. Explore. To find unique places, use your GPS or do an Internet search related to the towns you’re visiting. Learn the town’s history. Explore its museum. Try to eat at local, unique restaurants instead of fast-food places. Don’t be in such a hurry all the time.
Rule #9. Be careful buying souvenirs. Your motorhome only has so much space. Ship the must-have things home instead of jamming every available storage spot with items that aren’t essential for being on the road.
Rule #10. This is the big one. Understand that conflict is inevitable. Apologize when you’re wrong, and don’t hesitate to forgive when you’ve been wronged.
That’s the list Jennifer and I came up with.
As we’ve shared our experiences on my Open Mike blog (www.fmca.com/openmike), we’ve heard from a lot of people who have been very generous in offering their tips for traveling in a motorhome.
Karon Mathews, a Michigan RVer who winters in Texas, is an avid reader. “Technology helps simplify life on the road,” she said. “My Kindle has replaced the crate of books we used to haul down the road, and the iPod allows us to relax to our favorite music. Recipes are scanned or tracked down online. And, of course, the digital camera is always at hand so we can share our adventures with those we’ve left at home.”
People need space, said reader Charles Catron. “When snowbirding or long-term camping,” he suggests, “a couple times a week take a break away from each other. Let your partner have some time alone.”
What it all gets down to, though, is the relationship with your travel partner.
As noted by a reader named Ellen: “We’ve been on the road full-time for more than three years now (newbies compared to many of the great people we’ve met on the road) and though we’ve seen and experienced the most amazing things in this time, we’ve also been through some wild curveballs, too. Having a great relationship trumps it all. If a couple doesn’t have mutual respect or a sense of humor, you might as well stay at home.”
You may have your own suggestions about other rules, or offer some additional insight. Please let us know. You can reach me at openmike@fmca.com.
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