Jeff and Denise Del Favero decided to give RVing a try for a year. They aren’t done yet.
By Denise Del Favero, F509249
August 2021
At a certain point, you start to evaluate the quality of your life and your purpose here on earth. For my husband, Jeff, that moment came after decades of working as a builder, developer, and real estate agent. He spent all those years saving and planning for a future he had only dreamed of. For me, my moment of reflection came three years ago following tragedy and heartbreak. I lost my middle child, Nicholas, at age 22 to cancer. He died just three months after his diagnosis.
Adventures aboard the Turtle Express have taken Jeff and Denise Del Favero to the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona.
When you come to the realization that every day is a gift, and none of us are promised tomorrow, you begin to ask yourself, “What does living my best life mean to me, and am I honoring that?”
Being a free spirit, gypsy soul whose decisions are always made from the heart, I knew simplifying and traveling were a sure way for me to live more authentically and in the present moment. However, they say opposites attract, and that is certainly true in our marriage. Jeff is the pragmatic planner in the family, the analytical one. Logic and spreadsheets are his faithful companions. For him to be comfortable with a decision, everything needs to be thoroughly researched, planned, and practical. That usually takes time. Lots of time.
We first started dreaming about the RV life when we married six years ago. I was excited at the prospect. For me, growth lies just outside of our comfort zone, so if we were going to do something, we needed to get going. Now. But I had to wait for Jeff, whose research and analysis seems to travel at a turtle’s pace.
One of the places Jeff and Denise Del Favero of Turtle Express RV Life have explored is Mona, Utah.
Finally — finally! — our dreams merged. We began educating ourselves on the RV lifestyle and committed to try it for a year. We would bring our gifts together and hit the road for the full-time nomadic lifestyle. July 2020 marked a new kind of Independence Day for us. We left our loved ones, jobs, and home in Middletown, Connecticut, and hit the road in a 40-foot Tiffin motorhome for a life of travel and adventure.
Everything was new to us. We had never been RVing or even camping, but we learned all we could from books, YouTube videos, RV blogs, and social media posts. We felt as ready as we’d ever be.
Our very first night, we drove only 20 minutes to the other side of town and “moochdocked” on our friend’s beautiful property. We could not get the RV level in his driveway, so we didn’t push our slides out all the way and were a little cramped. The next morning, a neighbor helped us hook up our Jeep Wrangler towed vehicle for the first time. We were such newbies, but experience was going to be our teacher.
Jeff and Denise Del Favero of Turtle Express RV Life have chased waterfalls in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Our second day, we doubled the length of our journey, traveling 45 minutes away, where we set up for our very first Harvest Hosts stay at March Farm in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Our spot on the farm was perfect, with a peaceful pond on one side and scenic blueberry bushes and orchards on the other. A sweet shade tree allowed us to enjoy a picnic lunch of salad with yummy Vidalia onion ranch dressing and fresh roasted garlic bread that we purchased from the farm store. It was a sunny and hot day, so we waited until the sun started to drop before picking a pint of blueberries.
So far, we’ve stayed at about 20 Harvest Hosts locations across the United States and consider them the most memorable stays! We love the unique and beautiful settings, meeting and supporting local businesses, and hearing the interesting stories owners have to share. While we embarked on this lifestyle to explore incredible scenic places, it’s the people we’ve met along the way that have made the journey most unforgettable.
This past July, as we marked our one-year RV anniversary, we reflected on our decision. We can honestly say this experience has been above and beyond what we imagined. What’s more, my express style and Jeff’s turtle-like analysis came together once again, and we’ve agreed on what’s next: We’re just getting started.
Denise and Jeff share their journey on Facebook and Instagram under the name Turtle Express RV Life.