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Wheeling It: Tales From a Nomadic Life

On the Road Since 2010, Traveling Across USA & Europe With Pets

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When Life Changes Your RV Travel Plans (And Yes, We Have New Plans)

April 8, 2016 by libertatemamo 84 Comments

For the past few weeks we’ve been scrambling to change up our summer plans. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but it’s just what it is. We’ve had unexpected stuff come up and now we need to make the changes to accommodate it. This is life and as those of you who read the blog regularly know, life doesn’t stop for RVing. So planning for the unexpected (and how you deal with those changes) is just part of the package.

Our summer Plans are up in the air
Our summer plans are definitely off & Canada may be scrapped entirely. Fall/winter plans are still “on” for now.

In our case what’s happened is that Paul has some health issues going on in his family, which are going to require some major life changes over the next few months. There are a lot of practical details to be worked out (which require him to be in Florida) and there’s a fair amount of uncertainty, as these things go. There’s also a bunch more to it of course, but out of respect for the person going through the life change, that’s as much detail as I’ll give on the blog.

What it means for our RV travels is that he has to fly home in May for 2-3 weeks, possibly more. Plus we need to stay relatively close to a major US airport and keep June open in case more things come up and he needs to fly home again. After that, who knows?

Scrapping Plans Is Part Of RV Life

When stuff like this happens I’m honestly deeply thankful that we have the flexibility of lifestyle to be ABLE to make these changes.

Scraping plans is part of RVing plan
Scraping plans is part of regular RV life

I’ve written many times before about the freedom of RV travel and how much we value that. But in my mind freedom is not just about gallivanting around the boonies in our birthday suits (although it can be!). It’s also about being able to use that freedom to tend to our lives and the lives of those we care for. The true value is that it provides for both scenarios.

So we plan and we plan, and if something comes up we simply scrap those plans entirely. It’s no different than what we’d do if we lived in a regular “stix and brix”. Being in an RV just (sometimes) makes those changes a tad more convoluted. In addition to whatever life change you’re dealing with you’ve got to figure out what to do with your rig, your pets, your partner etc. Most of the time you can’t just drop everything and leave them where they are.

RV Storage Is Always An Option (Just Not For Us)

There's no way we're boarding Polly or the cats
There’s no way we’re boarding our paws

In cases like this a lot of RVers choose to put their rig into storage, and for many this is an easy, fast solution. Some RV parks actually offer this option (it never hurts to ask), as do some membership parks (e.g. Escapees, Elks), but there are also LOTS of RV storage lots around the USA which cost anywhere from $30-$300/mo, depending on location, security, environmental controls etc. Worst case you can usually find a monthly spot at an RV park somewhere and simply leave the rig parked there. Then just drive your tow to the airport (and leave it in long-term parking there) or take an Uber and you’re good to go.

When going into storage it’s a good idea to empty your rig of foodstuff, clear out the fridge, turn off your propane and disconnect your batteries (unless you have solar or hookups). You’ll have to do more if you’re storing your rig somewhere it might freeze, but generally that will be enough, especially if the storage is shorter term. We’ve never done this simply because we refuse to board our pets, but we have many RV buddies who’ve stored their rigs while they’ve taken care of life issues.

Note/ For more tips on RV Storage see Technomadia’s excellent article HERE.

You’ll Have More Flexibility If Both Of You Can Handle The Rig

The other option when something like this comes up, especially if there’s two of you, is for one person to stay with the rig (and pets) while the other person flies off to handle whatever is going on.  This is the option we typically choose (specifically because of our 12 paws) and it brings up another key item I’ve discussed several times on the blog before.

I really enjoy driving the rig
I wanted to learn to drive “the beast”, but I also really, really enjoy it!

When we first got the RV, being the fiercely independent Scandinavian chick I am I wanted to make sure I could handle everything in the rig on my own. So, I learned to drive the rig within the very first few months and made sure I knew how to hookup, dump etc. There is nothing I can’t handle on the RV and that’s exactly the way I want it.

This has come in handy many times in our fulltime RV travels, most particularly when Paul had his back injury in 2012 (that prevented him from doing anything) and also the various times he’s had to fly home for family emergencies. He’s never had to worry about leaving me anywhere (even if I have to move the rig while he’s gone), and that just gives us one less thing to worry about, and a lot more flexibility and freedom to change plans when unexpected things come up.

Note/ I’m a huge supporter of gals getting behind the wheel so if you’re on the fence and need some inspiration, check out this awesome post from The Snowmads on lady drivers.

Having Other Option(s) To Move Your Rig Is Good Backup

If you’re traveling solo or you’re not willing/able to share the driving load (for whatever reason), I think it’s really important to have other options for moving your rig should you need it.

I consider these kinds of plans good back-up
I consider these kinds of plans good back-up

Friends may be able to help, of course, depending on where they are and there’s even places you can hire folks to drive your RV. But for medical emergencies, I recommend having some kind of travel assistance as part of your yearly RV coverage in case the main driver is no longer able to function. There are lots of programs that offer these kinds of services (such as  FMCA FMCAssist, Good Sams TravelAssist etc.) and they not only provide emergency transport to your home state for your own medical needs, but will also help transport your RV, companion and pets, if you have them. These plans are inexpensive and really, really good backup.

Our Switch-Up And New Summer Plans

When this new life scenario came up, we discussed a bunch of options trying to decide our best course of action. We definitely weren’t willing to leave our rig and board our pets, so we had to think of other ways to handle it. Should we drive the rig all the way to Florida? Or should I stay west and just let Paul go home? Where would I be able to stay if Paul flies away? Do we cancel all our Canada reservations? How do we stay *most* flexible?

I'll be here all of June
I’ll be here all of June which is A-OK with me
Hey, change is part of life
Hey, change is part of life

Like all things in life there are lots of possibilities and no “perfect” solution (well, unless you happen to be psychic)

What we decided to do, at least for now, is that I’ll stay west while Paul flies home, and since we love the PNW (and Portland is a great airport to fly to/from) we decided to stay close(ish) to there. So we’ve scrapped some of our CA travel and accelerated our travel plans to Oregon. I’ll stay in Portland for ~3 weeks in May, then I’ll be driving out to Cape Disappointment State Park (only ~2 hours from Portland) to start a 1-month solo volunteer job in June. The lighthouse is closed this year for renovations, but Steve (the volunteer coordinator) has an opening for me to work at the Lewis & Clark Museum, so I’ve decided to snap it up and go from there.

July is still a total unknown so we’ll just have to deal with that later. Most likely we’ll need to cancel our Canada plans (although we’re holding onto some of our reservations until we hit the cancellation window) and it’s also likely Paul will join me in Cape D for some (or even all?) of the time I’m there, but we’re leaving everything open until we know more. The most important thing is that my May/June plans are “fixed”, which means Paul is free to focus on what he needs to do without worrying about me or the pets.

So there you go. Another change of plans and another set of uncertainties, but we’re embracing it as we typically do and will just see how it goes. As the saying famously goes it’ll all work out in the end, and if it’s not yet worked out, it’s not yet the end. Hey, it’s life and this is exactly what our RV flexibility is for.

Related Posts:

  • My Blog -> The Darker Side Of FullTime RVing? 5 Thoughts To Ponder Before Making The Leap..
  • My Blog -> Does It Ever Get Bad? Our Top 6 Road “Incidents” & How We Survived With Our Sanity In-Tact
  • My Blog -> On The Road Again & Girls At the Wheel
  • Technomadia -> Tips for Storing Your RV When You Need to Leave it Behind
  • Snowmads -> Queen of the Road: RVing Ladies Share Their Best Driving Tips

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We LOooVE Comments, So Please Do

  1. Lee and Shelia says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:02 pm

    Just know there is a plethora of people out here that will help you both out if need be… Sounds like you have a PLAN even if it is changed.. Best wishes for Paul and family we will be you both in our prayers…..

    Lee and Shelia

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Thanks! I’m sure it’ll all work out. We’re just unsure of the exact timeframe for everything, so we just need to stay ultra flexible this summer. Step by step…step by step.

      Nina

      Reply
  2. Sue Vess says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    So sorry, but sounds like you’re rolling with the changes. Hope all goes well

    Reply
  3. Bob Martel says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    Good luck to the both of you! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Diane Silverstein says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:20 pm

    All of your posts are so engaging and informative. I hope things go smoothly for you and Paul and your family. Safe travels!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 5:21 pm

      Thanks! It’s definitely going to be a busy summer.

      Nina

      Reply
  5. Peggy Larson says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    I’ve only been following your blog a short time, but there are a couple of posts that mirrors what we are going thru. This our 4th summer traveling full time. We spend a few winter months in Apache Junction AZ and are completing travel to 49 US states. We only have few SE states left to do. We only made one reservation far in advance for the Florida Keys and gave ourselves plenty of time to get there. We just had finished making reservations up to the Keys and BAM I end up in the hospital in Bradenton FL. We were due to leave Crystal River FL when I became ill. I made my husband drive the 2+ hrs to Bradenton where we’re going to stay a week. I thought a larger metro area would be better…this is the first time either of us has been ill on the road and it was odd to hear him say…” I hope I don’t have to have you fly home” and the realize “home is where we park it”…we’re due in Keys on April 18 and I think we’ll make it…

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 5:39 pm

      Argh! Yeah getting ill on the road is no fun and definitely messes with your plans. We’ve gone through a few of those over the past 6 years Hope your healing goes smoothly and you’re able to make that Keys reservation (I know how hard those are to get!!)

      Nina

      Reply
  6. Mary Hone says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Life happens when you aren’t looking. I’m sorry your plans are all up in the air, and I’m sorry for what ever is happening with Pauls family and I hope it works out OK. Tell Paul we are sending good thoughts to him. It sounds like you have done the best thing you can considering everything.

    Reply
  7. Chuck & Debbie says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    We can help in Florida if needed. You have helped us through the blog and in other ways. Why we even have a location that you can park the Beast very close to I95 & 595 if you need to tend to things longer than anticipated. It is gated, locked, has semi full security (a body is always on site), and it is FREE. So if you have the need, do not be afraid to ask. Our pleasure.

    Chuck & Debbie

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 6:24 pm

      What a wonderful offer! I’ll certainly let you know if we head that way. Thank you again!

      Nina

      Reply
  8. Kerensa says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    I’m sorry to hear this, but you guys are so good at rolling with the punches that I’m glad to hear you have a plan worked out for now.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      Thanks 🙂 We both feel much better now that I have a fixed place to park the rig for May and June. That takes a lot of the planning hassle out of the picture. The rest will get worked out in time.

      Nina

      Reply
  9. Metamorphosis Lisa says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    Wishing Paul the best in handling his family situation…I can commiserate. Thank goodness we don’t have regular jobs to go to and deal with on top of these situations. Big hugs to you both.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 5:56 pm

      Totally agree. I was actually thinking of you through as we were going through all of this. Keeping your mom in our thoughts.

      Nina

      Reply
  10. Hanna Soule says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    You really, really oozing a Buddhist’s acceptance: facing life/reality as it is/presents itself, the ‘good’, the ‘bad’ and the All in between. I admire you, and I think you are a great inspiration/teacher for those who follow your writings and feel every word/idea/plan/insight you’re are spilling out is honest and truly honed with personal experience and validation. In this culture, where so much is fake and pretension you are a gift, and for this I thank you and your ‘blog’!!!
    Best wishes for you and your family and the challenges!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 6:08 pm

      You really are most kind. I wish I could say I was totally “zen” in all these things. I’m pretty good at “jumping” into life changes, but I admit I still experience struggles and fear like everyone else. One day I’ll have to write a blog post about it. It’s a very interesting topic.

      Nina

      Reply
  11. Aurora says

    April 8, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    Thank you for sharing and I hope that all will be ok with Paul and his fam. If you are looking for an area to stay in the Portland Metro area, try the Clackamette Park located in Oregon City. It is very convenient to downtown Portland and the airport. It is off 99E and it beside the Willamette River. I believe this is the RV park that is close to town and it is ran by the city of Oregon City.

    We plan to head back up to PNW and hopefully we can visit with you in May.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 6:17 pm

      We’re booked in Columbia River RV Park where we’ve stayed many times before (it’s only 7 miles from Portland airport and 20 mins from downtown), but I’ll definitely take a drive to check out the park you mentioned while I’m there. It’s always good to have extra backup options for the future.

      Nina

      Reply
      • Aurora says

        April 9, 2016 at 1:46 pm

        Back-ups are always good. I believe you will like this park. It electric and water hook-up only, but the dump station is right before the entrance. The park is literally by the community park with lots of trees and walking and bike path. You can walk towards downtown Oregon City and also an area where you can sit and watch willamette Falls. The RV park also has an easy access to the river where you can swim or kayak. 🙂

        Reply
  12. JeffDeb says

    April 8, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    Hi Nina and Paul,
    Always appreciate you turning turbulence into teaching times. We wish you all the best and hope it works out that our paths will cross in the PNW or Canada this summer.

    Cheers

    Reply
  13. Lynne (WinnieViews) says

    April 8, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    Sorry to hear about Paul’s family health emergency, but I am sure they are very grateful for him being able to be there for them. These days will be so cherished and memorable to them both. My mom died 3 years ago tomorrow, and even though there was plenty of sorrow and tears during her long illness, there were also wonderful times (between her and I, and between me and other family members) that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I hope this life experience will be equally meaningful for Paul and his family.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 7:23 pm

      Indeed. Time with family is precious indeed. I’m more aware of this than ever since my mother’s passing last summer.

      Nina

      Reply
  14. Diane says

    April 8, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Hi Nina
    We are in eastern Washington State about 100 miles south of Canada. We just arrived home after a year out on the road. We have an acre property with a great private set up. Fenced yard. If needing a spot with unlimited time frame this summer email me. I can send further details.

    Best wishes
    Casey and Diane

    Reply
  15. Pam Wright says

    April 8, 2016 at 7:15 pm

    Being able to be flexible in life makes sudden changes easier to handle. We’ve changed our summer plans twice and may still need to change again depending on my mother. Glad you were able to workout a nice firm plan and Paul can travel to Florida without worry:) Wishing all of you well and hope things work out positively for Paul:)

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 7:24 pm

      I’m sorry to hear about your mom, Pam. Hope it all works out smoothly for you. Enjoy those red rocks out there in Utah.

      Nina

      Reply
  16. Laurel says

    April 8, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    Oh Nina, I’m so sorry to hear this. Even though you seem to be handling everything well and have a good plan in place, I would imagine that it has been a challenging time on many levels. Wishing you and Paul peace as you navigate through the next few months.

    Reply
  17. Diana and Jim says

    April 8, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    Family first…that’s the most important thing, Nina. And OH MY GOODNESS….Lewis and Clark? What a great gig! How cool! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Don Thompson says

    April 8, 2016 at 8:11 pm

    Sorry about your life hiccups. And, thanks for the post. Your message is inspirational, no matter what challenges we face.

    My wife can also handle parts of our RV. She’s especially handy with the refrigerator and the microwave. 🙂 Okay, not so good with the microwave. But, in a pinch she’s taken the wheel quite nicely on several occasions. What a relief it is to know she can and will handle it when needed.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      I think the key is being able to handle the rig, even if it’s something you don’t share on a day-to-day basis. I know many couples where the man does all the driving, and a some (admittedly fewer) where the woman does all the driving. As long as the other partner can step up to the wheel (when needed) I think it relieves a lot of worry.

      Nina

      Reply
  19. Shannon says

    April 8, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    The luxury of flexibility is a blessing. Sorry about the change of plans – but Canada can wait until next summer when all the 150th birthday will mean free admission to all of the parks (a little lemonaide out of the lemons).

    Best Wishes – Shannon

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 8, 2016 at 8:21 pm

      Ah yes..good point. I forgot about that perk 🙂

      Nina

      Reply
  20. Marty Jouett says

    April 8, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    So sorry to hear this bad news but you are doing the right thing as family always comes first. The sights you were going to see will still be there when you are ready to continue. Hey, PDX is not a bad place to stay With all the breweries and close by wineries! Life is good here in Portland. Good luck.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:35 pm

      Totally true. I have my eye (belly?) set on hitting up a few more breweries in Portland this time around. I didn’t get around to nearly enough of them last time.

      Nina

      Reply
  21. Ralph says

    April 8, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    Sad to hear this and wish Paul’s family the best. In 2004 I had major surgery while on vacation so I know how quickly things can happen (first hospital couldn’t solve my case and was helicoptered to a second hospital).

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Yikes…helicoptered to another hospital. That had to be stressful & scary! I’m glad it all worked out OK for you in the end.

      Nina

      Reply
      • Ralph says

        April 11, 2016 at 8:25 pm

        I was knocked out on the helicopter ride or I might have panicked.

        This is one of the reason why I want to full time RV when the wife retires so we can enjoy a ton of places while we can.

        Reply
  22. Sally Burger says

    April 8, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    Excrement occurs for all of us. Do what you guys need to do. Please keep site information available if you can, but know that whatever happens you have a loving posse pulling for you…

    Reply
  23. Deborah says

    April 8, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Best wishes in your new plans and hope everything works out well.

    Reply
  24. MonaLiza says

    April 8, 2016 at 11:23 pm

    RV life thankfully gave us lots of flexibility to deal with, with whatever life throws at us. And as the saying goes, “this too shall soon pass” and I pray that you and Paul will be given the strength and comfort to go through family health challenges.
    I can also relate as there were times in the past when I worry if something happens to my mom and I can’t be near an airport. It did happen and we altered our plans with Steve traveling alone for a while.
    We hope things will work out smoothly for Paul with great outcome.
    Hang tight.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      So true, MonaLisa. You start to realize how far apart airports are in the USA when you have to fly out for family emergencies. In Europe I don’t think I was ever more than a few hours from a major airport. Here in the US you can easily be 8-10 hours from one! It definitely makes travel planning a tad more complicated. It’s a good thing we have wheels on our houses!

      Nina

      Reply
  25. Christine says

    April 9, 2016 at 12:49 am

    Columbia River Park is a good park close to everything, not luxury but clean and easy to park. Office was always friendly and helpful. and Thousand Acres Park aka doggy heaven on the Sandy River close by.
    Maybe you already know a veterinarian in Portland if not I can highly recommend ours. They are an east/west medicine veterinary clinic. Irvington Veterinary Clinic 503 953-8078 dr Rachel Austin http://www.irvingtonveterinary.com
    The other option is Dove Lewis Urgent Care with price tag attached but brilliant vets. Maybe you knew all this but just in case I thought it would be helpful to have an address on hand if needed. Sometimes if it rains it pours.;-)

    And it pains me to say this but we have at the moment, since the beginning of the year, an explosion of gang related violence, shootings, in NE Portland. Please be
    careful and be safe.
    —
    Christine

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:37 pm

      THANK YOU Christine. It’s always good to have a solid vet recommendation in the area, if we ever need it. Sorry to hear about the gang incidents…I’ll keep out of the way 🙂

      Nina

      Reply
  26. Debbie L says

    April 9, 2016 at 2:39 am

    Thank you for sharing this. We thought we were the only ones who had this constant “change” going on! Really, being full timers is ideal in handling family “emergencies.” We are forced to be flexible in this lifestyle (because of things like weather, tire blow outs, etc). We were weren’t so flexible inour sticks and bricks lifestyle!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      You do get forced into a lot more flexibility in this lifestyle, whether you want it or not. Besides regular life stuff, there’s the rig incidents just like you mentioned and when your rig is your house, that makes those incidents even more “interesting” to handle. We’ve definitely had a few of those in our 6/7 years!

      Nina

      Reply
  27. Cherie says

    April 9, 2016 at 7:05 am

    The flexibility we create in our lives when we approach this sort of lifestyle, I think, is one of the most priceless aspects. I wouldn’t trade a moment of the precious quality time I was to spend with my father before he passed 3 years ago, and be there to help my mother through the logistics of it all.

    I’m so glad you guys are able to adapt and do the same.

    Wishing you both all the best in whatever life tosses at you. I know it’s not nearly a easy as a blog post can present it. *big hugs*

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Totally agree & thanks very much for the hugs, my dear!

      Nina

      Reply
  28. Janna says

    April 9, 2016 at 7:20 am

    We will be hoping things work out as planned for all involved! Hugs to you both!

    Reply
  29. Merikay mackenna says

    April 9, 2016 at 7:33 am

    I’m fine with driving the rig, But my back is such that I cannot hook up the jeep. I probably could in am emergency, I know how, it is just a physical thing. Hope all goes well in regard to the family health problems. We are the old ones in our family.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:42 pm

      Working w/ physical limitations can be tough, but keep in mind you can *always* get help from other RVers. Most of the time all it takes is asking around your RV park and there will be 2-3 people willing to help you out. I am fine with hooking up, driving etc. but I DO like to have a spotter around when I park “the beast” especially if it’s in a trickier spot (e.g. tight back-in). So, the few times I’ve driven on my own I’ve asked around for spotter help upon arrival. There have always been friendly folks willing to help me out.

      So, if you ever run into a pickle and need to move on your own, I’d definitely ask for help w/ hookup.

      Nina

      Reply
  30. Suzanne says

    April 9, 2016 at 8:23 am

    oh my….I regret hearing this, and send the best of thoughts to you both, as well as Paul’s family. But I love how you both always land on your feet. I trust the difficult times will pass quickly, and you both will find yourselves right where you are supposed to be. And Cape Disappointment is the luckier for it. 😉

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:58 pm

      Why thank you Suzanne. And if you “happen” to come north this summer remember that there are TWO (TWO!!!) lighthouses in Cape Disappointment State Park. Plus awesome beer not far away… 🙂

      Nina

      Reply
  31. Contessa says

    April 9, 2016 at 9:40 am

    So sorry to hear this news but happy that you have been able to come up with a tentative plan. Family comes first and you have the rest of your lives together to continue living your dream. I know from personal experience that dealing with these situations is difficult, I admire you attitude.

    Reply
  32. Pat says

    April 9, 2016 at 11:10 am

    So sorry to hear this news but it sounds like you’re handling it well! We’ll keep you in our thoughts & prayers. And I also have a quick question. I have to fly home from Portland but will be leaving my partner and our 12 paws near Portland too. Do you know of a good camping site not too far from the airport we could use? (Your recommendations are always great!). Thanks for your help!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 9, 2016 at 11:14 am

      For sure! Columbia River RV Park is where we always stay. It’s a standard (rows of RVs side by side) private park, but it’s only 7 miles from the airport and it’s clean and friendly. Plus there are spots to walk the dog not far away.

      I’ve got a review on the blog here:
      https://www.wheelingit.us/2011/09/08/rv-park-review-columbia-river-rv-park-portland-or/

      There are also several nice State Parks around Portland, but they are much further from the airport and may be tougher to get into (they tend to be booked out in summer). Still, if your partner wants more green/space and you don’t mind the extra commute check out Champoeg State Park, Ainsworth State Park or Memaloose State Park. They’re all quite lovely.

      Nina

      Reply
      • Pat says

        April 9, 2016 at 5:04 pm

        Nina – thanks so much! Sounds like a perfect place for us!

        Reply
    • Christine says

      April 9, 2016 at 11:32 am

      Nina is staying in Columbia River Park and as a Portlander I can highly recommend this Park too. We stayed there almost 5 months when our sticks home was flooded, and I know Nina stayed there before as well.
      The park is nothing special, all paces are asphalt, spacious with some green in between. It’s used a lot by people who work during the week in the area and leave on the weekend.

      It’s close to the city, a large Walmart is close by and so is camping world. You can see the planes coming in and leaving from PDX but the noise is minimal, so the airport is close by.

      For the dogs there is a great park not too far away on the Sandy River it’s called Thousand Acres park by the locals, I can’t remember ever seeing a sign posted. On Google maps it is listed as Delta Park.
      The park with all it paths is totally off leash and even though you will see a large amount of cars parked you hardly ever come across people.
      Dogs can dip their paws in the water or swim, but not yet because the water comes from the mountains and it’s ice cold.

      There is another park close by PDX that we also stayed in but left. It’s Portland Fairview park. The railroad runs through the back of the park and twice a night a freight train will come trough.
      Most people say you will get used to it but we didn’t. Granted it is greener than Columbia River but that didn’t make up for the noise.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
      • libertatemamo says

        April 9, 2016 at 12:11 pm

        Thanks for chiming in Christine! Totally agree Thousand Acres is an awesome doggie park. Polly and I went there several times when we stayed in Portland last year.

        Nina

        Reply
  33. Jim and Gayle says

    April 9, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    Hate to hear that you’ve had to change your plans, but it’s good that Paul is able to spend time in Florida dealing with the family issues. Full time RVing makes it much easier to be flexible than when we worked full time and had trouble getting time off unless it was truly an emergency. Hope all works out for a good summer in spite of the bumps in the road.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:51 pm

      Yeah it’s a big relief to know Paul can go home and just spend as much time as it takes to handle everything. Since we don’t have any firm constraints on time (especially now that my May/June travels are fixed) it makes it a lot easier on his side. Now, we just need to take it a step at a time and work thro’ all the various details.

      Nina

      Reply
  34. Nancy says

    April 10, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Sorry to hear about your family’s health problems. Hope everything goes well. Things pop up when you least expect it. Love your posts. I’ve learned so much and have enjoyed the reviews and pictures. We are just getting on 395 headed to Lone Pine. Looking forward to loving it as much as you do!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 10, 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Oh sweeet….395. HAVE FUN!!! It’s one of our most fav drives, as you well know. Hope it stays dry and isn’t too cold for you (it’s been a snowy Spring up there I think?). Enjoy!

      Nina

      Reply
  35. Steve, Holly and Mazzie says

    April 11, 2016 at 6:12 am

    Bummer.
    It’s tough on dogs to fly commercial, but if your needs change, you are welcome to leave your rig here if needed.
    We hope to be gone for the summer (if our plans don’t get similarly modified), but will have a caretaker on the property so your rig will be fairly secure.
    (And there is no reason we can’t have two caretakers if you want a place to hang…………..)
    Best wishes to all.

    Reply
  36. Glenn Eastman says

    April 11, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    Nina,

    We (Glenn & Linda, from Crux in Bend last year) will be in Lincoln City until the end of April if
    you are interested in catching up on your way through. Regards and best wishes to Paul.

    Glenn

    Reply
  37. Tamara R says

    April 11, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    ‘Life – what happens while we are busy making other plans,’ a phrase that goes through my mind often. We have appreciated every one of our adventures over the years, even as we recognize every single one is up for alteration should family needs arise. So, like you’ve expressed, we proceed, always assume the best, but plan for the worst along the way so we are not resentful if/when it occurs. Hugs to you both as you find your way through this.

    Reply
  38. Kim Nowelll says

    April 11, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    We wish you all the best and a good reminder how you must stay flexible. Hope everything works out. Thanks for sharing. Always enjoy your posts.

    Reply
  39. Rowanova says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    I’ve recently been dealing with some long distance family issues I’d prefer not to have to deal with, but life doesn’t work on ideal rpterms so we gotta do what we gotta do. So I’d like to express my empathy for you and Paul at this time of trial in life.

    Keep your chins up and keep a positive outlook, life has a way of working itself out. I know this to be true, unfortunately, from experiences.

    Since you’ll be in my home state, give a call, email or text if there’s any way I may assist while you’re here. Best regards.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 12, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      I’m with you on the approach. It’ll all work out in the end. We’re taking it step by step which is really all you can do in these cases. And thanks for the offer to help too 🙂

      Nina

      Reply
  40. Marc Fisher says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:15 pm

    Wishing you all the best in working through this speedbump!

    Reply
  41. Dan & Jen says

    April 14, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Two thoughts…well, three. Wishing you and Paul (and his family) all the best. Next, when Jen’s dad passed, he lived in Oregon. 11 hours away and no airport option. I was so thankful that I had retired five months prior. Jen worked from home. As you said, so nice to have the flexibility to do what we had to do. I don’t know how it would have worked out if I was still working.

    Finally, I always assumed you could store an RV. We have friends that go to Jamaica every year. We’ve always thought that once we are full-timing we could travel to an airport with good flights instead of the horrible flights from Reno. Nice to know that is not just a pipe dream.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 15, 2016 at 9:39 am

      Yup RV storage is totally do-able. Lots and lots of spots to do it. Prices can vary quite dramatically though so it’s worth calling around a bit, wherever you decide to do it.

      Nina

      Reply
  42. CARYL KIRK says

    April 16, 2016 at 1:36 pm

    Hi Nina & Paul: It has been 18 months since emptying our house and hitting the road. We thought the house would sell and our disabled daughter could manage, We were on the right path….it has just taken longer than we anticipated. SO, yes, we have to be flexible….we have enjoyed staying local, helping our daughter learn to become more independent, and enjoying this life that has been waiting for us. In a couple of weeks, we are bound for the west (from NWFLA). We’ve learned that flexibility takes patience and lots of love…and it is well worth every minute. It is our lives we are living here, huh? 50 years married this year…and, it’s been THE BEST!! Do so enjoy your blog…I started one, but, then…well, life happened…maybe someday…in the meantime, I’ll just keep up with the 40′ + 12 paws!! WHAT A LIFE, NO?

    Reply
    • CARYL KIRK says

      April 16, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      Holding you both in the brightest WhiteLite!!

      Reply
  43. LuAnn says

    April 17, 2016 at 7:13 am

    We are keeping you both in our thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  44. Pete & Frederika says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:25 am

    Holding you and Paul’s family in our thoughts and prayers…

    Reply
  45. Tish says

    April 28, 2016 at 9:46 am

    We are looking for RV to buy. But we have problem with towing our Subaru car. They told us that RV can’t tow our automatic car. Must have shift. Is that true?

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      April 28, 2016 at 10:08 am

      Not true. Our CRV is automatic and is towable. However you *may* need modifications on the car to tow. Some cars require transmission disconnects, for example. I’m not familiar with the Subaru, but if you post your question on one of the big RV forums (e.g. iRV2, RV.net etc.) I bet you’ll get a quick answer.

      Nina

      Reply
  46. Gail Morris says

    April 30, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    So sorry to hear you have to change plans and hope all goes well for Paul in Florida. Cape Disappointment is my favorite park. We were there the end of October 2015 and even though it rained a LOT we still had lots of fun.

    Reply
  47. Michelle Marguerite says

    May 5, 2016 at 7:43 am

    Really enjoy your blog. Not a full timer YET …. but love the road.

    Say can you help me, can’t seem to find the name of the person who is known for his solar knowledge…I am interested in more solar less genset life.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 5, 2016 at 7:46 am

      It’s Marvelous Marvin! At least that’s the guy who’s done our last 2 solar installations and who we recommend. Here’s his website:
      http://precisionrv.com

      Nina

      Reply

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