RV Cooking

     I was extremely impressed with the size of the kitchen in the RV. Even tough it only fits one person it is able to get the job done (Rich tried being in there at the same time that I was cooking, and let's just say that the spaghetti with buffalo meat sauce I made ended up on the floor:). I've officially made it into Paula's kitchen and no one is allowed! Haha). The refrigerator is a bit small, so when we go to the grocery store you can only plan for a weeks worth of food. As I had mentioned in an earlier post there are these amazing little bars that protect the food from flying around during travel, but they are not great for daily use, it is better to remove them when you have found a spot to live in for a while.

      The oven is pretty handy. The top burners are very easy to use, but they are a bit small, so I try the best I can to cook multiple things at once with pans that would fit on top perfectly. If that doesn't work, I have to split the cooking into two parts to get the job done. The oven has to be lit when you want to use it, unless you choose to leave the pilot on the entire time( I don't so that way I'm not waisting the propane). The hardest part about using the oven is that there is no preheat setting or to know the exact temperature in there. It has been a lot of trial and error figuring it out, but after a month in here I think I've got it down. 

    Most of the blogs I read said it was very hard to make nice meals. I don't find that to be true. Just last night I cooked stuffed chicken with artichoke,sun dried tomatoes, VT cheddar cheese with brown rice on the side. Brown rice normally takes 40min, but in the RV it takes a bit over an hour. Something that is pretty hard to do is huge meal preps which I love doing. It is not because the oven can't handle it, but because the refrigerator doesn't have the space to hold it all. Hard boiled eggs are about the only thing I can prep for the week, and the rest I make daily. Happy healthy eating to all:) 

P.S. Paper plates are awesome to avoid having to do so many dishes by hand in the very small kitchen sink:)

Laundry

     When looking for an RV one of the things I asked for was that it had a washer and dryer. It may seem silly but washing clothes can become a huge pain when you don't have one. The dealerships sales guy explained that most of the residential RVs have a washer and dryer hook up. 

       After entering the Fifth wheel for the first time I absolutely loved it! It felt like a home inside, and it was super cozy. So after exploring the whole thing I asked about this hook up for the washer and dryer. He tells me it's in the shelved closet.  Huh? The closet space was already non existent for two people, and I had opened everything and didn't see anything or even the space for it. He goes up into the bedroom, opens up the closet, and shows me these little hoses hiding on the corner of the closet. 

     He then goes to explain a few things that I hadn't realized. If I wanted to have the washer and dryer I would have to take all the shelves out of this closet and it would become the "laundry" area, which to me seemed crazy since that was precious closet space that I intended to use it to it's full potential:) I was also thinking how one could fit a washer and a dryer inside this closet. He continued telling me that the machine is a washer and a dryer...in one machine...and that it would wash about 10 pieces of clothing per cycle. Not only would the process take forever( I'm already not the biggest fan of doing laundry), but it also takes up so much water, so if we weren't hooked up to a full hookup site, it would almost use half the water in our tank for one tiny load. 

      This made me think that I needed to find a better solution to doing the laundry. The first thing I thought of was to wash it by hand. I went and bought the clothes drying hangers, and was excited about the workout this would be to wash all the clothes. I started with one small gym shorts, and it took two hangers to hold up one short. Let's just say I stopped right there and tried to find a different solution for this week. I still like the idea of washing it by hand but I need a super heavy duty drying hanger that can hold a lot of heavy and wet clothes. 

       I was thankful that this cute little town we are in had a laundry facility, where I was able to drop off the laundry and pick it up a few hours later. It was a great idea especially when they said it was $1/1lb of clothes for them to wash, dry, and fold. Here I thought I was paying $10 at the most to get all my laundry done and folded! Hallelujah!!!  When I went to pick it up it was $32! I definitely won't be doing that again either. Hahaha. I would rather do it myself using the machines, and not paying for someone else to do the work, especially when I have the time. 

      After looking on Amazon, I have found several options for the drying hangers, and once I get it I will update on that option for doing laundry:)

RV Life With 2 Dogs

        During the move both pups were very concerned that we were leaving them behind. It was a 2 week process transitioning into the RV and both pups were very nervous to what the RV was all about. The first time they entered the RV it was hilarious because every type of furniture has the perfect height for them to snoop on everything that's going on outside. 

       After getting used to our new home  they were the happiest dogs on this planet. They realized that RV life came filled with outdoor time, swimming, running, new trails, new places, new smells, and they didn't have to be alone during the day. The only thing they beg for is time for them to rest, because they barely get time for naps anymore:) 

     With the new environment we've had to be very careful with unwanted critters like ticks and fleas, snakes, and skunks or raccoons. It's been a daily check for ticks and fleas but the all natural spray I have for them has been great at keeping them away from the pups. The spray has also been helpful against mosquitoes( we had thousands of mosquitoes all the time at our last campground). 

       I'm so happy we can provide them with such a happy life, and they are my greatest companions during the day. I already talked to them before, now I'm engaged in full conversations;) Not only are they entertaining but they make me feel safe, and they always alert me if there is anyone near. They are the best bodyguards around!:)

Perks of the RV While on the Road

      It's extremely convenient having your home behind you anytime you are on a long trip. When we got a flat tire it was great to just pull over at a rest area, open up the slide outs, hook the RV to the generator ( without that there is no air conditioning) and enjoy 8 hrs of sleep in the comfort of your own home:). We also did that when traveling 8 hrs after Rich finished work, and the moment he was tired we stopped at a rest area and were able to continue the next day fully rested. The best part it's that it's FREE!
     Another perk is that when you get hungry all you have to do is stop anywhere,  go into your RV, open up the fridge or cabinets and voilà! You are able to make a sandwhich, reheat left overs, grab healthy snacks, have plenty of water or drinks, and you can even make a cup of coffee! For me it makes eating healthy on the road so much easier!
     The last thing I find super convenient is that your entire life is always with you (well at least the things that made the cut), and so if you need a sweater, important documents, or your favorite pillow it is all right there. :)

First Flat Tire

         While playing the game 21 questions to pass the time on the road, we felt a bump and when I looked on the side mirror I saw that one of the RV tires was flat and it was creating sparks. We immediately pulled over and here are two things you should never do!:
   1. Never assume that you have the right tools.
   2. Never assume that you have road side assistance.

     It's 11pm at night and as we get out of the vehicle we are bombarded with mosquitoes. Not just one or two but hundreds of very annoying flesh biting horrible insects. We assess the situation as fast as we can and realize that we don't have a jack for the RV. We use a lantern and a headlamp for lighting and try to move as fast as we can. We go to the truck and get the Jack and we use the blocks of wood we have for the stabilization of the RV to help with the Jack since the RV requires a lot more support then a truck. A very nice police officer stops by and offers us assistance and numbers for towing company and then leaves. Meanwhile, I've been on hold with Progressive( we have full coverage with them for the RV) for 30 mins for their road side assistance department.
    Rich manages to use the Jack to get the RV ready to switch the flat into our full size spare tire and guess what?! The tools the RV came with to take the lug nuts out won't fit at all. At this point we have been at it for 45 min getting eaten by Mosquitoes and trying our best not to freak out. Also imagine that during this entire time the really big trucks are driving by us at 75+mph and making the whole thing shake while Rich is under the axel trying to figure this all out...scary!!! And I'm still waiting on Progressive.
     Rich takes his truck apart looking for tools to make the lug nuts come out and nothing is working. The dogs are very freaked out and all these mosquitoes made their way into the cab of the truck and are just flying around everywhere. Rich finally finds this tool he had welded together and it magically fits and after working at it for another 10 min he finally managed to get it off and switches the tire. Woohoo! Progressive answers and after an hour waiting for someone they tell me that our full coverage doesn't cover road side assistance unless we ask to add it...ridiculous! But I guess who needs road side when you got Rich in the car:) if we had the right tools that are supposed to come with the RV it would have been much easier, but I'm glad we learned the hard way because now I know we can handle the worst!:)

Staying in Shape

   If you know me, you already know that a big part of my life is working out. So as soon as the RV came into the picture I had to really think about the best way to stay in shape. One of my favorite things is that you always cook your own food. There aren't any delivery guys coming 20 mi to a state park. My at home diet has been excellent and the only downfall is when you go out to a restaurant, so this minimalizes the chances of eating a cheat meal.
    Now since it feels like camping all the time, it's been important to follow the normal workweek where there is no booze from Monday-Friday. This helps limit the extra calories while still enjoying the relaxing environment.
     Cardio is easy because you can run, walk, do jumping jacks, jump rope, and get creative in the outdoors. One thing that I am grateful that was given to me is my bowflex adjustable weights. They start at 5lbs and go to 52lbs each. I have been able to do all my workouts right here in the RV and still getting sore!! Woohoo! I'll soon posts some videos or the workouts so you can see how much you can get done in a small space. Stay tuned:)

Communication is Key!

      If you ever want to test your communication skills in a relationship, rent an RV and help the driver back up or load and unload the RV. Let me tell you...it is quite the test!:)
    First off never let the dogs be roaming around while this is happening! It just creates a bigger headache. I know they may be so ready to be out of the car, but it's better to wait until you are completely finished before letting them out.
    Second, learn hand signals. I thought my hand signals made sense, but they need to make sense for the both of you. Also, diesel trucks are super loud so when I thought that hitting the truck would let him know to stop the truck...well he didn't hear it. It's better to always be visible and come up with something that works for the both of you.
    Third, it is extremely important that everyone double checks the RV before opening or closing the slide outs and before getting ready for the road. It is easy to blame the other person who didn't check, so if you both check and something happens you can both cry or laugh about it together. Hahaha
    And to finish off supporting each other is extremely important. I'm very glad that Rich has been supporting my transition into RV life and I'm there for him 100%. The adventure itself is amazing, but it is not always easy so it's important to be aware of the limitations and be always ready for the unexpected.
 

Staying Connected

         As I mentioned on my last post it is extremely difficult to get internet or TV in an RV that does not have a specific address. The best way for getting TV would be satellite. Dish and Direct TV both have plans for RVs but they cost A LOT! The satellites themselves are $500+ depending on what you get and then on top of that you pay the monthly packages. Dish has no contract so the monthly is a bit higher than Direct TV since they have you sign a 2yr contract.
       Internet is a whole other story. Satellite internet has packages for $800/mo and you still have to pay for the satellite. The only other option is to make your cell phone into a hotspot. I was very excited about this plan since I've been grandfathered in on the unlimited data plan from AT&T. But guess what?! They don't allow the unlimited plans to make your cell phone into a hotspot, so the only way for me to do this would be to switch into a plan which I pay depending on how much data I want...ridiculous! Now the most frustrating part is that even if I switch my plan, the cell service is really bad when you are in the middle of nowhere, so a mobile booster is crucial to staying connected.
      After doing a lot of research on mobile boosters the best one I found is the WeBoost Drive 4G-X. It's able to boost multiple devices and the range is the best out of all of them. It takes about 2-4 weeks for it to deliver since they are out of stock in stores.
      Some of you may be wondering the need to stay connected while traveling, but for me I want to use my time wisely, focus on going back to school and continuing with my online clients. I'm also extremely excited to share my experience in the RV to all who want to read it:)

Do Your Own Research!

       First, I would like by starting out saying that RV dealerships lie and the they lie some more. When we first came to the conclusion that being full time Rvers was the best for Rich's career and to be minimalist, we knew we needed something that would be comfortable to live in all the time. After doing a lot of the research we decided that 5th wheels would be the best for being the most residential RV style. We fell in love with this RV right away and were told that this would be able to last us 3 weeks on its own without being plugged in anywhere. Also, we were told that everything in this unit was ready to be lived in the movement we left the lot....well this wasn't the case. The RV itself came with a 66 day warranty so they suggested for us to take a small trip to test things out before making the big/ temporary move to Nebraska. So after setting up the RV we went to Chatfield State Park for 3 nights. First off the water tanks lasted us 2 days, and the plumbing system of the RV was completely messed up(pretty awful and interesting experience on how we found that out). The state park itself was absolutely beautiful, and I'm thankful that it was our first stop.
     So we made our trip back to the dealership and told them what had happened and 8 hours later we pick up the RV, and they said it's working great. I asked them about the water and they said 2-3days is normal( so the sleazy salesmen gave us false information). Our next stop was Lake Mcconaughy in Nebraska. Upon getting there we noticed that the black and grey tanks were full after leaving the dealership, so we went to check the valves and believe it or not it was still busted. Needless to say we are still dealing with the issue and will have to return to Denver (8 hr drive from Omaha) to fix the problem again.
      Another few things I found out after the big move is that it is extremely difficult to have Internet and TV on a moving RV that has no fixed address. I will add all of this information on a later post:)
     Now don't get me wrong here. So far my posts have been a bit negative but it's because there is a lot to take in and transition into to. But I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity and for being able to see the United States and spend this amazing experience with Rich and the pups!!

Setting up

        Never underestimate how much stuff you accumulate over the years. While transitioning from a two bedroom apartment to a 5th wheel I had to come to terms that I needed to get rid of many more things than I expected. Off course I knew I had to sell/donate my large possessions, but I ended up getting rid of so much more. I wouldn't call myself a hoarder, but I have held onto so many shoes( from 8th grade on) and clothes that I probably haven't touched in years, but every time I thought of donating them I would always think that some day I would use them. Well guess what? I never did. When it came down to minimizing everything I owned, I had to really tell myself that I didn't need all of those clothes and shoes and just keep what I enjoyed using the most...and what was also practical. The RV closet is a third of the closet I had in my bedroom plus I used the spare bedroom to also hold more clothes. Let me just say that the RV closet is so full now that we had to make a reinforced screw to hold the hangers because it fell apart after 10 min of holding all the clothes:) The rest of the RV is equipped with plenty of storage and there is also a large storage outside for the things you won't use as often. I was able to organize most of my kitchen and still have space to fit a few more things.
      I have now reorganized it twice since the official move because as you start living in it you realize how to better organize the things you need and where it makes the most sense. A couple things that we purchased to help with space savings and keeping things in place  were: space saving bags(for hanging things and for the winter clothes we won't use for a while), a spice holder that you place inside the cabinet, hooks, and bungee cords to hold all cabinets together while the RV is in travel(these are amazing!!), RV broom, and a vacuum that folds into a very small unit.
    As for my beloved dogs, we had to get rid of some bones and toys that didn't make the cut for the RV life. But since being in the RV, they are so occupied by being surrounded by nature all the time that they haven't minded at all:)