Upsizing and Downsizing

Although we have been full timing right at 15 years, none of that time did we even think of ever "downsizing". The first 10 years we traveled a lot and went a lot of places, but never once did we think of the time we might have to downsize. In fact, we kept getting larger and larger. We started out with a 32' Airstream, pulled by a 3/4 ton pickup. The Airstream seemed to get smaller and smaller as time went on. Everyone else's rigs were getting larger and larger.  We used to go into other friends 5Th wheels and I remember thinking "WOW... this must be nice". Our Airstream didn't even have a chair in it that was comfortable for more than an hour. Some of these bigger rigs had Recliners!!  Ah!!!  That's what I need.... a Recliner!!

We both found out that we enjoyed the full timing lifestyle so much,  we decided to look for a bigger rig. So,we started looking. That was in the fall of 1995. Well, the Lord was watching over us and something strange happened. We were workamping at the famous Hart Ranch RV Resort near Rapid City. We only signed on for a month, as it was September and by Oct 1ST we wanted to return to Florida.  The fellow I was working with and I were chatting one day and I made the statement that we were looking for a bigger RV. He mentioned that 6 months ago he purchased a 37' Teton 5TH wheel.  I told him "Gee we have been looking at Tetons, they are NEAT!  Some folks we workamped with at our last job had a Teton and we loved it."

To make a long story a little shorter, he invited us over for supper that evening so we could see his Teton.  It was beautiful!  He still hadn't even taken the plastic off the carpet. It smelled so fresh and new.. Both Pat and I were in Awe as we sat in it and looked around.  I said to Pat "LOOK at all this room"! It was huge!! It had 2 Recliners plus 2 slide outs.  WOW!!

About that time, they told us that due to some unforeseen financial problems, they had decided they couldn't make the payments and were going to have to get rid of it.   Now if that isn't fate, what is?  We went home with our heads spinning. Could this really happen?  Can we swing such a deal?  NO WAY. All night I tossed and turned.  Could we somehow do it? Maybe we should just forget it and set our heights a little lower.  But then again, maybe we could.  Oh, I was struggling.  I wanted to...but should we?  Was it right for us?   More about our "upsizing" next week.............

(To be Continued)

We went out 4 wheeling with Rollie and Gina Thurston yesterday for about 5 hours and did we have a BLAST.  Rollie and Gina took my ATV and Ms Pat and I got on hers and away we went.  We traveled nearly 40 miles!!! 

 

Rollie retired 8 years ago after 21 years in the US Navy and he and Gina are just starting their life as full-timers. They have done a lot of RVing, but are just experiencing full-timing . It is neat seeing all the enthusiasm they have and it sure brings back memories of when Ms Pat and I began this lifestyle.  It is so wonderful.....and so exciting.  Kinda fits into todays theme of "Upsizing and Downsizing".

These young Christian folks are the greatest.  We are so proud to know them. Gina gets so excited about things we take for granted.  Although they are younger than most of our kids, they are a wonderful inspiration to us. It does my heart good to see such super folks with such a loving family and love for life. They really had to have it together to work, plan and save as they did in order to do what they are doing, all the while raising a fine family.   More about them in the future...as they have fallen in love with this Desert....especially the "rocks"....right Gina??  They are going to Church with us this morning and we go to early church at 8:00 am, so we gotta run.

Thanks for stopping by and a Special Welcome to Follower #70,,,Cyndi !!

See ya Wednesday.  Travel safe!!

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!

Mike

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