Rene | Live Work Dream

Takin’ A Gander at Gators in the Okefenokee Outback

September 23, 2026December 2, 2007 by Rene

Jim’s right; I had never heard of Okefenokee or the Pogo comic strip. Hard to believe that even after 12 years together, 24/7, we still don’t know everything about each other.

Okefenokee wasn’t on our trip route, but when he told me about it, I knew that I liked the word; Okefenokee. It sticks in your brain like glue, like a mosquito to your skin, like swamp mud on your boots. Doubtful that we’d ever be in that part of the U.S. anytime in the next 100 years, we headed away from the Carolina coast, right into lower south east Georgia’s swampland.

We went looking for gators, and came back with our first adventure feature presentation …

Live Work Dream Expenses November 2007

September 14, 2015November 30, 2007 by Rene

Our RV road trip sabbatical budget and expense report for November 2007, just prior to Workamping gig in Florida for winter.

Oh, Savannaha!

November 29, 2007 by Rene

Touring Savannah, Georgia and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia.

Ghosts and Glamour at Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery

September 4, 2023November 28, 2007 by Rene

When I was a little kid, my Mom would listen to her favorite oldies station, humming along to 1950s hits while she did housework. No doubt that many of those hits were written by Johnny Mercer.

My Dad says Mercer was the greatest songwriter of all time, penning countless songs for Broadway shows and movies. Mercer was also the co-founder of Capitol Records. He is buried in the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, so this week while we were in town, we went to pay our respects to the musical legend.

Review: Great Food, Nice Prices at Paula Deen’s Savannah Restaurant

November 28, 2007November 28, 2007 by Rene

If you’re a Food Network viewer like we were (before ditching the TV), you’ve probably watched Paula Deen at some point. She is the southern gal with the snappy wit and great sense of southern humor that cooks up homestyle food like nobody’s business.

When we were Walmarting it on Monday night, a friendly security guard in the parking lot told us that Paula’s from Savannah, and her restaurant, Lady & Sons, is downtown.

Who Are The Fulltime Travelers Under 50?

November 26, 2007 by Rene

Looking for young travelers and RVers under age 50 in the U.S. Where are they, and who are they?

Hard Work and Long Days; Workamping at the Animal Shelter

December 10, 2012November 26, 2007 by Rene

Workamping experience teaches us how hard it is to run an animal rescue non-profit organization.

Gypsy Friendships on the Road to Anywhere

November 24, 2007 by Rene

Meeting Gen X RVers on our Road Trip Sabbatical across America.

Workamping at Safe Harbor Animal Farm in North Carolina

December 10, 2012November 21, 2007 by Rene

Fulltime RVers can try Workamping to stretch their budget and learn the ropes of RV campground management.

A Dog Lover’s Live Work Dream: New York Boarding Kennel for Sale

November 19, 2007 by Rene

Buy a home based dog kennel boarding business in rural Saugerties Woodstock area of Upstate New York.

Goin’ Down to the Piggly Wiggly

September 4, 2023November 16, 2007 by Rene

This week started our first real Workamping gig at Safe Harbor Animal Rescue in Maysville, North Carolina. We’ll get to talking about that soon. But today, we went out exploring on our day off, to secure provisions and check out the nearest big city, New Bern.

Our route included a stop at the Piggly Wiggly.

Road Trip Planning; Throw Out the Itinerary and Prepare for Adventure

September 4, 2023November 14, 2007 by Rene

Are you a trip planner? Before you go on vacation, do you put together an itinerary (“On Wednesday, we’re going to play mini golf and have fun, dammit!??), and chart your exact course on your GPS (“At Exit 25 we’ll stop and have lunch??)?

I used to be a planner. I thought that the more organized I was for a vacation, the better it would be. I would waste hours on the web, researching every detail about where we were going. Then I’d chart out a Plan B, just in case.

This would guarantee that our precious vacation time was the best it could be, right?

The Protani Family Takes the Next Step with an RV Road Trip

September 4, 2023November 13, 2007 by Rene

One of the best parts about this trip has been getting to know people, and hearing their unique stories. Sometimes, we meet people who have overcome so much adversity in life, it makes us ashamed to have ever felt an ounce of self-pity over our own trivial challenges.

Last weekend, we met such a person. Well, a family really. While staying at the McDowell Nature Reserve outside of Charlotte, we met Annette Protani and five of her six kids who were camped out next to us. Annette and her kids started calling their RV home when they left Houston back in August, in search of a new town in which to lay down some roots.

Hair Coloring And Fulltime RVing: Easier Than I Thought

January 10, 2017November 11, 2007 by Rene

When we first decided to live in an RV, one of my first thoughts was: how the heck will I maintain my hair color? Not that I’m a high maintenance brunette, but I’m too vain to let those pesky gray roots show through yet, so I zap ’em with hair dye once a month.

I’ve always done my color. But, since going on the road, I’ve gone to hair salons. But each time, the stylist left me with hair that was too light, or too dark.

I kept getting irritated that the hair colorists couldn’t get it right. So recently, I surrendered and decided to do it myself.

Foodies Beware: RV Kitchens Can Wreak Havoc on Favorite Recipes

November 10, 2007 by Rene

If you’re a real foodie like Jim and I are, be aware that gourmet cooking in an RV can be a challenge. Not impossible (especially if your rig is large), but as we have discovered, making our favorite recipes while living with an RV kitchen requires some patience and creativity.

It’s simple; in a rig our size, there isn’t enough room to carry all of the spices, appliances and utilities that one needs to prepare certain foods. Since hitting the road, we have had some interesting times in the kitchen;