Work | Live Work Dream | RVing Lifestyle Design Blog

Channeling Chickens, Coping with Cancer, and Workamping in New Mexico

June 1, 2022March 27, 2008 by Rene

Everything happens for a reason. If we hadn’t have gone back to Los Angeles, we never would have learned that our beloved Jerry’s cancer has made another ugly appearance. You can’t tell by looking at him; he’s as playful and spry as ever. We only took him to the vet for a new heartworm medication, but left knowing we had to get him into oncology treatment, fast. So, we hightailed it back here to New Mexico, to visit a wonderful clinic in Santa Fe, the Veterinary Cancer Care clinic.

We always wanted to see Santa Fe, just not under these circumstances. The closest, most cost-effective RV lodging we found was at Cochiti Lake campground, about 30 minutes south. It’s an Army Corps of Engineers lake, and a bargain at $12 a night.

Our trip into the city was quick; just enough to see the vet, walk around the plaza, and get a good feeling about the place. This joke that a local told us, says it all:

Question: Why did the Santa Fe’an cross the road?
Answer: Because she was channeling a chicken.

The Life of A Small Manufacturer

March 22, 2008 by Jim

We haven’t lived the typical office life for nearly a year now, since selling our business.

And I must say, we don’t miss it one bit.

We got a pleasant reminder of running your own business, however, while in Los Angeles.

Work on your own rig and save money!

January 11, 2015March 14, 2008 by Jim

There is one good thing about visiting Los Angeles.

Aside from seeing La Familia, that is. OK two things … Oh, and the food. I guess that makes three things.

Anyway, access to the right tools makes working on your rig easy. And that can help you save a lot of money.

And believe me, El Jefe has all the right tools … and the shop, and the brain, which I picked to learn how to to pack the wheel bearings on our fifth wheel trailer.

Live Work Dream Expenses February 2008

September 14, 2015March 4, 2008 by Rene

Well, our Workamping savings are a thing of the past, and February gave us a current reality check of what our expenses look like when we just play tourist and go out looking for all of the cool music, food and entertainment we want to experience.

Our biggest expense last month: fuel. We went over our budgeted amount for the first time ever. This is mostly because we went 1600 miles out of our way (round trip) for a quick trip back to California to visit my family. More on our L.A. experience later.

We save a LOT with Passport America!

April 11, 2013February 25, 2008 by Jim

I’m not one to join another RV club for the sake of getting a sticker to put on my rig. But I sure wish we had joined Passport America months ago!

We had seen the Passport America club signs at campgrounds but didn’t think twice about it until recently.

A fellow fulltimer explained how much we could save, so we went for it.

Our Fussy Magic Chef RV Oven

February 20, 2008 by Jim

René has always had a hard time lighting the pilot for our Maytag RV oven. I never had a problem, so I always gave her a hard time in return.

Then one day I couldn’t get it to light.

After far too many times of kneeling before the Magic Chef, praying that it would light, we decided to call for service since it was still under warranty. But not before I dissected and reassembled the pilot assembly and combed the owner’s manual for assistance. There was none.

Catching up after catching up

February 19, 2008 by Jim

Catching up on Blog Posts from Luckenbach after Touring the South and spending time with old friends

From Farmers to Fulltimers: Another Young Couple Hits the Road in their RV

February 13, 2008 by Rene

Younger fulltimers are workamping in parks across America while seeing the country in their RV

Live Work Dream Expenses January 2008

September 14, 2015February 11, 2008 by Rene

The costs of an RV road trip for one month in January 2008.

From The Redwoods to the Bayou, Now In NOLA

February 9, 2008February 9, 2008 by Rene

Friday, we pointed ourselves westward, right into New Orleans (NOLA), where we’ve met up with an old friend from Humboldt, Mr. Gordon Soderberg. As one of the founding members of the Redwood Technology Consortium, Gordon is one of the reasons why we fled San Francisco in ’98 and moved up to the sticks. He was a geek like us, and we figured if he could make a living in the trees, so could we. In 2005, Gordon left Humboldt to join the Veterans For Peace wagon train that was supporting Cindy Sheehan, and found himself in NOLA two days after Katrina, to help with the rescue, cleanup, and now, grassroots rebuilding efforts (because the government hasn’t done crap. More later).

The Conclusion: Making a Living as Organic Farmers

March 18, 2022February 6, 2008 by Rene

What we learned as Workampers while living on the oranic farm at White Rabbit Acres, Vero Beach, Florida.

On the road again …

September 4, 2023February 3, 2008 by Jim

… and paying for it.

I would have loved to stay and watch the Superbowl with Gene an his new 42″ Aquos HDTV. But it sure feels good to be on the road again.

I am also seriously happy to be amongst some trees with some space at Lake Manatee State Park after that seriously cramped RV “Resort” in Fort Lauderdale.

It is eye-opening, however, to pay $94.00 to fill up the truck from a quarter tank after not spending anything on fuel for nearly two months while we helped make our own homebrew biodiesel.

[Show as slideshow]

A cure for the common freshwater cough

February 1, 2008February 1, 2008 by Jim

When our freshwater fill spout started coughing up water when we filled the tank, there was no need to call a doctor. I knew I could handle this one. But I did wonder why it started happening all of the sudden.

While filling up our freshwater tank a few times, we noticed water backing up and burping out of the fill hose. Upon closer inspection – which any good RVer should always undertake in circumstances like this – I noticed the freshwater tank expanding with air whenever this happened.

Itchy Feet, Take Me West

March 3, 2017January 31, 2008 by Rene

It’s five a.m. and I woke up because my feet are itchy. Not because I have athletes foot or anything. No, it’s just that I’m too excited to get on the road again. After almost two months of living on the farm, we are packed up, hitched up, and ready for more of the unknown. We don’t really want to leave, especially in the middle of the season, but we have to, in order to complete our circle of the U.S. by June.

Another Geek Mission Accomplished!

January 26, 2008 by Jim

One of the great things about workamping somewhere that does not require a full-time commitment is that you actually get some time to do your own thing. For us, that is trying to make a living online.

One of my goals for Jerry’s dog blog during our stay here on the farm was to develop his new Tripawd Discussion Forums.

I can now officially check that off my list. Thanks to the Simple Forum WordPress plugin from Yellow Swordfish.