An interview with Spokesman Review reporter Julianne Crane

We were recently interviewed by Julianne Crane, reporter for the Spokesman Review in Spokane, Washington. She writes a weekly column about RVing, and was a presenter at the RV School on Wheels in July at Moscow, Idaho. Here is part of what we told her:

6 Questions to consider when couples RV:

1. How much time to do you actually spend together? – Try a weekend or a week completely alone, together to check out how comfortable this is.


2. How do you set boundaries? Small spaces like RVs require each to have their time and space apart from each other. Negotiate how you will do this.


3. Have you learned any new skills in the last 5 years? Adaptability and the willingness to try new things are required for rving.

4. How comfortable are you meeting new people? You will be out of your familiar social environment, how can you connect with others? You may want to rv with friends so all your social needs aren’t being met by your partner.

Remember your sexual differences, women, usually it is difficult for men to provide sufficient as nurturing as your girlfriends. Men need an activity that provides action.

5. How many new activities or adventures have you planned to do with your partner? This is an avenue where both of you tackle something together providing an avenue for mutual support and nurturing. It can create the spirit of being cooperative rather than competitive, deepening your connection.

6. Do your values and interests mesh? If one of you likes activity and the other likes quiet time, you will need to work on finding what works for both of you.

Really, these questions identify the qualities of a good relationship which are intensified by RVing. We recently learned of a couple who bought a beautiful motor coach, set out on a holiday, returning a month later to divorce!

These adjustments differ substantially whether you are weekending or long term rving, whether children or grandchildren are involved, size of coach, room to bring different activities, etc.

RV Life on Wheels Conference

We just recently attended a Life On Wheels Conference where we were invited to present our two seminars Reinventing Retirement and Reinventing Your Retirement Marriage at the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho the week of July 10th to 14th, 2006.

Gaylord Maxwell, the founder who once taught at this university conceived the ideas about 20 years ago. Its purpose to familiarize buyers to their RV products whether it is a motor coach, travel trailer, 5th wheel or truck and camper. The attendees included those who are trying to decide what to purchase and haven’t yet, to those who have returned for their 8th year.

There is a pre-conference for those with new RV’s to learn how to operate them, by having a technician spend time with each individual rig and owners to provide unique and specific information. Professional drivers offered “Hands on” driving lessons that were available before and after the conference.

The conference itself features 2 kinds of classes: technical and lifestyle. In total, approximately 170 classes each running for 1 ½ hours or some for a 3 hour period. You could start at 6:30 in the morning at the running track with an exercise instructor/weight trainer, continue through 4 periods of classes that ended at 4:30 pm, then attend presentations in the evening about RV travel or attend local events which included: 3 different live theater performances and a concert by the University of Idaho music department.

The town of Moscow also supports this event with a barbecue midweek.

The instructors were specialists in their areas ranging from RV technicians, photographers, travel researchers and writers, professional drivers, safety specialists, psychologists, and those who have spent many years RVing who shared tips and advice with all of us.

What a spectacular plethora of wisdom, knowledge and advice there was for us wrapped up in interesting people who were passionate about sharing their knowledge and information with others!

We camped out on the University grounds with electricity, water and sewage removing if needed. The weather was spectacular and Moscow is a pretty, friendly town.