Have You Made Your RV Resolutions For 2008

Once again it's the end of another great RV year and time to bring on the next exciting chapters in your RV adventures. I want to share a few thoughts about your resolutions or lack of them. We know from experience that most people who make resolutions on New Year's Eve have difficulty achieving them (especially those involving weight loss). We also know that you can't be successful at anything in life unless you have a plan. Planning is essential to achieving success whether it's taking a trip, running a business or altering your lifestyle. If you don't have a plan, chances are you'll not be satisfied with the end result. During my working years I would lay out a plan for the new year and post my goals in my day planner. My goals were in several categories, financial, physical fitness, intellectual pursuits, spiritual development and family. I would not just write out what my goals were, I would also write out steps I would take to achieve my goals then I would check up on my progress monthly. RV goals were always included. What were my RV goals? They usually included upgrades to the RV and plans for family trips. We usually took one extended trip and several weekend trips with the family in the RV. It never occurred to me that I would one day become a "full-time RVer" until I began meeting full-timers more frequently on our trips. Once our last child went off to college, I began to seriously think about becoming a full time RVer. Becoming a "full-timer" or even a "half-timer" requires some serious planning. The transition from a stick house to wheel-estate is a big step. If you're thinking about putting more RV into your lifestyle, then I encourage you to write out your goals and then take the necessary steps to achieve them. There are so many things to consider before you hit the RV trail you can't afford to stumble along without a plan. Even at the pinnacle of our retirement years we make plans and set goals. There are so many things to see and do on the RV trail that you need a plan (a simple and flexible plan) to assist you in the pursuit of your dreams. I'm not suggesting that full-time RVers need a hard driving set of goals, rather have a simple plan that will keep you moving and experiencing new things. The mere fact of increased fuel costs mandates a more practical approach to our trip planning. So, get out pencil and paper and rough out where you want to go and where you want to be this time next year. Happy New Year! Helping you look down the road and over the horizon - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing