Moving from a 6000-square-foot home to a 370-square-foot recreational vehicle.

Extreme downsizing -How moving from a 6,000-square-foot custom home to a 370-square-foot recreational vehicle helped quell one family’s ‘House Lust.’ 

Enjoy this interesting article by Newsweek’s Resident-Expert, Daniel McGinn

http://www.newsweek.com/id/110733/page/1

RV and travel tips needed…

A reader wrote:

We bought a new RV last October.  My husband called some local contractors and had a cement platform built next to the woodshed.  We also have a metal canopy over it to protect it from all the snow!!  In May we plan to visit our daughter who lives in Las Vegas and take our maiden “voyage” in our Roadtrek!  Can’t wait.  We will be staying in a park there and then will travel to see the sites such as the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead.  Any tips people would like to share would be appreciated!

Mary Ann and Richard

Bethel, VT.

Reader’s Corner

This month Harold from Illinois asks:

We are planning to full time RV starting Memorial Day. We will be home schooling 3 kids.  This is unusual, I know.  Anyone else in this same boat, and if so, can you recommend an on-line, or home schooling agenda?

Also Elmer writes:

This spring I am planning a trip in our new motor home. I want to head out of Indianapolis, head north to Montana and travel across the US and into Canada. I want to see the Calgary stampede and then travel down into California. Is there anyone I may contact to lay out a travel plan for me? I’m interested in seeing points of interest like Yellowstone, Custer’s monument, giant redwood trees, Hoover dam, and all the great things America has to offer.

Destination: New Orleans

Mardi Gras is over for this year, so what else is there to do in New Orleans? Plenty! It seems the town is always itching for a party, so festivals are a common occurrence.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest for short) is the second biggest attraction to the area. It runs the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May. Music, food, arts and crafts fill the Fairgrounds Race Course and attract visitors from all over the world. And it’s not just about jazz—you’ll hear zydeco, country, pop, blues and funk on stages throughout the festival.

French Quarter Festival celebrates the historic neighborhood and runs April 11-13 this year. This long weekend includes 250 hours of free entertainment from 150 different musical performances scattered throughout the French Quarter. Though music always takes center stage at this event, you can also explore the food, art and architecture of the area as well. 

New Orleans Independent Film Festival runs this year from October 9-16. New Orleans has a long history of moviemaking. Katrina slowed the industry a bit, but it’s picking up speed again. Spend the week viewing the best of what the small and independent filmmakers have to offer.

Of course, there’s still lot to do whatever time of year you visit New Orleans. The famous above-ground cemeteries (dubbed “cities of the dead”), City Park, the Audubon Park and Zoo, The Garden District, and the Warehouse/Arts District are all top attractions. And you could spend months sampling the area’s world-renowned food and wine. In fact, entire tours are organized around the culinary arts.

You can find lots of RV campgrounds and amenities in and around New Orleans listed here. And here.

How to get the most out of attending an RV Show

RV shows give you the unique opportunity to compare dozens, or even hundreds, of different classes, makes, models and styles of RVs without driving around to dealer after dealer. Here are our top suggestions for getting the most out of a show.

BEFORE THE SHOW:

1) Do some research ahead of time. Depending on your schedule and the crowds, you may not be able to see everything you want to. So, do some research and make a list of the things you want to find first. Many shows have dedicated websites with exhibitor maps to help you plan your visit. Looking to trade up? Go online and find some likely brands you know you want to check out and head there first.

2) Make a plan. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement and make rushed decisions. This can lead to costly mistakes. Making a strategy ahead of time will help you keep your head. Know what your goals for the show are—information gathering, price comparison, or actually purchasing.

Some questions you’ll want to know the answers to ahead of time are:

*How often do you plan to travel?

*Will you be doing any cold-weather travel?

*How will you store the RV when you’re not using it?

*What’s your budget and how will you finance?

*How many people will be traveling, and how much space will they need?

3) Expect a crowd. Try to get there as the doors open, or walk the floor during lunch time when most people are taking a break. Oh, and wear comfortable walking shoes. It can take several hours to get through the whole show.

DURING THE SHOW:

4) Bring a notebook and a backpack. You can learn a lot at a show, but it can be hard to digest it all at once. Bring a notebook, so you can write down things you want to remember. You’ll also be picking up lots of brochures and literature. A backpack makes it easier to carry it all while keeping your hands free.

5) Ask lots of questions. Talk with other visitors, not just the dealer reps. If you’ve got a family, and you notice another family talking about trading in their 5^th wheel, strike up a conversation! Ask them how they handle taking kids on the road. RVers are notoriously friendly people willing to share what they know.

6) Attend a free seminar. Many shows offer 1 or 2 hour workshops given by experts in the industry. You can gain a lot of valuable information in a short time this way, with no sales pressure.

AFTER THE SHOW:

7) Review your notes. Go over all the information you gathered as soon as you can, while it’s all still fresh in your mind. You may want to make a file to keep all your brochures, booklets, and notes in order.

8) Make appointments to test drive. Never make a purchase decision without actually taking the vehicle on the road. Waiting a few days after the show for your test drive can help you remain objective and make a better decision.

 Got any more great tips for our readers?  If so, please leave a comment.