THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE HAS APPEARED IN THE RECORD ON June 18, 2003

Still hooked on RVing

Beware! This column contains no legal or political commentary. It is solely aimed to provide wanabee RVers (recreational vehicles owners) an inside scoop on what it is like to travel in a Class B motor home. As for my expertise on the subject, it derives from owning a 19-foot-7-inch model for almost a year and having lived in it for close to three months when we traveled to and in Florida, last winter. Not only did we survive, the experience was so pleasant we will soon set course for Nova Scotia.

In case you are asking yourself why any rational person would be willing to exchange the privacy and space of their home in favor of a vehicle the size of a living room, don't worry, you are not the only one. However, in our case the answer is quite simple. Being retired, we can "ride away" whenever we get the lure of the open road, see beautiful landscapes and visit new towns and all the while enjoy the comforts of home.

Depending on where we travel our RV becomes our cottage by the sea, our cabin in the woods and our hotel by the lake. At this very moment we are parked in Vermont, right next to Lake Champlain where I can observe half dozen sailboats gently bobbing on their buoys. Talk about simplicity - whenever we arrive at a new destination we never have to pack or unpack suitcases. As for our clothing, cooking and bathroom supplies, everything is stored and always ready for us. The same is true for our bicycles, which are securely tied to the exterior rack. On short trips like this one, we almost always leave with the refrigerator full of home-cooked meals, all of which eliminates the need to eat in restaurants.

We hardly ever stop at campsites while on the go since our RV is totally self-contained thanks to a propane tank, two slide-out batteries and a 2.8kw generator located underneath the floor. Free overnight parking is still available at most Wal Marts and large truck stops. Flying Js are particularly RV friendly as they provide fresh water, laundry facilities, showers, Internet access and free dump stations. Since everything I have written so far could just as well apply to any RV, why are we so hooked on a Class B RV? In case you have no idea what a class B motor home looks like, just visualize a sleek looking ambulance in the 21' range and slightly more than 8' in height. At last count there were at least 11 different manufacturers to choose from. Because they are designed to use every inch of space, Class Bs have all of the conveniences of most luxury motor homes. The end result is a vehicle that has gross vehicle weight near 9,200 pounds and a V8 360-cubic inch engine capable of doing 15 miles per gallon.

Despite being more expensive per square foot than the "Big Boys" of the motorized RVs, it is precisely because of their size and shape that the Class Bs are so popular. They are much easier to drive to out-of-the-way-sights, in heavy traffic and to park in tight spaces. For those of you who have no idea what our "home on wheels" looks like from the inside, allow me to give you a guided tour. You will notice that everything is in white including the white oak European-style cabinetry. Directly behind the driver and passenger seats, which can be rotated to accommodate a small portable table, is the galley/ kitchen. Despite its limited size, the galley is equipped with a sink, microwave oven, two-burner-stove and a 3 cubic foot 3-way refrigerator. Over the side entrance is the monitor panel, which, like a nav station on a boat, allows us to check the levels in our fresh, gray and black water holding tanks, monitor the charge level in our batteries. One switch is to start the generator, the other to ignite the hot water heater.

Built in the ceiling where the headroom is exactly 6-feet-high, is an extremely efficient thermostat controlled fan, which exchanges the air within seconds. At the same time it eliminates the need to always depend in warm weather on the roof installed air conditioner. Opposite the kitchen pantry is our self-contained bathroom, which includes a sit-down shower, sink and medicine cabinet. At my height, however, learning to bend over is a must because of the contoured ceiling.

The cozy aft section was one of the main reasons why we were immediately attracted to our particular model. It reminded us of the forward cabin in our old Dufour sailboat. However, instead of a double V berth we have two settees with bolsters separated by a night table, which convert into berths for sleeping and provide great sleeping comfort. Once the small round table is set up between them the section is instantly transformed into our dining room. As for entertainment, besides our books, magazines and radio, mounted in the wall are a 13" television set and VCR. When it comes to writing, all I have done is plug my laptop into the inverter and hope for some inspiration. By closing the curtains I can be completely immune to what goes on outside.

Don't get me wrong, when it comes to living in a small RV for long periods, I wouldn't recommend the experience to every couple. Not everyone can cope with living in a small space, much less be happy. For that reason alone it certainly helps to have a good sense of humor. If you need space for privacy, or if you like to accumulate things, a Class B motor home like ours may not be your cup of tea. As for overnight guests - forget it-most Class Bs are simply too small.

The trick for two adults to be comfortable over long periods is by following a well-defined routine and knowing who does what, when and how. Dividing up the inside chores and taking turns doing them can do wonders. Equally important is learning not to bring unnecessary items. This is where a checklist can be very handy. Another trick is to maintain everything clean and free of clutter. This helps to reinforce the illusion that there is a lot more space. As for our trip to Florida, let me just say that it was great to get back on the road. Four years had already slipped by since our six-month trailer adventure to California with Charlie, our then aging Boxer.