Malia's Miles Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:39:51 -0000

Wow, the size and everything else sounds good, but I'm too intimidated by diesel, Linda. Hope you weren't too unhappy when DH was done with fulltiming - thanks for sharing!

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

Linda Sand — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:40:28 -0000

You might want to look at Winnebago's 34Y. Yes, it's a diesel but you can buy used ones with W/D or at least the connections for one. We lived 18 months in ours before DH decided he was done fulltiming.

Re: I Want To – I Don’t Want To!

MaliasRV — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:11:06 -0000

OMG, food is I think even tougher than cigarettes. You can give up cigarettes totally and eventually (hopefully) the crave won't be as strong.

But you're still faced with eating every day and keeping resolved to eat only healthy sounds a bit overwhelming to me! But of course to me, my basic food groups are Mexican food with extra cheese and hamburgers and french fries - yikes!

I appreciate the hope that your dad never desired another cigarette, but the fact that your mom still sometimes wants one bears out other things I've heard about that being (yet another) difference between men and women. I've frequently heard from other women that their hubbies had much easier time. Another disparity between the sexes, damn it! :)
I'm hanging in there, girlfriend. Stats today say I've been quit 38 days!
Keep your own resolve up to stay healthy and live the lifestyle you want.

Onward indeed!

Malia

Re: 2009 Ford Escape Dinghy – Flat Towing Problems

MaliasRV — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:58:44 -0000

That's especially scary for me to hear, Dennis, since I had hoped that by keeping the fluid at that "magic" level mark, and did all the right stuff like you mentioned, running through the gears, etc., that would keep my luck steady as it did since August.

But now I'm back in Texas for a while and won't be traveling much this summer, so I worry that this stuff still keeps happening over and over despite the assurances from Ford that it's taken care of.

I plan to talk to my dealer when I bring it in for regular maintenance to see if he has any news I haven't heard of yet. I updated information on the main website page - http://www.maliasmiles.com/RVT... - about some people getting the Remco auxiliary pump, but there's different into on who pays for what and how it works.

I'll keep that main web page updated as best I can and respond to comments here, so I appreciate your taking the time to let me know of your own experience. Please do keep in touch and let me know what happens. You say you're not going to tow it again. Are you selling and trading for something else or what?
Malia

Re: 2009 Ford Escape Dinghy – Flat Towing Problems

dennis boylan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:03:56 -0000

HI, we purchased a 2009 ford escape front wheel drive after being assured that it could be flat towed as confirmed by the owners manual after we purchased we were told by a friend that he had seen comments on the internet were a lot of people were having problems we also saw the comments and went to Texas without it the first year. when we returned home our ford dealer informed us that the problems had been solved and the answer was to have our transmission fluid reduced so that when the fluid heated up it would not blow the transmission,we then went to Yuma and back to Canada with no problem but every time I stopped I would start the escape and run it through the gears the following year, we just got back, we went to Florida, no problem to Florida but on our return we stopped in St Louis to see our son and we noticed transmission fluid on his concrete drive, I added 4 quarts of oil and drove it to a ford dealer and they flushed out the transmission and assured me that there was no damage, I will not be flat towing this vehicle again, on our way back from Arizona we happened to be in a park next to a lady who could not get her 2011 escape started, would not go into gear, oil all over the back window of her vehicle. Den from Canada

Re: I Want To – I Don’t Want To!

Susan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:01:16 -0000

Insert "Bad food" for "cigarettes" and I'm right there with you. My Mom and Dad started smoking when they were in their teens. I hated it. My clothes smelled like smoke when I went to school, kids said I had been smoking, it was embarassing. When I walked into the house there would be smoke hovering at the ceiling. I used to hide their cigarettes. About 2 years after I left home for college, my parents quit smoking cold turkey. They have not had a cigarette in over 35 years. My mother says when she smells cigarettes sometimes she wants one, my Dad has never desired another cigarette. So, it's possible Malia, that you will be like my Dad but even if you are like my Mom, you have all those wonderful years ahead to feel better! BTW, my folks are wonderful and they love me dearly but they just couldn't quit smoking for me. It had to be for them.
Keep Going! You inspire me to keep making better choices regarding food.
Onward!
Susan

Re: Quitting Smoking – Again (and hopefully for good!)

MaliasRV — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:14:56 -0000

Hey neighbor Glenda!

I agree those commercials are powerful and I'm glad they show them. But I've known for many, many years how bad smoking is and the damage it does. That was never enough for me to quit. I've had several close relatives die from smoke related diseases and cancer - and that wasn't enough for me to quit.

I don't think anyone who hasn't directly experienced the powerful addiction of nicotine could understand (and God knows what else they put in cigs to make them even more addictive)!

I used to watch those commercials or see ads about what smoking does to hearts, lungs, etc., and I would get so nervous thinking about that, I'd have to go right out and have a cigarette! It really is a ridiculous and unreasonable thing...

I think all smokers try to fool themselves that it won't happen to them - there are 90 year old people who smoke, blah, blah, blah. For me, I just can no longer deny the effects I am experiencing with shortness of breath, chest pains at night as I'm lying in bed, etc.

I want to continue RVing and hiking around scenic places. So my quality of life is what I'm fighting for now. And that's what's keeping me quit.
Of course, I may show up at your door sometime for a little moral support and you can remind me of all this then, ok? :)

Thanks for your support and concern!

Re: Quitting Smoking – Again (and hopefully for good!)

Glenda — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:43:46 -0000

Have you seen those TV commercials featuring people who have lost loved ones to tobacco? They are heart-rending stories. Maybe you could think about those, instead of how much you want a cigarette, to help you overcome the urge.

Re: I’ve Gotta Stay Serious About This Quit!

darrell_g42 — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:39:43 -0000

Malia, I know it is a struggle and we can rationalize just about anything at anytime. I believe we can't lie to ourselves, only fool ourselves for a while.

I think I need to explain the tapering off that I mentioned. The tapering off went like this:
Starting on a Monday, I put a nicotine patch on as I got to work. I did not smoke during the work day but I knew that I was going to take off the patch at the end of the work day and would be able to smoke all evening long until the beginning of the next work day. At the end of the work day, I took the patch off as I was heading to the car and lit up and smoked all evening long. I repeated this process during the work week. At the end of the work day on Friday, I took the patch off and smoked all weekend long until the beginning of the work day on Monday. I repeated this for about 5 weeks until I got used to not smoking at work. Towards the end of the 5 weeks, there were days when I wouldn't take the patch off until later in the evening. But in the back of my mind I knew I was able to take it off at any time and lite up. This put me in charge instead of the habit in charge. At about week 6 I decided to quit for the work day and the workday evening (remember I was not smoking until later in the evening). I used the patches all week. I still knew that the weekends would be "smoke 'em if you got 'em" time, so I knew that I hadn't quit. This helped avoid the "oh crap, I'm never go to have another cigarette again" symptom. This step lasted about another 5 to 6 weeks (the exact time periods are a blur). At the first part of this step, I was lighting up quickly on Friday as I was heading home, but later on, I found I didn't need to light up until later in the morning of Saturday. One day, on a Friday, I decided I would not light up that weekend. I didn't, and I haven't since then. I kept using the patch for another couple weeks and finally "forgot" to put them on.
This process worked for me not only physically but physcologically too.
I hope this helps. Hang in there.

Re: Quitting Smoking – Again (and hopefully for good!)

MaliasRV — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:34:35 -0000

Susan, I've read a little bit about your diabetes and found it surprising when I first heard it - you certainly don't "look" the part, but honestly I don't even know what that means. There's so many things that can come up to rob us of health and feeling good with no severe symptoms until it's completely out of hand.

We need to get together again and eating right is a subject I keep "getting" from the Universe in one way or another so I'd like to discuss that with you more.

Thanks for the encouragement and definitely let's do be cheerleaders for each other!

Re: Quitting Smoking – Again (and hopefully for good!)

MaliasRV — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:34:18 -0000

Pat,

Interesting you mentioned the "good guy bad guy" and "fighting the inner child" aspect of this battle. The post that follows this one, "I Want To - I Don't Want to" talks about how I really do hear two sides of that story from my own self.

Good on Mel for coming to that decision to quit and thanks for sharing the inspiration!
Love,Malia

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:26:41 -0000

"fierce researcher" - LOL, but I guess that's a really good description of me and my style when I'm doing something important. And honestly, at this point, I'm so confused and unsure anymore about anything no matter how much fierce research I've done that basically I've just decided to freeze in place for a while until my heart and mind are more at peace with what to do, especially regarding the new financing laws, etc.

May end up being with old Inspiration longer than I thought... :)

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

Ml Pattynan63 — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:32:08 -0000

You are certainly a fierce researcher aren't you? I hope you find what you are looking for. Never Never go out of your comfort zone with what you know you can afford. Even if you think something is beautiful, you will pay later and wonder why you did that. Then you can't get rid of the problem. The instant you drive the motorhome away from the lot, you have lost money, when you purchae new. Let someone else eat that part. They are practically giving homes away here in Yuma. I am shocked by what I see. I know it sounds wonderful to have the new things, but you can do a lot of laundry for the cost of new fancy rig. The cost of a new computer for our washer dryer was almost $500. You can buy a new one practically for that amount. Ours died and we donated it to recycle.
We do not miss it for one minute. It only did small loads and jeans dried with all kinds of wrinkles. Get an outdoor laundy that hangs on your ladder. It works great. Things dry fast most of the time and no cost. Sorry to sound like such a downer, but we have been where you are. Love...Sis

Re: Quitting Smoking – Again (and hopefully for good!)

Ml Pattynan63 — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:22:48 -0000

It seems to me, that the scenario is like good guy bad guy or fighting the inner child. The angel is one shoulder and the devil is on the other, which one will you choose? I am not a smoker, never been a smoker, but I lived with one and watched him quit. The inner voice has to say, "I'm done. that is it. I am done" After watching our small kids play smoking with the butts, watching them dump ashes on the floor and guess who cleaned it all up. Trying to wash the stains and smells out of clothing.
Watching as my spouse coughs and cannot ride the bike to work anymore. It is a pretty helpless feeling on this end also. My spouse said the above one day and he quit. Was it easy. No, not on anyone. Was it the best decision he ever made, yes. We have four kids and no one smokes. Guess that had an impact on them and we didn't even realize it. It is still a choice you get to make. We support you on your journey. Seeing the light is the hard part. Your Great Grandaughters will thank you even more. Love you. Sis

Re: I’ve Gotta Stay Serious About This Quit!

MaliasRV — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:24:49 -0000

Hey thanks, Darrell! It's always good to hear from you!

I definitely agree it was great that your first quit "took" and was successful. From everything I've read - especially for people that smoked as long as we did - that it takes 9-11 times before final success. I think I surpassed that threshold a few quits/relapses ago.

But I wouldn't call it all luck on your part. I'm sure it took determination at the very least to stick with tapering off until you got to smoking zero. And I'm impressed with that because that never worked for me. Even when I'd "threaten" myself with stern talk like, "OK, if you can get to where you're only smoking 5 cigarettes a day, that sounds pretty acceptable and reasonable, if you can do that, you won't have to quit."

But then that would be too hard, so it would also become "reasonable and acceptable" for me to smoke 1/2 pack a day.

No matter where I started from - either giving in after having quit for a time, or trying to cut back from 1+ packs a day, I would always end up smoking a pack a day again before I'd freak out and start the whole insane process again.

So for me, I finally "get" that I am seriously addicted to every aspect of smoking - the nicotine and God-knows-what-else they put in cigarettes to make them even more addictive - and the whole psychological dependence where I looked to them to soothe me in so many ways. I've had those insane kind of thoughts that make me feel like I've lost my "best friend" and all that kind of crap.

Anyway, I'm doing my very best to deal with this head-on, no holds barred this time - no pretenses that I can be a "social" smoker and just have one every now and then on special occasions, blah, blah, blah.

So thanks for the feedback and encouragement!
Malia

Re: I’ve Gotta Stay Serious About This Quit!

darrell_g42 — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:45:45 -0000

Hang in there Malia. I smoked from the age of 15 to 50. I've been quit now for almost 3 years. I was very lucky in that I never tried to quit but the one time and it was successful. I used the tapering off method. The way I figured it, I didn't start out smoking 2 packs a day so I wouldn't try to stop all at once. Everyone has to find their path in this challenge, I hope you find yours.

Re: Quitting Smoking – Again (and hopefully for good!)

Susan — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:50:17 -0000

Malia, I am doing something very similar but it has to do with quitting food that is bad for me, is ruining my health(Type 2 Diabetes) and is literally an addiction. I am spending lots of time at the EAT TO LIVE website and am learning how to NOT go back to my old ways. It is a full time job. So, let's cheer each other on. We can do this! :-)

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:40:54 -0000

Hi Garrison,

Yeah, that was the first thing I was confused and conflicted about when I first started looking, also.

Here are the arguments I heard: if you tow a trailer or 5th wheel, you only have one engine to deal with - the truck you're towing with. If you have a motorhome and then tow a car to use to drive around with once the motorhome is camped at a campground, you're dealing with maintenance, etc. on 2 engines - the motorhome and the car (along with whatever issues you have towing the car, also - like making sure you follow whatever requirements exist for the type of car you're towing, if you're going to have to use a dolly, etc.).

If you don't tow a car, it's gonna be hard sometimes to get in and out of places (for general sightseeing) in the RV itself. Of course size factors into this part, but I also didn't like the idea of having to deal with hooking and unhooking in terms of utilities, etc. everytime I wanted to go anywhere. And I generally like to stay in one spot at least a week or so (and usually longer) to really explore an area.

But for me, as a woman always RVing solo, the safety aspect of not having to leave the truck to get into the RV for bathroom breaks, eating, etc. made me feel better. So self-contained was finally what I decided was best for me.

Not only that, I thought it was just too intimidating and confusing trying to learn to tow and back up a trailer. I'd never done anything like that before and even watching experienced guys go through what they had to in order to get properly backed in and hooked/unhooked, etc. just made me think that was too much trouble for me.

The other thing for me that sold me on the motorhome was the expansive view from the huge windshield. Again, since I drive alone, the more I can see the better and driving a regular truck (or even a class C), the cab feels much more cramped and the view limited. I really love driving the motorhome!

That's all I can think of at the moment, but if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
Good luck in your search!
Malia

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

Garrison053 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:01:11 -0000

I am in the "looking" phase right now and am really confused by the trailer/truck vs. self contained rv.
How do you choose?

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:48:22 -0000

Hi Greg,

Well, I think I've pretty much given up the idea of having a washer/dryer given what I can afford in something newer/smaller now. I'm pretty much decided on Tiffin, and probably the 34TGA or the 32 CA, but I'd actually like to see the 32 CA before finally deciding... That's why I may end up going to Red Bay and if I do, I may stay while it's being built... who knows?

I'm glad you commented, that you enjoy the blog and hope you'll stay in touch. We share a dream, so should share ideas, too! :)

Thanks,
Malia

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

Greg — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:05:39 -0000

Malia, I am new to your blog and understand the washer dryer choice you have. I have been full timing for 5 years now in a 36 foot Holiday Rambler fifth wheel. It is plumbed for a washer dryer hookup and have decided the next major purchase for me is a washer dryer unit. Stick to what you really want and need which I expect you will by your blogs. lol Tiffin is a very good customer oriented manufacturer and is a very good choice. I actually move rvs for aliving and have driven several of their new motorhomes out of the Hershey Pa RV show up to Buffalo NY. They are a very nice product with superb manufacturer support. Glad I found your web site and hope to read more about your adventure. I am looking at the workamping experience as my next way of making some money while living this dream of mine. Stay safe and good luck in your future purchase.

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:07:59 -0000

Hey, Lynda - good to hear from you! I appreciate your comments and hope to meet you down the road sometime, so keep in touch. Would love to compare notes with people who have been fulltiming even longer than me! :)

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

Lynda Bogart Stilley — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:50:12 -0000

I just happened on your blog and thought as full-timers for 16 years, I'd add a comment or two. We travel in a 32' diesel pusher that is 12 yrs. old with one slide-out...quite a head-turner, actually! It has no W/D and, though we put laundry off til the last minute, do enjoy using the local facilities...as in our current location of Ajo, AZ...boondocking on beautiful BLM land. We have no need of satellite as our Verizon plus Wilson antenna/booster provide fast, reliable internet and phone. Nice to meet you in this blogging community!

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:54:58 -0000

Hi Cathy - so good to "meet" you here and glad we're now even FB friends! :)

I'm also glad you're enjoying the blog and I appreciate the feedback.

I do really hope to get my new MH from my original "angel" salesman and dealer, but I also cannot totally eliminate the prospect that it may come from another source since their inventory is pretty limited right now...

I can tell you love your job and I got a kick out hearing you say that helping young families pick out their very first campers is "such a rush" - love that you've found joy in making others happy!

Glad we're in touch now and maybe someday we'll meet down the road...

Malia

Re: Waiting for My New Motorhome…

MaliasRV — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:46:37 -0000

Yeah, I've come to reality about the washer/dryer in a smaller (and what I can afford now) RV. I definitely wouldn't go for a retrofit of something that wasn't already at least originally equipped for the connections. I do believe that would be asking for trouble down the road, and I certainly don't need to invite more than already finds me! :) I'm still considering all options, and would buy a Winnebago product again, but really my main focus and desire is still the Allegro - either the 34 TGA or the 32 CA, so I'm still trying to find the 32 CA to at least go inside, but no luck yet. I keep hearing the message...persevere, Malia, persevere... :)