Honey-do list

When you're a solo RVing woman, you can have a "honey-do" list ("Honey? Do this.) However, there is no "honey" to do anything for you. You need to take responsibility for your own maintenance and upgrades.

Recently, my batteries started losing their charging power. I was running the generator for a half hour to charge the batteries and they only held a charge for an hour. I checked the batteries for an installation date and couldn't find one. Either they were too old to charge or there was a problem with the generator.

While I was charging the batteries yet again, the generator suddenly became very loud. Muffler, I thought. Great.

I made an appointment at the shop and bought two new 6-volt batteries. Running in tandem, two 6-volts have more power than two 12-volts. I don't understand why. Each 12-volt puts out 100 watts. Each 6-volt puts out 180 watts.

After installing the batteries, I asked the man if he could find the dates on them. We looked at one and found 2004. We never did find a date on the other. I assume it was older and just tired. He asked when they were replaced and I told him I didn't know.

Then he looked at the generator. No problem assessing what happened: there was a golf ball-size hole near the connection and the muffler was hanging down on one side.
The other mounting bracket held it to the frame. The man asked me when it had been serviced. I told him I didn't know.

One of my pet peeves is not knowing something I should know. I had to assume someone replaced a battery in 2004 but had no idea when the other was installed. I also had to assume no one had ever performed any generator maintenance like changing the oil or giving it a tune-up. The generator is an Onan with 589 hours on it. I have been assured by the performance specialist that Onans can run well into the thousands of hours if maintained.

Since I can't hand off that honey-do list to anyone else, it becomes my responsibility to check on needed maintenance. I created a list and flagged my Outlook calendar to let me know when I should schedule service.

By the way, my batteries were installed on November 17, 2007 and I know exactly how old they are now. My generator will be serviced on December 3 (new muffler, oil change, etc.), and I'll be sure to add its maintenance schedule to my calendar. My water filter will be changed on New Year's Eve (do I know how to celebrate or what?).

Suggestion: you might want to check your own RV to update the maintenance records. It won't take long and the next time you need service, you'll know.

Yet another reason...

...I'm glad I'm an RVer.

I subscribe to the federal Emergency Email and Wireless Management notifications. This morning, I read the "2007 Holiday Travel Security Guidelines Update." I'm always grateful I have no need to fly any more. Here are their guidelines:

Not sure about what you can and can't bring through a checkpoint? Here's a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead or leave at home:

Gravy
Wine, liguor and beer
Other beverages
Salad dressing
Oils and vinegars
Jams
Jellies
Cranberry sauce
Salsa
Soups
Sauces
Cakes
Pies
Creamy dips

If you purchase anything at the gift shops before the checkpoint, the following are prohibited:

Perfume
Cologne
After shave
Lotio
Wine, beer and liquor
Gift baskets with food items like salsa, jams and salad dressings

If you are bringing presents, they have to be unwrapped so they can be examined.

Basically, pretty much everything in my kitchen can't fly and if I were traveling to visit relatives or friends, I couldn't bring them a special food item from another area of the country. That means Mama Lee's gumbo from Gretna, LA and that delicious marionberry jam from Silverton, OR travel by RV from now on.

Lifelong learning

I've been in training here at Camping World as well as learning on the fly. One day found crewmembers from Rocklin and San Martin joining us for classes from representatives of Honda generators, Pull-Rite fifth wheel hitches, Super Springs and Internet in Motion.

The learning curve when you're a bit (OK, a lot) older than your fellow crewmembers is a little rough. Someone will come to the counter with a part and ask, "Do you have anything to replace this?" I look at it and start my investigation there. My first question is, "What does it belong to?" Most of the time, the customer will just tell me. Many times, the person will sigh, roll their eyes and wonder how I manage to stand there behind the counter and not understand why the piece of plastic with the curly burnt wire attached is not instantly recognizable as the left-handed thingamajig from a 20 year-old furnace that isn't manufactured any more.

I'm also learning that many RVers have overloaded their rigs, are towing with inadequately powered vehicles, or think that purchasing new shocks or a sway bar will magically fix ride problems. But that's why I'm working here and learning about how to help.

On Tuesday, I will be in Roadmaster training with a few other crewmembers. The more I learn, the better I'll be able to help the RVers.

The only down side is that I will only be able to teach at the Tucson Life on Wheels conference in March. No one is permitted to take time off in June or July, so my travel plans are limited next year. But that's all right. I'm learning something every day and that is very important.

A funny thing happened on the way to Texas

I stopped at Camping World in Fairfield, CA on the way to the RVing Women National Convention in Lodi on October 8. While I was in the store, a gentleman came to the service counter and asked Jarrod, a service writer, about solar panels. He was a new RVer with a travel trailer. I answered his questions and after Jarrod overheard me, he said, "You have GOT to work here!" Right.

He asked me to wait, went to the back office, came out with a job application and wouldn't let me leave until I filled it out. I did and spoke briefly with Tim, the service manager. I told him I was on my way to Lodi and then to Texas after the convention ended on the 14th. He set up an interview at 10 am on the 15th.

Well, one thing led to another, and I'm now a product specialist at Camping World working four days a week. That means I have a nice hourly salary; medical, dental and vision insurance; 401K; cool shirts to wear and--ta da!--an employee discount. A full-time RVer with an employee discount at Camping World. This is better than choosing from the Sears catalog at Christmas. And since I work next to the guys who are actually doing the repair and maintenance work on RVs, they can pimp my ride for me.

I postponed my trip to Texas and will be working here to replenish the savings I used to travel. Next year when I head to the Life on Wheels in Tucson to teach classes (which Camping World sponsors), I will have even more insight to share with everyone.

Any of my readers in the area are welcome to visit the store, of course, and I'll be happy to help.