2021 has been quite the year! For some of you, it has probably been a horrible year – perhaps filled with loss and grief. For some of you, this year may have looked like any other average year. And for others, this may have been the best year of your life.
We want to know. If you had to rate this year from 1 to 5 stars, 1 star being the worst and 5 stars being the best, how would you rate it? Please tell us in the poll below. Then, if you’re comfortable, leave a comment explaining your answer. Thank you.
We had a wonderful year! Camped when & where we wanted. Didn’t pay attention to the doom & gloom news shows so, as an effect, weren’t bothered by any diseases. And, it was a great year because we welcomed two new grandchildren to our flock!
I am counting in health issues for both my wife and me- NOT COVID-related.
I guess I’m just a Pollyanna. I would love to give 10 stars out of 5, but I only gave 4. It feels like I spent most of this year sitting in doctor’s waiting rooms. Alone, thanks to ever changing covid rules. That means my wife sat alone in parking lots. In spite of that, life is great and we made the most out of our time together. Unfortunately, our RV barely got any use. Believing in a better year in 2022. At least we dont live in California. No gas powered lawn equipment or generators and now NO PORK!
Almost forgot. My health issues are not due to covid, just my waiting issues.
Still upright, still moving. Some things changed, most remained the same. 2022 might become more difficult.
Covid has changed the world, but I’m grateful my husband, me and our family are healthy so I said 4.
As full timers we get to follow our dreams. It’s not all wine and roses. It is hard work and we had some repairs along the way, some tough times finding spots and had to be flexible about plans on short notice.
But I hiked the Appalachian trail and hubby followed and supported me in our rv. We were able to meet up with family for a visit to the Ark in Kentucky. Help remodel a bathroom for a friend. Make 2 bathrooms wheel chair accessible for another friend. Volunteer at one of our State parks In exchange for our winter harbor. Support my son through 2 tough surgeries. Spend Precious time with family.
So I change my vote to a 5. There will always be tough times, but in the end…our cups runneth over.
We had another great year full time in our diesel coach! We never slowed down in ’20 or ’21 and surely don’t plan on slowing down in ’22 and beyond. Live life to the fullest and what will happen, will happen. When we start thinking on the ways we can be sidelined, it is no fun. 2022 will be just another year to enjoy America the Beautiful!
No complaints, loved our year, we went and did whatever we wanted to do, where we wanted to go. I hope to enjoy even more next year. We were out 90 plus nights
I began the year coming down with Covid. I unfortunately became very sick ending up in the hospital and having some very dark days. The hospital staff was fantastic and although the treatments they gave me were mostly experimental and somewhat uncertain as to if they would get me well, they seemed to do the job and I was able to recover and get well enough to go home. It took some 6.5 months after this for me to completely get well and my body finally fully recovered. Having gone through and having such a bad case of covid it allowed me to focus on life and the important things and who is important in my life. 2021 is the year I realized how fragile life is and why it’s important to live life to its fullest. Now we RV as often as we can enjoying what this country has to offer. We are just about to pack it up and head to Florida for 3 months. Although a rough start to the year I am grateful and looking forward to 2022.
Congratulations on your recovery, Mike. Onward and upward! I hope you have a fantastic, and healthy, 2022! Take care. 🙂 –Diane
To me, overall 2021 was a great year. I woke up each morning and went to sleep each evening. I enjoyed more time each day with my wife. We celebrated 34 years together. I also spent time with my two sons and daughter, three grandchildren, and several friends. I was able to help friends and neighbors with their needs throughout the year. We went camping several times throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months – mostly at my in-law’s property on the San Juan river in the mountains outside of Pagosa Springs. We adopted a little doggy from the shelter. I was able to give more attention, and money, to my ’36 Hudson Terraplane street rod project. My cholesterol and coronary calcium scores dropped dramatically.
On a sadder note, I watched two dear friends slowly pass away from Dementia and Alzheimer’s, a few church friends die, and two of our fur babies have to be put to sleep.
Covid touched our family and friends, but everyone came through.
Again, I was blessed with a great year.
Considering the political Idiocy currently in Washinton D.C. Unvaccinated and untested illegals over 2 Million so far still pouring into America at the Southern Border while good hard working Americans are ” locked down ” or Locked out , fired for not getting a shot that the Congress, USPS and Illegal aliens are exempt from , 6.8 % inflation, supply chain problems and general incompetence I am surprised America can still function as well as it is.
Rage much? Lol smh
Honesty much? Not lol.
Totally agree. Guess I’m a rager too…
I can only agree with you D.T. Smith but still made do with a great year trying to put aside everything correctly stated by you to which I give a lot of credit to my wife.
The darkest days of my 2021 were a sitting president trying to overthrow a free and fair election.
Hear, Hear
Stuff nightmares are
made of!
We welcomed 2 new great-grandchildren in April. Set off from Northern New York in September and arrived in Big Bend TX for Christmas. Lots of interesting stops along the way. Had ups and downs like every one but overall it’s been a great year.
Well, let me count the numbers, last year 2020 started off decent, DW had to be hospitalized due to water around her heart, but first she was tested for covid19. FEDEX lost her test so she spent an extra 5 days in the hospital waiting for the results only to have to be retested before her procedure could be performed. The rest of 2020 was ok until Nov.2. The new year started lousy with the mask mandates, I have a hearing problem and can’t understand half of what someone is saying behind the mask. The price of everything has risen on everything that IS available. But we are still on the grassy side of the ground so we can be thankful for that, being retired and on fixed income certain luxury’s of life have to be adjusted to stay afloat. Will we ever return to normal? Maybe with a lot of luck, next November.
Time for honesty. My rating is 3 Stars. I’m not being ambivalent, just neutral. As Floridians, we travel North for the summer. During 2020 we went nowhere. In 2021 we just had to get out of Dodge! No more wandering around though, I would spend countless hours on the phone making reservations to get to the next concrete or dirt spot. Many times we had to stay at a campground that wasn’t always in the general direction we were heading In the good ole days, circa 2019 and before, we would never think about planning weeks in advance. Call a day or two ahead to check availability at a Campground, then stay a couple of days, or maybe a week. In the 9 years since our retirement, my wife & I visited 45 States. We would leave Florida in June & return in September. Life was good, actually it was Awesome! Wow! what a difference a pandemic makes. Now? do I want to sell my traveling home? NO! Well maybe? I just don’t know. We’re hoping for good times again. The summer of 22 will be better.
Yep! Well said.
DH was recuperating from Open Heart Surgery from 11/20, and with mine and his hospitalizations dating back to 2018 we spent a lot of time at home in south Florida. Part of the idea buying the RV was to explore for a congenial location for summers since I have heat-induced asthma. That summer trip went away because we were paying hospitalizations off (and credit cards that paid the deductibles and overages) We did manage to get our shots and visit our children near Disney and in NC. I’m in a current low level of depression due to a botched back surgery and fear of infection by non symptomatic ill persons. It’s sort of like being a working stiff worried about catching TB in the days before antibiotics. So far even number years have been clobbering us over the heads, hoping 2022 is better for all of us.
Sorry to hear about all of your issues, Mitzi and Ed. I hope things turn around for you and that you have a wonderful, healthy, and pain-free 2022. Take care. 🙂 –Diane
The pace of life slowed down. I was happy. I decided hermit life becomes me,
Hi, Barbara. I decided long ago that I’m definitely a “hermitesse.” Take care, stay healthy, and have a terrific 2022! 🙂 –Diane
It was a good year for glamping for us. Most camping trips in 1 yr. 7 state parks for 5 one week stays. One 6 wk trip that was in 4 rv parks, & 1 rv resort that was close to 2 state parks we could visit. Yes we had to make reservations for all, some 6 mo before. Only 1 on the road stay with no reservations, but we stayed where we wanted, sites we wanted, & enjoyed all the places. Yes virus concerns made us wear masks at most places, but was still a good yr. hopefully better next yr.
Had my 38-years-of-age nephew not died of cancer, then I would have chosen “excellent.” As it was I chose “good.” I get to live and work on our family farm that is no longer farmed and spend at least an hour daily with my 90-years-of-age mother, spend most of each day with my wife and our 14-years-of-age dog, and take the motorhome to a campground or boondocking site for at least a few days each month. Life is good, sometimes difficult, sometimes tragic, often fun or funny, but always good.
It is the tale of 2 years. The first half was pretty good. The second half has been overwhelming to say the least. I keep thinking I finally almost have everything back in order when something comes along that adds to it, let alone letting me finish it.
With 2021 being my first full year of retirement and my wife only working one day a week, it has been the best year since we have been together. Camping wise we got in over 100 nights and looking forward to adding to that number for the 2022 season.
It was a great year besides all of the negativity caused by the political football call Covid-19. We were able to enjoy visiting towns from Key West, FL to Portland, ME, and many in between without worrying about all of the “social” rules we are all so tired of hearing.
My mother died in January 2021 from COVID and my husband lost his 5 1/2 year battle with stage 4 lung cancer in June. The upside of 2021 is that I’m healthy have the love and support of family and friends and I’m still living full-time in my motorhome. Life continues.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and mother, Jill. But I very much admire your positive attitude. I hope you have a very healthy and happy 2022. 🙂 –Diane
I might have rated it higher if we hadn’t gotten Covid. Still gave it a 3. We also buried two close friends. (not covid)
I have had so many blessings this year, it’s hard to believe! I spent the winter in Texas Hill Country and Big Bend, both areas I had not explored. I then moved to Colorado for the summer, another state I had not yet explored. I camped with several groups, clubs, and rallies making new friends and renewing old friendships. The RV lifestyle has afforded me the opportunity to live while others hunker down in fear in their homes. It is sad that so many have suffered but I made a choice not to live in fear but to simply enjoy my life.
We love the Texas Hill County and Lajitas “ Big Bend “ area. We are from Texas.
Gotta stay positive as the news and social websites will make you miserable.
We just camped in Medina and Kerrville, Texas.
Happy Travels!!
It was okay until this past Monday we found out my husband has cancer. I hope I can answer this poll next year that it was at worst ok and at best great.
So sorry to hear about your bad news, Marty. We wish you and your husband the best of luck. We’ll be looking for your great report here at the end of 2022. Take care, and wishing you a very Healthy and Happy 2022. 🙂 –Diane
Pretty good year. Finally got all the air leaks fixed on my truck, got my 3 Covid shots, nipped bronchitis in the bud with a Z pac, went camping and never had a problem getting a spot, stayed pretty healthy except for breaking a bone in my foot in November. It’s still healing.
Great! Retired and back to work part time. Working on personal projects and getting them completed. With all the crap going on in this world and you’ve made it to the end of the year you’ve done great!
Well, as full-timers, we stayed traveling. I did have a heart attack along the way. But the great doctors fixed me back up and it looks like we might get thru our 16 year. All in all, good year.
during the year we went about our lives about as normal as in previous years. my BIL passed away in March so we spent 3-months in CA (May-Aug) closing out his affairs, selling his car and home. we lived in our MH during this time…nice park in San Jose CA (Coyote Valley RV Park). while there my wife and I had some health issues (not CV19 related) which resulted in minor surgery for her when we returned home. She also had foot surgery a few weeks ago (still recovering). Apart from that it was a normal year for us.
Considering that we (my darling wife Susie, My handicapped son Jimmy, and Myself) are all reasonably healthy, I cannot give the year a total thumbs down. Hurricane Ida did drop 2 large pine trees onto our sticks & bricks home, totaling it, so I dug into my savings to buy a new place to live. I am still in the process of moving possessions as I can handle them (you really can’t fit that much into a Ford Focus, so I am making many daily trips!) Hoping 2022 brings a much better year for everyone ……… Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Wow! What a challenging year for you and your family, Jim. We hope that 2022 goes much better for you. Good luck, take care, and stay healthy. 🙂 –Diane
Five Stars!!
Probably the best summer in the twelve we have been retired. We were asked to pastor a church for the summer in Alaska. We drove, pulling our trailer, from California up through Canada to Alaska. It was a “once in a lifetime experience “. Because of COVID restrictions, there were very, very few cars. More wildlife sightings than any trip through Canada. We had Canada and part of Alaska to ourselves. We are Thankful Campers.
New to us 2020 Winnebago motorhome bought in June, very aggressive prostate cancer diagnosed in July, prostate surgery in September, recovery and hormone treatment still going on, and radiation next month. Only 10 nights of camping in the new motorhome, so not a very good year!
Good luck on your recovery, Steve. We hope you have a healthy and happy 2022, with many nights of camping in your new motorhome! Take care. 🙂 –Diane
Steve, been there, done that. IT AIN”T FUN!! BUT rather than leaving this earth too early, for you and your family, YOU WILL COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE! and YOU and the motor home will still be here. We got a new motor home after all “the mess” and are able to enjoy. Just look for the rainbow after the storm.
2 Stars – Definitely wouldn’t recommend – Avoid if possible.
It was a great year. After forty years of camping no more constant repair bills and no more aggravation with costs of skyrocketing!!! We sold the motor home.
We experienced our first cross country trip that lasted 2 months, the birth of our first grandson and celebrated his sister’s third birthday in California. We celebrated our son’s promotion to clinical supervisor, our daughter’s starting her new accounting business and numerous other family birthdays. We sadly also experienced the loss of dear friends and close relatives due to various illnesses, including COVID. We are able to explore and travel freely, with caution, and see the World’s beauty. So to answer, hoping for another year of joy and happiness, without loss and the ability to be with and share experiences with friends and family!
2 Stars here. I’m fully vaccinated & boosted (+ Flu & pneumonia shots) but, SO many people won’t get vaccinated and then refuse to wear a mask / keep socially distant. So many places I’ve yet to see (& others I want to get back to). I’ve been isolating in place since March, 2020 but, I’m not DYING to do so. I doubt 2022 will be much better and can easily be much worse. 🙁
2 stars. Started with recovering from COVID. Then back pain (stenosis). Surgery for that. Just 2 days away from Doc release for that, I fell and shattered my left heel and had my ankle do a 90 degree angle also. Just got back to work after 6 mths with a long recovery yet.
Wow! Sorry to hear all of that, Bart. Good luck with your recovery and I hope you’re much better soon. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, pain- and injury-free 2022! 🙂 –Diane
Thank you very much! The back surgery was a success! The foot on the other hand (?) a joke kinda, will take much much longer.
Thank you for the kind words and wish you all there a Merry Christmas!
You’re welcome, Bart. And thank you for the good wishes! Long recoveries are difficult and frustrating, and certainly try our patience (been there, done that). But pretty soon you’ll be better than new. Onward and upward! (One of my favorite mottos. Also, “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” But that has nothing to do with this — it just popped into my 75-year-old brain! 😆 ) Take care. 🙂 -Diane
4 stars. We spent two months in our RV, sold it and our toad. We then bought a new Diesel truck and an Outdoors TV trailer and spent another 3 months in that, before coming home. We were in Arizona Utah, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The only trouble we had was with a camper in Idaho threatening to “get his gun and kill me and my dogs, because his dog tried to attack my dogs and I told him his scrawny little mutt didn’t stand a chance. He was removed by the campground and local Sheriff. So.far, no Covid, boosters taken and masks are being worn.
God Bless, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to everyone. Hope the New Years bring blessings to all.
We welcomed our first grandchild this year! A beautiful girl Lila. I think this has made me look at things differently. I am now known as Grandpa mush mush!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
So happy for you. We have a granddaughter named Lilah. Beautiful name, no matter how it is spelled.
Some extra adventures, like catching mild case of COVID after being vaccinated, and leaving campground hosting job to live in a Residence Inn for 3 1/2 weeks…. a budget buster, but our kids turned us on to Instacart for food deliveries, etc. and we recovered just fine… and the experience came with new travels and new adventures…. we are learning to be a lot more loose in our planning, or flexible, if you prefer, or maybe just say now we have plans, A, B and C as be begin our next adventure travel… Happy Holidays and a very happy New Year to all.
My DW and I did not contract Covid but we did cut our annual western tour short to return home for family health reasons. So, we were better than most.
Overall a good year. Grandkids are achieving in their personal goals and son’s are also making great progress in their careers. We live in our motorhome and have been back and forth across the country for the 21st time to visit family on both coasts and friends along the way. We stayed in our east coast apartment for two months to catch up with the community we grew up in and raised our family. Our health is about where it was a year ago which at our age is a bonus. We have lost friends, but it is to be expected as many are pushing into their 80s. Even the markets have smiled on us so we are moving into 2022 in a hopeful mood, knowing that nasty surprises surely await.
Pretty darn good! We didn’t take an rv trip until this last week. We bought a house in San MIguel de Allende, Guanajuato. We did several house sits throughout the year that kept us off the streets and away from Covid. We pretty much stayed to ourselves but like always, what’s more fun that that! We can live with masks, we’re so used to it I catch myself with it on in the house sometimes. No big deal. I have just as much freedom now as I did before the pandemic and my rights are still intact. 🙂