Life on the road is a trip, but it”s not for everyone
‘Fulltime RVing is a lifestyle, not a race around America,” says solo RVer and author Joei Carlton Hossack.
“More importantly,” she says, “full-time RVing is not a lifestyle for everyone. If you are not enjoying it find another way of life that will bring you pleasure. The one thing I have learned in my 61 years is that whether you are happy or not, the years go by very quickly and if you cannot find your niche then create it.”
Hossack, author of six real-life adventure-travel books, including her most recent “Free Spirit, Born to Wander,” will be in the Inland Northwest over the next two weeks doing book signings at Hastings Book, Music & Video stores.
The full-time RVer first hit the road in 1989 with her husband, Paul. They bought a caravan in England and traveled for almost three years throughout Europe.
“Sadly,” she says, “he died unexpectedly of a heart attack on that trip. He was only 52.”
Hossack decided to continue their dream of living full time on the road.
Although she has owned both motor homes and 5th wheel trailers, the author is now living in a 10-foot Elkhorn camper, set atop her ¾-ton F-250 Ford diesel truck.
“When I got this combination I only had one book published,” she says, “now I have six.”
The back seat of Hossack’s extended cab is loaded with boxes of books. “When I stopped in October at my book distributor I already had 10 boxes with me and I picked up another 14,” she says.
“I have to turn sideways to go down the aisle of my little camper,” says the author. “Let me put it to you this way, if I get any fatter, I ain’t gonna fit.”
A few observations
After more than a dozen years full timing, Hossack has a few observations:
“ Full-time RVing is not a 365-day holiday. “There is still grocery shopping, cleaning and the ever-present pile of laundry to be washed. There are as many expenses to take care on the road as there are in a stationary dwelling,” says Hossack.
“ Get a mail-forwarding service. “Do not rely on friends or relatives to forward your mail,” she says. “You’ll feel more comfortable telling the service when they are doing a good or bad job, and you won’t feel guilty about calling them too often because it’s their job to ship the mail.”
“ Keeping in touch with friends and family. “Every library in the United States and Canada has computers with Internet access and they are free of charge,” she says.
Hossack’s schedule
Stop by and chat with Hossack about her RV lifestyle during her seven Inland Northwest booksignings:
“ Tuesday, 1 to 8 p.m. - Hastings Book, Music & Video, 7706 N. Division.
“ Friday, 1 to 8 p.m. - Hastings Book, Music & Video, 15312 Sprague Ave., Veradale.
“ Next Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Hastings Book, Music & Video, 1704 W. Wellesley Ave., Shadle Park Center.
“ May 8, 1 to 8 p.m. - Hastings Book, Music & Video, 2512 E. 29th Ave.
“ May 10, 1 to 8 p.m. - Hastings Book, Music & Video, 101 Best Ave., Coeur d’Alene.
“ May 13, 1 to 8 p.m. Hastings Book, Music & Video, 2230 W. Pullman, Palouse Empire Mall, Moscow, Idaho.
“ May 14, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Hastings Book, Music & Video, 139 Thain Road, Lewiston, Idaho.
For more information
“ Joei Carlton Hossack’s Web site is www.joeicarlson or you can e-mail her at JoeiCarlton@Hotmail.com or SkeenaPress@Hotmail.com.
“ Her books are available in the United States and Canada by calling (800) 472-0438 or online at www.aBooks.com.
Bristol NASCAR fan writes in
Last week’s article about the NACSAR race at the Bristol Motor Speedway elicited an illustrative response from Bristol native son Bill Edwards of Ephrata, Wash.
It seems the population of Bristol was grossly understated in the article. The figure quoted was 10,000. Edwards wrote in saying that Bristol is actually two cities joined at the state line of Tennessee and Virginia with the combined population of more than 42,000.
“When you consider the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City and Abingdon, which are also nearby,” said Edwards in an e-mail, “there is a good sized local population, and quite a few of these folks are also stock car racing fans.
“Before I joined the Navy, my family and I attended the ‘real’ stock car races at a dirt track near what is now the Bristol Motor Speedway,” he continued. “I recall the flying dirt and mud, as they always watered the track between races. It would change from mud to dust rather quickly and you could not count on your clothes or car staying clean when you attended.”
Edwards said it is okay to list his e-mail address ( wje@usa.com). “If it would bring a few Bristol ex-patriots out of the woodwork, I would enjoy e-mails from them.”