Evolution

[GeneF]

Been around here for a few years and DW and I have gone through an evolution in our camping.

Many of you know that we went through four popups, 1 htt and are now on our first tt.

We are currently "snowbirding" in Florida for three months.  Since many of you are thinking about this route in the future, I just thought that I would share a few experiences.

Our trailer is a 28 foot Jayco RSL with a large window in the rear, two swivel rockers and a couch in the living area along with the dinnette and kitchen area.  We have a small bathroom and a decent bedroom. Yes, it is like a house but it fits our current needs very well.

We are finding that being in one place with many others that are also snowbirding from one to six months that you are living in a community.  People are friendly and very active.  Bingo, shuffleboard, eucher, pot luck dinners, fishing, beach walking, and takiing walks are among the major activities along with socializing.  This campground does not have an activities director.  The activities are organized and run by people in the park.  Before you scoff at the activities, keep in mind that this is a senior community.  Many are well into their 70's but amazingly active.  (You too will one day be there.)

I have already been introduced to the sport of surf fishing.  No fish yet, but hopefully I will get a few.

Staying for this long allows you to make tighter bonds with some of the fellow campers that are here.  Relationships are not just for a weekend or a week.

Although there is some transit people, the majority are staying for long periods on sites that they have had for years.  Some have been coming here for over 30 years.

Living in the trailer has not been a problem.  It is amazing how quickly you adjust to living in a small area for a long period of time.  Like our other campers, we do spend a lot of time outside.

 We have also been able to explore the St. Augustine area and do our shopping and learning what the community has to offer.  I think this is an advantage over just spending a few days in an area.

DW and I are enjoying ourselves but we still yearn to head out and do some travelling in the fall.  Avoiding  the NH winter is the main reason we came here and we both agree that it was a good idea.  We have already made our ressies for three months next year.

Our "Evolution" has been a great odyssey. One that DW and I hope that many of you will be able to enjoy in the future.

You will just have to accept the fact that your evolution may not have a popup in your future and a "tin can" may be.  Just go with the flow, it is a great journey.

[PattieAM]

Been around here for a few years and DW and I have gone through an evolution in our camping.

Many of you know that we went through four popups, 1 htt and are now on our first tt.

We are currently "snowbirding" in Florida for three months.  Since many of you are thinking about this route in the future, I just thought that I would share a few experiences.

Our trailer is a 28 foot Jayco RSL with a large window in the rear, two swivel rockers and a couch in the living area along with the dinnette and kitchen area.  We have a small bathroom and a decent bedroom. Yes, it is like a house but it fits our current needs very well.

We are finding that being in one place with many others that are also snowbirding from one to six months that you are living in a community.  People are friendly and very active.  Bingo, shuffleboard, eucher, pot luck dinners, fishing, beach walking, and takiing walks are among the major activities along with socializing.  This campground does not have an activities director.  The activities are organized and run by people in the park.  Before you scoff at the activities, keep in mind that this is a senior community.  Many are well into their 70's but amazingly active.  (You too will one day be there.)

I have already been introduced to the sport of surf fishing.  No fish yet, but hopefully I will get a few.

Staying for this long allows you to make tighter bonds with some of the fellow campers that are here.  Relationships are not just for a weekend or a week.

Although there is some transit people, the majority are staying for long periods on sites that they have had for years.  Some have been coming here for over 30 years.

Living in the trailer has not been a problem.  It is amazing how quickly you adjust to living in a small area for a long period of time.  Like our other campers, we do spend a lot of time outside.

 We have also been able to explore the St. Augustine area and do our shopping and learning what the community has to offer.  I think this is an advantage over just spending a few days in an area.

DW and I are enjoying ourselves but we still yearn to head out and do some travelling in the fall.  Avoiding  the NH winter is the main reason we came here and we both agree that it was a good idea.  We have already made our ressies for three months next year.

Our "Evolution" has been a great odyssey. One that DW and I hope that many of you will be able to enjoy in the future.

You will just have to accept the fact that your evolution may not have a popup in your future and a "tin can" may be.  Just go with the flow, it is a great journey.

Thank you for sharing this with us.  I have no issues with being in a 'community' with seniors.  Amazing how much more they know than I do!  If and when I ever get to 'snowbird' I will most likely do a minimum of 3 weeks in any location.

[CajunCamper]

Glad to hear that you and your DW are enjoying yourselves. That's what it's all about whether in a tent in a pop up a TT or Motorhome, it's all about enjoying each day that we have.

Good for you.

CajunCamper

[GeneF]

I noticed that I started this thread on Feb 2 and it is now April 10.

We arrived home safely after four days on the road and spent about $100 more on gas than we did when we went down.

All my previous comments still held true for Feb and March.  DW and I increased the number of friendships over this time and we are looking forward to seeing these people again next year.

I was also taught the art of crabbing, which was a lot of fun.  Last time we went, four of us caught a total of 96 crabs.

Living in the trailer for three months did not prove to be a problem at all.  We adjusted to the limited space and did spend a lot of time outdoors.  I think that the layout of a rig when you are in one place for a long time is more important than if you are travelling for a week or so.

Main thing we are going to change is the tv.  The 15 inch screen was fine for the Kiwi but not for the tt.

DW and I enjoyed having the swivel rockers for comfort and the couch for company.

We had two friends stay with us for five days.  Their main comment was that as guests, they did not have a lot of privacy like they did when they camped in the Kiwi with us.  With the kiwi, they could close the curtain on their bunk end.  In the tt, they slept on the couch and dinnette.  Unless you get a bunkhouse model. tt's are mainly set up for two people.

We found that we brought way to many clothes so next year it is going to be cutting down on that area.

Several times we talked about anything that we were missing or wished that we had with us.  Neither one of us could come up with something.

We had plenty of excess storage.  We had one closet available for guests to unpack and put their items.  Still had plenty of space under the bed for storage.   Ladder, two lafumas, patio mat, lynx levelers, rake, fishing golf cart, and rv brush were in the back of the truck.

Medical facilities are great in St. Augustine.  I had a minor medical issue and everything was taken care of a lot more quickly than if I had had the same problem at home.

From talking to the folks in NH, I am very happy that we spent three months in Florida.  Still a bunch of snow in the yard and I was finally able to get my Scion XB out of the ice.  It had been frozen in the driveway for the past 6 weeks.  

Nine more months and it will be back to St. Agustine.

[Old Starcraft]

Gene,
Thanks for the post. I've been to St. Augustine a couple of times for a total of 7 days. You are right that is one of the vacation spots I think I've enjoyed the most. Beautiful beaches. The locals were very nice. I love all of the history in that area ! I have to agree that to enjoy something as nice as St. Augustine you have to stay at least a week, or more.
 
I'm in my early 40's and do hope that I'm in good enough shape when I retire to be able to enjoy camping as much as I do now, no matter what type of rig it is. I may have overlooked it, but what campground did you stay at? When I was there 12 years ago I stayed on the beach at a friend's vacation condo.

[GeneF]

Gene,
Thanks for the post. I've been to St. Augustine a couple of times for a total of 7 days. You are right that is one of the vacation spots I think I've enjoyed the most. Beautiful beaches. The locals were very nice. I love all of the history in that area ! I have to agree that to enjoy something as nice as St. Augustine you have to stay at least a week, or more.
 
I'm in my early 40's and do hope that I'm in good enough shape when I retire to be able to enjoy camping as much as I do now, no matter what type of rig it is. I may have overlooked it, but what campground did you stay at? When I was there 12 years ago I stayed on the beach at a friend's vacation condo.

We stayed at North Beach RV Resort.  Not the fanciest cg but one of the nicest we have stayed at.  Nice beach across the road and the inland waterway is in the back.

Daily rate runs from about $50 to $75.  Monthly rate plus electricity is more affordable but higher than if you are inland.  Location, Location, Location.

Getting in for long stays is getting a bit tougher since another cg just down the road was bought out and condo's are going in.  Lots of inquiries.

If we were to sell out here in NH, St. Augustine would be our destination.

[Old Starcraft]

 
Thanks for the info! Really looks like a nice cg ! Looking at the pics the rates may seem a little high for my wallet, but if you get that kind of privacy it would be more than worth it. Cg really looks like a nice one. I've bookmarked the cg's for when the tribe is ready to make a longer trip.
 
I notice they didn't mention another attraction.... I think it was in that area.. Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth. I still have one of those bottle at home somewhere..

[GeneF]

 

I notice they didn't mention another attraction.... I think it was in that area.. Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth. I still have one of those bottle at home somewhere..

LOL

I tried some of that stuff.  I guess it doesn't work because I am not working and am still retired (and loving it).

For a less expensive place in the area, take a look at Anastasia State Park.  Beautiful beach and nice cg.  Getting ressies might be a problem in the winter months.

[Old Starcraft]

LOL
 
I tried some of that stuff. I guess it doesn't work because I am not working and am still retired (and loving it).
 
For a less expensive place in the area, take a look at Anastasia State Park. Beautiful beach and nice cg. Getting ressies might be a problem in the winter months.

Thanks, I've put that cg down for a possible long distance trip next year when after we work our way down on the "To Do" list of making the old camper more comfortable.
 
THANKS :-()

[spicyville1]

WOW! What a great review of the cg. I really cannot say I am a snowbird being from Texas and all but I sure want to go there!