Photos Of A Former Centerfold RV... Still Looking Good

We really appreciate all the comments, considerations and congratulations readers posted on "Adopting Goldilocks." Traveling in a class C Lazy Daze motorhome is going to be a new travel style for us. Having gone from tent to station wagon to pickup/topper to pickup/camper to pickup/bigger camper to Arctic Fox trailer to Excel Fiver with slide-outs to (deep breath), I guess you could say there is a noticeable "trend," smaller to bigger; simple to sophisticated.

That trend reversed itself with the purchase of our cute, but itsy bitsy Chalet A frame hard side pop up camper with Dormer. Some would call this a vicious circle, others, a compulsive RV shopping disorder (sigh).


What ever neurosis you label such behavior as, it served me well. It helped to renew excitement and anticipation... got me though long dark periods on "treadmills" with time clocks to punch. Yes, we did suffer some depreciation on most of our "vicious circle" upgrades, but not as much as you might think. 

Newbies are pretty much blind. Most trial and error their way to the proper RV and lifestyle. We didn't have any money to spend on campers when we were just starting out, so a tent and sleeping bags it was... till we got tired of being wet. Off we went... inching our way up the RV ladder. 

But seriously, how many people do you know that got their RV purchase right the first time? Ok, RV Dreamers Howard and Linda, but besides them? Ok, Tioga George, too, but beyond those "un-American" cheapskates, who else? Our economy depends on people like us (me). It puts people to work, damn it! But with age comes wisdom, and a strong desire to get off a freaking treadmill. So, an inexpensive rig like Goldie makes sense if one wants to have any money left for their old age travel compulsions. At 18 years old Goldie is damn near a senior citizen in RV years... but she seems to be in excellent health. We'll see. The great thing is, at 18, the depreciation days are almost over... especially, I'm told, with a Lazy Daze unit. I checked the list price for a new 27 foot Lazy Daze, just out of curiosity, and it's dang near 100 K! 

Here's what we're thinking. It doesn't make sense to wander the entire western USA in Goldie, not at 9 to 10 miles per gallon, nor at the expense of six tires, maintenance, and general wear and tear. Barring a lotto win, I'd like to think Goldie is our last RV purchase; there's really nothing left to try anyway, except a class A, and tho I once wanted to be a Greyhound bus driver when I was a kid, I'm not so sure about it now. Goldie drives so easy, turns so sharp, and handles like a dream. I don't think you can say that about a class A. 

We wonder about the advantages of storing Goldi over the summer months when we are back home in Lovely Ouray hiking and biking... somewhere near a place that we enjoy going to every year, like Zion, Sedona or Tucson. We don't have enough room in our driveway at home, that's for sure, and the Chalet is taking up most of the garage as it is. If we stored Goldi near Zion, say, we could just jump in Sue Bee in October, get on the interstate and be there in nine hours. It would be more like a two day trip in an aging motorhome. I'm not sure about Tucson or St. George's infernal summer heat... if it would harm Goldie. Ideally she needs to be covered so as to be out of direct sunlight. 

More photos and some thoughts on our plan to convert the rear Imax window room to a lounge... maybe a black light, some groovy glow-in-the-dark posters and a mirror ball :))
Seriously, I would like ideas for the rear room (a former bed room)... starting with small, but comfortable swivel, recliner chairs!!!
Thanks, Mark and Bobbie