Welcome to Part II about our three-year experience, living in a fifth-wheel. We're now well into year #4, and still going strong. (Although the place needs some cleaning up right now.)
There are a number of things we rely on, to make life more comfortable. These aren't listed in any particular order -- but they all have come in handy.
*Think light -- or at least, lighter. Our constant struggle is keeping the trailer light enough to pull. (This issue particularly drives the Brick crazy -- he is much more 'minimalist' than I am.) If we bring something in, we try to take something out to compensate. We:
*minimize our furniture (and make it portable, like folding chairs we can also use outside) We sleep on an air mattress, and got rid of our heavy (and ugly) couch, but still have two recliners, a table and chairs.
*keep dishes and servingware to a minimum. I should go only plastic, I suppose, but we both prefer glass. (You just allow for breakage.) I keep a few cookie sheets, cutting board -- and only the pots and pans that will fit in the stove. (Generally one of each size -- or just one.)
*stock a supply of dried or canned long-life foods. They're not only lighter, but fill in while we're boondocking out in the woods -- or run out. I keep dried eggs, sour cream, cheese sauce, milk -- even butter! I also have dried beans, ramen noodles -- and a stash of canned goods we gradually whittle away at, like canned chicken, beef, soups...and corned beef hash. I try to buy basic items that work in more than one style of food, then implement with smaller jars of sauces and spices.
*Hang whatever you can. Put it in cupboards Or at least box or shelve it. Our knives are on a magnetic rack. Appliances, except for the coffeemaker, are stashed. The bed lifts up, with storage underneath, and we have a wall of mirrored closets for clothes and such. Hanging racks are in several places -- one holds my necklaces, another our winter coats.
We try to do this for everything from birthday cards to tools. (When they lay out, things get messy. Like now. The Brick's great aim is to "have everything off the floor.") I also have designated areas for incoming/outgoing mail, library books, stuff headed for the basement and such.
*Strip what you can. Our DVD and CD collection now resides in 5 sturdy black cloth zip folders that each hold about 400 discs. All together, they fit nicely underneath the electric fireplace -- and below the DVD player. Cookies, flour and other foodstuffs go right into the cookie jar, bins, etc. We only keep packaging if it's really important; otherwise, it's pulled off and thrown away.
TV, dvd player, fireplace -- and a quick view of the shower and sink, up the steps
Christmas is probably the most for 'stripping:' we don't have room for a large tree. For the Seven Fish Dishes and other holiday dinners, we borrow space -- or go to the girlies' homes, instead. (Being a typical mom, I'm not thrilled about this part. But so far, it's worked.)
*Some things may have to go into storage. Two large bins of quilts are up in the garage loft, waiting for the next teaching job. Extra foodstuffs (canned and jarred) are in a large bin that fits near the trailer -- topped with heavy bricks, so Ralph, our resident bear, doesn't investigate.
We try hard to minimize this. In fact, one of our jobs this fall is to bring back (and clear out) the storage trailer that's been waiting for us at The Mama's farm these past months. We were lucky to have family members buy the place, and let us continue to keep some things there.
*Keep your outside needs as basic as possible. When we're parked, electricity and water are hooked up. But we also have an extensive solar panel setup on the roof that helps out. (When we get the full battery array up, it should do a lot more than that.) We also have a few small fans and heaters that can be moved as needed.
When we're on the road, we have more than enough in water tanks and battery power to be out by ourselves for days. Propane heats the stove -- and the trailer. Air conditioning cools it. If we park somewhere...we just hookup again, or fill the tanks as needed. The trailer isn't that big -- and fits in a wide variety of areas, as long as it's reasonably level. Everything from the boonies to the barnyard.
This has worked very, very well.
The Mama's farm, in Michigan.
*Bathroom and personal care issues: towels are rolled tightly and stored in a magazine organizer that hangs inside the toilet room. (Our shower is outside, in the hallway, along with a small sink.) Medical and personal items are inside cupboards, including cleaning supplies. We're lucky to have a small hole underneath the sink that leads to a laundry basket in the 'basement,' so dirty clothes go there. We use our friends' washer/dryer when we're on the ranch -- or I'll stop at a laundry or barter for using friends' equipment.
One big issue is the toilet. (Which works like any other, I might add.) We could use it normally -- and have to empty it twice as quickly. So, we followed the advice of other RVers and implemented the Mexican method for used toilet paper -- it goes in a covered small can. The bag is removed and thrown away at least weekly; I swear it does not have a strong smell. I do try to clean the toilet every day...I wish I'd been doing this when we lived in a stationary house. It makes a real difference.
This helps make emptying the blackwater tank a 2 1/2 or 3 week task that only takes about 30 min -- rather than a big production. (I also try to use the facilities when we're out and about, to minimize things.) And it's surprisingly effective.
We have the best view in the world when we're in Colorado.
The shower is no big deal at all -- when we're hooked up to a water source. Otherwise, we take fast showers, and limit our dishwashing. (Or use paper plates.) Graywater is much more easily disposed of, since it doesn't hurt the plants. If we're very limited on water, I'll take a sponge bath -- or even better, use personal wipes to stay clean and tidy. (She says primly.)
*Money and other financial matters:
*We do nearly everything electronically, including depositing checks. Bills are paid automatically every month. (And yes, we both check our accounts regularly.) Other than mail and tax papers, we're almost exclusively paperless. (My appraisal work does mean keeping some for the workfile.)
*We're almost done using up what we kept from the Collins house. I did not realize what a packrat I was, but we've had plenty of cleaner, shampoo, etc. for YEARS. Having access to discount places like the Friday/Saturday store didn't help, either. A lot of the extras are stashed in that large bin outside -- which is gradually emptying. I don't look forward to spending the money to restock...but I won't stock as much!
*All of our phone and internet needs are dealt with, the same as if we were in a house -- but we do have a satellite dish and a receiver, which helps. We share an Amazon Prime account with a daughter, which gives us access to all sorts of channels. The one issue in this area: football games. We can't always get the games for CU or Michigan, like we would wish. (Sometimes we just go to a restaurant that shows them -- like Red Robin. Or friends may invite us over.)
*Our mail goes to a P.O. box which we have checked, usually monthly. (We should do it more, but ah well.) Sometimes we get mail wherever we're staying at the moment. (Most of the year, that means our friends' ranch, south of Denver, CO.) This usually works -- only because our bills are paid electronically.
*Don't forget the 'homely' touches. I like my personal baubles around, like Bigfoot and his cave. I enjoy having a plant, or a small bouquet on display. The cookie jar stays by the Brick's chair, so he can dip in for an occasional 'pogeybait.' And Ruby the dog has her own personal water and food dish. I keep a box of decorations that I'll dip into as the seasons change, or the quilt on the bed will be replaced. These all are reminders that we don't just stay here -- we live here. Which also means that we replace the bedsheets, do dishes regularly and try to put stuff away. Sweeping and picking up now and then keeps things tidy, but fewer items to bump into, as well.
Someday we may change our current way of living. We've been looking at land, and talking about possibilities -- one is possibly building a pole barn, then moving the fifth-wheel into part of it, while we renovate the rest. It's fun to think about the future.
But for now, this is HOME
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