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RT40 Roadtreking Podcast: Hitting the Road After the Kids are Gone

| Updated Jun 17, 2015

Empty nesters have two choices once the last kid leaves home for good: sit around pining for the good ol' days or make some great new days.

The RV lifestyle offers a way to make some great new days – to get out to see amazing places and meet awesome people and not just exist, but live.

David and Veronica James, aka The Gypsy Nesters, are among the best examples of how it can work.

In fact, they take it to the extreme because eight years ago they sold their sticks-and-bricks home and hit the road in a 1983 model Chevy RV. They haven't looked back since and make it practice to always look ahead.

It's just one of the things they talk about in their new book, “Going Gypsy: One Couple's Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest At All.”

The Gypsy Nesters also are the featured guest on this episode of the Roadtreking RV podcast, where they join Mike to talk about, among other things:

  • What went into the decision to trade their home for a life on the road
  • What their family thought of the decision
  • How to keep in touch with family while RVing full-time
  • Suggestions for getting along as a couple while on the road
  • How RVing can bring couples together
  • Should you sell your house before becoming a full-time RVer?
  • The challenges of being a full-time RVer
  • Some unnerving situations they've been in
  • The best things about being full-timers
  • Their favorite RV destinations

Also in this episode, Mike is joined by Jennifer, who is on the mend from pneumonia after being hospitalized during their latest trip. They answer a reader question about moving to a retirement community for over 55 RVers in the Arizona desert with some common sense advice.

Plus, Mike has RV news of the week and a great bucket list destination – the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

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Show Notes for Episode #40, June 17, 2015, of Roadtreking – The RV Lifestyle Podcast:

First Things First: From South Dakota, Jennifer's On the Mend

The show begins with Jennifer joining Mike after an illness forced her to spend some time in a Montana hospital during what they call “the trip from hell,” which included an RV burglary, food poisoning, a twisted ankle, and culminated with Jennifer being diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and spending several days in a hospital. And yet, it's still been a great trip! [spp-timestamp time=”2:07″]

Listener Question: Can You Help Me Find a 55+ Community Fitting for the RV Lifestyle?

Listener Julie wants to find a 55+ community that is RV-friendly and meets her health and financial needs. Mike and Jennifer have some suggestions, which include exploring the possibility of park model communities in and around Apache Junction, Arizona. [spp-timestamp time=”7:16″]

Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, Mo.
Van City RV only sells Class B. RVs. Owner Ray Dwyer has been in the RV business for 44 years and is considered the dean of Class B RVs. Nobody knows more about small motorhomes that Ray and his crew. They have new and used Class B motorhomes in stock from the major manufacturers. When you fly in to buy your RV from Van City, they'll arrange to have you picked up from the airport and will reimburse you $500 toward your airfare. Then, your RV will be fully prepared for travel, complete with full tanks of fuel and propane. After a complete orientation with their staff on your new RV, you can take delivery and set out for home. Dan the Van Man gives the week's specials on the podcast.

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RV News of the Week: RV Industry Growth, Pet Problems, Vintage Trailer Theft

Millennials, Boomers Driving RV Growth : The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association reports RV shipments (the gauge for the RV industry's health) will increase 6.5 percent in 2015 to about 380,000 units. Even bigger numbers are projected for 2016. Who's driving the boom? Millennials and baby boomers. (Read more) [spp-timestamp time=”15:10″]

Rhode Island Lawmakers Tackling Pet Discrimination: Rhode Island law allows only four-legged pets like cats and dogs at campsites but a new bill working its way through the system could change that, which is good news for one man who was kicked out of two campgrounds for taking his pet cockatoo along . (Read more) [spp-timestamp time=”17:38″]

Restored 1962 Airstream Overlander Stolen: A Prairie Village, Kan. family is pleading for the return of what it calls an heirloom in form of a 1962 Airstream Overlander. It was in the final stages of being restored when it was stolen. (Read more)[spp-timestamp time=” 18:59″]

This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde, the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV.

The Alde hydronic system brings many features and benefits not found with any other product.

  1. Silent Radiant Heat – providing a warm even natural heated interior. Great for pets. (And Humans)
  2. Increased Interior Space by combining two systems in one.
  3. Efficiency. The whole system draws less than 1 amp on 12V DC and will extend the life of your propane roughly 40% over forced air.
  4. Heating on Electric or Gas.
  5. Multiple Options and Amenities: Towel Warmers, Floor Heat, Tank Heating, 4 Season Camping, Engine Heat, Driver Comfort,
  6. Modern Programable Color Touch Screen Thermostat and Interface
  7. Minimal Side-Wall Penetration. Small combined intake and exhaust eliminate big cut outs and sidewall congestion.

Traveling Tech: Apps to Help Avoid Overheating and Dehydration

We’re getting into the thick of the summer season, but good summer times can quickly take a turn for the worse if the right precautions aren’t taken, leaving you dehydrated, sunburnt, or just plain nauseous from overdoing it in the heat. But with the right apps you can avoid big trouble in the summer.

If you’re going to be engaged in other physical outdoor activity when it heats up you need the OSHA Heat Safety Tool. Since it's from OSHA, it's obviously designed for a work setting, but it can be used by anyone doing stuff outdoors. The recently updated app allows users to calculate the heat index for a specific location and see risk levels for the day. Users also can set up the Heat Safety Tool to get reminders about drinking enough fluids, when to take breaks, and monitoring for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. The app is free for iOS and Android.

And don’t forget to stay hydrated. For iOS, get Waterlogged. For Android, get Water Your Body. Both are free and work pretty much the same by providing you information about how much water you’ve had to drink and how much you should be drinking based on variable such as age, weight, and gender. You can get alerts, too, so that you know when you’re due for some more. (Read more) [spp-timestamp time=”21:53″]

This podcast is brought to you by Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.

Getting ready to go on vacation? Make sure you take these tech essentials on your next trip!

  • Stay connected everywhere you go with the Verizon Ellipsis Jetpack! With the ability to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices, you can stay connected to Verizon’s 4G LTE network and take the Internet anywhere you go.
  • Recharge while enroute with a mophie powerstation mini. Never worry about having a low battery again. This wireless charger fits in your pocket and can give your smartphone battery the boost it needs.
  • Control your home while on the road. Thanks to smart home accessories like the NestHome Thermostat, Kwikset Kevo lock and Belkin Netcam, frequent travelers can monitor their house and control energy costs while they’re away.
  • Protect your phone with new LifeProof FRĒ [pronounced FREE] Power case. Made for adventurers, this phone case can stand up to Earth’s toughest elements.

 Head to your local Verizon retailer to get outfitted for your next trip today!

Visit Roadtreking.com/vzw for stories about how technology can enhance and improve your life.

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RV Bucket List Destinations: Theodore Roosevelt National Park (The Other Badlands)

Roadtreking's Jim Phipps recently wrote a blogpost for the Roadtreking website about Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Mike and Jennifer stopped by there this week, too, and Mike fills you in on some of the details and why you should seriously think about adding “the other Badlands” to your RV bucket destination list. You can read Jim's post here: https://rvlifestyle.com/shhh-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-rocks-dont-pass-it-on/ [spp-timestamp time=”26:56″]

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This part of the podcast is brought to you by Leisure Time RV, serving central Florida and the Internet from Winter Garden, Fla.

Leisure Time RV will be having its  45th Anniversary Sale  June 18-21 (Father’s Day Weekend) and featuring great close-out specials.

Leisure Time invites you to come share hot dogs, hamburgers, and other refreshments Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, 2015 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

You can also go to leisuretimerv.com to get a $500 Customer Appreciation Discount Coupon. Just print it out and bring to the sale, where you can also register to win a $250 gas card.

And as a reminder, Leisure Time RV takes RVs, cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, and motorcycles in trade.

  • One of the oldest Roadtrek dealers in U.S – Family-owned and 45 years in business;
  • Selling Roadtreks over 25 years;
  • Consistently among top 10 Roadtrek dealers in U.S.;
  • Fully-stocked parts store- Factory-preferred parts dealership for Roadtrek (see Maureen!);
  • Knowledgeable staff /sales/service. (general sales manager and one of top salespersons both own Roadtreks).
  • Convenient location – Destination location in Florida;
  • Full-line Roadtrek inventory;
  • Leisure Time RV supports Roadtrek Rallys;
  • Pet friendly dealership;
  • Member, Route 66 RV Network – National Service Network;
  • Accessible Management / Friendly Staff;
  • Factory-trained staff;
  • Free overnight camping available;
  • Free WiFi;
  • Comfortable customer lounge;
  • Free airport shuttles;
  • Thorough product demonstrations;
  • Two convenient camping resorts within minutes of Leisure Time RV.
  • Convenient dining and shopping options nearby;
  • Dealerships specializes in fuel-efficient RVs;
  • Air-conditioned showroom.

Interview: The GypsyNesters, David and Veronica James

Mike talks to the GypsyNesters, David and Veronica James, who decided to make a big change when their youngest child went to college and they suddenly found themselves empty nesters. Specifically, they ditched the nest for an RV.

Their website is at http://www.gypsynester.com/

They have a new book called, “Going Gypsy: One Couple's Adventure From Empty Nest to No Nest At All.”

In addition, you can get a free audio version of “Going Gypsy” by using the special deal for Roadtreking listeners by signing up for a 30-day free trial of Audible.com via www.audibletrial.com/roadtreking. [spp-timestamp time=”32:33″]

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Please Subscribe and Give Us a Rating and Review!

Many listeners are asking how they can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I’d sure appreciate it if you’d subscribe and leave me your review.

Here’s how:

How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast

First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top
> From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast.
> Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page
> From there (see photo above), you can…

1) Subscribe

2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much.

3) Leave a written review.

Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review!

And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right side of this page here at Roadtreking.com. You can then use the microphone on your computer to record your words.

Mike Wendland

Published on 2015-06-17

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

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