Guest Author - Dennise Ziaja

Where do fulltimimg RVer’s spend the holidays? Like everyone at this time of the year, Rving folks like to be surrounded by friends and loved ones to celebrate the joys of the holiday season. I guess it really depends on the RVer, and for many, the choices are simple. Many RVer’s plan their travels around the holidays, trekking towards old home towns or familiar places in which to spend the holidays. Most fulltimers agree…the warmer the climate the better, and they may stay just a bit longer! One couple I talked to recently travel back to the Chicago area for the holidays. If you have ever tried to find a campground or RV park in that neck of the woods, it is almost impossible. There are very few parks available in warm weather much less the frigid winter months. They simply park their rig in the driveway of their hosts and plug into the electric through the garage. This is ok for a day or two, and keeps the batteries charged and will keep the furnace running, but if the area experiences a real cold wave, the generator may be needed to keep the systems running adequately. That doesn’t work in a quiet suburban neighborhood. This couple finds this works just perfect…they have a time “limit” and after brief visits and celebrations, they are back out on the road heading in most cases in a southern direction! Paul and I have also done the driveway stays in the Chicago area, and it is very easy to be comfortable for us in cold temps. We have an electric blanket that keeps us warm at night while the 20 amp electric service allows the furnace to keep us warm and toasty. We don’t use the appliances such as the microwave or the coffeemaker and the fridge runs on propane…we let out hosts provide sustenance, and we also use their guest bathroom facilities for showering, etc. Why not stay with our hosts? For an RVer, that is a simple answer...we like to sleep in our own bed, in our own "home" where we feel the most comfortable. We’ve never had a problem and we have even parked and drycamped in a nearby Wal-Mart parking lot. That is the beauty of our rig…it is self contained. The only worries that may arise come in long cold snaps and then we have to worry about our water lines freezing…not something we have experienced thus far. We have stayed from the northern ‘burbs of Mundelein to the southern bergs of Darien and LaGrange with great success. That’s December and January…in Chicago! A great place to visit and see the great sights and sounds of Christmas, not to mention, great ethnic foods and holiday traditions!

Next time…what about the RVer’s who don’t travel home for the holidays? I talk to a few who celebrate wherever they happen to be and how they make their holidays memorable.

Coming soon! I will be interviewing Doreen Orion, author of Queen of the Road, The True Tale of 47 States later this week. I will be posting not only a review of her wonderful book, but will discuss with her some perspective on her time on the road in an RV.