charles wrote:
We tell freinds who come up with some of the same criticisms as Marin, that we can be as solitary as we wish and sleep in our own bed.
Given my job that has been taking me all around the world for the last 21 years, not sleeping in my own bed is something that doesn't bother me at all.* So that aspect of RVing is irrelevant to me.
I intellectually understand the attractions you guys have been listing, but I'm sorry but it just sounds staggeringly boring.* As to the challenge of driving a "big rig" through a town, been there, done that, got the T-shirt although not with an RV.* The town streets don't move, their surfaces don't hump up into all sorts of waves, there is no current and the wind is not a factor unless it's a hurricane you're driving through.* So in my book, and my wife's, we see no interesting challenges whatsoever in the actual operation of an RV.* What's the GEICO phrase--- "It's so simple even a cave man can do it."
I could certainly see taking up RVing if all other options were closed.* Couldn't boat, couldn't fly, couldn't travel internationally, couldn't hike, couldn't ride horses, etc. due due to physical restrictions.* RVing would* be world's better than sitting in the front room watching the grass grow, no question.
So as a last resort sort of activity, we'd probably be inclined to take it up, too, in some form or other.* The former boaters we know who now RV have all done so for this basic reason.* It's the only form of "cruising" they're able of doing anymore.* Fortunately we're not in that position yet, and we hope we never are although never say never.
No activity other than breathing is right for everyone.* We know plenty of people who RV and love it for the same reasons you all have been listing.* Their experiences are no less enjoyable and valid to them as ours with the plane and the boats.* But the original question was has anyone switched from boating to RVing and then come back to boating.* My response is that we would never leave boating in the first place, not unless we had no choice for fianancial or physical reasons.* From where we sit, RVing is a very poor substitute for boating.*
At least boating in this region, where there is a lifetime of exploring and experiences up the coast.* If we boated in a place like southern California where the cruising destinations are far fewer, as Walt has stated, or the Gulf or the ICW where the landscape has no appeal to us at all, I suppose switching over to RVing could have more appeal at some point as it would allow us to travel to places that are geographically more interesting.*
But fortunately we don't live in a place like that.* While we love taking vacations in Europe and whatnot, in all my travels so far I have not found anywhere I'd rather be than the west coast from Washington up through SE Alaska.* The runners up I have seen (so far) are Maine, the Canadian maritimes, northern Scotland, and Norway.* And in all these places, I think the best way to experience them is by boat.
-- Edited by Marin on Thursday 24th of November 2011 12:54:54 PM