In this life you face choices, 100’s of them in a day sometimes it seems. Every choice and decision leads and guides your steps and can open and close doors as well as lead to unknown outcomes and at times consequences. We, I, tend to get “lost” in the every day… of getting through this thing we call life.
Since being on the road I have made a concerted effort to stop and smell the roses, to count the wows along a trail vs the miles and live life and not just make it through a day. Trust me I know I am fortunate and I have been told many times I am “living the dream” and yes I am. Only the dream came with choices too….
The first week I was on the road I attempted to take a shower and use the kitchen faucet to wash dishes. Well in a motorhome you typically have a propane hot water heater that you must turn on to heat the water then off to save propane. So I made the decision to turn on the heater, I kept feeling the flow of water to see when it was hot enough for a shower ….40 minutes later I was a tad frustrated but awww it was ready! So I jump in the shower and …. Let me back up a bit. You have to be diligent with water usage unless you want to be dumping your holding tanks every day, nope! So I had done my due diligence and invested in a new shower head that conserves water yet has a robust output! It also came with a button valve that you can push to turn the water on and off whilst in the shower to conserve your hot water if need be in the shower. Again the decision to live in the RV has its own flip side if you will! Ok, back to the shower, so I jump in ready to enjoy, and well, lets just say after about 2 minute wet down and 2 minute rinse I was blasted with freezing cold water! It was indeed an exhilarating experience, not at all in the manner I had been hoping for! The same thing happened while trying to wash dishes and on subsequent shower attempts. Not only could I not rinse my hair of shampoo without ending in freezing cold water, I was blasting through propane. For those unfamiliar with motorhome living I have an onboard tank, so to fill it up, I have to unhook, put the slides in drive the RV to a place big enough I can pull in to fill it up!
Now I pride myself on being a bit of a problem solver, so I bought a electric kettle. If you half fill 2 plastic water gallon jugs with cold and then fill with hot water from the kettle you have 2 gallons of shower! Viola welcome to the jug shower routine I have used for 4 years now! Get wet with one and rinse with the other, problem solved! For the record I have stayed and worked at locations with fabulous bathhouses and certainly take advantage when I visit folks with “real showers”. Washing dishes is done much in the same way wash in cold from the faucet, while the kettle is heating up hot rinse water. It takes a bit longer but it worked!
Fast forward to this summer, and I decided it might be time to upgrade and a wonderful, giving handy man, Ray offered to help! Of course this meant having to remove the old propane heater as well. Well lots of research later and I ordered an instant, 8 gallon, all electric, new hot water heater, that Ray and I, ok mostly Ray installed! This is life changing and I had no idea!! LOL I can turn on the water for a shower and literally 5 seconds later boom! Hot water for what seems like hours of hot water!! Ok, maybe not hours but for as long as I want to be in the shower!!
It really is the little things and simple pleasures folks! I’m not mad or sad I waited 4 years to decide to upgrade. I learned a lot and let me tell you I most certainly appreciate this little tank of mine immensely. I’m beyond thrilled I was afforded the opportunity to make the decision to upgrade and blessed with a very willing handy man, Ray, I think of you every time that hot water comes blasting out!
I was shocked to realize you’ve been doing the jug routine for FOUR YEARS 😳🤯, even though I practically talk to you everyday!! Your inventiveness and frugality are to be admired, and if all those pinched propane pennies afforded you the opportunity to acquire” BB-8” at long last, I’m glad it was worth the wait 😍 good on ya, Sistah!!
LOL thanks sista!! yup 4 years now!! They don’t call me bargain Betty for nothin!! LOL
Nothing you do surprises me, I have seen firsthand how tough and industrious you are. If you drive through Texas you better stop!
Nothing you do surprises me, I have seen firsthand how tough and industrious you are. If you drive through Texas you better stop!
LOL Appreciate your backing!! Im coming through Texas but west of you ….Im headed to Harlingen from the beet harvest… hopefully I can swing east a bit!! Id love to see you and Karen and Chaco!!
I am so happy for you! You make the best friends, including us, of course. LOL. Can’t wait to plan another overlap with you.