A couple of bloggers have posted things that they think are necessary for RVers to have along in their travels. I thought I’d blog about 5 things I have that may not be absolutely essential, but that make my fulltiming experience more complete for me. One is a new purchase for me, and the others are replacements for worn out items or things I always have with me.
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When I land at places like National Wildlife Refuges where I volunteer for an extended period, I put up a few more items that I have packed away. That hummingbird wind catcher is well over 20 years old and pretty much shows me the winds better than those weather guessers on TV. 
On the replacement front are two things that make life more comfortable for me. First up is a new shaver to combat HLS. After mutilating my leg last week, I needed a new one of these.
I also replaced my personal sized 6” fan today. The one I had for the last year or two just wouldn’t put out much air. It resides on my bedroom nightstand, and provides a little white noise for sleeping as well as a cooling breeze for the times in the middle of the night that I seem to get over heated.
The fifth item is a new purchase for me. It is a plastic handgun that shoots soft pellets. My plan is to dissuade the marauding squirrels that are playing havoc with my bird feeders. I’m not exactly Annie Oakley, so my intent is to just give the squirrels a good scare. John (of fellow volunteers John and Diana) remarked that he couldn’t understand how I could hit anything with the way my hand shakes. Sounds like a challenge to me! In that vain, I purchased some soft pellets that leave a splash of yellow when you hit your target. I’m fully expecting that we’ll have some yellow spotted squirrels around here in the near future. I hesitated to post about this item, but I hope you’ll understand that I would never do anything to permanently damage any wildlife (other than mosquitoes and no-see-ums)… and maybe mice invading my RV.
So what items give you comfort or you feel are essential for your travels?
Now, as for one of the things that I wished I had in my RV is a dog that would pose for pictures. Whenever I try to get a portrait of Emma, she turns her head one way…
…or the other. At least this time she didn’t give me the rear end view she usually does…
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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I especially love the smiling tree. We have one up north. We would have my daughter and family sitting around the fire. When it was time for my grandson to go to bed, he always had to give Mr. Tree a hug good night. (Tree Hugger)
ReplyDeleteThe tree happy face! how in the world? how cute is that... Haaaa... I've never seen such.
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought any outside decor, yet. I see things on other campsites all the time. I love your bee picture. Maybe I'll feel like decorating outside once I get to my first job site.
ReplyDeleteOkay, tell me about the happy tree face. Is it components that you stick on a tree or is it a complete hanging thingy? That looks HUGE so I wondered how you hauled a happy tree around with you!! I know birders detest those little feeder raiding squirrels but I sure hope they don't get stung too badly. I kinda like the little fellas.
ReplyDeleteOh, my essential item for comfort in my RV??? My memory foam mattress topper.
ReplyDeleteI have to have books (I've graduated to my Nook). And my computer. Other than that, most of our stuff is to keep Jim happy. And that includes me. lol
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel chaser is an excellent idea. I wish I had known about them when I lived in NC. You will be the new Annie Oakley!
ReplyDeleteDead Eye Judy! Too funny, yellow spotted squirrels. You're going to give some biologist nightmares... :c)
ReplyDeleteI have the exact same face for my tree, which unfortunately is too small so the face smiles in the fence!
ReplyDeleteMy hobbies are one item I must have...knitting and pine needle baskets. Books are extremely important to me. My husband is pretty close to the top of the list along with Bella, our cat. Of course, my computer or I couldn't read your blog...hehe Enjoy your week! ~wheresweaver
ReplyDeleteI need one of those soft pellet guns for my Ontario Squirrels....where did you get it??
ReplyDeleteI love your hummingbird wind catcher. Never saw one like it before. I like the tree faces too.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com
Got to have my lap top, crocheting and some books. OH and of course Freddie the free loader. LOL
ReplyDeleteI like your gun. I need one of those. Where did you get it?
Computer
ReplyDeleteInternet thingie
Stovetop percolator
Crossword puzzles
Books
I remember what a bad photo subject Emma is. Sheesh! It's like she doesn't get it.
And, if you can take photos like that, you can hit a squirrel with a yellow paintball.
Roxanne
The Good Luck Duck
Great post! I especially love having bird feeders. One of our best purchases was a foam topper for our mattress. It is so comfy.
ReplyDeletefive necessary things?..hmmm..interesting..going to have to think about that..I am sure I could think of ten top must haves..
ReplyDeleteMy laptop, binoculars, cameras, GPS and dish for internet. With those I can do about anything.... However, I do carry around a LOT more stuff... bird feeders and books included.
ReplyDeleteI have to have yarn, lots and lots of yarn to crochet with, so that should probably count as two things since I have lots of yarn, a library card from where ever we are staying, my computer and my hiking boots. While we were in Aroostook County I learned I can live without a tv for 3 months!
ReplyDeleteTeri
Absolutely fantasic header pic....how in the world did u catch him in mid flight ?
ReplyDeleteMy brother has tons of bird feeders at his house, he just opens patio door and sits in family room w/ his air gun...squirrels skeedadle for a while then forget and come back.
#1 thing I must always have, home, rv, work wherever......COFFEE
Ditto Bayfield Bunch. I must have one of those pellet guns. Do your squirrels jump from the tree and hang on the bottom of the bird feeders? I wonder if my crook is too tall. How tall is yours?
ReplyDeleteLove the face and have thought about getting one but couldn't see the back to see if it sticks into the tree and if that could leave it open to insects or other bugs that might be harmful. I'm a serious tree hugger.
Wonder if Emma would look up for a "treat". You've probably tried that. I guess Divas get tired of the paparazzi always trying to get their picture. :-)
For me, it's my laptop and Verizon Air Card - couldn't do without them. Oh yeah, and my camera, iphone and HD PVR!!!
ReplyDeleteThe hubby loves that gun, he thinks making a few squirrels spotted would be soo much fun. I'll have to think about my list, that is a good blog topic for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThe bird feeder is one of mine too ~ I combat the squirels by greasing the pole with vaseline... they can't climb it! And it makes for a great laugh watching them try before they give up on it!!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun with that one
Donna
not being full-timers, I have way too many things that I must take along!
ReplyDeletein regard to squirrels... we used to trap them and cart them away towards our nature center, about 12 miles away across the Arkansas River and several streams. it's not that I don't like them, it's just that they annoyed me when they would get inside the bird feeder and sit there all day and eat! on a sad note, just this week we are having our 35 year old tree removed that has always been our "bird feeding tree" because it is dying and is near our house and external garage. a multiple arm iron feeder will no doubt be in my future!
Yep, bird feeders for sure..Hmmm...our American Flag, books to read, our Hughesnet dish...and our cast iron skillet..Would you believe that we have one of those Tree Faces on our Blue Spruce in our front yard back home...I have re painted it twice in 8 years...
ReplyDeleteEeeGads, after reading the comments and seeing all the must take alongs, there is no way I can limit my list to five. I guess computer and aircard (I'm counting as one), My critters, Sock Knitting Machine, Spinning Wheel and a nice comfy outdoors chair to lounge in. But what about all those other things mentioned? I want them too, dangit.
ReplyDeleteI know... I've answered once... BUT... I asked Bill what 5 things HE thought necessary. Well... he counted his laptop and the internet service as one... then he thought he'd need his tools (IF we weren't at a refuge or where there were tools available)... and then... and then..... He couldn't come up with anything else... BUT... remember... he's the guy who when he buys a new pair of shoes he discards an old pair... same with jeans, shirts etc. Is this typical of most guys out there?
ReplyDeleteCraig? Can't live with him, and can't imagine living without him. But the computer is important too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this makes a good blog topic. I'll have to give it a try. But first off would be books, computer, telephone, and my rice cooker. Oh and the fasta pasta cooker too!
ReplyDeleteI'm at six and counting.
ReplyDeleteTo make it work at 5 items, I need to combine things: computer and aircard, TV and satellite, binoculars, knitting stuff, and current genealogy research materials.
Oops - forgot about Tom...
Do not like birdseed-stealing squirrels; do like the notion of popping them with yellow paint! Wish I'd had one in Tallahassee when we lived there. Best thing I've found (so far) is using a squirrel baffle on the long bird feeder crook that's placed far from ANYTHING else.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine life w/o a computer or cellphone or wifi (that's three). The small fan for white noise, yes. Binocs, books and camera. That's five (or so)....
I can't imagine life without bird feeders either. But I'm mostly buying new ones when I'm allowed to have them. Here at Malheur they even gave me a shepherds hook and a feeder. I spent part of today trying unsuccessfully to buy a suet feeder. I did buy some food for baby game birds which I plan to add to my peanut butter/lard mix in hopes of encouraging the western bluebirds to come visit.
ReplyDeleteThey are only a yard away now but I never see them at my house.
And our squirrels are little ground squirrels and they don't bother the feeders although they love the seeds when I throw them on the ground for them. My main yard birds are California quail and black-billed magpies, so far.
Bird feeders, fasta pasta cooker, griddler, laptop-tablet-mifi, veggie steamer
ReplyDelete