I have always wanted an RV since I was a child. My husband, not so much. If you are married, no less as long as I have been (42 years) you know marriage is a series of compromises, among many other things.

For many years I have set aside my longing for an RV, compromised if you will, because my husband has always said, “No.” when it came to the purchase of any type of a recreational vehicle.

One of the things that happened when I married the man of my dreams was I married into a football obsessed family. Especially college football.

We used to have season tickets to the Detroit Lions games. I’d see these RVs in the parking lots near Ford Field prior to the games and think, boy, how cool would it be to have an RV and tailgate. The same thing with Michigan State College Football games. I longed to do the same. My husband Mark would not even entertain the thought.

As an Army family I know having that RV would have made our 21 moves in 32 years so much easier, but I am not one to dwell in the past. I’m an Army wife, I rolled up my sleeves and made the best of those moves with our three children and our various pets, usually at least two cats and two dogs.

It’s what you do and we did just fine with our Chrysler mini van and lack of RV.

Fast forward to grown children who have now given us amazing grandchildren, my husband retired from the military and we are no longer moving every two or so years post-COVID. I said to him I still want to travel, but I am so over hotels.

I suggested we buy property in Florida as I regretfully sold a condo I had a few years ago and now want to have something to go to where I can see the sun when the Michigan winters get to be too long.

He is now working for an international firm and has to travel all the time. Hotels don’t bother him though. He rather likes them.

He began to push back. He didn’t want to tie us down to one spot even though he does like the Sunshine state.

I was however determined. After The Year From Hades, I knew I could not risk another year where I wouldn’t be able to see the sun. So while we didn’t exactly argue (because I did see his point. The sun shines in the Carolinias, Arizona, and various other places during the Michigan winter months, why tie us to one spot?), I knew I had to have sun-seeking travel options post-COVID.

So I said, “Well then, it’s either property in Florida or an RV.”
I have been known to be fiesty…I am after all 87% Italian…

So despite all these years of his dismissal of the very idea, we ended up with our 2021 Jayco Greyhawk Prestige 31FP and I can not explain how much we love it.

Just a few weeks ago, as we arrived super early to get our primo spot on the Michigan State Fairgrounds to tailgate with our “Go Army” flag flapping in the wind, I said to him, “You’re welcome!”

My persistence, my dream of owning an RV paid off. Now my husband was loving this RV in so many more ways than he realized he would. Why just a few weeks ago I spent hours in it during a storm that knocked out electricity for the house and it was still in the 90’s here (which is very unusual in September in Michigan) charging up my electronics and staying cool with the generator going full steam!

This model has an outdoor T.V. which we had set up to watch the Army game, then later we watched the Michigan Wolverine game and after that of course watched the MSU game while those with tickets walked across the street to the shuttle to take it to the stadium for the live game as we watched on the screen under our awning until past midnight with friends because the game went into overtime.

An obsessed football fan’s dream.

I admit, I said to my husband, “I told you so!”

Don’t judge…

Even though I’m no football fanatic, it was such a fun day! I could bring our little dog Levi, we had food, friends stopped by, the weather cooperated, we had our own bathroom, kitchen, electricity source, it was an amazing, memorable fun time! What’s not to love?

RVing isn’t just for camping, it’s for pretty much anything you set your mind to!

Until next time: Duty, Honor and Seeing the Country RV Style!