RV Why? RV History. RV $$$

I am back around the old home turf in New York visiting friends and family so the posts may slow down but the adventure continues. All is well.

WHY?

I came across a quote that explains the why. The RV is part of the journey but more a means.

"We shall not bring back a single bit of gold or silver, not a gem, nor any coal or iron. We shall not find a single foot of earth that can be planted with crops to raise food. It's no use. So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for."

George Leigh Mallory, 1922

HISTORY.

Four or five years ago I was walking home from the store in Ballard and saw an RV parked across the street. I though that is a cool looking RV and took a picture of it and forgot about it.

Last September as the story goes I was in Missouri and saw an RV in A park and thought that is a cool looking RV and took a picture of it. This time I went home and Googled it. Hit! One for sale on Mercer Island. Phone call. Drive over with checkbook and friend (to drive my car home just in case). An hour or so climbing in and around. Test drive. Make an offer. It's mine!

The cool strange thing is the one I saw 5 years ago is the same model.

RV Costs:

1986 Winnebago Chieftain 22' P-30 Chevy Chassis with 454 engine 75,000 miles, new tires. $8,000

Repairs / Additions:
New Step: $275
Trailer hitch: $325
Chassis AC repair: $1000
Front Breaks: $750
Steering: $1000
Cruise control: $600
Rear suspension Air support: $400
Solar panel: $400
Roof racks: $400
LED TV: $145
LED lights: $150
CB radio: $100
WIFI signal booster: $260
Cell signal booster: $300
Stereo (w/USB): $155
Mattress: $600
GPS: $140
Starter: $100
Battery/cables: $200
CO/Propane monitor: $75

Maintenance
Oil change: $100
Oil change: $100
Window chip repair: $100
Transmission service: $200
Oil change: $100
Generator & AC service: $300

Other modes of transportation:
Raleigh bicycle: $300 (already had it)
2011 Suzuki TU 250 Motorcycle: $4000 (new)
Hitch rack for motorcycle: $300 (Craig's List)
Emotion / REI sit on top kayak: $200 (on sale last years model )
10' x 6' Load Runner Cargo Trailer: $3700 (new - to haul remaining belonging to Missouri for storage)
Bic Sport 10"4" Stand up Paddle board: $500 (LL Bean outlet sale demo)

RV Total: $15,375
Maintenance Total: $900
Other Total: $9,000
Total Total: $25,275
Debt: $0
Happiness: "To infinity and beyond!"