So, we had our first night living in the motorhome with full hook-ups and everything put away. I think we're going to be okay. The tiny bathroom and shower are a challenge that we'll have to get used to, but this is doable.
Everything definitely has to go back in its place after use, and there are things that have to be moved out of the way to get to other items and spaces, and then the original item has to be put back. There will be a learning curve, but our penchant for organization and our aversion to clutter will serve us well.
So, here are some photos of our rig now that we've moved in. Notice the new, high-neck faucet Steve installed the other day. Can't believe the prior owners didn't do that - it makes a huge difference.
Linda couldn't part with our countertop ice maker, so it sits on the counter when it's making ice, and then it goes to the corner with the Instant Pot when not in use.
Both of them will probably ride in the Jeep when traveling.
The microwave/convection metal, so it has become the holder for many of Linda's new magnetic spice holders.
She also hung a couple of magnetic bars for more spices and a few knives.
I'm just hoping all that stays in place when we move down the road. Guess we'll find out.
She replaced her Keurig with a Keurig K-Mini. There isn't an outlet on that side of the galley, so she improvised. It's not "code" but don't tell anybody.
She got a small rack for the empty space beside the door.
Our calendar and key rack is on the end of the kitchen cabinets. Command hooks are getting lots of use.
She improvised a Keurig K-cup display on the top shelf of her liquor cabinet.
If you recall, the water heater is under the sink taking up valuable real estate, but she has worked around that with an office organizer for her aluminum foil, wax paper, etc. And the various ziploc baggies fit in there as well.
By the way, the can of Raid isn't for bugs; its hornet & wasp spray to be used in self-defense if necessary.
She's got various containers to make the pantry work. I don't know where anything is yet, but I'll get there.
And her removal of the the piece of wood separating the upper and lower pantry cabinets, increased the usefulness of one drawer.
We got a small garbage can that works in the kitchen, and the dinette is currently serving as our office. By the end of May, we should have the dinette replaced with recliners/theater seating.
Notice she was able to hang her Cardinal painting. Without a frame, it's narrow enough that the slide misses it when it comes in.
And on the other side, she was able to hang the colored pencil drawing her Mom made using one of my photos.
Office supplies are in the cabinet where a satellite DVR would go.
It will be interesting going without satellite TV, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm also looking forward to getting rid of that hefty monthly payment and our love/hate relationship with DirecTV. With our data package, we should be able to stream a few of our favorite shows and sports events, but we will eliminate the tendency to watch mindlessly.
The motorhome is equipped with a Sirius XM satellite radio, so we did sign up for their Mostly Music Package.
The opposite cabinet has our new Canon PIXMA 6120 which fits in nicely. We'll put the big printer in storage as soon as the Rally is over.
The center cabinet has a couple games, photo equipment, binoculars, and a few of our bird and wildlife guides.
Moving on to the bathroom, we took the suggestion of a couple of folks and got a collapsible laundry hamper that just stays in the shower. It's one of those things that we move back and forth when necessary.
There is a rod in the shower that we use to dry towels, but it is removable and we have to take it out to shower. If I were two inches taller, I wouldn't be able to stand under the shower head, and if I were any wider, I wouldn't fit in the shower at all. So there's an incentive to keep the weight under control.
The shower is one of the biggest adjustments for me, but I'll get used to it. However, I will likely be visiting the campground showers more often.
Now, I do like the shower head, and I prefer the SHUB retractable door over a shower curtain.
It saves on already limited space, and it has an integrated wiper blade in the housing that squeegees it every time the door is released back into the open position. They say to wipe it down with a non-abrasive cleaner once every two months.
Now, the cabinet in the bathroom has maybe a third of the storage space as the fifth wheel. But Linda has managed to stuff it with her necessities, and she hung another basket below the cabinet to contain more items. I will refrain from a comment on the proportion of her stuff to mine. :)
Linda removed a hand towel holder that was on the left of the mirror and re-mounted it in the unused curved space on the right of the mirror.
It's actually more convenient there and it freed up some space for another basket in the space where it used to be.
She managed to squeeze a trash can, toilet paper holder, bowl brush, and wet wipes in the area around the toilet.
Now, the toilet sits up on a ledge. And though this is a bit personal, when we sit on the toilet, our feet barely touch the floor. While the rest of the motorhome is built for short people, the toilet is better for someone with longer legs. I apologize for being overly descriptive, but while the elevated toilet is easier to sit on and get off of, doing our business comfortably requires either a stool for our feet or tucking our feet back and resting them on the ledge. Again, I'm sorry.
In the bedroom, Linda got a duvet set on Amazon, and she eliminated the 43 decorative pillows we had in the fifth wheel.
Whereas, making and unmaking the bed in the Cambridge was a whole production, and I couldn't "unmake" the bed properly, she is less obsessive now. I help her make the bed each morning and it takes us about 30 seconds.
She hung some photos on either side of the bed over the nightstands and she put up our hand-painted souvenir from Africa. With the reading lights directed, it looks like a proper art display.
Linda also bought this 24-pocket shoe organizer through Amazon.
She cut it in half and hung one section on the wall below the bedroom TV.
Then, she cut the other half into pairs of pockets and hung them on the foot of the bed.
With the duvet on, you don't even know they are there.
She's made our new home into a livable, workable space.
And I'll leave you with one more thing.
This artwork was also in our fifth wheel. We took it out of the frame, and she mounted it on the empty wall at the foot of the bed on my side.
It has been with us since the day we began. It says:
Love Birds
Two Souls. Two Hearts. Made as One by God.
Friends. Lovers. Soul Mates.
Intertwined together for the Journey
Joined in Spirit. Growing in Depth.
Honored by Heaven.
In one another ... Finding delight.
With one another ... Seeking the highest good.
For one another ... Laying down their lives.
Pure in Devotion. Unmoved in Loyalty.
Bound by Trust. Led by Hope.
Committed to Truth. Wrapped in Grace.
Forever in Love.
It will be good to wake up to those sentiments each morning. :)
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