….my love has come along… (in my best Etta James voice.)

After a year of diligent searching, I am finally an RV owner!   A 2008 Winnebago View 24J, Mercedes Benz diesel, built on the Sprinter chassis.  Ain’t she a beaute??   And she came with her own “Mini-Me!”

After months of research, I set my sights on this model for several reasons.   On one hand, I wanted the largest coach I could afford and handle, because I want to be able to live and work comfortably.  On the other hand, I wanted the smallest vehicle I could tolerate so I would feel comfortable navigating city streets as well as winding mountain roads.  A roomy feel on the inside, with the smallest profile possible on the outside.  I wanted a rear bed because I didn’t want to climb up or make down a bed every night.   And I wanted a diesel because of the greater mileage.  I even had it narrowed down to the color of cabinets….I wanted the “Washed Maple” because it is a lighter, more neutral tone that (in my opinion) makes the coach appear lighter and larger.

After five RV shows, nightly internet searches, following dozens of newsgroups and blogs, I had narrowed it down.  I just needed for it to show up!

I felt a bit like Goldilocks.  The first one I looked at on offer from Camping World in Houston (dealership too big!)  let me drive all the way from Dallas to Houston before they broke the news that it would not come out of Park.   Oh yeah, and it had a rusted out underside.

The second one was through Lewis RV in Dayton, Ohio (dealership too small!) where Ray Lewis, the owner actually told me after I asked for maintenance records, “Ma’am?  Don’t call here again…”

Finally, I found the one that was juuuussst right.  A private seller on RVTrader.com.  The seller was kind, patient, helpful, and obviously meticulous in his care.  No pets, no smoking, garage kept….if it weren’t for the odometer and a few crumbs under the range cover, I would have sworn she was new!

My brother Don took the ride with me to Arkansas to look her over.  It was love at first sight.  (Is it wrong to love an inanimate object??)   We went back the next weekend to take delivery.

A lot of people have asked what I will name it.  I have never been very imaginative when it comes to naming my vehicles other than by the obvious — Color;  “Old Blue,” “Little Orange,” and Don’s “White Wonder.”    Perhaps a name will emerge eventually…..meanwhile, I am one Happy Camper!