Thank you, all, for your warm welcome!
Here's a bit more information...
I already know I do not want to tow anything. I marked that off the list very early on.
I do not want slide outs. Yes, they equal more room, but they also malfunction.
Which leads to a question that was asked: No, I don't have the diy/mechanics know-how. I can diy the inside with paint, curtains, and organizational things, but anything more than adding oil or changing a tire is beyond my realm of knowledge.
We will be staying in temperate climates. I will not drive in snow! (Ok, I realize I might time something wrong and HAVE to drive in snow, but I really, really, really, don't want to drive in snow!!!) I'm hoping to be able to plan well enough that we hit regions/states of the US when the weather is warmer vs. colder.
My boys are 13 and 9. They'll likely be 14 and 10 before we get out on the road. Chris, my 13 year old, is already as tall as me, and Jon is only about a foot shorter than us.
I do understand bigger is nicer for more room and comfort, but I do need to stick with what I'm comfortable with. I've driven transit bus in the past and am comfortable with around 24 feet.
I'd LOVE to travel full time and just keep going forever, but unless I'm able to find a job that I can do on the road, we'll have to come 'home' so I can work and save so we can go out again. The sale of my house will give us the funds to be able to go out for, I'm guessing, 6 months or so. How long we're gone for our first go 'round will really depend on what time of year it is when this job ends. If it's winter time, we'd stick around until after the holidays and maybe mosey across the southern part of the US, though I do hear of ice across I-40. So, how long we're gone and where we go initially all depends on when my job ends.
The dog. We don't have one yet. My boys have been begging me for one, but I won't get one while we're in our apartment. The apartment complex wants too much money as a pet charge. We'll likely go to the pound or a shelter to get our dog. I've already told the boys that whatever we get will need to be medium to big - a protector, rather than a cute little yap-yap dog. They said huskie. I said too much hair. They said German shepherd. I said maybe. It'll depend on what's available when we look and what feels right for us.
My budget is $25,000. I'd LOVE to stay around $20,000. I'll be buying used, for sure.
Last question, I believe, I'm in Woodland. So not too far from Modesto. We drove through there last weekend heading over to Yosemite.
Oh wait, one more - we'll definitely have to figure out a bike rack!
I appreciate all advise and opinions!!! Although I've read a lot, watched youtube videos, and looked a quite a few different rvs, I know that I still have TONS to learn!!!
In the end, it's important for me that I feel comfortable driving whatever we get. The boys will adjust. We've gone from a 4 bed/2 bath house, to 1/1 apt, to 3/2 house, to 2/1 apt. The rv will be a place to sleep and cook. Our lives will be spent outside exploring this amazing country of ours!