When over the last couple of years I found myself watching more and more TV, getting older and older, and going nowhere fast, all things considered, I started shopping for a motorhome. More than once I thought I was crazy, but I kept thinking I'd rather be in trouble than just drying up, and guess what? I got my wish. After three months of researching and shopping I found a 2003 35-foot Bounder for such a fantastic price that even though it wasn't my first choice for quality, it took all the fear out of buying because I knew if something went wrong, I could "afford" to fix it.
In late July I flew to Key West Florida and picked it up. it was in great condition and I promptly fell in love with it, and the guy I bought it from was a real sweetheart. I felt like a happy camper! After resting a couple of days, I headed back to Iowa where I need to live until next year. Unfortunately, after bering extremely careful to drive intelligently, I didn't see a guy wire that broke out the windshield. Fortunately, I was creeping along or it could have been a lot worse.
But I was in for more adventures. Two days later, with the passenerside windshield held together with batman tape while I drove to a repair shop, a belt came off and suddenly I found myself in the left lane of traffic without power steering!
Fortunately, I handled it, and landed in a good place at Custom Colors Coach and RV repair in Port Lucie FL. where they took care of me until I got oriented enough to figure out that I'd have to fly back to Iowa to attend to responsibilities, then fly back in September after the RV is repaired...and presumably after I am psychologically ready again to try to drive it again.
I am sad to have messed up so soon after buying it, but haven't others done the same thing, even with more expensive rigs? I didn't hit the wire because I was either careless or reckless, only maybe admittedly a little stupid. Until then I'd been proud of how well I'd done, even at backing, and even though some people raise eyebrows that I am driving alone at my age, I presume that I will continue learning. I'd been a lurker on IRV2 sometimes to get ideas and understandings and my thought was that if all of you could learn to drive one, I could too. I still think so.
Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang! 
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