A New Chapter for I’m Just Saying
If you’ve been around I’m Just Saying for a while, you might be wondering why it’s turned into an RV adventure blog. Pull up a camp chair, and I’ll tell you.
Where We Started
When I first started I’m Just Saying, it was my soapbox. I wanted to share my take on the things I care about most: faith, the founding of this country, and being good stewards of what we’ve been given, money included. My plan was to turn it into animated videos, so I could lay out the facts plainly instead of standing in front of a camera getting worked up. The first one I made was called “What Are Banks For?”
It didn’t take long to realize how big a job that was, and I was short on both time and know-how. So I set it aside.
Then I tried something different. I’d noticed the big news channels all ran the same stories, just from slightly different angles, and missed the great stories of real America and real Americans. So I started a website and newsletter to tell some of those missed stories.
I’ll be honest with you: hardly anybody read it. Folks on my mailing list started heading for the exit. A man can take a hint.
Where We’re Going
I’m Just Saying is still about my opinion. It’s just pointed somewhere better now: the places Diana and I go, the adventures we live, and the gear we count on to get us there.
Here’s what I want you to know about this new chapter. Everything you read here is the two of us actually chasing a dream of seeing America. We’ve watched too many people our age put everything off until some magic retirement age, only to find out they never got there, couldn’t do it when they did, or just never pulled the trigger when the chance came.
We decided not to wait. We hope you won’t either.
Meet the New Camper (and the Old One)
For our first few years on the road, we traveled in a little nuCamp teardrop we call “The Little Guy.” We love that simple camper with our whole hearts. It took us places most rigs can’t go, even tent sites when we had to, and that was the whole idea. We wanted to go where nobody else could.
Truth is, we haven’t let it go yet. Our heads say we need to sell it. Our hearts and a whole lot of memories say otherwise. And if you offered me a deep-woods, off-grid trip in The Little Guy this very minute, I’d be hitching up before you finished the sentence.
But a week or two in the woods is one thing. Four or five months on the road is another. When the weather turns ugly, there’s nowhere to go but inside, and inside a teardrop gets cramped in a hurry. There was also no room to bring along any of our grandkids, and that’s something we really want to do.
So we moved up to a Coachmen Catalina. We wanted comfort and space, but not a rolling mansion. Here’s what sold us:
- Wide bunk beds for the grandkids, and a dinette that converts to another bed
- A bed Diana and I can get in and out of without climbing over each other
- No slide-outs, which add weight and use more power
- Short enough to stay nimble on back roads
- A full fridge and freezer, plus a shower you can stand up in
We gave up a few things too. It has less insulation, so it’s harder to heat, and there are places it simply can’t go that The Little Guy could. Whether it was a good buy, the jury’s still out. Once we’ve put some real miles on it, I’ll give you an honest review, good and bad.
What You’ll Find Here
- Adventure stories from the back roads, state parks, and odd little corners of America
- Honest gear reviews of the stuff we actually use, including the duds
- The stories behind our videos from our YouTube channel, Golden’s Adventures
If something we write sparks you to get off the couch and go see something new, we’ve done our job. And if you buy something through one of our links, we earn a small commission. This life isn’t cheap, and every bit helps keep us on the road. We thank you for it.
What’s Next for Us
The plan as of today, which is always subject to change on a whim, is two more four-day trips to North Georgia state parks before the year’s out. One of them will include at least three of our grandkids. Then we’ll head south to Florida for the winter, with a couple of state park visits along the way.
By summer, the bugs should be worked out of the new camper. If the budget allows, we’re pointing it west: Yosemite, the Redwoods, and a few gold panning and prospecting spots I’ve had my eye on.
Come along for the ride.
I’m just saying.
