Kathleen & Paul Smith's RV Travelblog

About Paul & Kathleen

     Paul is a retired Civil Engineer. But retirement gave him time to become involved with the Internet and the many aspects of this wondrous new media. He continues to work on SMARTERyellowpages.com, and on this website. Kathleen is a retired civil rights worker, nun, and teacher; and a very active grandmother and superb role model.

     After completing her cross-country bicycle ride (www.bike70th.com) in 1999 (to celebrate her 70th birthday!), Kathleen lured Paul into considering traveling together in more enjoyable accommodations. We considered traveling in our van and staying in hotels, but discarded that idea. We studied Class B motor homes, and decided they were too small and too expensive. In early 2003 we subscribed to Motorhome magazine at a local RV show where Paul read about a Class C motorhome that looked too good to be true. We traveled from the Bay Area to take a look at the Lazy Daze factory, and that was all we needed! We ordered our LD in February 2003 and on October 16, 2003 we became the proud owners of "Jerry Too" (because she named her bicycle "Jerry").

     Kathleen's mother's nickname is Jerry and regardless of where they were going, Jerry would be ready in a second for a trip - any trip - anytime and anywhere - she always had a bag packed for a quick getaway. She loved to travel. She died at 87, but she's been "with us" on many of our day trips to Yosemite, Big Sur and other favorite junkets. It just seemed right to name our home on wheels, Jerry Too - because we feel she'll be along with us, on all our travels, too! We named our Foretravel, Jerry Two Too :) Jerry's given name is Geraldine - note that the Foretravel we bought sight unseen has a big "G" on both sides! Pretty scary, eh?

     We are the happy parents of six beautiful offspring. Kitty (the eldest) and Jamie have 4 children - Jesse, Parker, Caroline, and Ellen. Christina and Chet have 2 children, Catie and Becky. Paul Jr and Miriam have 2 children, Paul David III and Juliana. Michelle and Slade have 4 boys - Cody, Graham, Sebastian, and Zane. Joe lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is not married. John (our baby) is not married and lives in Tennessee. We continue to learn about our 12 grandchildren AND 6 children, and continue to be amazed and impressed by all. We had no idea of the journey we started on back in 1959, and are humbled and amazed by our good fortune. At the end of the day we don't really know how or why but just have to say, "Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio."

     Our kids are very encouraging in our decision to our RVing.

     We realize that life is not a dress rehearsal and we need to "sieze" the opportunity to honor the 30 happy years of marriage we have enjoyed (30 out of 47 ain't bad :), and to celebrate the good health we've been blessed with. One of these days we'll grow old and may not be able to RV very often … when that day arrives, we can stay in our little apartment with happy memories of places visited, experiences shared and friends we've met. For we truly believe that life is a journey, and we intend to enjoy the ride! In July of 2005 we sold our beloved Lazy Daze and went to the "dark side" and bought a Class A diesel pusher - a 1997 36 ft Foretravel U295, Jerry, Two, Too (not Jerry Tu-Tu). For whatever ride we have left in us we wanted more creature comforts. No slideouts but we're really enjoying it.

     Even before Paul found out he has prostate cancer, he developed his mantra: "Remember that we ALL live under a sentence of death, where young or old every moment is more precious than the last. So use your moments wisely, positively, and with gratitude that you have the great gift of freedom to choose how."

     In the unlikely event we ever have tombstones, we'd like this on them:

"Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio"

"NO DEAL BASICALLY means that if we can't find a solution that wold benefit us both, we agree to disagree agreeably--No Deal. No expectations have been created, no performance contracts established. I don't hire you or we don't take on a particular assignment together because it's obvious that our values or our goals are going in opposite directions. It is so much better to realize this up front instead of downstream when expectations have been created and both parties have been disillusioned.
When you have No Deal as an option in your mind, you feel liberated because you have no need to manipulate people, to push your own agenda, to drive for what you want. You can be open. You can really try to understand the deeper issues underlying the positions." (9/9)

Paul & Kathleen Smith | 173 Rainbow Dr #7329 | Livingston, TX 77399-1073 | (510) 386-8973

Life on the Road with Paul & Kathleen: "Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio" - Proving once again that it's never too late to have a happy childhood

Our Lazy Daze at Kirk Creek Camp on CA Hwy 1 40 mi N of Hearst's Castle 11/24/03: Shortly after full-timing began.	Foretravel & Toad at Rio Grand Village Full Hookup Camp, Big Bend NP 5/24/06 - Note the Turkey Buzzard at left with wings outstretched