The common theme I hear from others who love RVing goes something like this: “We are traveling but feel like we are still home. We have our own bed and household belongings, and we feel comfortable.” I never really appreciated what they meant until 1998.

Buying and sending postcards while traveling can be quite expensive. But with a little bit of effort and one inexpensive click, I’ve found that I can e-mail unique and very personal digital postcards. Best of all, the same click can send the card to as many people as I want.

Born from a family-owned company in east Texas in the spring of 1984, she was a grand example of unequaled quality and attention to detail. This elegant vehicle — a Foretravel motorhome — stood tall and proud, gleaming in orange and white against the Texas sun, waiting to carry her new owners in style and comfort.

“It’s such a mess, it might be easier to burn it than clean it up!” was the consensus of folks in Burlington, Colorado, when they took a look at their carousel back in 1937.

‘Tis the season when Eastern snowbirds pile supplies into their motorhomes and head south on Interstate 75 to the Sunshine State. What follows is a sampling of several Florida attractions that may cause snowbirds to “land” for a while and explore.

The Georgia town where FMCA’s 85th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase will take place has several new attractions that will impress even longtime visitors.

Amid much fanfare, RVers, industry pundits, and first-time buyers perusing the offerings at consumer RV shows across the country have embraced the new Allegro Breeze, produced by Tiffin Motorhomes of Red Bay, Alabama.

Gather two or three motorhome owners, engage them in a discussion of RV plumbing systems, and the discourse invariably will turn to one of the most displeasing, yet necessary, aspects of RVing: waste containment, evacuation, and sanitation.

This enhanced program provides emergency medical evacuations and a variety of other assistance services for FMCA members traveling in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

If anyone ever lived up to his own motto in life, it was Jack London. His credo is engraved on a wall plaque in the main room of the House of Happy Walls at Jack London State Historic Park…

Seashell-gatherers, swimmers, and those seeking the sun’s warming rays come to the Fort Myers area for its 50 miles of world-class white sand beaches. Anglers test their skill. Tourists who enjoy historical sites, museums, and sundry entertainment blended with nature’s gifts find this to be an ideal vacation spot in southwest Florida.

Deviating from our finely honed travel plans — to great protest, I might add — we left Interstate 40 at exit 311 in eastern Arizona just to learn whether Petrified Forest National Park was worth seeing. Did this flat, featureless, high desert plateau really have anything to offer?

If your chapter is losing members; was formed around a now-orphaned motorhome (one that is no longer being manufactured); or has restrictive requirements, don’t despair — consider promoting it!

My wife, Laura, and I have owned a motorhome since 1998. We became FMCA members in 2005 and joined a local FMCA chapter two years later. I wish we would have joined both much sooner. The benefits of FMCA membership are too numerous to mention here.

How did my family help me discover these educational treasures? For my 70th birthday, they gave me a chance to run 20 laps behind the wheel of a full-on NASCAR-type late-model stock car at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, a half-mile oval track in Southern California.

Thor Industries has repositioned its motorized products by combining Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International into a new division called Thor Motor Coach. Recently, I interviewed Bill Fenech, president of Thor Motor Coach, to get his view on the exciting new developments at this well-respected company.

Thor Motor Coach unveiled a major upgrade to the Astoria motorhome for 2011. Excluding the model name, there is actually very little that isn’t new with this popular motorhome.

Whether you do your own RV repairs, are preparing for a profession in the RV service world, or are already working as an RV technician, there are certain tools you will need to do the job right. One such device is a multimeter for taking electrical measurements.

This do-it-yourself project will help you organize your spices into one neat, easily accessible location on the inside of a cabinet door, giving you additional storage space for other items.

Have you celebrated a special Thanksgiving in your motorhome?

I (Lowell) recently loaned one of my older bird books to a non-bird-watching friend, Marilyn, who is developing an interest in the feathered visitors to her backyard. Her immediate response was, “But so many of these birds look alike. How can I figure out which one is in my yard?”

Bread is the staff of life, yet when you’re on the go it can be difficult to find the specialty loaves you use at home. …A new book is filled with surprises for experienced bakers as well as for non-bakers who long to learn the art of creating warm, fragrant, nutritious, homemade breads.

Winnebago Industries Celebrates 40 Years On New York Stock Exchange

On September 9, 2010, Winnebago Industries Inc. commemorated 40 years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), as several company representatives took part in the Closing Bell ceremony to end trading on the floor that day.

Stainless-Steel Water Bottle

The H2Duo stainless-steel water bottle from Seattle Sports Company features a two-part design, making it possible to thoroughly clean the inside of the bottle between uses.

North met south at Blackwell Island RV Park in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, July 13 through 18, 2010, and the outcome was a terrific rally. Five member families from the Southwest Country Coachers (SWCC) chapter joined 10 member families from the Northwest Country Coachers (NWCC) chapter for five days of fun in the sun.

Eyeglass Hanger

There isn’t a nightstand next to the bed in our motorhome, so I don’t have a handy place to put my eyeglasses at night.

Blowout Plug

Dear RV Doctor:
I’ve heard about the dry method of winterizing a motorhome using a “Schrader valve” to blow the water out of the plumbing lines with an air compressor set to 20 psi, and then adding antifreeze in the kitchen, bath, and shower drains. Is this a good idea?

Damon Motor Coach has announced NHTSA recall 10V407000, which affects some 2005 through 2007 Damon Intruder and 2007 through 2011 Damon Challenger motorhomes manufactured between April 16, 2004, and September 1, 2010. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 286.

No Dash Fan Info

This information may help Dennis Auclair with the issue he described in his “No Dash Fan” letter that appeared in the March 2010 issue of Family Motor Coaching (page 14). I had the same problem on my 2000 Monaco Knight and this Web site was very helpful: www.evanstempcon.com/guides_ccl.php.

Family Radio Communications

Dear Editor:
While the “Family Radio Communications” article in the June 2010 issue of Family Motor Coaching (page 50) covers the Family Radio Service and General Mobile Radio Service radios quite well, I think there is another level of radio communication that is available to motorhomers that is far superior and almost as easily available.

Charlie has asked me to share some thoughts about motorhoming in this month’s column. When I met Charlie, I owned a huge canvas tent, the kind that smelled like oil of some kind and took a man and a boy to set it up. After a couple of camping trips, Charlie came right out and told me, “There has to be a better way to enjoy camping, like hot water, a built-in furnace, and maybe a color TV.”

She stepped onstage to cheers, whistles, and thunderous applause. When the room quieted, the diminutive woman joked as though no one knew her: “Hello. I’m Debbie Reynolds.”

A total of 70 children participated in the Youth Activities program during the “Redmond Rocks! Feel The Excitement!” convention, held August 11 through 14 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon.

As the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Neither is a Family Motor Coach Association convention. One might argue, however, that a small city springs up within mere days of the first FMCA members’ arrival at a convention venue. Such a phenomenon occurred this past August when…

Following are abbreviated resumes for the five national vice presidents who were recently elected or re-elected.

Approximately two months after westward-bound travelers left Independence, Missouri, on the Santa Fe Trail, Bent’s Old Fort would come into view from across the prairie. It was a welcome sight.

Tall as tales, redwood trees are among Mother Nature’s most inspiring creations. To celebrate and protect them, California’s first state park was created in 1902. The towering trees have been well represented ever since.

This 22-foot-long, 96-inch-wide Type C motorhome features sweeping exterior lines that slip easily through the air. During my trip, the unit yielded a very respectable average fuel economy of 11.9 mpg.

Opening the engine compartment door on the diesel pusher revealed some oil and dirt accumulation, faded paint, and rusty areas. So, I decided to attack the problem with the goal that when I was finished with the job, the engine would appear much like factory new.

I believe owners can employ three basic types or levels of maintenance on the exterior surfaces of any motorhome.

What’s the best restaurant for ribs?

While traveling in different parts of the world, I have learned lasting lessons about going without, making things last, and getting things clean without using harsh chemicals. In many places on earth, going “green” has always been a way of life.

Consider taking one of these candy factory tours around the United States.

Holiday Rambler Debuts Aluma-Lite Type C

Monaco RV recently unveiled the 2011 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite Type C motorhome. According to product literature, the easy-to-maneuver, fuel-friendly RV was designed especially for families and developed for today’s price points.

Insect Repellent Candle

The Coleman Citronella Candle from Wisconsin Pharmacal Company is designed to resemble the classic Coleman Northstar Lantern, with the added insect-repelling benefits of citronella.

Twenty-one motorhomes belonging to members of FMCA’s Gulf Coasters chapter rolled into the Anchors Aweigh RV Resort in Foley, Alabama, the weekend of June 11 through 13, 2010. Excitement was in the air as the group prepared to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the chapter’s formation back on June 3, 1985.

Pump Problem

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a SHURflo 4.0 Smart Sensor water pump in my motorhome, and I get an air lock in the line. I have had the fittings tightened, and it still has to burp the air out to run right.

Xantrex Technology Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 10E032000, which affects some Freedom SW 3000 inverter/chargers (part number 815-3000) manufactured from January 2010 to June 2010 (serial numbers ranging from B12330337 to B12382728). The recall population includes inverter/chargers sold to motorhome manufacturers to be used in new motorhomes and as replacement equipment, and also includes units made available to dealers for aftermarket sale.

Ignition Problem

I own a 1999 Monaco on a Ford chassis with a V-10 engine. The starter will not engage from the ignition switch. I can turn the ignition switch to the “on” position and jump the starter and the engine cranks okay.