The Full-Time RV Lifestyle

• How We Became Full-Time RVers Without Retiring
  Choosing to full-time was a pretty easy decision for Matt and me -- but the actual transition from stationary home-owner to traveling full-timer was a bit more complicated. While we found some good information in books and on websites about living on the road, much of it was written from the point of view of the retiree -- and our situation required a few extra steps to accommodate our age, active lifestyle, and work status...
• "Living In A Tin Can" Blog
  Matt and I have been full-time RVers since July of 2008 -- and each day brings a new life lesson (help, I'm growing, and I can't stop!) This weekly blog shares our experiences living the nomadic life -- tips about the mechanics and practicalities of full-timing, obstacles we had to overcome to be able to travel year-round, what it's like to work on the road, and our observations about the world as we see it from our Airstream...
• Handy Resources For Full-Timers
  Once you've been on the road for a while, you begin to accumulate a list of resources that make life easier -- whether you need a new patio rug or RV repairs or a campground for the night. And the fact that we live in the internet age helps tremendously (I can't imagine what it was like when you had to thumb through the local yellow pages!) I thought I would share my list of "useful links" -- some tools and services and information sites we've discovered throughout our travels as full-timers...
• Ways To Stay Busy And Contribute On The Road
  When you hit the road as a full-timer, the disconnection can be a little jarring -- aside from the people at your RV park, how do you find a sense of larger community? All those activities and organizations you enjoyed when you lived in one spot are harder to find when you travel -- but they are still there. If you're interested in working, volunteering, taking classes, or joining a sports team while you RV around the country -- I've got you covered...
• RV Park Reviews
  Matt and I have stayed in variety of different RV parks throughout our travels -- state parks and private, vacation spots and mobile home parks filled with permanent residents, high-end resorts and complete dumps. The most frustrating thing about making a reservation is that, without a referral, you really have no clue what the park is like until you get there (we learned early on that even the photos on the website can lie!) So I thought that I would share our opinion of each place we've stayed. Please note that our star system is based on how much we enjoyed staying at the place, not how sexy their amenities are. We don't necessarily care about golf courses and swimming pools and country clubs (although they are nice pluses...)
• Your RVing Tool Bag
  When you live on the road full-time, you need to have to strike a balance when it comes to your "supplies." You want to make sure that you have everything you'll need for daily life in an RV, as well as for repairs and minor emergencies -- but you are limited to what will fit in a couple of very small storage spaces. Throughout our travels, Matt and I have figured out exactly what we need and what we don't, and I thought that I would share our supply list with you...

Living Child-Free

• What Do You Mean You're Child-Free?
  As we travel the country, folks usually ask if we have children -- when I explain that we are "child-free," most people have no clue what that means. Let me take a minute to share some information about our decision not to breed, and the joys of a child-free lifestyle...
• "Life Among The Breeders" Blog
  This weekly blog takes take a look at what it's like to live child-free in a society that is so geared toward the needs of parents and their offspring (and subsequently not concerned at all about my needs as a no-kidder). I try to keep my commentary as fair and even-handed as possible -- but I do occasionally veer off into a rant every now and then. If you're an overly-sensitive parent, enter at your own risk...
• 25 Resons Why My Cats Are Better Than Kids
  My husband and I have chosen not to have human children -- but that doesn't mean we don't have kids. Our babies are small and hairy and poop in a box (which could probably be said for some human kids too). We find cats much more satisfying than kids for MANY reasons -- but here are 25 of them...
• Some Fantastic Commentary About Children And Parenting
  When it comes to the blessed state of parenthood, I'll admit that I'm a complete cynic. And while there certainly are good aspects, many mommies and daddies seem to forget that the realities of raising a child are pretty messy -- so this selection of quotes highlights the more honest side of parenting...
• Poking Fun At Parents With "The Onion"
  Ah, "The Onion" -- one of the greatest modern bullshit detectors on the planet. The writers of the fine news publication are pretty equal-opportunity in its lambasting of societal dumbassedness -- but they are particularly harsh on clueless breeders. To see these articles in their original glory (and to get your daily dose of satire) visit their website -- and often...
• Books About Living Childess By Choice
  I'm a reader -- I devour every book I possibly can about any subject of interest, including choosing to be a non-parent. Here are a few suggested titles on the child-free lifestyle -- some serious, some humorous, but all encouraging you to think about whether parenting is the right decision...
• Child-Free Video Clips
  There aren't a huge number of videos out there on the web about voluntary childlessness -- but the few I found are great (a little humor, some serious interviews with no-kidders, and a bit of political debate). Hope to add more soon...
• Articles About The Child-Free Way Of Life
  While my site does contain a lot of anecdotal stories about being child-free, there are also many third-party sources which confirm that child-free is the way to go -- articles in major media publications, television shows, and even research studies. So I thought I would share some other people's opinions on the subject (just so you know I'm not entirely biased...)
• For The Sociologists -- A Child-Free Research Bibliography
  I was wandering through the web one day and tripped over a list of articles in scientific journals relating to voluntary childlessness -- sorry I can't link directly to the journals, but you'll have to find them at your local library or sign up for online research access through a university...

My Non-Organizing Blogs

• "In My Fascist State" Blog
  No matter how positive you try to be, there is still a lot of stupidity you have to deal with in the world. This weekly blog is intended to be a rant about anything and everything that drives me up a wall (these damned wrong-number dialers -- what the hell do we do about them?) In my fascist state, I make the rules -- they are designed entirely for my comfort and no other purpose. If you don't like it, go start your own fascist state...
• "Life Among The Breeders" Blog
  This weekly blog takes take a look at what it's like to live child-free in a society that is so geared toward the needs of parents and their offspring (and subsequently not concerned at all about my needs as a no-kidder). I try to keep my commentary as fair and even-handed as possible -- but I do occasionally veer off into a rant every now and then. If you're an overly-sensitive parent, enter at your own risk...
• "Living In A Tin Can" Blog
  Matt and I have been full-time RVers since July of 2008 -- and each day brings a new life lesson (help, I'm growing, and I can't stop!) This weekly blog shares our experiences living the nomadic life -- tips about the mechanics and practicalities of full-timing, obstacles we had to overcome to be able to travel year-round, what it's like to work on the road, and our observations about the world as we see it from our Airstream...
• "We Came, We Saw, We Took Pictures" Travel Blog
  Matt and I are full-time RVers and we spend the entire year traveling across the country (and Canada, and soon Mexico and Central/South America). I love nothing more than to visit someplace I've never been before, hunt up all the cool/fun/unusual things to do, take a lot of pictures -- and then tell people about our adventures! This blog is set up like a city-by-city travel guide (with a whole lot of narrative). You're welcome to either follow our travels chronologically here, or click on our interactive map to find stories about a particular city or region...

My Fine Art And Travel Photography

• Architectural Details
  
• Archtectural Styles
  
• Buildings
  
• Inanimate Objects
  
• Plants
  
• Vehicles
  
• Land Animals
  
• Marine Animals
  
• Airborne Animals
  
• People
  
• Nature Scenes
  
• Public Places
  
• Parades, Festivals, And Events
  
• Places We've Visited
  
• Self-Indulgent Photographs
  

My Personal Favorites

• Artists You Should Know About
  I love art -- one of my greatest joys in life is landing in a new town, hitting the museums and gallery walks, and discovering an artist that I had never heard of before. I have pretty broad tastes -- from classical to contemporary and everything in between. I would like to introduce you to some very talented folks that you might not have otherwise known about -- old masters and emerging local artists, avante garde and traditionalists alike. The one thing they all have in common is that something they created touched me -- and I wanted to share it with you. Just click on the artist's name to see thumbnails of my favorite works...
• Mostly-Veggie And Ethnic Recipes
  I will admit that this is not your typical "Betty Crocker" collection of recipes. If you're looking for sloppy joes and spaghetti with meatballs, you've come to the wrong place. But what I have put together is a moderately cool selection of raw food, vegetarian, and meat-free CrockPot recipes. I also have an affinity for ethnic foods (when Matt and I eat out at a restaurant and we're the the only Anglos in the room, I'm a happy camper!) So I've included our favorite Indian, Latino, Italian, Greek, Asian, and Middle Eastern foods. As I can carve out the time, I'll be including even more yummy dishes -- I've got some fabulous Caribbean, Ethiopian, West African, and Afghan recipes to share, too. Some of these recipes include meat, but we tend to replace that with a tofu-based product or seafood...
• Spoiler-Free Film Reviews
  I will admit it -- I am a media whore. I dearly love good movies and television shows -- I've been known to actually consume film instead of food. Of course I get a level of intellectual enjoyment from movies -- analyzing plot devices and evaluating cinematography styles and discussing whether the director's use of symbolism was too heavy-handed. But I also require films to strike an emotional chord -- if it didn't touch me or disturb me or make me think, then I've wasted 2 hours. These are my favorite films -- and while my tastes are pretty broad, you'll find that I skew hard toward deadpan comedies, mind-f**k movies, and dark dramas. Sorry if that's not your taste, but if you like films like "Happy Gilmore" and "Armageddon," put together your own list. I know the title of this section says "film reviews", but I just couldn't get all those done before the website launched -- I'll add reviews as I can get them written...
• Fun Internet Time-Wasters
  The internet has tremendous entertainment potential -- but you can lose whole days (is it dinner time already?) sifting through all the trash, looking for the good bits. That's why I'm happy to offer a service to my website visitors. I will peruse the web, hunt up all the best "time-wasters", and compile them for you here -- in one location, for your convenience (no thanks necessary!)

Organizing Tools

• Do You Need Help Getting Organized?
  In this crazy world, it's hard to stay on top of everything -- the stuff, the responsibilities, the paperwork. The good news is that you can change your ways and dig yourself out of the piles -- you just might need a little assistance. As a Professional Organizer, I can teach you how to better manage your time, paper, and space -- both at home and at work. I will create a customized organizing solution that addresses your most pressing concerns and exactly suits your lifestyle. Most importantly, I will help you simplify, so the overwhelm doesn't come back again...
• Shop My Organizing Products
  I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years -- and in that time, I have amassed a huge arsenal of organizing tips, tricks, and techniques. I'm in the process of turning my expertise and knowledge into a library of informational products -- books, teleseminars, online courses, and other goodies to help you regain control over your life. Come inside, shop, and enjoy...
• Organizing Checklists And Tip Sheets
  When you're in organizing mode, nothing helps more than do-it-yourself instructions (aside from actually hiring a Professional Organizer). I've put together a number of checklists, tip sheets, and other how-to's for organizing every area of your life -- home, office, finances, kids, paper management, holidays, traveling, you name it...
• Before And After Photos Of My Work
  No, I didn't sneak into your home or office to take these before pictures! These are photos from real life clients I've worked with over the years. You can see what the situation looked like before I showed up, and how a little cleaning out and re-organizing improved their environment. I've also offered a brief description of each project, so you know what we were dealing with and what kinds of tools/techniques I used...
• Video Clips Of My Organizing Tips
  I have been on air a few times providing organizing tips, but I'm not yet one of those PO's that you see every time you turn on the TV (how nice it must be to live in Hollywood and have an inside connection in the "biz!") My dream is to have a show about organizing on the road as "The Traveling Organizer" -- seeing clients in different places as we RV around the country, and showing how we keep it simple in such a small space. Producers, give me a call! Here are a few of my clips...
• My Expert Advice Published In Magazines And Newspapers
  Are you writing a story or putting on a TV/radio segment about getting organized or simplifying life? Are you looking for tips and advice from an expert in the organizing industry -- something of value that you can share with your audience? Whether your story is about home or office organizing, living frugally, getting your kids organized, managing time or paper better, or just ways to make daily life a little easier -- I'm here to help...
• Tips For New Professional Organizers
  I have spent a number of years both running my own organizing business and training new organizers to succeed in the industry. Along the way, I've written some articles that focus on different issues of entrepreneurship -- networking, finding balance between work and home life, adding value to your services, creating a business plan, and more. Enjoy and succeed in business...

Ramona's Travel Guide

• Map Of Our Travels
  Matt and I love to share our travel stories with others -- information about cool places we've visited, fun events we've attended, and the interesting people we've met along the way. Oh, and don't forget my travel photography -- documenting our route in pictures is my passion these days! We've set up this interactive map to serve as a geographic travel guide -- just click on the state to get a list of locations, then read the available blogs for that city or region...
• "We Came, We Saw, We Took Pictures" Travel Blog
  Matt and I are full-time RVers and we spend the entire year traveling across the country (and Canada, and soon Mexico and Central/South America). I love nothing more than to visit someplace I've never been before, hunt up all the cool/fun/unusual things to do, take a lot of pictures -- and then tell people about our adventures! This blog is set up like a city-by-city travel guide (with a whole lot of narrative). You're welcome to either follow our travels chronologically here, or click on our interactive map to find stories about a particular city or region...
• Fine Art And Travel Photos
  Once we became full-time RVers, I discovered a passion for photography. I spend a good deal of my time in any new location scouting around for pictures to take -- I am constantly on alert for an architectural detail or piece of public art, a street performer or flower or sign that catches my eye. God bless the advent of the digital camera (I take about 600 photos in a day, and I would never be able to afford the developing if I were doing this on film!) Please check out my work, and you're welcome to buy any picture in print or digital format...
• Collecting Squished Pennies Along The Way
  As full-time RVers, we love to travel -- but we just don't have room for the typical brand of "souvenir". God bless squished pennies -- inexpensive, portable, fun. I've pressed pennies all across the U.S. and even in some foreign countries. Let me share my collection with you, and I'll let you know as I add more along our route...

More Info About Ramona

• My Path To A Simpler Kind Of Life
  My path to simplicity has not been a straight one -- I've had plenty of curves and twists and even a u-turn or two in there! When folks find out that I'm a full-time RVer, Professional Organizer, coach, and photographer, they always ask how I chose this life. It was not a single clear-cut decision, but a culmination of all the other choices and mistakes I had made previously -- a coming-together of my values and goals and dreams in a way that finally really clicked...
• My Resume (Such As It Is!)
  Okay -- so I don't work a typical 9 to 5 job anymore -- but I'm still proud of the things I've done in my career. It's kind of fun to look back at your life and see the path you've taken to arrive at today. So not that anyone is going to care at this point in time, but here's my semi-official resume...
• My Definition Of Success
  A lot of people think that "success" in life should be measured in terms of your credentials or your bank account or the things you have accumulated. But I never wanted the big house, a job with a huge salary, 2.4 kids, or a lot of material possessions. I'm obviously wired differently, because that sounds very much like my version of hell! Matt and I live quite an unusual lifestyle -- working for ourselves, no children, a house on wheels, traveling the country year-round. We've traded "stuff" for freedom, and feel pretty darned successful that we managed to break free from the mold...
• Video Clips Of My Organizing Tips
  I have been on air a few times providing organizing tips, but I'm not yet one of those PO's that you see every time you turn on the TV (how nice it must be to live in Hollywood and have an inside connection in the "biz!") My dream is to have a show about organizing on the road as "The Traveling Organizer" -- seeing clients in different places as we RV around the country, and showing how we keep it simple in such a small space. Producers, give me a call! Here are a few of my clips...
• My Expert Advice Published In Magazines And Newspapers
  Are you writing a story or putting on a TV/radio segment about getting organized or simplifying life? Are you looking for tips and advice from an expert in the organizing industry -- something of value that you can share with your audience? Whether your story is about home or office organizing, living frugally, getting your kids organized, managing time or paper better, or just ways to make daily life a little easier -- I'm here to help...

Learn To Become A Professional Organizer

• sign up for my www.OnlineOrganizing.com Academy training program
  I've been coaching newbies, helping them to build their Professional Organizing businesses for over 10 years. My 12-module downloadable training program gives you everything you need to start and run a successful organizing consulting practice. Just review the course outline below, select the package and lessons that best suit you, and sign up -- you will learn it all, from structuring your company and marketing your services to creating a contract and working directly with clients!
• answers to FAQ's about my training program
  If you aren't sure whether or not a training program like this is for you, check out my answers to some common questions -- about how it works, what you will learn, and how these lessons will help you get your business off the ground more quickly.
• see what students say about my training program
  Of course, the best testimonial is from someone who has completed my training program and is successfully running his or her own organizing business -- see what some of my past students have to say about these lessons and the accompanying coaching sessions!

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About Ramona:

I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years, I am a NAPO Golden Circle member, and I was the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. I have worked one-on-one with scores of clients and have trained dozens of newbie organizers as they got started in the industry. I provide both hands-on and virtual coaching to help clients improve their organizing skills and simplify their lives. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.RamonaCreel.com, and I challenge you to find one new idea that you can put into practice in your life, to help you become better organized, starting TODAY! I am passionate about coaching folks toward a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable life -- and I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you!

You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, check out my Facebook profile, and subscribe to my feeds.

Ramona's Website:

www.RamonaCreel.com

Ramona's Other Blogs:

• Simplify Your Life