How
Do They Live Like That? Answers for Those Who Wonder ,
by Judy Farrow and Lou Stoetzer, Ph.D.
Most RV books and magazine articles address
the how-to issues: how to get your mail, how to select an RV,
how to find places to park, how to fix any physical system that
will fail, and, of course, where to travel next. After ten years
of traveling, I have learned from my experiences and others'
that the hardest "system" to fix is the human one.
For many people who have lived long and fruitful lives together
in a house with a number of rooms and a life with a number of
separate activities, being thrust together in one box twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week, many months in a row can be
a shock. Some books do address these issues, but very briefly.
In How Do They Live Like
That? Answers for Those Who Wonder, former family counselors
Judy Farrow and Lou Stoetzer have created a unique book describing
the human interactions inside the tin boxes we inhabit. Dr.
Ludy, as they refer to themselves, apply their years of professional
knowledge, their own nine years' experience on the road, and
their eighteen-month research project with RVers. The result
is a book full of insight and suggestions to help RVers deal
with each other, their families and friends left behind, and
other life issues, including their health, aging on the road,
and finally hanging up the keys.
What especially appeals to
me is that the authors describe all issues in detail
and then offer tools to resolve those issues. For the couple
who must adapt to the smaller space, Dr. Ludy recommends the
"RV Two Step," a dance where partners inhale, slide,
and dip as they pass each other in close spaces. This is part
of Road Tool #2-Make Room for You. They recommend finding
private space, even using the bathroom as a place to read
the morning newspaper, for example. In our own experience,
we found that just putting down the awning created a private
space for my husband as he sat outside while I drank my coffee
inside getting my news fix from CNN.
Because many RVers retire earlier, they not only
leave behind their adult children and their grandchildren,
they also must deal with their aging parents. Some of Dr.
Ludy's suggestions when you are called to respond to a crisis:
- Determine how serious the
"crisis" is
- Enlist a trusted relative,
neighbor, professional to give you accurate feedback
- If you go back, try to stay
in a campground or a bed and breakfast to keep a little
time for yourself.
Another concern for RVers is
how they will handle health problems on the road. Again Dr.
Ludy give excellent recommendations. Their book reflects the
common sense approach to life on the road that I have seen
in people who are successful RVers, people who are nourished
(and nourishing to all those they meet) every day by their
choice in lifestyle. They see obstacles as situations they
will find solutions for. And they do!
I highly recommend this book to all those
who currently live on the road as well as those who are contemplating
entering this rich lifestyle. It's a good idea to buy several
copies to give to your children, parents, and dear friends
who ask, "How DO you live like that?"
Alice
Zyetz
6/13/04
|
