There are probably as many reasons to own an RV as there are people… and a story that goes with each one of them. We recently caught up with Carolyn Gorry, an acquaintance of ours who spent more than a year living and working in her Airstream.
Here is her story. Enjoy!
****
When did you buy your Airstream and why?
I bought my 20’ FC Airstream in January 2015.
You could call it a lark, mid-life crisis, or restlessness. I have a business that allows me to work anywhere I have an internet connection, a printer and a phone, so my situation was ideal for adventure.
Did you buy new or used?
I bought it new, as neither I (nor anyone I know) had ever RV’ed before and I wanted to make sure I had a quality product.
Why did you buy an Airstream instead of another brand?
Originally, I was looking at the 1961 Shasta reissue (I even flew to St. Cloud, MN in the dead of winter to see it, as only a few dealerships sell them). It was a third of the price of the Airstream, but a bit rickety – and I didn’t know if that was normal as I’d never been in an RV in my life.
As a born-and-bred NYC woman I have always heard about the ‘Cadillac of RVs’, so I had no qualms whatsoever… after all, Airstream’s quality is legendary! I drove to my local dealer, looked at Airstreams for about 20 minutes, and purchased on the spot (which in hindsight I wouldn’t have done again, as the Warranty started then and not in May when I finally picked it up). The strange thing is, I am not an outdoorsy person, nor do I particularly like change, but camping in an Airstream is a cut above.
Where did you travel with it and for how long? Did you use it for work as well as pleasure?
I traveled throughout this beautiful country… 26,000 miles in total. I equipped it with a cell signal booster and a WIFI booster, in addition to having cell plans with both AT&T and Verizon, as their coverage differs across the country. The only place I wasn’t able to get ANY service at all was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – but the scenery was so gorgeous I looked at it as a ‘forced’ vacation. Aside from that I worked and RV’ed full-time for 18 months.
You spent a lot of time in your Airstream… what surprised you about it? What was exactly as you expected?
I was continually impressed as I became acquainted with ‘Prince’, the name with which I officially christened my Airstream in the Airstream registry. I couldn’t settle on a name and Prince died while I was on the road. I thought his spirit champions what I was doing by chucking my life in New York and hitting the road.
Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here today, to get through this thing called life….
As I went along, I discovered the intuitive design where everything is within reach. I loved the storage and the fantastic bathroom. The USB ports throughout were so ingenious, that when I was renovating a room in my house, I incorporated them into the walls just like in my Airstream. The only thing that vexed me was the radio control which required a touch I could never quite master. The quality inside and out was exactly as expected.
I was wholly surprised, in a good way, by the comfort of both beds. When I hosted friends, I slept in the dinette bed to get a ‘different perspective’, and it was cozy, solid and restful. Not only was it a comfortable sleep space, but when bad weather drove me inside, it was perfect for working.
Given what you know now, would you buy the same model Airstream or something different?
I would absolutely buy the same model. I had the 20’ FC Airstream with a front bed configuration. I like to cook, so having the galley in the back with the window above and the double sink was beautiful. Additionally I swapped out the microwave for a regular oven (I don’t use microwaves) and that was the the perfect choice for me. I also went with the 20’ because the bathroom sink was inside the bathroom.
When I bought the Airstream, I also took into account the resale value. While I could have purchased the Shasta outright, I had to finance the Airstream. When I sold it to move out of the country, I was able to cover the rest of the note plus $4000. In fact, if I decide to attempt something like this again (highly likely), I would do it the same way. I’ve recently seen some intriguing European models that have taken into account the lack of RV park services across the pond so the systems are more self-contained. So who know?
****
Many thanks to Carolyn Gorry for sharing her story. Have questions about an Airstream? Want to see one? We have Airstreams at our Paso Robles and Buellton locations and we would love to show you one. Call Paso Robles at 805-226-9292 or Buellton at 805-697-7989. Don’t let those Airstream dreams get away from you… dreams CAN come true!!
Want to share your story with us? Contact ellen@skyriverrv.com if you would like to be featured as a SkyRiver Interview.
