Modern Electronic Marvels and What they mean to the RV'er
As one lives and Travels in an RV, specifically if you are full-time as we are, any "Modern Electronic Marvel" is welcomed especially if it assists with the life style in any way. Oh, to be sure there are full-time RV'ers out here enjoying the life style and they do so without even the use of a computer. Being in the camp (no pun intended), of one who is somewhat "teck savvy" the modern electronic gadgets that can assist with the day to day tasks and or just plain add enjoyment to the day such as this computer does and our blog-------------well, where would I start.
Obviously the computer has to be high on the list but anyone reading this has one and at the very least can do e-mail and read a blog so I won't dwell on it.
One electronic tool that makes our travels so interesting and relaxed is the GPS (global positioning system). I am blown away by what it is capable of doing for us as we boogie down the road.
Usually some time before we actually start the engine and hit the road we have decided about how far we are going to drive on this given day and have a target town or region in mind. When I do sit down to fire up the engine I will turn the GPS on and with one or two clicks I have told it where we want to go! From there it uses the Satellites above to program our route. A screen comes up that immediately tells us how many miles for todays trip and the estimated time to travel that distance based on our driving style. With a few more clicks, I can ask it if there are any campgrounds or RV Parks that we have memberships in within range of our targeted end to our day. That information pops up with addresses and phone numbers and asks us to tap on the one we want, then it asks if we want to go there. Say yes, and we are off following a live voice that tells us every turn we need to make. Should we somehow screw up a pleasant voice at first comes on and says, "please make a u-turn", if we do not comply the voice becomes a little more demanding and usually drops the please, only to say "make a u-turn". Now if we continue to ignore the plea,---------------well you get the picture, I won't tell you what comes next.
Following arrival at our destination, we can tell the GPS that we are ready to go out to eat. It will offer us a variety of food categories such as, American, Mexican, Fast-Food, etc, etc, etc. We make our selection and press "go to" and were off, again being told every turn and within minutes we are in the parking lot. No hassle anymore asking someone how to find "Grandma's Kitchen" which we have heard has good food. The GPS knows where it is and takes us directly there.
When we are rolling along if we decide we need to stop for fuel we can ask the GPS where the next diesel stop is and from the POI's (points of interest) that I have specifically downloaded to the unit such as all the Flying J, Loves, and or Petro diesel stops in the U.S., again, it will give us choices and all we have to do is press "go to" and we can count on being directed right to the pump.
I can see how great this is going to be as we continue with this life style. At 100 yrs old as long as I can turn my hearing aid up high enough to hear the directions, all I will have to do is turn left when I'm told to and or right when I am told to. I bet our kids are wondering if they will ever be able to take the keys away. Maybe the thing will even have collision avoidance features by then. Kathleen says already it would be nice if it would just ask us before we pull out on the highway, "have you pulled in the awning, or taken down the TV antenna, or raised the jacks, etc. etc. etc." hmmmm
I will have to work on that!
