Some people use their RV to evacuate during natural disasters, but an RV can be a life saver in a pinch. Recently our water heater developed a leak and we were unable to get a plumber out to replace it for several days. The water coming from the water heater seeped under the wall that separated the garage from the master bedroom so stopping the leak was a necessity and meant shutting off the natural gas supply and water to the heater. Of course this meant that we had no hot water for bathing or washing dishes.
Water heater works
Never fear, RV to the rescue! We connected the drinking water hose to the hose bib on the side of the house where we park the Airstream and used the propane gas water heater to heat water for bathing and washing dishes. The dishes part was inconvenient since we had to carry them out to wash them and back in after they were dried, but bathing wasn’t too bad. In addition, we used the propane furnace to keep the inside nice and toasty on the chilly mornings we hadat the time.
Jonathan, our ten year old son refused to shower in the Airstream and took a cold shower every night. He said it was because he didn’t like the shower in the Airstream, but I think he just liked the macho image of a being able to tolerate a cold shower every night. Jordan, our 13 year old son donned his bathrobe and running shoes and headed out every night with towel in hand. I guess he thought 6 gallons of hot water was better than no hot water at all. I’m with him and I headed out every morning.
One advantage of having an RV backup plan is that we treat our Airstream as if it were a stationary second home. We keep a complete kitchen set up in the trailer at all times and we keep a duplicate set of our regular toiletries in the medicine cabinet. Becki keeps her deodorant and hair mousse ready for a moments use. Tom keeps his deodorant, shaving supplies, and hair gel right alongside Becki’s necessities. We also keep a hair dryer in the trailer’s bathroom for camping trips. There is always a set of soaps, shampoos, and facial scrubs in the shower so that these items, along with the aforementioned hygiene items, don’t have to be repacked for every trip. This has tremendously cut down on these items being left at home.
We have never claimed, nor have we ever been accused of, traveling light. On those mornings before Becki and the boys were off to school, everything was set and ready for use.
Tags: Airstream, Disaster backup plan, RV, Streamin
