An infectious smile and an easy manner combine to make the perfect marriage.  At least, that has been the case for Sally and Bill, two seasonal residents at Park Delta Bay.  The pair, married for 46 years, are the parents of two, grandparents of three, and stewards of a little dog named Buddy.  From their Class A on the east side of the Park, Sally and Bill spoke about the journey which they started six years ago and intend to continue for the rest of their lives.

“We owned a Christian bookstore which ultimately failed just as many other independent bookstores have failed, due to the rise of online book sales,” Bill explained.  This took place in Indianapolis, where they raised their children, a son and a daughter who both graduated from Purdue.

Sally continued the account of how they came to be wintering in the California Delta.  “I’m a nurse, and at that point, I had known a woman who worked as a traveling nurse.  The idea appealed to me.  So we sold our home, bought an RV, and hit the road.”

They started in SoCal, with Sally working at a children’s hospital in the LA area and Bill enjoying retirement.  With a son in Sedona and a daughter in the Bay area, LA seemed a good home-base, nearly halfway between the two.  They moved into an RV park with 400 residents, of all varieties — part-time, seasonal, and long-term.  Bill, home and walking the dog which they had at the time, got to know the wives of Union workers living in the park while working their contracts.

The traveling nurse plans didn’t materialize because Sally never found opportunities better than the one she had in Los Angeles.  Meanwhile, they discovered a love for the downsized lifestyle that their motorhome afforded.  Their Class A comes with a full-size fridge; a combination of solar, propane, and electric power; a house generator; a rig generator; separate bath and bedroom; and cozy furniture which can sleep guests when needed.  In short, they have everything they need for both daily life and vacations.

Though they now use the Park utilities, with their set-up they can “boondock”, that is, park in an off-grid manner without the need for local services.  They flat-tow their car as they go.  “With places such as Bureau of Land Management spots which provide cost-effective parking, we can stop whenever we like,” Sally noted.  “It’s a great way to vacation.  We once took the whole family south to the beaches.  We even have a TV and awning outside our rig to keep the kids entertained in the evenings.”

Sally and Bill have a Holiday Rambler Class A.  With four “pop-outs” that expand the width to fifteen feet, the place seems as spacious as any one-bedroom home.  The lovely tile floors, ample counter-space, and warm maple cabinetry contribute to the ambiance.  “We can live this way very comfortably,” Sally remarked.  “And we can be up and ready to hit the road in an hour.”

Sally retired from her LA job in December of 2017, and the two took to the highways for a ten-month “Family & Friends tour”.  Their path brought them first to Sedona, to visit their son,  daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.  Hugging the coast, they saw Texas, New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, then turned north and stopped in Pennsylvania, the state from which they both originally come.    Afterwards, they turned left and headed inland, eventually landing in the Bay area in time to start helping with their grandchildren last fall.

Sally and Bill proudly pointed to maps both inside their rig and on its glossy exterior which show the places which they have visited in their motorhome.  They added most during 2018, going 12,670 miles and hitting 22 states and nine national parks in ten months.  High on their list of pleasant memories? Bill needed no time to reflect.

“The wild ponies of Assateague Island,” he promptly announced.  Sally agreed.  They talked of camping among the beautiful creatures, giving them their space but coming close to gaze in admiration.  “They seem to pay you no mind, but there was no question which of us would yield the right of way on the path,” Sally laughed.  “I never tested them.”

Sally did have to reflect a few moments before answering that she wouldn’t change a thing.  She does miss having ready opportunities to build relationships with people.  “RVers are usually a friendly bunch,” she acknowledged.  “But being on the road can lead to a sense of isolation.”

Sally looks forward to helping in the Delta Bay Community Garden, doing winter clean-up and spring planting.  She’ll also be working two days a week as a school nurse in a  nearby district.  Bill has been lending his carpentry skills to projects around the park.  They plan to stay put through this school year.  They spend Thursday evenings with their granddaughters, and drive into town for church with their daughter’s family most Sundays.  “When school’s out, we’ll hit the road again,” Sally said.  Bill smiled his agreement.  Their little dog Buddy looked eager, ready for their next adventure, though equally willing to curl at his master’s feet and sleep while the Delta rain pattered on the roof of the Class A(ct) in which they all plan to live happily ever after.