I recently read a submission in the Seattle Times written by a husband concerned about his wife’s obsession with her smart phone. He felt she was neglecting him and her kids by always staring at her phone. He asked the columnist what could be done. The columnist responded to the husband with the typical marriage counselor reply of taking some time to talk to her and share his concerns about how distant she had become and to set boundaries on phone use. The columnist went on to say how the wife might be addicted to the social media feed via the phone and other Psychobabble.
If the husband had asked me what to do, I would have told him to load the wife and kids into a RV, pack some family games and head to the boondocks, where there are no distractions, no cell phone signals, and no Wi-Fi signals!
You see, RVs provide families with a comfortable and cost-effective way to get away from the stress of the day-to-day grind, spend time together and reconnect. RVs also provide families escapes from modern “inconveniences” such as TV, internet, smart phones and the feeling of needing to be connected to the modern world all the time. Once parked in the boondocks you are as close to God’s perfect creation as you can get. The stress of missing out on the latest internet post, trendiest TV show or your social media feed will quickly be replaced by a feeling of peace as you are surrounded by family and the beauty of creation. You will quickly realize what is really important in life and set your phone aside, as it (if you selected your boondocking spot correctly) won’t work anyway.
Advising others of the unhooked, stress-free joys of the boondocks, just another adventure in RVing! To cover the cost of today’s session, please place a nickel into the slot on the side of the laptop or wireless device. Thank you.
PS. If you are unaware of a place lacking cell phone service coverage, send me a note via the comment box below and I will be happy to share a place or two!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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