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 January 7, 2015

We Have A New Home!

This is a quick post to wish all of you a joyful New Year, with the blessings of good health, the abundance of all that is important to you, and the opportunity to follow your dreams.

Our lives have been filled to overflowing the past few weeks. Another word for that would be crazy, with a capital “C.” As if the holiday season, time with family and friends, and preparing to leave our hometown of Ashland after a 3-month stay wasn’t enough, we bought a new trailer. The first thing most people say when they find out we’ve been living in a 21’ travel trailer: “You haven’t killed each other yet?” Nope, we haven’t, although if crankiness was fatal, we would both be long gone. Because I tell you, living together 24/7 in a too-small space is going to test even the most harmonious relationship.

Moving Up From Our 21′ Bigfoot Trailer

We’ve had our 21’ Bigfoot trailer since January 2008, and have hauled it to the San Juan Islands several times, cross-country to Texas and Florida three times, and on a half-dozen extended trips to the Southwest and southern California. We figure we’ve lived in the Bigfoot for at least three years, including full-time since June 2013. We love our little trailer. It’s a Canadian-built 4-season rig, with many of the amenities of the nice big rigs (real wood cabinetry, big refrigerator/freezer, lots of storage space). Nonetheless, it was exactly four steps from the dinette to the bed, there was no place to sit except the dinette, and I had to stand in the bed to make it because it’s walled in on three sides. Changing the sheets took me at least 20 minutes of acrobatic maneuvers.

Settling Into Our New 27′ Arctic Fox

We’ve been casually perusing other trailers over the past year, but never saw anything that we liked as well as our little Bigfoot. But three months in the short, dark, chilly days of an Oregon winter finally pushed us over the edge into getting serious about our search. We found what we were looking for in an Arctic Fox, an Oregon-made trailer that’s also a 4-season rig, with solid wood cabinetry, an even bigger refrigerator/freezer, a separate bedroom with a walk-around bed, a bath with a separate vanity, and best of all, a slide-out with a sofa. All of this, in only 27 feet. It’s perfect for us, because it means we can still fit into all of the places we like to stay, some of which are difficult for bigger rigs.

It took a lot of research, a lot of searching, and two 300-mile trips in the winter rains to Portland to get our new rig, but we brought it home mid-December. We’re finally settled and organized (cannot believe how much time it took to move between rigs) and are heading out as I write this on our first big adventure in our new home on wheels. We’re so happy you’re coming along with us! (Inside tour coming soon!)

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Comments

  1. Brenda says:
    January 8, 2015 at 5:02 am

    We are so excited for you in your new digs. I hope you find some nice warm places to stay this winter. The polar plunge is pretty deep right now. We both had a really good time visiting with you. It ended all too soon. We’ll be thinking of you as we are slaving around the cabin. Happy trails to you.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:31 am

      Brenda, we really enjoyed visiting with you guys, too. Good luck with all of your projects at the cabin — and stay warm! Time to dig that Casita out for a trip to the desert. :-)

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  2. Janna says:
    January 8, 2015 at 5:30 am

    May you have many spectacular adventures in your new home! Congratulations!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:31 am

      Thanks, Janna! We’re so excited!

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  3. Amanda says:
    January 8, 2015 at 5:50 am

    Congratulations! Sounds like a great new trailer to fit your needs. One of our requirements when choosing our RV was a separate bedroom with walk around bed. Since one of us stays up late and one gets up early it makes our lifestyle much more harmonious :) Enjoy!!!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:35 am

      So far, it seems perfect for us, Amanda. It’s great to have more physical and psychic space. :-)

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  4. Sherry says:
    January 8, 2015 at 6:21 am

    Looks like a sweet spot you have it parked. I just love the name Arctic Fox. Sounds so cool. Much better than Bigfoot. LOL Can’t wait to see how homey it is inside.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:40 am

      Sherry, it’s a beautiful spot at Emigrant County Park, just a couple of miles from where we’ve been staying with friends in Ashland. We spent a few nights there to make our transition from the Bigfoot to the Arctic Fox. Yeah, Fox sounds cooler than Bigfoot, haha!

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  5. Sue Malone says:
    January 8, 2015 at 6:26 am

    wow, that looks great. Lots of room after 21 feet and 4 season to boot. Pretty darn nice. Congratulations.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:41 am

      Thanks, Sue! It’s amazing how much difference 6 feet and a slide out makes. And we’re really happy to still have a 4-season trailer — we need it where we live, as you well know!

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  6. Marcia GB in MA says:
    January 8, 2015 at 6:36 am

    It looks like you made an excellent upgrade. Arctic Fox is well known as a solid trailer brand. Enjoy your new home on wheels.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:43 am

      Thanks, Marcia — we’re delighted with our choice. You’re right, Arctic Fox has a great reputation. We did extensive research in making our decision, and once we walked into the trailer, we knew it was the right one for us.

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  7. Ingrid says:
    January 8, 2015 at 6:38 am

    Congratulations and I can’t wait to see more photos. Safe travels :-)

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:44 am

      Thanks, Ingrid! I’ve been decorating and will post photos soon. So much fun!

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  8. Metamorphosis Lisa says:
    January 8, 2015 at 6:51 am

    Congratulations on your new home! Arctic Fox has always been high on our rig list, I just know you will be happy in this one!

    Looks like you got primo site #21…

    Happy Trails!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:46 am

      Haha, yes, that was site #21 at Emigrant Lake! We were the ONLY ones there. It was quite beautiful and the first time we’ve stayed at a campground in our hometown. Thanks for your good wishes, Lisa.

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  9. LuAnn says:
    January 8, 2015 at 6:59 am

    Laurel, first Happy New Year to you both. I hope that 2015 is a year of abundance for you and filled with grand adventures. Congratulations on your new trailer. I look forward to seeing the inside of it. We are contemplating getting a new, smaller travel rig and leaving our 5th-wheel here at Jojoba Hills when we take off for traveling again.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:47 am

      Thank you so much, LuAnn. We’re so excited about our new home. It’s still on the smaller side in terms of full-time rigs, but it has everything we need and want and is just perfect for our travel style. I’ll get photos posted soon!

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  10. Jodee Gravel says:
    January 8, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Another six feet and a slide must feel cavernous! How exciting for you guys – congratulations :-) What a great start for the new year. It sounds perfect and I’m looking forward to those interior pics!!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:50 am

      Jodee, it feels incredibly spacious to us! We’ve always been in small rigs (first a 17′ Casita, then the 21′ Bigfoot) and it’s a big step up for us. It’s the perfect size to provide the space we want that will still allow us to do the kind of travel adventures we prefer.

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  11. Gretchen Wing says:
    January 8, 2015 at 7:43 am

    Looking forward to seeing the Fox up on Lopez! Congrats, and Happy New Year!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:52 am

      Thanks, Gretchen! We’re looking forward to seeing you on Lopez, too! We can have a party in the Fox in our campsite. :-)

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  12. Pam Wright says:
    January 8, 2015 at 8:03 am

    Wahoo! A walk around bed…you won’t know what to do with all the extra time after you change the sheets:) I don’t know how you survived so long. Your new home sounds wonderful. Congratulations! I can’t wait for the inside tour! Isn’t it amazing how long it takes to find the perfect home even with all the models and designs out there!

    Happy New Year, Laurel and Eric! Wishing you the best in 2015:) Hoping our paths cross very soon.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 8:10 am

      Thanks, Pam. ;-) Haha, we deserve some kind of award! And we still want to travel together! It took us forever to decide to leave the Bigfoot because it’s such a great little trailer. We’re really looking forward to meeting up with you guys. We can even entertain in our trailer!

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  13. MonaLiza says:
    January 8, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Congratulations! It’s about time! You two need an award for not tearing each other apart while in that small Bigfoot! Ha ha ha
    I’m sure you are enjoying the extra feet of your new home.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 10:24 am

      Haha, yeah ML, it was definitely time! We are loving having room to spread out! The slide out makes the trailer really feel like a little home.

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  14. Dia says:
    January 8, 2015 at 9:43 am

    Wow! 2015 is a year of major refinements – can’t wait to see the inside. Wishing you many great adventures ahead. Love, Dia

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 10:21 am

      Dia, we hope to see you somewhere in our travels this year! xoxo

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  15. Bettina Arrigoni says:
    January 8, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Congratulations! Bob & I hope you enjoy your Arctic Fox as much as we love ours!

    Hope our paths cross in 2015:)

    Bettina & Bob Arrigoni

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 8, 2015 at 10:32 am

      Thanks, Bettina! We are delighted with our choice. We would love to meet up with you and Bob on the road for some birding adventures!

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      • Bettina Arrigoni says:
        January 17, 2015 at 7:32 pm

        When we return from mainland we are heading to the gulf coast of Florida to enjoy spring migration along the gulf coast. We are following many of Raven’s recommendations:) Let us know if you are going to be in the area & we will follow you though your blog & hopefully our paths will cross in 2015.

        In joy,

        Bettina

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        • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
          January 17, 2015 at 10:26 pm

          You guys are going to love spring migration along the Gulf coast! We had such a spectacular time following the birds last year. We’ll be returning to Florida late in 2015 — we would love to meet up with you somewhere in our travels.

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  16. Kim Miles says:
    January 9, 2015 at 10:20 am

    Oooh! Congrats on your new digs! We allllllmost made it to Ashland for New Years, but instead I find myself in San Jose, helping my dad. Sigh… Thanks for bringing your world to my computer. It’s bigger out there! xoxoxo

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 11, 2015 at 8:46 am

      Thanks, Kim! It was time for a bit more space. :-) Sending hugs, and hoping that all is well.

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  17. Kyle Plyler says:
    January 13, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Well no WONDER you guys are outside all the time! How exciting on the new rig and space. I love new things… I love your emails, too! And I love you. Happy New Trails in the New Trailer.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 14, 2015 at 8:16 am

      Haha, we’ll continue spending lots of time outdoors, but it’s sure nice to have a bit more space indoors! Thanks so much for your good wishes, Kyle. I always love hearing from you.

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  18. Lolalo says:
    January 13, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    Hi Laurel and Eric,
    What a surprise to see you have an Arctic Fox now! You sure know how to keep a secret! I know you will enjoy all the extra space. We are finding that we have about the right space since we have hit the road this week. You probably have about the same (or more) than us. Can’t wait to see it! Sounds nice!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 14, 2015 at 8:14 am

      Loretta, it was definitely time for us to expand a bit. :-) So happy that you and Henry are now full timing! Yay for you guys!

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  19. Carol says:
    January 14, 2015 at 11:20 am

    Congrats on your new home-away-from-home !
    Enjoy ALL your blogs.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      January 14, 2015 at 12:32 pm

      Thanks so much, Carol. Comments like yours make it even more fun for me to write our blog. :-)

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  20. Karen Poole says:
    March 5, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    Hello from your (former) Bigfoot twin in Southern Oregon. Remember us from our friends the Rickerts? Russ alerted us to your post about a new trailer. I could have written it myself! We also just reluctantly parted with our 21′ Bigfoot in favor of a 27′ Lance. We liked Arctic Fox too but the Lance has a window in the front, important in the places we tend to stay. We figured we had the Bigfoot for 9 years and 1 week and spent 4.4 years in it during that time. Now we are heavily into modifying and setting up the new trailer! What did you do with your old one? We traded ours in and were surprised at the deal.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      March 5, 2015 at 4:42 pm

      It’s great to hear from you, Karen! Yes, we well remember you guys and our twin rigs, down to the same truck! We’ve not yet parted with our Bigfoot, although they would have given us a great trade-in. (It’s still in storage in Ashland.) We’re loving our Arctic Fox and have gotten spoiled with the extra space. Would love to connect with you guys and see what modifications you’re making to your Lance!

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Eric and Laurel

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~Laurel & Eric

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