About Me
  
The 1997 Glendale Class “C” Motorhome
that I owned from 2000 to 2007 |
I've had a software development job in the telecommunications
industry for 15 years, for 3 departments all with the same company (and
its subsidiaries). Towards the end, I was feeling very burnt out; I
was tired of the endless meetings, the little 8-foot “jail
cell” cubicle, the big city traffic, the whole “9 to 5
mentality”, the endless list of things that need to be
finished by yesterday, and the outsourcing of work to people in India
who were not doing a good job. I needed a break.
Back in 2000, at the height of the technology boom when my job
seemed secure and prosperous, I bought a used 26-foot Class
“C” motorhome. During the next 7 years, I went on many
trips in it around Ontario, with my 3 to 4 weeks of vacation per year.
During this time, I read about “full-timing” (living
year-round in an RV, without having a house or apartment), and planned
for the day when I could do this.
Now, that dream has occurred. I've sold the house; my minivan has
been traded in for a pickup truck, and the motorhome has been traded in
for a new RV trailer. On August 2, 2007, I hit the road, to see
Canada from coast to coast.
Traveling Companions
Accompanying me on my trip are my two cats, “Mouse” and
“Smudge”. Mouse doesn't care for traveling, but she will
stop complaining after about 20 minutes. Smudge loves camping;
he gets to watch squirrels and chipmunks, as well as sniff around the
campsite. Plus, there are lots of warm, sunny spots for napping.
Internet Access
Satellite Internet access |
In 2007, I bought a satellite dish which I can set up to provide
reasonably fast Internet access almost anywhere. Setup takes about
20 minutes, and it works anywhere in North America where there aren't
trees or mountains blocking the satellite signal (about 30° from
the horizon). During the winter of 2008, when I was working from the
trailer, I also bought an “air card” — a small USB
device which provides Internet access via cellular phone frequencies.
This doesn't have the high signal latency that the satellite system
has, and is therefore much more suitable for remotely accessing
company servers from home. As my laptop can also connect to WiFi
access points, I have three methods of Internet access, depending on
my current needs.
