Wandering Gypsy RV Life

Wandering Gypsy RV Life

by Stan Cromlish
Season 2
Sometimes That’s the Work: Why Margin Creates Better Decisions
Have you ever had one of those weeks where it feels like someone walked over to the chessboard of your life and moved six pieces all at once? This week was one of those weeks. Maintenance schedules changed. Travel plans shifted. New work opportunities appeared. Decisions had to be made before circumstances made them for me. At first, it felt like I hadn’t accomplished much. Then I realized something. Sometimes the most important work we do isn’t something we can hold in our hands. Sometimes the work is simply making thoughtful decisions before life forces us into desperate ones. In this episode, we continue exploring the Rolling Smooth Mindset by looking beyond financial margin and into something even more valuable: Margin creates options. Whether you’re driving across Wyoming in dangerous winds, adjusting RV travel plans, managing maintenance, or navigating everyday life, having room to think often makes the difference between reacting in panic and responding with wisdom. We’ll talk about: Why margin creates better decisions Why consistency matters more than perfection Don’t confuse urgency with importance Don’t pour concrete in panic Thoughtful progress over perfect outcomes Why sometimes… that’s the work Because the goal was never to create a perfect trip. The goal is to keep learning, keep growing, and keep making the next good decision. Episode Links 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth ☕ Support the Journey https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife 🛒 Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/stanc 🚍 TechnoRV https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes Podcast https://beyondthechutes.show #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RollingSmoothMindset #RVLife #FullTimeRV #RVTravel #RVLiving #MotorhomeLife #RVCommunity #RVSafety #DecisionMaking #Margin #ThoughtfulProgress #DontPourConcreteInPanic #Consistency #AdventureMore #LifeLessons #TravelSmarter #KeepRollingSmooth
The Rolling Smooth Mindset Isn’t About Perfect
This week, I’m coming to you from the 30th Annual Chas. B. Davis Memorial PRCA Rodeo in Ringgold, Georgia. What started out as a scheduled interview with PRCA Music Director Kye Todd turned into something completely different after a sound system issue forced us to postpone our conversation. Instead, I share a lesson that has become a cornerstone of the Rolling Smooth Mindset. Over the past few days, I’ve intentionally slowed down, recharged my own batteries, and reminded myself that consistency doesn’t mean running yourself into the ground. Sometimes the smartest decision isn’t making another repair. It’s creating enough margin to think clearly. When the bathroom door in Bertie Bea stopped latching because an interior wall had shifted, I didn’t tear half the coach apart in a campground. Instead, I used a pair of Command Hooks and a ball bungee to safely mitigate the problem until my scheduled repair appointment in Red Bay. It’s not elegant. It isn’t permanent. But it’s the right solution for this moment. Join me as we talk about why urgency and importance aren’t always the same thing, why the driver needs maintenance just as much as the RV, and why sometimes the best repair is the one that allows you to continue your journey safely. The Rolling Smooth Mindset isn’t about perfection. It’s about making thoughtful decisions. Resources & Links 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth 🛒 Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/stanc ☕ Support Our Journey (Buy Me a Coffee) https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife 🛒 TechnoRV (Affiliate Partner) https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes Podcast with Doug Simcox https://beyondthechutes.show Connect With Wandering Gypsy RV Life Website: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/wandering-gypsy-rv-life/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WanderingGypsyRVLife If this episode encouraged you or helped you look at RV travel a little differently, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another RVer or traveler. Every share helps more people discover the Rolling Smooth Mindset and keeps Bertie Bea and Rosie rolling down the road. Remember… The only way to fail is to quit. Travel Rolling Smooth.
Huckleberry Hideaway, A Hidden Gem in Minden
In this episode of The Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, we visit Huckleberry Hideaway Cabins & RV Resort in Minden, Louisiana, and take a golf cart tour with owner Lundy McKittrick. Lundy shares the vision behind the park, what it has taken to build Phase One, and how they are learning and improving as they go. We talk about wide RV sites, preserving the property’s beautiful trees, primitive camping, cabins, glamping RVs, free firewood, laundry facilities, the dog park, walking trails, geocaching, campground insurance, surge protection, water pressure, and a little RV engineering required to get Bertie Bea level. And yes… somehow the conversation even finds its way to Sasquatch sightings in Louisiana. If you’re looking for a quiet hidden gem with room to breathe, Huckleberry Hideaway Cabins & RV Resort deserves a spot on your travel list. Links mentioned in this episode: 🏕️ Huckleberry Hideaway Cabins & RV Resort https://www.huckleberryhideaway.com 🚍 TechnoRV https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes https://beyondthechutes.show 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth 🌎 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RVLife #RVTravel #RVPongcast #CampgroundReview #CampgroundSpotlight #HuckleberryHideaway #MindenLouisiana #LouisianaCampgrounds #RVResort #FullTimeRVLife #RVEducation #RVSafety #Geocaching #Sasquatch #Bigfoot #RollingSmooth
The Rally Is Over, But the Mission Isn’t | Education, Stories, and Staying Rolling Smooth
The Newmar Rally has come to an end. The booth has been packed up, the banners have been rolled away, and Bertie Bea and Rosie are getting ready to point east toward the next stop. After a busy week of seminars, conversations, and helping fellow RVers, I found myself reflecting on a few lessons that were reinforced once again. In this episode, I share why: ✅ Education still matters more than selling. ✅ Stories connect better than specs. ✅ RVers want practical help, not fear or fluff. ✅ The Rolling Smooth Mindset applies everywhere, from seminars to travel days and even tired decisions. The mission hasn’t changed. I still just want people educated and safe. As long as I can do that, I’ll keep rolling smooth. In This Episode Why education should always come before the sales pitch The power of storytelling in helping people learn Why practical advice beats fear-based presentations Applying the Rolling Smooth Mindset to everyday decisions Preparing for the next leg of the Summer RV Tour Quote of the Week “Education shouldn’t leave you scared. Education should leave you prepared.” Mentioned in This Episode 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 📚 The Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth 🛒 Stan’s Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/stanc 🛠️ TechnoRV Affiliate Link https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes with Doug Simcox https://beyondthechutes.show ☕ Buy Me a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife Connect with Wandering Gypsy RV Life Facebook: https://facebook.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wanderinggypsyrvlife Instagram: https://instagram.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@wanderinggypsyrvlife Threads: https://threads.net/@wanderinggypsyrvlife Thank you for riding along with me on this journey. Until next time, keep your rig rolling smooth, keep your coffee hot, and remember… sometimes the best repair isn’t just the one that fixes your RV. It’s the one that quiets your mind. Safe travels, my friends. And remember, not all who wander are lost.
Why I Keep Building Wandering Gypsy RV Life
In this episode, Stan Cromlish steps back from the usual RV systems, safety products, trip planning, and campground lessons to talk about the real reason Wandering Gypsy RV Life exists. After hearing his own words from past conversations, including a February interview with Doug Simcox of Beyond the Chutes, Stan is reminded of the mission behind the books, videos, seminars, and podcast: “I just want people educated and safe.” From buying Bessie in 2020 to learning expensive RV lessons, writing the Rolling Smooth RV book series, and building the Rolling Smooth Mindset, this episode looks at how one RV journey became something bigger than chasing the next horizon. This is an episode about purpose, safety, mistakes, mindset, and why the hard parts of RV life are worth talking about. Find more at wanderinggypsyrvlife.com TechnoRV affiliate link: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 Beyond the Chutes: https://beyondthechutes.show Rolling Smooth RV book series: https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth Support the Journey: https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife
The $308 Safety Decision: When Wyoming Wind Gets a Vote
Blue sky, sunshine, and a beautiful-looking travel day can be deceiving when you’re driving a 24,000-pound Class A motorhome across open Wyoming prairie. In this episode of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, Stan shares the real story behind a travel decision that cost $308 but may have saved Bertie Bea, Rosie, and everyone around them from a much bigger problem. Parked at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Bertie Bea was rocking in a 37-mile-per-hour headwind while sitting still, with gusts later climbing over 45 miles per hour. The slide toppers were billowing, the wind was fighting the door, and what looked like a sunny travel day quickly became a Rolling Smooth reminder: do not judge an RV travel day by how pretty it looks. Judge it by what it will do to your rig. Stan talks through the decision to stay put rather than drive 125 miles to Coalville, Utah, even though the campground reservation was already paid for and non-refundable. He shares why money can whisper bad advice, how safety should overrule the itinerary, and why sometimes the return on a safety investment is measured by what did not happen. This episode also includes a brief quoted excerpt from “Why Do All the Trees Lean in Wyoming?” by the late cowboy poet Baxter Black. The poem is copyrighted by its respective rights holder and is referenced here for commentary on Wyoming wind and RV travel decision-making. In this episode: • Why blue-sky wind days can fool RVers • How wind affects a large Class A motorhome differently than a car or pickup • Why non-refundable reservations should not make safety decisions • The Rolling Smooth Mindset for travel-day judgment • Why sometimes the smartest travel day is a no-travel day Links: Wandering Gypsy RV Life: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Rolling Smooth RV Book Series: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth TechnoRV: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 Beyond the Chutes: https://beyondthechutes.show
New RVers, Seasoned Lessons, and the Road to North Sterling
This week on the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, Stan records hands-free while rolling down the road toward North Sterling State Park in Colorado, with a little Garmin GPS commentary along for the ride. In this episode, Stan talks about the difference between being a new RVer and becoming a more seasoned RVer. From learning the difference between 50-amp and 30-amp power to understanding inverters, converters, tanks, water connections, tow cars, and the never-ending movement of a house on wheels, this episode is all about learning your rig one mile at a time. Stan also shares why he started small with Bessie, his first 25-foot Class C motorhome, how Bertha came next, and why Rosie, his 2018 Chevrolet Equinox tow car, eventually became part of the journey. A grocery run in Cody, Wyoming, helped teach one of those classic RV lessons: once the rig is parked, you still need a way to get around. The road to North Sterling adds the perfect backdrop as Stan talks about dirt roads, standing water, gumbo mud, checking Rosie in the turns, and slowing down when the road starts teaching. If you’re a new RVer, this episode is for you. If you’re a seasoned RVer, you’ll probably recognize a few lessons you learned the hard way too. Thanks for riding along on the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast.
Reflecting on Six Years of RV Life | Friends, Faith, Failure & Dreams
Six years ago, I pointed a little 25-foot Class C motorhome named Bessie west and headed out with more enthusiasm than experience. I had no idea how much that decision would change my life. As I drive Bertie Bea from Douglas to Cheyenne, Wyoming, I reflect on the lessons learned from six years on the road. Some came from friendships, some came from failures, and some came from the miles between destinations. In this episode, I share stories about: • Starting the RV journey in 2020 with Bessie • The friendships that have shaped my life • Why mistakes and setbacks often become our greatest teachers • Lessons learned from roof leaks, repairs, and RV ownership • Fishing the Bighorn River with Rowdy and Brian • The Rolling Smooth mindset and how it was developed • Faith, gratitude, and the people who helped along the way • Chasing dreams, embracing failure, and continuing forward This isn't a technical RV episode. It's a windshield conversation about life, reflection, and what six years of RV travel have taught me about resilience, friendship, faith, and purpose. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to chase a dream, start a new chapter, or take a chance on something you've always wanted to do, this episode is for you. Resources & Links 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth 🤠 Cowboys & Cowgirls Rolling Smooth: https://beyondthechutes.show 📶 TechnoRV: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 ☕ Support the Journey: https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife Until next time, keep your rig rolling smooth, keep your coffee hot, and remember: sometimes the best repair isn't the one that fixes your RV. It's the one that quiets your mind.
The Camper Every Great Rodeo Cowboy Had: Capri Camper with Pete & Tyson D’Acosta
In this episode of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, Stan sits down with Pete and Tyson D’Acosta of Capri Campers for a conversation about one of the most recognizable truck camper brands in the rodeo world. The episode opens with Tilden Hooper sharing what Capri Campers meant to him growing up around rodeo, and why getting his own Capri felt like a sign that he had made it. Pete and Tyson share how they came to own Capri Campers, the company’s roots going back to 1969, and how they have worked to preserve the classic look, Western feel, and simple road-tested design that made Capri a trusted name among cowboys, cowgirls, and Western travelers. They also talk about the difference between the cabover and non-cabover models, why rodeo contestants value sleeping space and showers, what systems are available in the campers, and why Capri has intentionally kept things simple by avoiding unnecessary complexity. This conversation covers rodeo travel, truck campers, RV systems, 30-amp power, solar, generators, freshwater tanks, portable toilets, customer stories, the Yellowstone connection, and why simplicity can be one of the most valuable features on the road. Learn more about Capri Campers at: https://capricamper.com Visit Wandering Gypsy RV Life: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Check out the Rolling Smooth RV Book Series: https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth For RV gear that helps you adventure more and worry less, visit TechnoRV through Stan’s affiliate link: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 Listen to Beyond the Chutes: https://beyondthechutes.show Support the journey: https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife
Solo RV Travel, Safety, and Finding Your RV Family with Meagan Butler of the FRVA
In this episode of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, Stan visits with Meagan Butler, Marketing Manager for Family RV Association, for a real-world conversation about solo RV travel, safety, confidence, long travel days, campground instincts, and the RV community. Meagan shares stories from her own RV journey, including solo travel with teardrop campers, an Airstream Basecamp, and a Winnebago Solis van. She and Stan talk about the difference between towing and driving, why travel days can wear you down, the value of trusting your gut, and why every RVer has to build a travel style that fits their own life. They also discuss Family RV Association rallies, first-timer experiences, RV education, community, roadside assistance, medical and travel assist benefits, and why the word “family” in FRVA really does apply to every kind of RVer. Whether you are a solo traveler, a weekend camper, a full-time RVer, or someone still thinking about getting started, this episode is full of practical encouragement and road-tested wisdom. Learn more at https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Check out the Rolling Smooth RV Book Series: https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth TechnoRV affiliate link: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 Beyond the Chutes: https://beyondthechutes.show Support Wandering Gypsy RV Life: https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife #RVLife #SoloRVTravel #FRVA #FamilyRVAssociation #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RollingSmooth #RVPodcast #RVSafety #RVCommunity
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