However, the beauty of the snow and the new outdoor activities offered to us is amazing. Our owner's manual does not tell us how to troubleshoot through issues caused from below freezing temps (although it boasts of its polar package!). It only tells us how to winterize the RV assuming it will be stored when we go below 50 degrees. Ha! The trial and error is invaluable, though, should we not be able to chase the seasons in our future travel. Winter in the mountains has been a love/hate relationship with the Lunsfords. We are learning lessons and creating lasting memories as a family. That was the main goal of this lifestyle choice, so I wouldn't change our decision.
One thing that has come to my attention is that our family of 5 is under-utilizing the clubhouse at our RV resort. We can come over and spread out whenever we need to. I am typing this post from the comfort of a large leather couch next to a roaring fire. We can use the oven when our dinner is too big for the RV stove, and the dishwasher when our pipes freeze in the kitchen sink. Sometimes the girls just need to get their wiggles out in a larger space. I also need to take advantage of the gym equipment, now that we are spending more time indoors.
The RV itself seemed to hold up pretty well when we are hovering between 20 and 30 degrees. We took all the necessary steps that we were told about to prevent any problems with our underbelly, pipes, hoses, and tanks. Then, we started dipping into single digits, and one problem after another began to occur. Condensation has become the enemy. We have to wipe down the windows each morning, and open the vents in the bathroom and bedroom after a steaming shower. Cooking, breathing, showering, etc result in the pouring out of water. Scott discovered the clothes in our closet were beginning to freeze. We had to pull out the clothes, then warm up the space, and dry out the wet spots.The kitchen pipes began to freeze, and as the temps went into the negative, it became harder and harder to unfreeze. We put a small space heater on the lowest setting underneath, and rarely have an issue now. Propane is going quicker and quicker. We are now filling it up once a week. We stayed away one night, and the propane ran out. We came home to any liquid in our home being frozen solid, including an icicle coming from our kitchen faucet. Not too long after that, a strange smell, like hot plastic filled up our living area. Googling lead us to believe there was a problem with our hot water heater. Scott spent some time investigating, and came across wires that were basically charred. A fire would have been very likely had we waited to dig into the issue.
Our family is having to get creative with the use of our space. Our wall space is covered in hooks for snow suits, jackets, coats, hats, etc. Our winter gear is spread from one end to the other. Getting ready for an outdoor activity is already exhausting when layering three children with their winter gear. However, coming in afterwards and having wet boots, and clothing thrown everywhere has been a much bigger challenge. My wheels have been turning to figure out a makeshift mudroom.
Just spending many more hours tucked into 400 square feet has us truly in each others' faces. It makes for a lot of conversations and problem solving as we try to navigate through this new way of living, and issues truly have to get resolved right away. There is no room for festering and pouting. No time like the present for real life learning for our kiddos. Resolution to those marital squabbles that could go on for hours, when hiding in the corners of a home, come much quicker. Our children literally wore themselves out making a game of chasing each other around the island in our kitchen/living area last night. I have discovered that their imaginations are not limited by space. They will take up the whole space in a large environment, and they will use the parameters of their small environment as well. There are no complaints from them.
We were not prepared for what Winter in Heber Valley would hold for us. But the beauty of the mountains, the community activities, the snow sports, and conflicts that force resoultion have created experiences that we would not have encountered any other way. We may begin the day cursing the issue at hand and wondering what on Earth have we done, but the end of the day leaves us breathing in the mountain air and sighing with satisfaction at what the day offered us. We are not sure what the Spring will hold for us. It is going to be tough to move on from this captivating area, but we are also chomping at the bit to begin our exploration of this great country.
