More signs of optimism in the RV industry with Monaco RV moving production from Oregon to the heart of RV land in Indiana. This is expected to create 400 jobs in the area, but some may be filled by Oregon employees who will make the move too. The parent company, Navistar, sees the RV market picking up and are anticipating an increase in sales and rentals. Monaco laid off 1400 workers in 2008 and later sought bankruptcy prior to Navistar acquiring them. While not back to previous levels, this move positions the company to prepare for their estimates that RVs are regaining popularity. They also note that some RVs have transformed into food trucks and retail outlets, and they plan to make use of what an RV can offer. This will be interesting to see what they come up with in the future.

http://articles.wsbt.com/2011-08-02/rv-market_29844806

Cool little article about a couple who wanted more than a tent for camping and when they found it, turned the teardrop into a passion and a business.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110731/LIFESTYLE/110729372?p=1&tc=pg

12-year-old Jacob Schlosser of Wyoming, who was born with a life-threatening heart condition, had an unusual 'Make-a-Wish' request...a travel trailer.
There's much to like about this story, and from strictly an RVer's perspective I was struck by the statement that, "...Jacob...has reached that part of a boy’s life when the great outdoors holds limitless potential, wished for a travel trailer".
This boy's wish captures the essence of RVing that is sometimes taken for granted - RVs provide us and our families with 'limitless potential' to partake in the wonderful world of nature around us.

Kudos to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming and Sonny’s RV in Evansville for making it happen by presenting Jacob the keys to his 20-foot travel trailer.

Read the article here: http://trib.com/news/local/casper/article_0a4e7d78-d01d-5589-a150-0c7f0da7ad2...

NY Times article highlights the many reasons that people are willing to travel in an RV with their pets, rather than risk their lives and well-being with the airlines. http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/travel/what-to-know-when-traveling-with-...

I admit this is a stretch for Earth Day, but had to come up with something...so here's a new post on free overnighting at the Miccosukee Casino in Miami. It's dry camping, right? Happy Earth Day all!

Well done Tents for Troops and participating campgrounds for taking care of our service members with free camping. Check out the list of nice campgrounds offering their own service at http://www.tentsfortroops.org/

Kudos to Thor for acting quickly and recalling vehicles manufactured within the past 2 months! Only 126 units potentially affected. More here http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=11V178000&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=rss