FMCA members to appear on Oprah

When FMCA members Jose and Jill Ferrer moved into a 40-foot motorhome in 2002, they never imagined their full-timing lifestyle would land them an appearance on one of the most influential, longest-running talk shows of all time, The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The RVer on Oprah segment, as the Ferrers call it, airs Tuesday, Sept. 23. The episode focuses on the impact of the economy on people’s finances and retirement plans. Oprah and financial expert Suze Orman join the Ferrers inside their motorhome to talk about these issues.

Oprah show representatives found the Ferrers through Jose and Jill’s Web site, www.your-rv-lifestyle.com. The Oprah people were looking for a couple who had retired or was planning to retire on the road, living the RV lifestyle.

“The premise would be, Can we continue with our RV lifestyle, given our own financial situation, the economic downturn, increasing inflation, and escalating cost of fuel, food and everything else?” Jill said.

The trip
Jose, 58, and Jill, 52, were eager to share their experiences. But the former telecommunications professionals had a workamping commitment in Wyoming, so they looked at the potential to do the show via video, or to be flown into Chicago for the taping.

“The Oprah show production department said it really wanted us to drive the motorhome to the studio, so that Oprah and Suze could come into the motorhome and talk to us,” Jill said.

The Ferrers’ workamper employers in Cody, Wyo., made arrangements to backfill Jose and Jill’s remaining scheduled work days and encouraged them to “go for it.”

Jose and Jill left at noon on a Monday and drove 1,300 miles. Their 2003 Country Coach Allure pulled up in front of Harpo Studios in Chicago around noon on Wednesday.

That afternoon, a camera crew set up their motorhome for taping, and the Ferrers were prepped.

“On Thursday morning, Oprah Winfrey and Suze Orman were in fact, in our home — albeit for a very brief time,” Jill said.

The show
The Ferrers won’t know what the RVer on Oprah segment looks like until it airs on Tuesday. “Mostly, Suze Orman told us we had done things right in our retirement plans,” Jill said. “Given that we have chosen to be full-time RVers, that’s worth something.”

The show may air a collage of photos from the Ferrers' motorhome trips, Jill said. “Who knows what makes the cut, but I can tell you that last Friday on the show, I saw the teaser for Tuesday’s show, and we caught a glimpse of us and our motorhome.”

Jose and Jill don’t care about their moments of fame. They’re just happy that the motorhoming lifestyle, which they cherish, is getting exposure on such a popular show.

Plus, they can always say Oprah was in their house, or motorhome, and they played host.