Member Spotlight

Chari and Ron Rosenwald
Homosassa, Fla. (about 70 miles north of Tampa)

Our FMCA membership number:  F274832. We joined FMCA in 2000.

We decided to buy a motorhome because:
As a young, growing family, we rented folding camping trailers and soon owned our own. Motorhoming is a greater way to enjoy family vacations in an affordable way. We love the casual atmosphere and easy traveling lifestyle.

Our former occupations:
Chari was a homemaker for many years. After that she worked as an administrative aide for a carpet company and then for a custom builder in Maryland, where we used to live. Her last position was as assistant manager of a senior citizens HUD program apartment building of 149 units. I, Ron, was in the business world with a small group of ladies ready-to-wear clothing stores for over 20 years, and have held a real estate license for almost 42 years. I managed a national real estate chain office for a few years, then opened my own office and was an appraiser for the last 10 years before my “semi-retirement” in Florida. I am licensed now but spend most of my working time doing custom woodwork.

Children, grandchildren:
We have three children: Justine, who lives in Virginia with our two grandsons, Benjamin and Jon; Traci, who lives in northeast Maryland with her husband, Steve, and our other two grandsons, Jake and Noah; and our youngest, Mitchell, who resides in Baltimore and receives his Ph.D in May 2004.

The best thing about motorhoming is:
There is comfort in having our privacy, yet enjoying the comfort of our “own” bed, own cooking, own schedule, etc. We are able to move when and where we want on our own schedule and can modify that schedule based upon weather and our own decisions. And, we meet the nicest people around while in campgrounds.

When we’re not motorhoming, we’re:
Chari loves to read and do different crafty projects, putter with her beautiful potted African violets, and keep in contact with our friends. I enjoy golf, and spend time in my “playpen," otherwise known as the workshop in the garage.

We travel about 10 weeks per year and try to plan one trip of about four to five weeks long supplemented by a number of smaller trips including five to six long weekends. With the arrival of our new diesel pusher coach, we intend to extend our travel time significantly and see much more of the western states and Canada.

Favorite motorhoming destinations:
We have been fortunate to have been in 49 states so far and found enjoyable destinations in each and every one. Some were memorable because of nice campgrounds ... but many because of the nice people we met there. Some favorite destinations include Bemidji, Minn.; the Olympic Peninsula of Washington; the New England states of Maine and Vermont; and Rehobeth Beach, Del.

Our all-time favorite motorhome trip was:
We traveled to Alaska in ’99 and expect to return in a few years. There is so much more to see there and we expect to spend an entire summer enjoying it.

Some of our fondest motorhoming memories include:
We are creating many favorites as we travel now in our almost “golden years.” The USA is so vast and so interesting and the people are so amazing. That's why we love to get off the main roads and travel the quieter side roads and visit the smaller towns out of the spotlight. Each has its own claim to fame and its own story and we enjoy sharing it for a few minutes in our travels. That’s probably why I would like to meet Charles Kuralt, for he was always able to recognize the heartbeat of a story no matter where he was.

Our dream trip would be:
Probably to travel across Canada and back up into Alaska, then take the back roads through the USA, meeting and talking to the people who are the backbone of this country.

The best thing about our motorhome is:
It's all new, so we have a lot to get used to. But making it “ours” is fun.

An alteration or addition that we plan to make to our motorhome is:
We are going to remove the couch and install a pair of leather Euro-recliners for personal comfort. Also, I expect to install a weather station in it along with a compass, but I guess the most unique thing will be the amateur radio installation for side-band and Morse code operation.

Something about motorhoming that we know now but didn’t know when we started is:
Perhaps it is a matter of age and maturity, but we find we enjoy taking our time much more and are more ready to alter our schedule and plans depending upon our own whims.

If we could change one thing about our motorhome, it would be:
Well, we did this by moving up to the diesel pusher with more “creature comforts” designed for longer trips.

Our favorite thing about FMCA is:
They are ready to assist at all times with advice and the voice of experience. The members are so open and ready to assist. Admittedly, we have little experience with the national aspects but expect to become more involved as we extend our time on the road and with local participation, as well. The resources are there for the asking.

A motorhome tip we'd like to share with other motorhomers is:
Take time in camp to get out and walk around and meet your neighbors. Don’t set up the TV and hibernate! Also, try to set aside some time to get off the interstates and travel some interesting side roads. Stop off in small towns and wander around, eat at the local diners, talk to the people, visit the small museums and town halls. Enjoy your fellow Americans.

Our hobbies are:
Chari enjoys craft works and needle crafts along with her reading and gardening. I prefer golf, woodworking, old cars, photography and reading. There just is not enough time and energy to fully participate in everything I want to try! The motto of the school we graduated from is,  “No talent lies latent." It has taken many years for me to fully appreciate the wisdom and intent of these words.

If we could meet anyone from history, we would choose:
There are so many people I (Ron) would like to have met ... but I think Leonardo Da Vinci because of his keen mind so many years ago, and more recently, Harry Truman and Charles Kuralt. Chari would like to have met Annie Oakley.

Our favorite way to exercise is:
Walking our dog, about two to three miles a day.

Our favorite movie is:
Chari: To Kill a Mockingbird. Ron: Elmer Gantry, Charlie, The yearling.

Favorite book:
Chari: "The Stand" by Stephen King. Ron: "Earth's Children" series by Jean Auel.

Favorite restaurant:
The best is Morton's Steakhouse. Also, the Tap Room in Chesapeake City, Md., for crabs, and Cracker Barrel while on the road.

Favorite singer/song:
We both enjoy big band sounds, easy listening jazz with songs from the '50s and '60s, as well.

Favorite store:
Chari enjoys antiques shops. I love to wander through old country-style hardware stores and old car junkyards.

Favorite campgrounds:
Having been in 49 States, there are a number of them: Anchorage RV Park in Alaska; Three Seasons in Rehobeth Beach, Del.; Cross Creek Camping Resort in Delaware, Ohio; and  Salt Springs in Ocala National Forest, Fla.; and the next park we have never visited! Other campgrounds that we want to revisit are in Whitehorse, Yukon and Haines, Alaska.

When motorhomers visit our state or hometown:
You must spend a few hours at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park in Homosassa and be sure to see the manatee. Florida has so many interesting places to see ... But I encourage you to get away from the tourist traps and spend time seeing the “back roads” areas, the real Florida.

Items that are always in our motorhome refrigerator while we’re traveling are:
Ice cream and bagels/cream cheese along with fresh fruit and diet sodas.

Our advice to new motorhomers is:
Get out and drive and use and enjoy your motorhome. Get to know some road "veterans" and join a group that is active.

Behind our motorhome, we tow:
We selected a '97 Chevrolet Cavalier to tow four wheels down. We use Roadmaster towing equipment. With four years of service, the Cavalier has responded exactly as we wished.

Our favorite activity to do inside the motorhome is:
Just relax, read, sleep ... and get out to meet new people as we walk the dog.

Our pets that travels with us is:
A 3-year-old white and tan cocker spaniel named Amber. Some people do not recognize her as a cocker as we kept her tail intact!

Other FMCA members may contact us via e-mail at:
Ron: ka3dro@tampabay.rr.com
Chari: chari@tampabay.rr.com

Other comments:
We are involved locally with a small club called the Insta-Gators, of which I am vice president. We meet one weekend each month in an RV park in a 50- to 75-mile radius for social enjoyment, a potluck dinner and dominoes. We look forward to joining an FMCA chapter and extending our travel areas and meeting new people.