Member Spotlight

Tom and Joan Ainsley
Sacramento, Calif.

FMCA membership number:
F182814 (we joined in 1994)

FMCA chapter memberships:
Gold Diggers, Sierra Ramblers, Golden Spike, Elk International, Northern California FMCA Elk, Traveling VIP (chapter president)

Our current motorhome: 2005 Country Coach Inspire

Three words that best describe our motorhome:
Comfortable, spacious, attractive

The best thing about our motorhome:
Comfort. Ability to travel wherever we want to go.

Other motorhomes we’ve owned:
A 1994 Safari Trek, a 1996 Safari Trek, and a 2001 Safari Zanzibar

We decided to buy a motorhome because:
After we retired, we wanted to travel in comfort and at our own pace. FMCA membership was a bonus.

Occupations:
Tom: Retired marketing/sales management
Joan: Retired elementary school teacher, association administrative assistant

The best thing about motorhoming:
The freedom to travel when and where you want to in comfort, and the fellowship with other RVers.

Children, grandchildren:
We have three sons and seven grandchildren.

We travel in the motorhome approximately:
Five to six months per year. When we’re not motorhoming we’re home in Sacramento, where we have a home that we have lived in for 36 years.

Our all-time favorite motorhome trip:
To New England, then down to South Carolina and Georgia. Also, we really enjoyed our trip to Perry, Ga., touring the Gulf Coast.

Other favorite motorhoming destinations:
We particularly enjoy the Oregon Coast and Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. Another favorite destination is British Columbia and Alberta, Canada — Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. The redwood area of northern California is always a favorite.

One of our fondest motorhoming memories:
The good times we have had at the many FMCA chapter rallies and conventions we have attended.

Our perfect day of motorhome travel:
A perfect day of motorhome travel would be a drive along back roads through beautiful countryside and visiting small towns. We also like to travel with friends to share these experiences.

Something motorhoming has taught us about life:
Take the time to smell the roses and see this beautiful country of ours.

The best addition we’ve made to our motorhome:
Satellite TV and radio.

If we could change one thing about our motorhome, it would be:
Less fuel consumption.

Something about motorhoming that we know now but didn’t know when we started:
Safe driving considerations and techniques for large vehicles and towing.

When driving the motorhome the most important thing to remember is:
Safety. Be aware of your surroundings, maintain your equipment and know and follow the laws.

Our favorite things about FMCA:
Fun, fellowship and being involved in all levels and activities of FMCA. Also, FMCA provides excellent benefits.

Hobbies:
Tom: volunteering, RV travel, reading, computers
Joan: volunteering, RV travel, reading, quilting, sewing, playing bridge

Our favorite way to exercise:  walking

Favorite campgrounds:
California’s Humboldt Redwoods State Park, located along the scenic Avenue of the Giants between the towns of Weott and Myers Flat. There are three campgrounds within the park plus several commercial campgrounds. It’s the third-largest California state park. The wonderful visitor center contains the first Class A motorhome (see article in the Sept. 2000 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine).

When motorhomers visit our state or hometown they should be sure to see:
Sacramento: State Capitol, California State Railroad Museum, Old Town and Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park. California: You name it, we’ve got it.

Our advice to new motorhomers:
Always follow good driving practices and comply with local and state laws. Also, get involved with FMCA, especially the chapters, and lasting friendships will happen quickly. Joan is national director of the Gold Diggers chapter. Tom serves on FMCA’s Government and Legislative Affairs committee and Nominating committees and is part of the advance security team for FMCA international conventions.

Behind our motorhome, we tow:
A 2004 Chevy Malibu with a Blue Ox tow bar

Our favorite activity inside the motorhome is: entertaining friends, reading