Member Spotlight

Michael and Maureen Cocci
Tucson, Ariz.

FMCA membership number:
F301980 (we joined FMCA in 2001)

Our current motorhome:
A 2005 Country Coach Allure

Other motorhomes we’ve owned:
A 2001 Country Coach Intrigue

One word that best describes our current motorhome:
Spacious

The best thing about our motorhome:
The tiled, heated floors. It offers features we wanted in a motor coach: bright, open, tile, spacious, and an entertainment center.

The best thing about motorhoming:
It gives us the freedom to go wherever we want and the ability to visit any place at any time.

Former occupations:
I (Michael) am a retired national sales manager, and Maureen is a retired housekeeper.

Children, grandchildren:
We have two children, both grown and living on their own!

We travel in the motorhome:
Approximately three months per year. When we’re not motorhoming we’re golfing, hiking and biking around Tucson.

Our all-time favorite motorhome trip:
A combined trip to Banff National Park and Glacier National Park

One of our fondest motorhoming memories:
Our most recent chapter rallies in Durango, Colo., and at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Other favorite destinations:
Moab, Utah; Torrey, Utah; Washington and Oregon coastlines and RV parks

Our “dream” motorhome trip:
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick

Our perfect day of motorhome travel:
A three- to four-hour drive (200 miles) with scenic mountain views and light traffic. We arrive at a friendly, spacious site (for big rigs) with friendly RVers surrounding us.

Our worst motorhoming experiences:
1) Stuck in a muddy field campsite at a KOA in Cooperstown, N.Y.
2) Breaking down (starter) at the pumps in Quartzsite, Ariz. We waited eight hours for a tow and two days for parts.

Our motorhoming pet peeve:
1) Lack of courtesy of other motorhome owners in regard to noise, respect of property, walking through your site, pet noise and feces.
2) Automobile drivers that cut in front of you and have no idea what it takes to stop 40,000 pounds of coach.

Something motorhoming has taught us about life:
Patience, and how to enjoy the beauty and scope of this great country

The best additions we’ve made to our motorhome:
We made a Plexiglas cover for our stove to increase counter space. We cut strips of Plexiglas to fit into pantry shelves to prevent cans and boxes from falling out.

Special or unique features of our motorhhome:
It has three heating systems — a heat pump, a diesel furnace and a heated floor. We have two large flat-panel TVs and an Advantium oven.

If we could change anything about our motorhome:
The heat pump makes too much noise in the air-conditioning mode and the heat mode.

Something about motorhoming that we know now but didn’t know when we started:
Computerization and electronics in the coach. It is so technical it can be overwhelming.

When driving the motorhome the most important things to remember are:
Watch out for the other drivers, especially automobiles. Other RVers and semi-truck drivers have a good respect for RVers and give you the courtesy and space on the open road.

Our favorite thing about FMCA:  Insurance and other benefits

Advice for other motorhome owners:
Talk to other motorhome owners and visit various Web sites for info and knowledge about your coach.

Our hobbies:  Hiking, biking and golf

Our favorite way to exercise:
Taking brisk walks — three-fifths of a mile at least three times a week

Favorite movie:
The Long, Long Trailer (1954) starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

Favorite books:
Michael: Anything by Clive Cussler. Maureen: Anything by James Patterson or Tony Hillerman.

Favorite singers: Neil Diamond, Jimmy Buffet, Lee Greenwood

Favorite restaurants:
Home: Acacia in Tucson, Ariz. On the road: Two Sisters café near St. Mary, Mont.

If we won a free shopping spree at any store, the stores we’d choose:
Best Buy or Circuit City

Favorite campground:
Cape Kiwanda RV Park in Pacific City, Ore.

When motorhomers visit our home state, they should be sure to see:
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Sabino Canyon in Tucson. Also, Arizona state parks — those large enough for big rigs with 50-amp service.

Items we always keep in our motorhome’s refrigerator while traveling:
Cheese, all kinds

Our advice to new motorhomers:
Be patient, things will go wrong. Take time to learn the features and talk to other owners about how to operate and maintain everything.

Behind our motorhome, we tow:
A 2001 Jeep Wrangler with a tow bar

Our favorite activity to do inside the motorhome:
Card games, Scrabble and e-mail

Other motorhomers may contact us via e-mail:  nomadcc@comcast.net