Last Updated: July 17, 2026
Repairs have a way of accumulating when you live on the road. Emergencies get dealt with immediately — a blown tire, a generator failure, a slideout that won’t retract — but everything else gets quietly added to a list that only grows longer with each mile. By the time we returned to our San Diego home base in summer 2020, that list had become formidable: house plumbing, flooring, landscaping, an aging fountain, RV repairs still waiting from our time in Nappanee and Tucson, and a growing stack of overdue medical appointments for both of us. Three months of work, doctor visits, and Home Depot runs later, we were finally caught up. Mostly.
House Repairs
We came back to an empty house that needed attention from top to bottom. In order to move back in comfortably, we spent innumerable hours shopping for home goods to get the place minimally outfitted — furniture, linens, kitchen basics, all the things that quietly disappear when a house sits vacant or cycles through tenants. It’s a strange reentry: after years in 400 square feet of motorhome, suddenly having an entire house to furnish and maintain felt both luxurious and overwhelming.
The biggest headache was the kitchen floor. About a year and a half earlier, a water leak had required a new hot water line and replacement flooring. Over time, the repaired section had discolored — a telltale sign that the plumbers had failed to properly repair the vapor barrier underneath. Three months of work and more than a few heated conversations with the plumbing company later, we finally got it resolved correctly. The new acacia wood floor looks beautiful and, more importantly, it will last.
Seven sinks, faucets, showers, and drains were leaking — the result of years of deferred attention. As original owners, we contacted Kohler, who sent replacement parts at no charge. After numerous trips to Home Depot and more YouTube tutorial sessions than we care to admit, we replaced most of them ourselves — leaving one project for when we return from our next trip to Yellowstone and Colorado.
The landscaping and irrigation system had both suffered during the time we were away. Sandy dove in with characteristic determination — fertilizing, planting, pruning, and generally willing the garden back to life. We repaired the fountain, fixed multiple sprinkler heads, and replaced several struggling plants. The three AC units needed cleaning; a new shop vac from Home Depot handled that efficiently. The newly planted verbena and butterfly bush, combined with the existing society garlic and crepe myrtle, quickly became a magnet for the neighborhood’s wildlife.
The tiger swallowtail butterflies were surprisingly approachable — cooperative subjects that seemed unbothered by a photographer inching closer with a long lens. We spent hours in the garden during those weeks, camera in hand, and the butterflies delivered some of the most rewarding shots of the whole year.
We’d always had hummingbirds visiting the garden, drawn by the salvia and native plants already in bloom. Hanging a dedicated feeder brought them even closer — close enough to fill a memory card with shots we’d otherwise only dream about. Anna’s hummingbirds, Rufous, and a few others cycled through all day long, territorial and electric, putting on a show that made every repair headache feel worthwhile.
RV Repairs
The motorhome had a repair list of its own — items that had been waiting since our time in Nappanee, Indiana and Tucson, Arizona earlier in the year. After three months of coordination with Holland RV in San Marcos, CA, we finally got everything resolved. They even washed the coach — a small detail that felt like an enormous luxury after so many dusty miles. Getting all the deferred work done in one place, with time to spare, was one of the genuine advantages of being stationary for an extended period.
Ourselves
One of our most consistent complaints about full-time RV travel is the unpredictable access to fresh food, good wine, and exercise. At some stops we’re steps from a Costco or a well-stocked market; at others, a Dollar General is the best option within 20 miles. Some RV parks have miles of dog-friendly trails; some have gyms; most have neither. Being back in San Diego meant daily long walks, a full kitchen with actual ingredients, and the ability to cook a proper meal whenever we felt like it. Sandy’s backyard ribs and homemade pineapple-infused vodka were exactly what the doctor ordered — in the most literal sense, given what the rest of the summer involved.
The medical to-do list was substantial. Between us, we logged an insane number of physician visits and procedures over the course of the summer — which, combined with the COVID protocols requiring multiple negative tests before any hospital procedure, meant we were essentially quarantined for months. Michael’s procedures included a colonoscopy, bilateral cataract surgeries, and a da Vinci robotic laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair. Four COVID tests in a few months felt excessive, but hospitals weren’t taking chances, and neither were we. We weren’t able to visit friends or do anything socially, which was genuinely frustrating after months of isolation already. By the end, though, we were caught up on everything — and ready to get back on the road.
One silver lining of the extended stay: Sandy finally had her own room to set up a proper painting studio. After years of trying to keep art supplies organized in motorhome storage bays, having dedicated space to spread out and create was a genuine luxury. The paintings that came out of that room were some of her best work.
San Diego
Despite the packed schedule of repairs and medical appointments, we managed a few precious escapes into the San Diego landscape that always reminds us why we keep coming back. Visits to Del Mar, Torrey Pines, Solana Beach, and Black’s Beach near La Jolla were genuine treats — the kind of afternoon that resets everything. COVID crowds at the beaches were heavier than usual, as people who couldn’t travel far gravitated to the coast, but even with the company it’s hard to stand at the Torrey Pines cliffs and feel anything but fortunate.
When we return to San Diego later this year — with most of the repairs behind us — we plan to explore far more of what the city has to offer. There are neighborhoods, museums, and coastline stretches we’ve driven past for years without stopping. Having a home base here, even a part-time one, gives us that excuse at last.
Practical Tips for RV Travelers Using a Home Base
Keep a running repair list for both your home and your RV. When you’re on the road, it’s easy to defer anything that isn’t an emergency — but that list grows faster than you expect. Returning to a home base with a prioritized list and a realistic timeline for each item makes the transition far less overwhelming than trying to tackle everything at once.
Contact manufacturers before hiring a plumber or handyman. As original owners of our Kohler fixtures, we received all replacement parts at no charge simply by calling the company. Many appliance and fixture manufacturers offer generous warranty replacement programs that owners overlook. A phone call before paying for parts is always worth the time.
Schedule medical appointments in clusters during home base stays. Routine care — colonoscopies, eye exams, dental cleanings, specialist follow-ups — is far easier to coordinate when you’re stationary for weeks at a time. Trying to schedule these procedures while moving every few days is a logistical nightmare. Batching them into a home base stay, even if it means a denser schedule, saves enormous time and stress over the long run.
Holland RV in San Marcos, CA (near Escondido) is a reliable option for Newmar owners in the San Diego area. Parts availability can cause delays on complex repairs, so contact them well in advance and confirm parts are ordered before scheduling a service appointment. Plan to be stationary nearby for longer than you expect.
Plant for wildlife if you have outdoor space at your home base. Society garlic, salvia, crepe myrtle, and native California plants attract remarkable diversity — hummingbirds, swallowtail butterflies, and songbirds arrived in our garden within days of Sandy’s planting efforts. A hummingbird feeder accelerates the process and brings them close enough for serious photography.
