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Barbara and John Pons pose for a picture in the living room (and kitchen, and dining room, and cockpit) of their 40-foot RV at Tiger Run Resort north of Breckenridge. The former Fort Collins couple sold their home, bought a rig and are spending the winter enjoying their passion: outdoor activity.
TIGER RUN RV RESORT - Each fall, paramours of powder ascend to Summit County with crystalline dreams fueled by their passion: turns, vertical feet, days, runs and big air. For John and Barbara Pons, however, those dreams happen to be fueled by diesel. Roughly, a 100-gallon tank of it.
The former Fort Collins couple arrived in Summit County two months ago, but unlike the other ski die-hards rolling into town, the Ponses didn't have to waste any time looking for a condo or a couch to crash on. They brought their house with them - or rather, they drove it here.
The couple, now semi-retired, made a big decision earlier this year, the life-changing kind. They sold the house, bought a 40-foot RV and reserved a spot at Tiger Run RV Resort just north of Breckenridge, and made up their minds to spend the next five months living it up, in a box and in the outdoors.
"My girls laughed when we told them," Barbara, a former data manager for a pharmaceutical firm, said her children's reaction to the decision. "They said we deserved it. The rest of the family ...? Some were jealous."
"There's a wide bell curve between people thinking 'trailer trash' and 'you're doing what?'" John said.
The decision wasn't so tough for them, though. John spent 28 years as a CPA working in the oil and gas industry and the past nine years as a minister. Barbara describes the ubiquitous stress of the pharmaceutical industry and 80-hour weeks. They were already thinking about an escape when a friend in Fort Collins invited them over to check out her new Dutch Star RV.
Sitting in comfy socks and sweatshirt on the leather couch of the Pons' RV Friday, Barbara recalled seeing her friend's "rig" for the first time. They extended the slide-out, the movable wall that expands the RV's living area, and fixed margaritas. Later, they took the rig for a drive. The friend pulled over on a country road, turned to Barbara and asked her if she wanted to get behind the wheel. Barbara, a school bus driver in another lifetime, said why not?
The former Fort Collins couple arrived in Summit County two months ago, but unlike the other ski die-hards rolling into town, the Ponses didn't have to waste any time looking for a condo or a couch to crash on. They brought their house with them - or rather, they drove it here.
The couple, now semi-retired, made a big decision earlier this year, the life-changing kind. They sold the house, bought a 40-foot RV and reserved a spot at Tiger Run RV Resort just north of Breckenridge, and made up their minds to spend the next five months living it up, in a box and in the outdoors.
"My girls laughed when we told them," Barbara, a former data manager for a pharmaceutical firm, said her children's reaction to the decision. "They said we deserved it. The rest of the family ...? Some were jealous."
"There's a wide bell curve between people thinking 'trailer trash' and 'you're doing what?'" John said.
The decision wasn't so tough for them, though. John spent 28 years as a CPA working in the oil and gas industry and the past nine years as a minister. Barbara describes the ubiquitous stress of the pharmaceutical industry and 80-hour weeks. They were already thinking about an escape when a friend in Fort Collins invited them over to check out her new Dutch Star RV.
Sitting in comfy socks and sweatshirt on the leather couch of the Pons' RV Friday, Barbara recalled seeing her friend's "rig" for the first time. They extended the slide-out, the movable wall that expands the RV's living area, and fixed margaritas. Later, they took the rig for a drive. The friend pulled over on a country road, turned to Barbara and asked her if she wanted to get behind the wheel. Barbara, a school bus driver in another lifetime, said why not?
"I was thinking, I could live in this, but John would never go for it," Barbara said.
But driving back to their home, Barbara broached the subject. They had considered smaller, pop-up campers in the past but decided that wasn't the way to go. Now with a fresh look and a desire for a life change, Barbara asked John what he thought.
"I loved it," John said, sipping tea on the opposite couch.
That sparked two years of research. Reams of books. Web sites. E-mails to authors and RVers and clubs. Checking out different makes and models of RVs. The plan was set in motion when they put their house on the market.
Four months ago, the house sold. They had eight days from the sale to the closing to deal with all their property and personal effects. "We watched two trucks take it away to an estate sale," Barbara said.
They spent two months in a condo before picking out their RV. Then they were Breckenridge-bound. They went from a 3,200 square-foot home on 40 acres, to 400 square feet of two rooms on wheels. It's not has hard as you think, John said.
"The way these things were designed, you have twice the storage space you do in a house," John said, pointing to the cabinets that line the ceiling and back wall of the living room. Most RVs also have large bays in the undercarriage, too. But it does take adjustment, he said.
But driving back to their home, Barbara broached the subject. They had considered smaller, pop-up campers in the past but decided that wasn't the way to go. Now with a fresh look and a desire for a life change, Barbara asked John what he thought.
"I loved it," John said, sipping tea on the opposite couch.
That sparked two years of research. Reams of books. Web sites. E-mails to authors and RVers and clubs. Checking out different makes and models of RVs. The plan was set in motion when they put their house on the market.
Four months ago, the house sold. They had eight days from the sale to the closing to deal with all their property and personal effects. "We watched two trucks take it away to an estate sale," Barbara said.
They spent two months in a condo before picking out their RV. Then they were Breckenridge-bound. They went from a 3,200 square-foot home on 40 acres, to 400 square feet of two rooms on wheels. It's not has hard as you think, John said.
"The way these things were designed, you have twice the storage space you do in a house," John said, pointing to the cabinets that line the ceiling and back wall of the living room. Most RVs also have large bays in the undercarriage, too. But it does take adjustment, he said.
"I was determined to bring my Bow-Flex," he said, and Barbara chuckled.
"I let him have that fantasy for a while," she said.
"I tried to figure it out, but then my sister, who teaches aerobics, turned me on to elastic bands she uses," John said. "So I found an alternative that fits in a cupboard."
There are other changes, too. Any whiz in the kitchen will find cooking in an RV takes planning and creativity, as cooking appliances and surfaces are minimized for efficiency. "And the smells fill the whole place," John said.
The Ponses stopped buying clothes two years ago to pare down their wardrobe for RV life. They're still whittling down their possessions, which has brought on a revelation.
"The most profound change for us is the realization of the excess Americans live in," John said.
And the RV life isn't for everyone. The couple lives in close quarters at all times - when they aren't out biking and hiking, anyway. Fortunately, their experience as licensed counselors goes a long way to keeping the ship's mates happy and balanced.
"I let him have that fantasy for a while," she said.
"I tried to figure it out, but then my sister, who teaches aerobics, turned me on to elastic bands she uses," John said. "So I found an alternative that fits in a cupboard."
There are other changes, too. Any whiz in the kitchen will find cooking in an RV takes planning and creativity, as cooking appliances and surfaces are minimized for efficiency. "And the smells fill the whole place," John said.
The Ponses stopped buying clothes two years ago to pare down their wardrobe for RV life. They're still whittling down their possessions, which has brought on a revelation.
"The most profound change for us is the realization of the excess Americans live in," John said.
And the RV life isn't for everyone. The couple lives in close quarters at all times - when they aren't out biking and hiking, anyway. Fortunately, their experience as licensed counselors goes a long way to keeping the ship's mates happy and balanced.
Control freaks might not do well, either, John said. RV life requires a certain flexibility, a willingness to go with the flow, to hit the highway or plant the levelers as situations dictate.
"Your plans have to be written in Jell-O," Barbara said, describing one three-day stint camping in the RV dealer's parking lot while waiting for parts and service.
The Ponses say they don't know where the journey will take them, or how long it will be until they get there - wherever that is. They've both applied for jobs as ski instructors at Breckenridge Ski Resort, and the long-time Copper Mountain pass-holders say they'll be competing with the 20-somethings for the most days on the hill. Their snowshoes are waiting to be broken in. And, they still do a little consulting for churches.
They fill their time in the RV (what little time they spend there) studying Spanish on CDs. John is learning (again) how to play keyboards, and Barbara's guitar, didjeridoo and djembe are always within easy reach. They read, and they're planning a spring trip to Honduras to scuba dive. Then they'll hit the road heading south with a couple they met down the road at Tiger Run. Then there's plenty more of the country, Canada and Mexico to see. Barbara points out that a diesel engine really doesn't break in until about 100,000 miles.
"Like I told my sister," Barbara said, "I'm not sure how I ever found time to have a job."
Reid Williams can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 237 or rwilliams@summitdaily.com.
"Your plans have to be written in Jell-O," Barbara said, describing one three-day stint camping in the RV dealer's parking lot while waiting for parts and service.
The Ponses say they don't know where the journey will take them, or how long it will be until they get there - wherever that is. They've both applied for jobs as ski instructors at Breckenridge Ski Resort, and the long-time Copper Mountain pass-holders say they'll be competing with the 20-somethings for the most days on the hill. Their snowshoes are waiting to be broken in. And, they still do a little consulting for churches.
They fill their time in the RV (what little time they spend there) studying Spanish on CDs. John is learning (again) how to play keyboards, and Barbara's guitar, didjeridoo and djembe are always within easy reach. They read, and they're planning a spring trip to Honduras to scuba dive. Then they'll hit the road heading south with a couple they met down the road at Tiger Run. Then there's plenty more of the country, Canada and Mexico to see. Barbara points out that a diesel engine really doesn't break in until about 100,000 miles.
"Like I told my sister," Barbara said, "I'm not sure how I ever found time to have a job."
Reid Williams can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 237 or rwilliams@summitdaily.com.
