Page 74 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2016

GOLDEN YEARS on the road again
For some retirees RV living is the way to go
story by Susan Ruddiman
photos by Suzette Carlson and courtesy of Diane and Gordon Allison and Sarah and Bert Germain
When Diane Allison convinced her husband, Gordan, to retire from his 46-year career with Lockheed Martin three years ago, what did they do to celebrate? The Biloxi couple hit the road for four months in their 40-foot Tiffin Phaeton motorhome.
“We traveled an awful lot with my husband’s career, and now we are still traveling,” Diane, 69, said. She is a retired travel agent.
The Allisons reflect the national trend that has the recreational vehicle market rebounding from the 2008 recession, according to reportsnreports.com. They are part of the baby boomer segment of the population who are retiring, enjoy more leisure time and have financial stability. The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association reports that with current owners, former owners and new market entrants, an estimated 21 percent of U.S. households have intentions to purchase an RV at some point. The South and the West regions of the United States lead sales of RVs.
All that aside, Diane said traveling the country in their motorhome is just fun.
“It’s like traveling with your own apartment — we have a king size bed, washer and dryer, shower
and full bathroom. You don’t have to move luggage around, you can fix your own food and sit outside,” Diane said. “It’s called ‘Roughing it Smoothly,’ that’s the Tiffin saying.”
The Allisons acquired their used 2011 Tiffin in 2013. When they travel, they tow a Honda CRV so they have a car when the motorhome is parked. The couple has
LEFT: The Allisons when they purchased their new RV.
BOTTOM: Gorgeous interior shot of their spacious Tif n Phaeton RV.
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