I learn by researching, writing, and sharing--and this article is a celebration of that fact. Two years ago I bought a tiny "standy" travel trailer, an RTTC Polar Bear, and began the process of learning everything a travel trailer owner has to know. Since I'm a life-long writer and also for eleven years have been the administrator of a writing blog, Tom Kepler Writing, I naturally had the thought to start a blog about tiny and small trailers, camping, and all things related.
I'm happy to say that in two years, Green Goddess Glamping has published 180 articles. Its articles have been viewed over 181,000 times, and now two hundred readers follow the blog by receiving email notification when new articles are posted. Last month, 13,500 readers went to my blog. These numbers are small, considering many websites, but for a non-commercial, one-person enterprise . . . well, I'm just glad and fulfilled that readers have appreciated my sharing what I've learned about being the owner of a small travel trailer.
This article isn't just about tooting my own horn, though. I want to share with you some of the accomplishments and provide some links that might be useful for you.
- First of all, since I own a Rustic Trails Teardrop Camper, I've gotten to know and write about the adventures of quite a few RTTC owners, which I've compiled in a "Bears in the Wild" article which provides links to most of the RTTC articles I've written. I hope you enjoy reading about great travel adventures, trailer "mods," and owner lifestyles; I certainly have enjoyed researching and writing these travelogue, profile, and how-to articles.
- Next, once I had written about a hundred articles, I decided to compile them on static pages that would make accessing all that research and narration easier. If you view this blog on a computer, then below the header are a number of tabs, such as "Why Tiny Trailers?" where you can find article links focused on a single topic. Other topics include "Owner Profiles," "Travelogues," and more practical "How-To" articles. If you view my blog on a cellphone, then below the blog header are two down-pointing arrows. Touch an arrow and a list of categories will pop up. Touch the other arrow and another list will appear. The lists also include "Green Goddess Expeditions," which chronicle my camping adventures, many with my wife.
- Viewing the website format rather than the cellphone mobile format brings to view the blog's sidebar. I've placed a few blog aids there to make interaction more easy. Some of the most important are a search function, an email link to me, a connection to my Facebook page, and a Labels list, which is organized a bit differently than the blog tab links (for instance, there are "Camp Cooking" and "Art and Craft Activities," topics that don't get aggregated in the tab links. I've labeled sixteen topics so far, so the list is a bit more specific than the tabs, which are limited because of space and layout restrictions.
- In order to keep subject matter dynamic, I try to follow a rotation of three types of articles: articles about small and tiny trailers owners, personal travel experiences, and nuts-and-bolts articles related to owning a travel trailer. I tend to have more articles about my personal travels during camping season. During the winter, I have more time to connect with other single-axle trailer owners and write about their experiences and travels. The articles about gear and camping skills I write about as I learn. I also like to write about the insights I have about owning and going out with my tiny trailer, such as my article about traveling solo: "Traveling Solo: Being Alone Is Not the Same Thing As Being Lonely."
Comments, whether on social media posts or on blog articles themselves are always appreciated. I've been writing my whole life, and I intend to keep it up since I learn by writing . . . and why in the world would I ever want to stop learning? And by "learning," I mean not just gaining information. I also mean learning about myself and others. I hope you continue with me on this journey. We can be travel companions, literary associates, and virtual friends. We're somewhat like turtles, who carry their homes upon their backs. In these uncertain times, I find it reassuring that no matter what my travels, I'm always close to home, and that I'm connected to friends who've got my back. As Ringo Starr says, "Peace and love," and may your campfire wood always be dry.
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We are just a few weeks away from finally getting our teardrop, after 60 years of tent camping. I enjoy reading your blog and dreaming about the days and adventures ahead of us. Both of us went to college in Iowa, by the way!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Iowa right now is August, so hot and humid. I'm sure you'll enjoy your teardrop.
DeleteI'm in Arizona right now and it is HOT here too, but not humid thankfully. Keep up this wonderful blog and even though I have a Class C rather than my Teardrop, I enjoy reading about your tiny trailer and can't wait for the new Airstream to arrive on the scene!
ReplyDeleteSandy and I are excited, too! A whole new learning curve.
DeleteCongratulations on two years of a great little blog, Tom!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I've been putting quite a bit of time into my garden--tucking things away and cleaning up so it looks pretty and neat until next spring.
DeleteI just found your blog! I hope to one day have a teardrop camper :)
ReplyDeleteThere are some entry level teardrops that are quite inexpensive, such as the Hiker Trailer Basic models, which have a price range of 3-6 thousand dollars, depending on the size. Also Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers have their basic Koala Bear model that comes in at just under $5,000. You can always keep your eye out for a used teardrop, too.
DeleteI'm glad you like my blog. Have you signed up for email notification of new articles?
Thanks!
ReplyDelete