Customer Reviews

First We Quit Our Jobs: How One Work Driven Couple Got on the Road to a New Life

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is more like a glorified vacation than a real life changing tale. Working in high stress, high paying jobs with incomes to match; I do not think these folk have much to tell the rest of us. Sure they can go buy that Class A and have a fine time for a few months. Why not, it is well within their means. Shut the house on the lake for a while; take a few months to see the US. Have a great time. For most of the population quitting jobs and traveling for several months would be a huge undertaking, Many people go entire lives, until retirement without the means to walk away, from their employment, leave their house vacant and travel. I do not think this author has much useful advice for the average person. If you want a book on an RV journey, read Barb Thacker or Sharlene Minshall or Steels on Wheels or Ray Parker. If you want a pleasant read about a rather extensive vacation, buy this book. The writing is pleasant, the story is enjoyable, and I do not regret reading the book. Nonetheless I did have a feeling I was adding to an already hefty bank account. The author is from the publishing field and knew how to turn this trip into a paying venture.

I must say this is an entertaining read; one that gives much encouragement to making the choice to quit, sell up, and hit the road. Ms. Abraham does much soul searching and philosophizing about the choice she and her husband made, even getting down right personal sometimes. I loved her self-deprecating anecdotes of what it is like for a born 'n bred New Yorker to discover that the vast beyond isn't as deprived of culture or gourmet food as she had always believed. The only downside is that, if you are looking for the technicals of RV life, they won't be found here. That was fine for me, I can always hit the RV web pages and newsgroups for the cold, hard facts of RV life. What I found here was the spirit of an RVer.

I picked this book up at Borders', intrigued by the title and happy to take an armchair vacation across the west. While I enjoyed their travels, sympathized with their need to abandon the corporate world, I must admit I was a bit nauseated by the replacement of one chic place for another (Santa Fe). It wasn't like they had exactly abandonned or developed new life styles and an appreciation of the "simpler life." Sure, they were giving up a "Manhattan high stressed life" -- after all it was killing them. Who could live that world very long? But their materialistic superficial values continued. They still live in a glossy unreal yuppie world (Santa Fe). However, on the up side, I did enjoy their travels with all the comforts of home built in.

I have been on a travel essay/arm chair travel reading kick (I am usually the legal and medical thriller fan)and picked this book on the title and cover since I did not know the writer. What a blast I had trekking across the US from New York City to Alaska down to New Mexico and back to New York City with Marilyn and her husband, Sandy!! I started the book on a Sunday morning and finished the book by Sunday night. It was like I was tucked away in their RV as they followed their dreams.

It's also an inspiring book when you learn that the author had a "choice" career as a book editor at one of the major publishers in the US and her husband, although going through a career change, was of the same ranks in careers gave it all up to follow their hearts and see the USA and make the life altering decision to give up the high stressed jobs to do this and to eventually move from the hustle bustle of Manhattan.

This book was a pure joy to read and an absolute entertaining way to getting the laundry done! For any arm chair travel reader, I high suggest purchasing this book and diving in! I enjoyed it as much as my favorite arm chair travel writer, Joei Carlton Hossack!

Waiting until Marilyn and Sandy get back on the road again!

This is the best book I've read regarding the RV lifestyle. As an Escapee, a 50-something free spirit with a wife who has lived all her life in Astoria, Queens, this book says it all about the freedom from the corporate world. For those of us having to work on the road, nothing was mentioned regarding finances. This is the only shortcoming of the book. It takes guts to do it but the rewards are many.

I had never read a book such as this until after I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods". Then I got on a Travel Essay kick and read everything I could get my hands on. This book is so funny ! Even the parts that you can tell the writer is serious about just scream "hilarious". I can't wait for more from this author !!

First We Quit Our Jobs, is a chronicle of a RVing couple who took a four month trip starting in New York State, across country, into Canada, north to Alaska, south through coastal Canada back into the lower forty-eight, then east, southeast and northeast and back to New York. For those of us who have been RVing and been on the road this grand trek might not seem so unusal. For Marilyn Abraham and her husband Sandy this trek was their introduction to their motor home. It was their first experience. Until they took off that July morning they had never been in an RV before! As the title states, first they quit their jobs, gave up their life in the fast lane and traded everything in for life in a twenty-nine foot Winnie. Some of their experiences we may take for granted. For example the friendliness of people they meet in their travels and at campgrounds was surprimg to them. A good book for all RVers who take to the open raod and might consider being full-timers.

I picked up this book because that's just what I wanted to do... Quit my job. Well, a quit my job. I can't afford a Winnebago, but I can always dream. This book reads much like a good letter, or a good phone conversation. That is to say, they're honest about just about every aspect, from any mechanical troubles they have, to the peace of mind they seem to have found on the road. This book is immensely (sp?) readable. I reccomend it to anyone who wants to change their lifestyle. Anyone who's sick of their job and needs a change. I reccomend this book to anyone...

I also reccomend "postcardsfrom.com" which has a similar feel to this book.

I first saw Marilyn and her husband on a talk show in Pittsburgh. Since I have always wanted to drive an RV to Alaska, I bought this wonderful book and read it in one afternoon. I laughed, I cried and was deeply touched. If they hadn't gone on this trip of miles and of the spirit, I believe that they would have died years before anyone put them in a cemetary. I loved her touching stories of the people they met along the way, but I feel that these people have touched them instead. I couldn't put the book down; I didn't want them to come back to the beginning and I'm glad to hear that they have gone back to their roots in Santa Fe. What a wonderful book. Thank you for sharing your life with me. You have lifted my spirits!! When my trip to Alaska comes about, I will take your book with me, simply to relish your experiences as I experience my own. God Bless and never forget," Hey,Bear" !! Feel free to write if you so choose.

My wife and i are nearing the time when we can do what Marilyn did. I wish she would have included some of the "nuts and bolts" like manageing the water and other systems on a long extended trip. We especially enjoyed her discussion of food preperation and some of the great meals tey enjoyed. Yes, I would love to meet them someday in Sante Fe.