John Beckman said he lived on a sailboat for five years in Port of Los Angeles but realized he needed to return to dry ground and moved to Waxahachie, Texas.
This story by Ken Hedler originally appeared in the Longview News-Journal.
The lifestyle, he said, was not conducive to raising a family that now consists of three children ages 4 to 8.
“There is just not enough room for all those diapers,” Beckman said.
Beckman made his first appearance Friday at the annual East Texas Boat and RV Show at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center in Longview to promote and sell trauma care products, including bandages.
“I wanted to spend more time with the boating community,” said Beckman, who represented First Response Survival Gear. “We mainly do gun shows.”
He was among many vendors who included recreational vehicle and boat dealers, an insurance company, a credit union and a spa seller.
The show, which is conducted by the Longview Chamber of Commerce and has been going on for about 40 years, drew both would-be buyers and people who were just looking around.
RVs were on display inside the building and in the parking lot.
“We are looking to buy a motorhome, and we wanted to see them in person,” Teresa Windham of Lake O’ the Pines said. She and her husband, Terry, said they attended the show for the first time and thought they would feel less pressure than if they went to a dealership.
The Windhams, who have owned a travel trailer, said they were willing to pay as much as $100,000 for a motor home so they can travel with their two daughters throughout the country for the next two years.
