“Home is where the heart is,” the old adage goes. And for a growing number of Americans their heart is traveling from Maine to California, Florida to Alaska and all points in between.

The RV lifestyle can take a person all over the world, and for a number of the RVers, this week it took them to Austin. The American Coach Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) held a Pre-Rally July 8-11 before continuing on to the National FMCA Rally in St. Paul.

After two years of planning the Mower County Fairgrounds acted as a temporary home for more than 50 RVs. The American Coach Chapter worked closely with the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau to accommodate the group. The biggest challenge was finding a venue that could provide enough water and electricity and water for the large number of RVs. But after a number of additions to the Mower County Fairgrounds, the American Coach chapter had a temporary home.

While in Austin the RVers did more than have service teams work on their coaches. They held a clam chowder cook-off and a dance, took a tour of Amish Country, hosted the Spamettes and more. They took notice of the parks and bike trails all over Austin, which provide healthy activities they all enjoy. The event ended with a caravan to the National Rally.

Some who ascribe themselves to this lifestyle cite the relaxing travel atmosphere as one of its greatest draws. The large windows of a motorhome can frame new landscapes each day to fit the driver’s whim.

Others said it was the people in the RVing community that hold the greatest appeal. Even though they are always traveling, the community takes time to meet and share stories and celebrate their common interest.

“…It’s the comradery,” said Lloyd Holloway, a part-timer RVer for 25 years, from Lake Havasu City, Ariz. who was in Austin for the Pre-Rally. “You meet the nicest people from all over the world.”

For others it’s just their love of the road. “[It’s] wonder-lust I suppose,” said Bill Ferguson, a full-time RVer since 1996, of Virginia.

But comradery and relaxing travel are meeting high gas prices. With average national fuel prices more than $4 per gallon, the RV community has been affected. Fuel prices are especially tough for people living on a fixed income.

“You don’t know where gas prices are going to go. People are being more selective about where they are going,” claims the event organizer, Bob Gay, who has been a full-time for about nine years.

Approximately 100 motor homes were expected for the rally in Austin when initial plans were being made two years ago, but with 13 newcomers to the rally this year, RVing is far from being on the way out.

“If this economy gets settled we are going to see the baby boomers are going to get into it,” Gay said.

Younger individuals are getting involved. Weekend RV trips are becoming a common occurance, and events like the rally in Austin and the National Rally in St. Paul are meant to bring together the highly mobile community.

For more infomation about the FMCA rallies and RVing go to www.fmca.com.