Help Keep Marie & Poppy in Their Home

For anyone that doesn't know, I'm

Marie in the photo and Poppy is my

Basenji mix rescue pup. I've lived full-time in my tiny 1992 Class C RV for 4 1/2 years. Poppy has been with me for 2 1/2 years.

This is more than an RV. Its our HOME.

We travel the country chasing 70 degrees, sharing our travels with friends on Facebook and with the world in photos on Instagram under the name RoamingInMyRV.

Being in an older RV can be a

challenge and in almost 5 years I've

spent over $16,000 on mechanical repairs to keep her safe and road worthy but depleting my savings. We live on nothing more than $1250 a month Social Security. Since all of my family has passed, I've no one to turn to in an emergency which brings me here.

While stopping to visit a friend in Montana on our way to Glacier National Park, the RV began making some awful noises. I found a highly rated Napa repair shop and had a free inspection completed. Yikes! $2400 in repairs are needed!

Ujoints and a bearing are immediate as one joint is already broken. I don't dare drive it or I risk dropping the drive train. The radiator leaks that I'd been treating with Stop Leak are now leaking again in 4 places and needs replaced. And, since bad comes in 3's, the other noise I had been hearing was the power steering, apparently the gear box needs replaced.

I've never, in my 67 years, had 3 major problems or issues at once. It's pretty darn overwhelming. I've entertained every option possible as far as solutions go. Asking for help is the hardest thing for someone like me that's always been self-sufficient and self-reliant. It's humiliating and embarrassing but I'm painfully swallowing my pride.

The RV, Poppy and I are parked for now, at my friends, a mere 1/2 mile from the mechanic shop. Since my friend is in a rental and not on her own property I can't stay indefinitely.

Desperation is my motivation behind asking folks to help keep me and Poppy in our "home" and on the road.

Any help at all would be appreciated more than you can know. Thank you all in advance.