When Moe and I first began preparing for our move to the area, we wanted a bit of personal space but couldn’t bring ourselves to reenter the overpriced California rental market. Fortunately, Rancho Los Venados had full hookups tucked into a quiet northwest corner of the property. It sits beside a semi-enclosed meadow, and years earlier, a dog-loving friend had floated the idea of parking an Airstream there and boarding pups while their owners went wine tasting.
Fast forward twelve years, and it suddenly felt like the right time to make that silver-bullet dream a reality.
We never expected to join the RV community, but the classic design and enduring good taste of the Airstream appealed to both of us. A house sale in Los Angeles forced a downsizing anyway, and using the proceeds gave us the opportunity to take the leap without regret.
Shopping for one turned out to be genuinely fun. Space wasn’t a constraint, so our decision came down to two things: price and features. We looked at both new and used models at dealerships across Los Angeles and Orange County. Given how well Airstreams hold their value, buying new—with plenty of inventory to walk through—was hard to resist.
The largest option was the Classic, topping out at 33 feet, complete with a combined walk-in shower and sink in the rear wing—a rare luxury in the lineup. The Flying Cloud, available in 25- or 27-foot versions, offered a rear hatch window and a dedicated office area with a sit-stand desk, which was especially tempting for remote work.
In the end, though, I couldn’t resist the retractable blue-and-green awnings on the International. At 27 feet, it comfortably fits a queen-size mattress, full bath, kitchen, and lounge area, and can sleep five to six people without feeling cramped.
We named her Daisy, after my beloved beagle (2006–2020).
She, the RV, has held up beautifully through what we jokingly called “roughing it,” long before the ranch infrastructure caught up. Our makeshift front patio was eventually replaced by Moe’s very first deck build (see this post for the second.)
The original Daisy—still spry in her later years—is seen below, impatiently begging to be let out of the Jeep so she could run free around RLV.
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Today, Daisy remains our favorite small space to call our own. She now doubles as a much-needed office and writing retreat, but we loved every minute we lived in her—and we’re already dreaming up future road trips, whenever time allows.
Navigate here for more tips on Airstream living, or check out our Twenty Nickels Shop post!
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