Stage 2 of 4 for buying R-Pod

This is my introduction thread.  It is going to be long.  :)

I'm in my mid forties.  I fell in love with camping in my early twenties, I was a tent camper and loved getting in the great outdoors on the weekends.  I found it incredibly relaxing and took my mind off of whatever stressors I was currently experiencing. 

Fast forward to 30.  I moved to California.   I love California, I can't imagine living anywhere else.  But camping in Southern California was another matter.  I've been a few times, but not like I did when I lived in Pennsylvania.  Mostly it gets too hot. 

Four years ago, my husband, step-son and I went on a family vacation up the coast of CA.  I convinced my husband to go camping (his preference was primitive camping or a hotel, I prefer a campground with a hot shower) because we could stay gone longer.   We compromised and stayed at campgrounds with the exception of when we were in San Francisco, where we stayed in a hotel.  We also bought a Queen size blow up bed so as not to have to sleep on the ground.   This is the trip where we first saw the R-Pod. 

We checked into RV rentals and things like that, always too expensive.  "Might as well stay in a hotel." 

This past summer we went on fly-road trip.  That is, we flew east, rented a car and spent a lot of time driving.   This renewed our discussion about buying an R-Pod.   While he drove and I was bored i started doing some research.

I discovered the R-Pod 171!  Perfectly small.   A dedicated bed.  A shower and toilet!  Light weight!

Next was what do we tow it with?   We drive Honda Civics.  

So this brings us to stages.

Stage 1:  We decided to buy an R-Pod.

Stage 2: We need a towing vehicle, so we are making room in our budget to purchase a Honda Odyssey.   That should happen in a year. 

Stage 3:  Buying a Honda Odyssey.

Stage 4:  Buying an R-Pod.  

The goal is when I'm 50 we will have an R-Pod.  That gives us a two summer window, as my birthday is in the winter (the summer before or after I turn 50). 

As I am a planner, I've already planned a 20 day road trip for the R-Pod.   We also decided to take it to a campground with full hook-ups (Yosemite, likely) when we first get it so we can find out how it works.  Follow that with a trip to Joshua Tree (no hook-ups) for the experience.  

Ultimately we want to be able to go out for a weekend or a few days in the middle of the week to get away.  For me, if I want to be in nature I need to camp, staying in a hotel and then going out to a national or state park just isn't the same. 

So that is me and our future R-Pod intro. 

-- Denise

Thanks for the info!  Part of the reason I posted "the Plan" is to get the feedback!