Mobile Office

( Jacksonville FL)
One thing often lacking in a motor home or RV is a dedicated office space. Since I spend a lot of my time working at the computer, my plan is to create a mobile office by altering the lounge area.
 

Possible re-arrangement in lounge

As the drawing shows, it will involve removing one sofa and rotating the table ninety degrees. One end of the table will be for dining and the other for a desktop. The existing table comes with an extension, so there should be enough for the longer length. And this bigger surface will be handy for projects that would require more space.
 
I’ll get a chair that can function at the desk and as a lounger; perhaps one of those plush high back executive models. And maybe an ottoman that has storage inside too.
 
Some exterior storage space will be lost by removing the sofa. To retain a portion, I can create a box under the window that would be accessible from the outside. The top of the box inside would serve as a shelf. In the corner, under the desk and on top of the box, can be two drawers for paper, pencils, and other office supplies.
 
I will be downsizing from a desktop computer to a laptop. Not only will it be smaller, but it’ll provide flexibility. I can work at the desk, in the lounge chair, outside at the picnic table or take it to a bookstore. My all-in-one printer, scanner, fax will likely be replaced with something smaller. I plan to go as paperless as possible, so the file cabinet will probably become a divided fan-folder. Lots of scanning predicted in my near future.
 
So what do you think? Have I left out anything critical? I think a mobile office will be really nice to have while on the journey.
 
Camp: Home in the sticks-n-bricks
Scene: Residential neighborhood

5 Responses to Mobile Office

  1. Michael July 24, 2011 at 8:05 pm #

    This is great! I’m also planning on doing this. I’m going to make a space plan like you did for the RV I think might work. I switched from oils to watercolors to accommodate this life style. I looking into the expense and feasibility of possibly renting a garage occasionally to do oils.

  2. Michael July 24, 2011 at 8:08 pm #

    How about a big flat screen monitor mounted on a swivel wall mount? Screen size is important for graphics. Maybe you should do three elevation drawings for the surrounding walls?

  3. RV PAINTER J. RICHARD SECOR July 25, 2011 at 2:00 am #

    Sounds like a good plan. Is all you painting done plein air? If not, a table top easel might be a good idea.

  4. Pleinguy July 25, 2011 at 10:01 pm #

    Than you both for commenting…

    Michael: I have not decided about a larger monitor; maybe or maybe not. If you look at the drawings carefully, the white areas between the heavy black are windows. It’s panaramic windows, so no walls for mounting except in the corners. One reason I chose this model RV.

    Rich: Pretty much all I do is plein air these days. However, I can envision being stuck inside at times. The portable pochade box I have can also be used as a table top easel.

    I paint mainly in oils, but expect to be doing some acrylics also when I get on the road.

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  1. Portable Computing | Plein Air Journey - November 19, 2014

    […] FL) Another step has been taken toward creating my ideal mobile office. I replaced my old desktop with a new laptop. The 15″ screen is a nice compromise between […]

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