Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

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Post Info TOPIC: Ready to hit the road full time - wanna be prepared.


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Ready to hit the road full time - wanna be prepared.


Hi all,

I'm Joyce, my husband is Al.  We spent 3 months at the beginning of the year on the road.  We live full time in a relatively tiny rental home at $400 a month, so just paid rent and kept on going.  We didn't have mail forwarded as we took care of everything (or so we thought) online.  We did come home to a bit of an issue, having to do with an account from a dead relative 3 years prior - so learned lesson hard way to have mail forwarded.  So one of our concerns is any issues in mail keeping up with us - any tips, feedback on this issue would be greatly appreciated.  We were blessed making the decision to come home when we did, as results ended up bad enough and could have been devastating. 

Other than that, it was our first trip in our 2011 24' Coachman Catalina.  Had to get a couple tires on the road and Al ended up breaking off a piece of the black water piping, both of which ended up being pretty painless fixes.  Tires were purchased before they were blown, so no on-the-road mishaps.  Have hot water and shower pressure issues, which we have yet to figure out - but that's for another post, lol.

We were the most at peace in our 2 year marriage, when we were on the road together - and are anxious to make this our way of life.  It has been both of our ultimate goals for retirement way before we had known each other.  We want to make sure we are covering all bases before we head out though.   Our biggest worries are our children and grand-children, although we believe it may be best for them to experience counting on themselves a bit more.  How many have had regrets with this? 

We also have recently found a church which has just overwhelmed us and not sure we're ready to move on from there?  Have other's found blessings in your travels?  Are these normal fears or are we just not quite ready to start this adventure?

Thanks for listening and any input given.

Joyce and Al

 



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Joyce,

I believe what you are expressing are very common, "normal" fears. We have found that being full-time has enabled us to spend a lot more time with our grandchildren than was possible before - but we didn't live in the same state as the grandkids.

As for mail, check out the Escapees RV Club. They offer a full range of domicile (legal residence) and mail services. What little snail mail we still get - along with all of our medications from Express Scripts - are forwarded to us whenever we call the Escapees mail service. It has worked out great. There are also similar services in South Dakota and Florida if those states work better for you.

Rob

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2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows

Full-time as of 8/2015

 

 



RV-Dreams Community Member

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Thanks Rob, we will for sure check out Escapees RV club for the snail mail. Most of our grandchildren are here in Michigan, we have 2 in Florida, but maybe being on the road will allow more quality time for full family vacations. Thanks again for taking the time to give us a shout. Enjoy

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Also will allow the grandkids to fly and meet you in places and have wonderful adventures, without their folks along, with you!

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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe

2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID

Blog:  http://www.barbanddave.net

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RV-Dreams Community Member

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Well that's a new way of looking at it - would be exciting for them.














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RV-Dreams Community Member

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Joyce & Al, when we went full time, my wife really suffered from missing the grandkids. We were basically raising them. It's amazing how their parents have learned to cope now that we are gone. We fly out one grandchild each summer to wherever we are. It's an adventure for them. We were also very involved in our church and missed that when we left. We have since joined Volunteer Mobile Missionaries vmmonline.com and now we RV with a purpose. Hope you find what works for you.

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2014 New Horizon. 2009 Volvo 670 with Smart car on the deck. 

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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We also miss our home church family. We still maintain a connection with them as our home church and volunteer with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief organization. This has led to some mission work beyond disaster relief as churches we attend want to learn more about what we do.
I like your comment about "being at peace" in your marriage. We have been married 30 years and these last two on the road have brought us closer than ever. Maybe it is the fact that we are sort of on our own and must rely on each other's strengths more. Maybe there are less distractions allowing us to focus on each other more. I don't know, but it is a happy time in our life.

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USAF Retired 2010. Began full timing June 2015, ended Dec 2018. 2007 Allegro Bus 40QSP with 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland TOAD. Our blog: keepingupwiththejonesrv.blogspot.com. 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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"recently found a church which has just overwhelmed us"

Churches shouldn't "overwhelm" you but provide comfort, inspiration and education.

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



RV-Dreams Community Member

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Thanks Gene & Colleen,

I will look up that vvmonline.org for sure.  Sounds like a great way to spread God's love and learn a unique view of the local area while we're at it.  Maybe we will meet up on the road somewhere in the future - we are hoping to go fully mobile by the first of the year.

Thanks again - Al & Joyce



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RV-Dreams Community Member

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Thanks David,

We couldn't be more excited about starting this new adventure.  It's got to be the right decision as it's bringing us both alot of peace. And I was expecting to be very anxious about this move.  Thanks for your input, what a great addition to traveling, helping out in communities along the way.  Bless you for your good works

Al & Joyce



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