Well, today it became "real". Closed on the house and the money is in the bank. Feel a little like the chick that has been workin' hard to brake out of the egg shell ... has done so and ... "now what?"
But I'll sleep in tomorrow, and we'll figure it out. For now, we're sitting tight. Holidays are coming and the land sale is still in progress. Once the land deal is finished, then I think we'll head East as there are strong family pulls in Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana.
Life is good and God is great! Lucky us.
RonC said
11:11 PM Dec 12, 2016
Well it's over ... closed on the house today, and the money is in the bank. Now all that is left is the land, which is sold and only waiting on the county to generate the deed and the lawyers to do the paperwork to consummate the sale. We're in the 5er since 09 November, so just attending to the last minute details. Probably hit the road in March! We are blessed, God is good!
Barb and Frank said
08:35 AM Dec 13, 2016
Ron and Janice,
Congratulations! What a wonderful feeling it must be to have that part of the transition behind you. Best wishes as you begin your next journey!
Barb
RonC said
05:52 PM Dec 14, 2016
Hazel wrote:
Ron and Janice, I'm so happy to hear that things have worked out so well for you! You'll be on the road very soon and never look back (not too often anyway ).
We've been full timing now for almost 3 months. Woohoo! There was definitely a period of adjustment while we worked out our routines, how to do everything in a small space, the best place to keep things, how to do everything RV related, and for me, how to leave my beloved home behind and move on. Life is so much freer without a house, a lot of stuff, and an acreage to maintain but I must admit that sometimes I dream that I can go 'home' again. It fades more with every day that passes and every new place we discover.
We have had challenges of course and learned many lessons already. Every day I ask my hubby, "What lesson are we going to learn today?" ;-P It's still real life and good and bad still happens. I was very sick and just got a diagnosis and treatment/management plan before we left Canada. We've needed repairs done on the Nav. We've had a lot of trouble with internet. We get stronger and more knowledgeable and confident every day though. With fewer things in our life to 'manage', it's easier to concentrate on the issues we have.
We're in an RV resort in northern Florida for 3 weeks just to rest up from the long trip down south and my illness. It's lovely but the residents are older and more sedentary than we are. We'll be doing mostly State Parks from now on.
So far, life on the road is good! Hope you both enjoy it too!
Thanks Hazel! We got it done ... closed on the house Dec 12, so that money is in the bank. We're also selling an adjacent piece of property to the homebuyer. We're going to do owner financing for them, so it will be like an annuity for the next 15 years. Just takes time for the paperwork (deeds, deeds of trust, etc) to get thru the attorneys. We're going to winter in Texas to see this thru and will likely make an eastward swing to Florida, then Virginia, back thru Louisiana, then up to Colorado for the heat of the summer, getting back to Texas in November. It's a very loose plan. 😜
In Laymans Terms said
08:42 PM Jan 7, 2017
First I have to say, hello Hazel - nice to see another Canadian! I can relate so well to the topic with which you started this thread. We downsized over the course of a year, starting with selling items that really meant nothing (decor items, kitchen excess) but eventually our house sale meant the final pack and purge, and there were moments that were really tough. Fortunately, extra space in the in-laws' basement means I have about six tubs of mementos stored away for the day - sometime, whenever - I have space and desire to have them back. Otherwise I'm dumping them on my son!
Anyway, what I really wanted to say was that I, too, collected words of wisdom from others on this site, so credit to whomever it was who posted this nugget, our motto became and still is: Everything we need; nothing we don't. It has really helped me see there truly are very few material goods necessary for a satisfying, happy, adventurous life.
I am so excited to read you are already on the road. We are planning for September or October. The next nine to ten months cannot go fast enough for me! Terrifying but exhilarating - and completely, totally unbelievable :)
SamK said
06:59 AM Feb 6, 2017
I'm sorry for this. I will be lying to you if I told that such a thought has never crossed my mind. But I'm the kind of person who takes time to think things through. I don't like risks I guess. But I'm happy you seem to understand that they are just material things. All the best!
CqCasting said
01:52 PM Mar 26, 2017
Hazel,
Thank you for this posting as I'm experiencing the same feelings of letting go. Even though this thread is last years, it's all good.
I've been renting all my life it seems and with the last few moves it's been a major pain in the butt. The experience of the bargain hunters coming out of the woodwork and want everything for nothing was a real slap in the face. I had to keep telling myself "you can't take it with you and where would it go when you die".
By the time we vacated the house we still had loads to take to the thrift shops, habitat for humanity, goodwill, and others. Free, just get it out of here. After all that we still ended up with a unit full of storage. Now we have to decide what we need to keep for our toys and what tools are a must have, the basics needed for camping and play. We don't want to continue paying storage fees for things left behind.
The bottom line, it's going to be such a relief to no longer be concerned about all the material junk and just go wherever and play. Pull into a park on occasion to catch up on laundry, flush the tanks and catch up on worldly things that maybe of concern. Boon-docking should make life much more affordable as rental property is going up and becoming less available.
Sunshine Cindy said
06:18 AM Apr 3, 2017
I am going through some of the same feelings Hazel! Not real attached to the house, but purging all the things inside, it's painful knowing I spend money on all this and now I am almost giving it away- more mad at myself and wish I had not bought so much stuff!!
Someday said
09:54 AM Apr 3, 2017
This purging sure is a big eye opener to how "consumer driven brainwashing" worked on us over the years eh? Slow but sure wins the race. Only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Just do a little bit here and there and you'll be amazed how it all mounts up to major clear out.
I also like the idea of having boxes in a little used room, labeled "Go To RV" "Not sure" "Donate" and in Garage is "Dump/Charity" boxes I for sure know we won't be keeping in any way shape or form. This way if I find I'm working in the kitchen and realize there's something I need and it's in the Donate box, I can fish it out, use it and then put it back but into the "Go To RV" box, and so on.
Everyone gets there at the end of the day. Keep on truckin Cindy.
ksand said
09:34 PM Apr 25, 2017
Hazel. I can't wait to give up the house the yard work.. everyone says I will miss gardening. If I do I will Hop on my bike and ride to a neighborhood find someone working in there yard and ask if I can pull some weeds, I am sure that will cure me. Looking forward to bike riding meeting people and seeing the country. I been in the same house for over 34 yrs. Time for new adventures.. good luck Hazel
But I'll sleep in tomorrow, and we'll figure it out. For now, we're sitting tight. Holidays are coming and the land sale is still in progress. Once the land deal is finished, then I think we'll head East as there are strong family pulls in Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana.
Life is good and God is great! Lucky us.
Ron and Janice,
Congratulations! What a wonderful feeling it must be to have that part of the transition behind you. Best wishes as you begin your next journey!
Barb
Thanks Hazel! We got it done ... closed on the house Dec 12, so that money is in the bank. We're also selling an adjacent piece of property to the homebuyer. We're going to do owner financing for them, so it will be like an annuity for the next 15 years. Just takes time for the paperwork (deeds, deeds of trust, etc) to get thru the attorneys. We're going to winter in Texas to see this thru and will likely make an eastward swing to Florida, then Virginia, back thru Louisiana, then up to Colorado for the heat of the summer, getting back to Texas in November. It's a very loose plan. 😜
Anyway, what I really wanted to say was that I, too, collected words of wisdom from others on this site, so credit to whomever it was who posted this nugget, our motto became and still is: Everything we need; nothing we don't. It has really helped me see there truly are very few material goods necessary for a satisfying, happy, adventurous life.
I am so excited to read you are already on the road. We are planning for September or October. The next nine to ten months cannot go fast enough for me! Terrifying but exhilarating - and completely, totally unbelievable :)
Thank you for this posting as I'm experiencing the same feelings of letting go. Even though this thread is last years, it's all good.
I've been renting all my life it seems and with the last few moves it's been a major pain in the butt. The experience of the bargain hunters coming out of the woodwork and want everything for nothing was a real slap in the face. I had to keep telling myself "you can't take it with you and where would it go when you die".
By the time we vacated the house we still had loads to take to the thrift shops, habitat for humanity, goodwill, and others. Free, just get it out of here. After all that we still ended up with a unit full of storage. Now we have to decide what we need to keep for our toys and what tools are a must have, the basics needed for camping and play. We don't want to continue paying storage fees for things left behind.
The bottom line, it's going to be such a relief to no longer be concerned about all the material junk and just go wherever and play. Pull into a park on occasion to catch up on laundry, flush the tanks and catch up on worldly things that maybe of concern. Boon-docking should make life much more affordable as rental property is going up and becoming less available.
I am going through some of the same feelings Hazel! Not real attached to the house, but purging all the things inside, it's painful knowing I spend money on all this and now I am almost giving it away- more mad at myself and wish I had not bought so much stuff!!
I also like the idea of having boxes in a little used room, labeled "Go To RV" "Not sure" "Donate" and in Garage is "Dump/Charity" boxes I for sure know we won't be keeping in any way shape or form. This way if I find I'm working in the kitchen and realize there's something I need and it's in the Donate box, I can fish it out, use it and then put it back but into the "Go To RV" box, and so on.
Everyone gets there at the end of the day. Keep on truckin Cindy.
Hazel. I can't wait to give up the house the yard work.. everyone says I will miss gardening. If I do I will Hop on my bike and ride to a neighborhood find someone working in there yard and ask if I can pull some weeds, I am sure that will cure me. Looking forward to bike riding meeting people and seeing the country. I been in the same house for over 34 yrs. Time for new adventures.. good luck Hazel