Well, my Harley went to his new home today...talk about a bittersweet moment. The funds will go to purchase my starter RV. I'm scheduled to look at a local 33' Holiday Rambler that I really like (except it's SO BIG...<g>). If I like what I see, then we'll schedule a professional inspection at an RV dealer one town over. Getting closer!

Been there, done that!  Sold my FLH after having it for 23 years. In fact, my oldest Son sold it for me, I couldn't watch it go. It had helped me get through a few very tough years.

Good luck with the HR. Being a 33 footer, it should not be too hard to drive. You just have to get used to it.

Thanks for the update! 

The transition can be emotional but once you get to the other side there's such a feeling of freedom.  Good wishes as your plans continue to come together.

Froggi,

Sorry for your loss, been there, done that, 17 times!  Last bike was a 1947 knuckle head "bully bike" that I built from a frame and a set of heads. After getting rid of it, I was done with riding, the traffic nowadays is just too unforgiving.

Ken

Morning everyone....

Well, I went to look at the HR yesterday. Several things concerned me, some fixable (front A/C not cooling as well as it should), some offensive (really musty odor, might have to pull the carpet & recover windows/furntiure), some uncomfortable (it was very close to the size of our old one which was comfortable for two without feeling crowded, realistically more than I need or want) and some potentially really bad (signs of possible delamination around a window with ceiling fabric sagging inside).

So I'm going to pass on this....it just doesn't feel right.

Hi Froggi, I'm sorry the RV didn't turn out to be 'yours' but you are really one step closer to the one you want. I am following your end of the old life moves closely as I may be joining you 'on the road' soon, but then I may not be able to pull it off til next year. I am very hopeful that it will still be this fall though. I just got back from a big (for me) RV vacation, driving my RV 2700 miles in 20 days. It went really well, except that I was covering way too many miles way too fast. I think I will be one of those slow ambling RVers like George and Tioga. And I might even spend several days or weeks in one spot as a regular thing. Good luck on your next RV check out! Vee

Thanks, Vee. Reading George's blog and a couple of others have helped me define the type of RVing I want to do, too. I tend to be a little bit of a loner so the sometimes overly social (face-to-face) campground life is best taken in smaller doses. <g>

I decided to go with my gut feel on this....as summer winds down (soon, I hope), I think there will be more and more rigs for sale and prices will drop on those already out there. I'm already looking at those priced up to $5k over my budget, hoping if I find one I can denegotiate the price down.

As to your trip, that is a lot...I suspect that I will do short days and sightsee as much as possible at each location. Heck, we're hitting the road to enjoy & savor, not to wear ourselves out! <g>

I did give notice at my job 6 weeks ago, as soon as I had complete my Social Security stuff (widow age 60 in Sept). September check won't be in till the end of the month but I wanted to do the Escapade and knew there was other stuff to be done, so gave my notice.

Yes, the house will sit empty. I hope to have all the furniture gone and everthing else out of it that third week of September. My kids are taking the living room & master bedroom so they can come get that any time after I have the RV to sleep in. <g>

Because I am getting SS and a small pension combined with the house being paid for, allows me to do this. The house costs me around $200/month to cover insurance, taxes & basic utilities. I have great neighbors who will keep it mowed and come in to dust once in a while. They'll watch to be sure it's okay. Then it just has to SELL!! <g>

Donna,

Sounds like you made the right decision on the HR.

I think you have the right idea.  We have owned two Class C motorhomes and enjoyed both of them.  They are much easier to drive than a Class A and will give you confidence as well as experience in how to handle different situations.

Learn to use the sideview mirrors so you know what is on each side of you before making any lane changes or turns.  Have someone spot for you when backing into a camp site so you don't hit something!

We're pulling for you and wish you all the best!

-- Edited by wmalefyt at 16:37, 2007-08-17

-- Edited by wmalefyt at 16:37, 2007-08-17

Another RV will come along, and it will be just what you want.

By the way, we still have our fingers crossed that your house sells. (They're starting to cramp up a little though.)

Good luck!!!!!

All of this can become so emotional!  We are in the purging stage now and we are selling and saying good-by to items we have had our entire married life.  Wow!  Sometimes we have to say good-by in order to say hello.  Hang in there and know we are all together in this - "this too shall pass" and then it will be so worth it.
Sorry to hear about the RV but there is a special RV just waiting for you and you will find it.  Can't wait to hear about it when you do.  Keep us updated!

Thanks Bill & Linda....I know it's for the best, it just didn't feel right for so many reasons. I want to do a lot of boondocking so that's another factor in the whole equation.

Hey, everything happens for a reason....<g>

Hey Jim & Linda,
Believe me I understand finger-crossing cramps! LOL!!

Appreciate it Mike & Gerri. My stationary bike (barely used) and dining room set went to their new homes today. Now that I can use the dining room space for staging, I need to seriously tackle boxing up storage stuff (my daughter is storing it), eBay stuff (my girlfriend is handling that for a percentage), donation stuff, throwaway stuff, and....saving the best for last....the RV stuff! <g>

I'll be there even if I have to hotel it....<g>

Hi Froggie,

My condolences on your parting with such a cherished possession.

I still mourn my invalid mother's passing in early April, but since I retired at the end of last December the only reason I had for hanging around and holding onto all of my 'things' was caring for her needs. With her death I found no reason to postpone my transition to full-timing. I did not want to hassle with garage sales and e-bay so I scheduled one large estate sale and that was it. I felt great loss as all of those items from not only my life but my late mother's and father's life went out the door--but at least I suffered this only once rather then each time something sold. I guess sometimes a sudden upheaval in your life, one that nodges you to make a major change that you have been hesitating about (for whatever reason), can have a beneficial side--a quick, surgical severing from the past.

I really am not qualified to recommend new vs. used in RVs--if you have the option of choosing between them. Some say that buying used avoids the process of debugging the unit while others say you just inherit somebody elses problems. One thing for certain is that if you buy used you can avoid the big loss due to depreciation. I do commend you for being willing to thoroughly exam any vehicle--new or used. You also are probably right about the market for used RVs improving drastically once the 'vacation' season ends. Remember also that the 2007 model year is ending and as the 2008 models hit the show rooms, you might see some good prices on new units. I got my rig that way at a considerable savings.

I see you at Goshen,
Scott

Thanks Scott, no option to buy new since the house still hasn't sold. Right now there is a promising used Class C for sale (will tow the BMW on a trailer). I am SO ready to move on but still have so much to sort through. If I can get the RV the last week of this month then will spend the days before and just after the Escapade finishing up.

Right now I'm only selling the bigger things - the little stuff is either being stored (mostly momentos, photographs and a few small favorite things that I just can't part with - daughter putting all in her attic), going on eBay (thanks to a friend using my account to list & sell them - donating what doesn't sell second time around), given to friends/neighbors, donated to Goodwill or trashed. I'm being pretty ruthless but it's exhausting. Four hours a day is about all I can manage. But it will get done!

Look forward to meeting at the Escapade!

Quick note, be carefull with your piles of stuff. We completed the process 3 months ago, now I cannot find my swimsuits and a few other items. I think they ended up in the pile that went to Good Will, unintentionally. Otherwise, keep going with the plan. We are 3 weeks out from hitting the road fulltime, and going nuts in the final process of things!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tylersamma wrote:

---

Quick note, be carefull with your piles of stuff. We completed the process 3 months ago, now I cannot find my swimsuits and a few other items. I think they ended up in the pile that went to Good Will, unintentionally. Otherwise, keep going with the plan. We are 3 weeks out from hitting the road fulltime, and going nuts in the final process of things!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

Boy, can I see my doing something like that! LOL! My biggest issue right now is office filing stuff....I'm so disorganized....scary!

Donna
We  sure know how you're feeling.
There will be a rig out there  just right for you.
Our thoughts are with you. We're wishing you well, and good  luck.
It is hard to let go of the  "things" we have, but  like everyone on the forum says..." life on the road fulll timing is worth it"
Our house had a deposit on it, but they did not get financing, and so we're back to square one again. It is stressful.
Hopefully we all will sell our homes and be out there together  enjoying life soon.
Our good thoughts and prayers are with you.
Arlene

Thanks, Arlene. Sorry the house deal fell through...been there twice with this house. Once last year and again this year. It's turning into the buyer's market here as it has been in so many other places for some time.

But it will all be worth it in the end! <g>

Froggi, maybe you have mentioned it somewhere that I didn't see but if you tell us your approximate location we might be able to keep our eyes open for a good MH for you. I am in Orange Co. Ca. and the rv's available here are many. And with the dry weather there is no rust problem. We bought our first TT used back in 77 and it was only a year old. We looked at it and it was a little more than we wanted to spend so we passed. We drove directly to a place called Traveland that sold that same brand and model. It was going for $2500 more without any accessories. Well, we boogied back to where the used one was and wrote a check. We used that trailer for another 15 years and hauled it all over the US and Canada. Anyway, wherever you are, you have a whole contingent of folks here that could be looking for your rig-to-be. Hope we can help.
Ray

-- Edited by SoCalToolGuy at 13:38, 2007-08-22

Thanks Ray, I'm in middle TN (midway between Nashville, Knoxville & Chattanooga). I'm looking for a 24-30' Class C with a rear bedroom. I currently  have two on my list and hope to know by on them both by the end of the week. I appreciate it!

Back in about 1995 my wife and I rented a 29 foot Jamboree Rally. It had the rear bedroom and it was a great little motorhome. It was built on a Ford chassis and performed well as long as you put the best grade of gas in it. If it was available in diesel it would have been perfect. Good luck to you and if I hear of anything I will let you know. Ray