Hi, my name is Patrick and I am dreaming of horizons.
I have always wanted to travel, but never had the finances. A few years ago I happened across a website that spoke of living in an RV, and suddenly I found myself consumed by a desire to do just that. I spend a good deal of time reading articles about dry camping, boondocking, stealth camping, and many more subjects related to RV living. Also, when I was in my late teens and early 20s I spent some time living in vehicles, couch surfing, and generally living wherever I could.
I work a seasonal job, and have worked there since I was 20 (I'm 30 now). Every year my coworkers and I are laid off for roughly all of December, January, February, and March, and it seems to me I could take this time to travel. I also think that I could easily live in a camper trailer, even during the work season, and thereby manage to save significantly more money than I do now, while also affording myself the freedom to travel in the winters.
To that end, I have been simplifying my life, removing unneeded "stuff" and focusing on the basics. I have also been saving for a camper trailer and exploring my options as to parking, hygiene, renewable energy sources, and other topics that may prove useful. Being a single man, fairly handy by nature, in very good physical condition, a fast learner, and unafraid of hard work of most kinds I am confidant that I will succeed.
Enough with all this calm discussion though, I am bursting at the seams with excitement! I hope to have saved enough to purchase a small, lightweight camper trailer sometime next year, while still having money for expenses for the journey as well as money in the bank to fall back on in case of the unexpected, which I rather expect to need knowing my luck ;) I intend to look for work while on the road, and I hope to look up friends and family out of state. Initially, I hope to keep my current job, but I am always open to opportunities that may render me more able to accomplish my goals, now and in the long run.
Just wanted to introduce myself, and show my support for the lifestyle and community I hope to become a part of. Safe travels!
To travel! Leave countries behind! Be someone else indefinitely, having a soul without roots, means living only to see! To belong to no one, not even myself! Move ahead always, follow the absence of any real end and having the wish to reach it! Traveling this way is really traveling. But I do so without needing more than the dream of an opened road. The rest? Just earth and sky. ~ A poem by Fernando Pessoa
Terry and Jo said
08:11 PM Apr 22, 2011
Patrick,
Before buying a camper, especially a trailer, be sure and find out how much weight your towing vehicle will handle. Now, I say handle because you want to make sure your tow vehicle will stop the trailer as well as pull it.
Get with a dealer of the vehicle you have or are considering and verify what the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight rating is of that vehicle. Then find out the weight of your towing vehicle when full of fuel, cargo, and passengers (including pets). Add that weight to the camper manufacturer's listed Gross Vehicular Weight Rating. That will be the total weight allowed of the camper including fluids, clothes, food, etc. that you will have with you in your traveling.
Try to not get too close, and especially over, the accepted weights of the tow vehicle's capacity for towing.
Because of weight issues, always think minimums needed to have along with you and live comfortably.
Oh, and welcome to the RV Dreams forums. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here, so feel free to ask questions.
Terry
Jim01 said
05:52 AM Apr 23, 2011
Welcome Patrick,
Sounds like you'll have the perfect chance to travel during those off season months.
Jim
Penny and Paul said
11:27 AM Apr 23, 2011
Patrick, Welcome to the RV Dreams forum. Sounds like you have full timing in your blood! Best of luck to you!
bonnie and clyde said
05:52 PM Apr 23, 2011
Welcome Patrick,
Love the excitement--I know the feeling- best of all as you figure this out
Hi, my name is Patrick and I am dreaming of horizons.
I have always wanted to travel, but never had the finances. A few years ago I happened across a website that spoke of living in an RV, and suddenly I found myself consumed by a desire to do just that. I spend a good deal of time reading articles about dry camping, boondocking, stealth camping, and many more subjects related to RV living. Also, when I was in my late teens and early 20s I spent some time living in vehicles, couch surfing, and generally living wherever I could.
I work a seasonal job, and have worked there since I was 20 (I'm 30 now). Every year my coworkers and I are laid off for roughly all of December, January, February, and March, and it seems to me I could take this time to travel. I also think that I could easily live in a camper trailer, even during the work season, and thereby manage to save significantly more money than I do now, while also affording myself the freedom to travel in the winters.
To that end, I have been simplifying my life, removing unneeded "stuff" and focusing on the basics. I have also been saving for a camper trailer and exploring my options as to parking, hygiene, renewable energy sources, and other topics that may prove useful. Being a single man, fairly handy by nature, in very good physical condition, a fast learner, and unafraid of hard work of most kinds I am confidant that I will succeed.
Enough with all this calm discussion though, I am bursting at the seams with excitement! I hope to have saved enough to purchase a small, lightweight camper trailer sometime next year, while still having money for expenses for the journey as well as money in the bank to fall back on in case of the unexpected, which I rather expect to need knowing my luck ;) I intend to look for work while on the road, and I hope to look up friends and family out of state. Initially, I hope to keep my current job, but I am always open to opportunities that may render me more able to accomplish my goals, now and in the long run.
Just wanted to introduce myself, and show my support for the lifestyle and community I hope to become a part of. Safe travels!
To travel! Leave countries behind!
Be someone else indefinitely,
having a soul without roots,
means living only to see!
To belong to no one, not even myself!
Move ahead always, follow
the absence of any real end
and having the wish to reach it!
Traveling this way is really traveling.
But I do so without needing
more than the dream of an opened road.
The rest? Just earth and sky.
~ A poem by Fernando Pessoa
Patrick,
Before buying a camper, especially a trailer, be sure and find out how much weight your towing vehicle will handle. Now, I say handle because you want to make sure your tow vehicle will stop the trailer as well as pull it.
Get with a dealer of the vehicle you have or are considering and verify what the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight rating is of that vehicle. Then find out the weight of your towing vehicle when full of fuel, cargo, and passengers (including pets). Add that weight to the camper manufacturer's listed Gross Vehicular Weight Rating. That will be the total weight allowed of the camper including fluids, clothes, food, etc. that you will have with you in your traveling.
Try to not get too close, and especially over, the accepted weights of the tow vehicle's capacity for towing.
Because of weight issues, always think minimums needed to have along with you and live comfortably.
Oh, and welcome to the RV Dreams forums. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here, so feel free to ask questions.
Terry
Welcome Patrick,
Sounds like you'll have the perfect chance to travel during those off season months.
Jim
Patrick, Welcome to the RV Dreams forum. Sounds like you have full timing in your blood! Best of luck to you!
Welcome Patrick,
Love the excitement--I know the feeling- best of all as you figure this out