I am ready, he is not. Husband retired last August. We have spent the last year figuring out that financially we are ready for me to retire also. I would LOVE to sell the house, move into the 5th wheel & go see the country but I am having a hard time convincing him.
He likes the idea somewhat BUT says he would miss all the things we have now. We have made our backyard with in-ground pool a paradise resort. I love it too but it is, in my opionion, more work than pleasure.
As I am still working I feel I spend all my non-working time doing housework, laundry, grocery shopping or yardwork. In the past ,the yardwork was somewhat therapy for me, but the older we both get, the longer it takes us to do things so the less time we get to actually enjoy! not to mention the fact that the in-ground pool prevents us from taking any trips between apr-sept unless we cover pool back up or try to find someone to come stay & take care of it. neither of our kids have the time or inclination (fear of something bad happening while we are gone also keeps us from leaving it when opened for the season).
I know that eventully we won't be able to keep up the maintenance/upkeep of our backyard paradise and really would rather be hiking on some beautiful trail or walking on the beach or exploring a cave or just stitting in my lawn chair next to my camper in some beautiful campground (just about anything but mowing grass, pulling weeds, cleaning a pool).
I know we both have to be on board with whatever we decide to do. I guess I just needed to vent. I will be patient and see how things go AFTER I retire. Maybe with more time to take care of house/yard I won't have the same longing to sell everything & hit the road.....
The Hensons said
02:05 PM May 10, 2011
It's easy...get him to the rally!
Terry and Jo said
02:34 PM May 10, 2011
I have no idea of your husband's interests, so I'll just kind of relate to my own. The following are reasons that I really look forward to traveling.
1. One's back yard is changed regularly.....or not.
2. One's neighbors are constantly changing and growing in number because "my neighbors" are always in my mind.
3. When one's neighbors get irritating, one can leave them behind.
4. The awesome beauty of nature in its places and creatures.
5. Seeing new beauty on a regular basis.
6. Sharing it all with one's beloved spouse.
Incidentally, that list is never completed. I imagine that as time goes on, things get added, such as local festivals, local food "specialties", and even musical events. Don't like one.......move on to another. See one national park and hear of another one hasn't seen.
On and on and on.......
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 10th of May 2011 02:35:31 PM
Luvglass said
04:12 PM May 10, 2011
You state "As I am still working I feel I spend all my non-working time doing housework, laundry, grocery shopping or yardwork."
I think the solution is quite simple - since he is retired he should start doing these things while you are away at work.
I'll bet that on your retirement day he won't be able to wait to get to the RV dealer.
Jake62 said
05:08 PM May 10, 2011
Although not in our RV yet ... or for a couple years for that matter, we are currently living in the Washington, D.C. area for the next 18-months while still maintaining our residence in Tucson. Our solution, hired a pool cleaning service with a landscape company. Problem Solved! Our situation is opposite of yours though: My wife retires in two weeks and I retire in four years, or maybe three, if the stock market continues upwards. And, my wife takes no convincing since we've traveled & camped in RVs & tents in the past.
Bill Adams said
05:18 PM May 10, 2011
if the stock market continues upwards
Thanks! I wondered what would make me laugh today!
Jake62 said
05:33 PM May 10, 2011
Bill Adams wrote:
if the stock market continues upwards
Thanks! I wondered what would make me laugh today!
Yup ... I looked at that statement & chuckled myself!
DorisandDave said
06:00 PM May 10, 2011
I'm with Luvglass...Give DH all the chores!
SLIPSLID-N-AWAY said
06:34 AM May 11, 2011
wish it were that easy....although as time goes by DH is doing more around the house, especially IF I DON"T PUSH IT! We already spend all of our vacations doing something in our camper. DH lived in a 5th wheel for 6 years before we met & married. doing the camping thing is not the issue as he loves it as much as I do. going the full time route is what he is not yet ready for. I see I am not alone as there are many posters here who have the same issue, some are wives that want to go, some are husbands who want to go full time. there have been many great suggestions on how to resolve this issue......with a little patience on my part and some luck, hopefully we will be able to join the rest of the lucky full timers out there......keep your fingers crossed for me!
Kathy Doin It said
08:11 AM May 11, 2011
SLIPSLID-N-AWAY wrote:
DH lived in a 5th wheel for 6 years before we met & married. doing the camping thing is not the issue as he loves it as much as I do. going the full time route is what he is not yet ready for.
My questions are: How did he spend those 6 years? Was he static, or did he move about periodically?
I can understand why he wouldn't want to go "fulltime", if all he did was move to an RV park and sit there. He might be happy being a part-timer then.
Kathy
SLIPSLID-N-AWAY said
09:10 AM May 11, 2011
HE ONLY MOVED A COUPLE OF TIMES AS HE WAS STILL WORKING-2 JOBS AT THE TIME- SO MOST OF HIS TIME SPENT IN THE CAMPER WAS JUST SLEEPING & EATING.
HIS MAJOR ISSUE WITH FULL TIMING IS GIVING UP WHAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO CREATE IN OUR BACKYARD. HE KNOWS THAT IF WE SELL IT AND SPEND SEVERAL YEARS FULL TIMING AND THEN DECIDE TO GO BACK TO S&B HOUSE WE CAN NEVER HAVE AGAIN WHAT WE GAVE UP.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT BY THEN WE WILL NOT WANT THE "WORK" INVOLVED IN KEEPING SOMETHING LIKE THAT UP BECAUSE WE JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT PHYSICALLY....ALREADY IT IS GETTING HARDER & HARDER.
SOMETIMES HE MAKES COMMENTS THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE WANTS TO FULL TIME ON SOME LEVEL SO I REMAIN HOPEFULL.
RIGHT NOW WITH HOME VALUES SO LOW IT IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT HE IS NOT READY AS WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE BIG WHEN WE DO SELL.
ANYBODY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SELLING IN THE ATLANTA GEORGIA AREA LATELY? WE LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY. I NEED TO FIND A NASCAR FAN WANTING TO RELOCATE TO GEORGIA-LOL
Bill Adams said
09:27 AM May 11, 2011
As much as he wants to stay, how long will you/he want to or be able to handle the upkeep as the inevitable challenges of getting older sets in? Maybe you would be able to convince him that if the price of the house were right you could get a smaller home and/or yard after returning from full-timing to keep your required upkeep to a minimum. In the meantime, maybe some extended trips away from home would get him in the mood.
flyone said
11:19 AM May 11, 2011
Down size to a Condo that has all of the stuff that you like but some one else to do all of the work. Then you will be free to travel as far and as much as you like but be able to come back "home" to the pool and nice kept yard. The best of both worlds.
Flyone
Fluffykitty said
06:53 AM May 18, 2011
Who owns who?.....Does he own the house or does the house own him? I'm not trying to be crass. I just want to illustrate a point. I've owned several very nice homes. I dont miss any of them. I just look back at them, smile, then look forward again to look over the next promising ridge. "Life is not a destination, but a journey." Good Luck!
-- Edited by Fluffykitty on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 07:51:00 AM
I am ready, he is not. Husband retired last August. We have spent the last year figuring out that financially we are ready for me to retire also. I would LOVE to sell the house, move into the 5th wheel & go see the country but I am having a hard time convincing him.
He likes the idea somewhat BUT says he would miss all the things we have now. We have made our backyard with in-ground pool a paradise resort. I love it too but it is, in my opionion, more work than pleasure.
As I am still working I feel I spend all my non-working time doing housework, laundry, grocery shopping or yardwork. In the past ,the yardwork was somewhat therapy for me, but the older we both get, the longer it takes us to do things so the less time we get to actually enjoy! not to mention the fact that the in-ground pool prevents us from taking any trips between apr-sept unless we cover pool back up or try to find someone to come stay & take care of it. neither of our kids have the time or inclination (fear of something bad happening while we are gone also keeps us from leaving it when opened for the season).
I know that eventully we won't be able to keep up the maintenance/upkeep of our backyard paradise and really would rather be hiking on some beautiful trail or walking on the beach or exploring a cave or just stitting in my lawn chair next to my camper in some beautiful campground (just about anything but mowing grass, pulling weeds, cleaning a pool).
I know we both have to be on board with whatever we decide to do. I guess I just needed to vent. I will be patient and see how things go AFTER I retire. Maybe with more time to take care of house/yard I won't have the same longing to sell everything & hit the road.....
It's easy...get him to the rally!
I have no idea of your husband's interests, so I'll just kind of relate to my own. The following are reasons that I really look forward to traveling.
1. One's back yard is changed regularly.....or not.
2. One's neighbors are constantly changing and growing in number because "my neighbors" are always in my mind.
3. When one's neighbors get irritating, one can leave them behind.
4. The awesome beauty of nature in its places and creatures.
5. Seeing new beauty on a regular basis.
6. Sharing it all with one's beloved spouse.
Incidentally, that list is never completed. I imagine that as time goes on, things get added, such as local festivals, local food "specialties", and even musical events. Don't like one.......move on to another. See one national park and hear of another one hasn't seen.
On and on and on.......
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 10th of May 2011 02:35:31 PM
I think the solution is quite simple - since he is retired he should start doing these things while you are away at work.
I'll bet that on your retirement day he won't be able to wait to get to the RV dealer.
Thanks! I wondered what would make me laugh today!
I'm with Luvglass...Give DH all the chores!
Kathy
HIS MAJOR ISSUE WITH FULL TIMING IS GIVING UP WHAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO CREATE IN OUR BACKYARD. HE KNOWS THAT IF WE SELL IT AND SPEND SEVERAL YEARS FULL TIMING AND THEN DECIDE TO GO BACK TO S&B HOUSE WE CAN NEVER HAVE AGAIN WHAT WE GAVE UP.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT BY THEN WE WILL NOT WANT THE "WORK" INVOLVED IN KEEPING SOMETHING LIKE THAT UP BECAUSE WE JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT PHYSICALLY....ALREADY IT IS GETTING HARDER & HARDER.
SOMETIMES HE MAKES COMMENTS THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE WANTS TO FULL TIME ON SOME LEVEL SO I REMAIN HOPEFULL.
RIGHT NOW WITH HOME VALUES SO LOW IT IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT HE IS NOT READY AS WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE BIG WHEN WE DO SELL.
ANYBODY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SELLING IN THE ATLANTA GEORGIA AREA LATELY? WE LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY. I NEED TO FIND A NASCAR FAN WANTING TO RELOCATE TO GEORGIA-LOL
In the meantime, maybe some extended trips away from home would get him in the mood.
Down size to a Condo that has all of the stuff that you like but some one else to do all of the work. Then you will be free to travel as far and as much as you like but be able to come back "home" to the pool and nice kept yard. The best of both worlds.
Flyone
-- Edited by Fluffykitty on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 07:51:00 AM