Ever since Peter and I got married we had talked about traveling the country Over the years we did like most the one week or two week adventurers with our growing family. Two years ago we decided we wanted to retire early Peter at 61 and me at 56. We had a plan to make it happen. So we fixed up the house and got rid of the stuff and listed the house. Well the house wasn't selling but we decided what the heck, let's go anyway.
We got a workamper job in April of this year and worked thru Oct. We loved it the people we met where just awesome and the lifestyle is so peaceful you just can't imagine. So we decide to try our luck in florida and got a workkamper job in Naples. The pure excitment of the adventure is just more than words can describe.
This brings me to what are you waiting for. Three weeks ago Peter was diagnosed with stage 4 Esphogeal Cancer. If we had waited for the perfect time we would have missed out on an amazing although short experience. So ask your self what is really important and go after your dream. We are happy we did.
Jim01 said
06:19 AM Dec 16, 2011
Carol,
Really sorry to hear about Peter's medical condition but am very glad you got to enjoy the full-timing lifestyle.
I firmly believe that you should not put off something that you really want to do. Too many times, something happens and you never get to do it.
Good luck. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Peter.
Jim and Linda
GENECOP said
06:22 AM Dec 16, 2011
Thank you for the reminder, our prayers are with you....
Team Murc said
07:27 AM Dec 16, 2011
Peter + Carol,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. May the blessings of the season comfort you both.
We all need to listen to that inner voice that speaks to us. Life is not about the destination it's all about the journey. So happy you were able to follow your dream even if for only a short time.
Thanks for the wake-up
Win the day! Mike
-- Edited by Team Murc on Friday 16th of December 2011 08:59:16 AM
PIEERE said
07:54 AM Dec 16, 2011
I hope Peter gets to enjoy every day and of course, you also. I made the decision to do the workamper thing since 1994. I had a severe back injury in 1985 and by 1987, lost my house, most other posessions including the wife and kids due to loss of employment and lack of enough long term insurance.
It took until 1993 for me to get well enough to start all over again. In 1994 my brother and I purchased a 1988 CL-C and moved from NY State to Florida. I drove Taxi until 1998, then worked for a residential park in Michigan that summer.
Brother was diagnosed with dementia in 2000 and passed away in November 2006. The good news of all of this is; He and I had some of the greatest adventures form 1994 until 2004. We visited so many different states and attended many year round events as time permitted.
I do hope you both get the opportunity to do the same or more. Each day is a blessing. Thanks for sharing and Peter: Live each day to its' fullest. Merry Christmas! Pieere
-- Edited by PIEERE on Friday 16th of December 2011 07:56:12 AM
janni said
08:47 AM Dec 16, 2011
Carol and Peter, So glad you posted on your experience. Ours has been a positive one also. Both of our pasts have been filled with some difficult life lessons. We decided at 54 and 52 to make this happen and haven't looked back. Prayers sent up, Merry Christmas to you both, and like Pieere says "Live each day to its fullest"
Technomadia said
09:12 AM Dec 16, 2011
Thank you for turning your story around to be inspirational for others.
Wishing you both much continued strength.
Carol said
08:23 AM Dec 20, 2011
Thank you all . Have a very Happy Holidays and A Wonderful Journey.
crl said
10:57 AM Dec 22, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Peter. We will be starting out full time journey in 105 days. It is somewhat scary right now. but with your encouragement it makes it easier for us. Thank you, Happy holidays.
-- Edited by crl on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 10:57:59 AM
RVRon said
01:30 PM Dec 22, 2011
Thanks for telling your story, Carol and for being an inspiration for others to live like tomorrow may not come! Your story reminds me of my brother and sister in law. They fulfilled their dream of going fulltime after they both retired. Neither had ever even camped a night before but they knew they would love it and they were right. Two years into their adventure he had a series of strokes such that he could no longer drive the motorhome so they had to sell it and get off the road. Even though their adventure was cut short they were thankful for the wonderful 2 years they had. Guess you never know. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
SueMac said
06:56 AM Feb 15, 2012
Sorry to hear of your medical troubles. Hope all goes well.
What are we waiting for...we're not! We 3/4 timed and full timed for years. Then Bob decided he was ready to settle down, get a house, work shop etc. We've enjoyed our time here in South Dakota. 2 years ago Bob fell in the ice and did a number on his leg and back. Surgery went well and he was healing nicely. Then had the biggest pulmonary embolism the hospital had ever seen. He flatlines in ER but they got him back and on a respirator. Told me I'd have to decide what to do with the body when they took him off the ventilator in a few days. In 2 days he was off the ventilator and talking. No memory loss and his heart was doing well. Now, with his sore back, we decided to sell the house and find something closer to town and we'd live in the 5th wheel in the time between homes. The more we got to talking the more we decided to tap some retirement $, trade in the truck and 5ver and get a motorhome and go back to full timing. We're activly looking now for a new rig, the house is for sale and if we get the rig before the house sells, we'll clean out the place and hit the road anyway. Life is too short and we are going to enjoy more of the RV lifestyle while we can!
JayKim-no regrets said
10:47 PM Feb 15, 2012
Good luck to you Sue! Hope you guys can sell your house and get out on the road again soon!
Jay and I made the decision to become fulltimers just before Christmas this past year, we had planned on waiting until Jay retired (again) from his civilian job in another 13 yrs. We went through the worst thing a parent can go through in Nov 2011, when we lost our youngest Son (19) to complications of juvenile Diabetes. We came to the conclusion pretty quickly after that, that we were just wasting what time we have left together working, paying for a house, living day to day dreaming of a time when we could be free of all the commitments and just travel around this beautiful country. Jay receives a retirement check from his 23 yrs in the AF, not a huge amount, but enough (we hope) We are best friends, married for almost 25 yrs (in may) we have no qualms about being confined in a small space (well not too small lol)
So, when Jay gets home from his deployment in May, we plan to buy a DP, sell everything in the house we don't need, give up the rental house here in SC and move onto the famcamp on base, he will continue working until we sell the house we own in Illinois (currently renting it out) and pay down a few bills, but we are hoping to be ready to start our fulltime travelling adventure in about 12 months! I can't wait and would start straight away, but I'm willing to hang on a little bit longer. Kim x
HomeSweetRV said
07:25 PM Mar 24, 2012
Sorry to hear of Peter's misfortune, and thank you for confirming we have done the right thing, full-timing in our fifties! I watched my father and my uncle pass away shortly after their retirement, they both worked too hard all their lives. Bless you both in your fight and flight.
HomeSweetRV said
07:27 PM Mar 24, 2012
JayKim, I'm so sorry to hear this has happened to you, something that should never happen to any parent. Bless you in your travels.
PIEERE said
02:14 PM Feb 6, 2013
To All; Just remember when life seems to become so unbearable and you think there is no where to turn; Like "The Footprints in the Sand" and when you look down in your most difficult time and you see only your footprints; Jesus is carrying you. I will continue to pray for those who are in need! PIEERE
-- Edited by PIEERE on Wednesday 6th of February 2013 02:15:40 PM
suse1023 said
08:43 PM Feb 6, 2013
funny time is so elastic when it comes to these big decisions. dh and i talked about rving years ago, but he became ill and had to retire in 08. sadly it was just a few months before a good buy-out program and we missed out on it, so finances are much tighter than we had planned. we're been working like mad people to keep the house afloat and a few weekes ago we started talking abut rving again, decided to finally put the house on the market and maybe even take a year off to travel and enjoy each other's company. monday we learned that his leukemia is back with a vengence and he needs chemo again. so guess what? if he gets though this there's no more hesitation, we are gone as soon as the house sells. and if he doesn't get through it i'm leaving anyway, as i cannot imagine being here without him. (((((((((hugs))))))))))) to folks who need them, there's been some hard blows all around.
JayKim-no regrets said
09:44 PM Feb 6, 2013
suse1023 wrote:
funny time is so elastic when it comes to these big decisions. dh and i talked about rving years ago, but he became ill and had to retire in 08. sadly it was just a few months before a good buy-out program and we missed out on it, so finances are much tighter than we had planned. we're been working like mad people to keep the house afloat and a few weekes ago we started talking abut rving again, decided to finally put the house on the market and maybe even take a year off to travel and enjoy each other's company. monday we learned that his leukemia is back with a vengence and he needs chemo again. so guess what? if he gets though this there's no more hesitation, we are gone as soon as the house sells. and if he doesn't get through it i'm leaving anyway, as i cannot imagine being here without him. (((((((((hugs))))))))))) to folks who need them, there's been some hard blows all around.
((((((((((((((((((((huggies))))))))))))))) to you both too Suse! thoughts and prayers for your DH as he goes through his treatments, stay strong Suse, let us know how you are doing
huggies Kim x
JayKim-no regrets said
10:36 PM Feb 6, 2013
PIEERE wrote:
To All; Just remember when life seems to become so unbearable and you think there is no where to turn; Like "The Footprints in the Sand" and when you look down in your most difficult time and you see only your footprints; Jesus is carrying you. I will continue to pray for those who are in need! PIEERE
-- Edited by PIEERE on Wednesday 6th of February 2013 02:15:40 PM
Thank you Pierre
WestWardHo said
03:15 PM Mar 21, 2013
Suse, a good friend who happens to be staying at our home right now was diagnosed 7 years ago with stage 4 lung cancer. They wanted her to go in hospice right then after her chemo, shes still kicking and enjoying life. You never know!
Hugs to you both and others struggling w/health issues.
Sherry
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Monday 25th of March 2013 06:51:12 PM
suse1023 said
08:47 PM Mar 21, 2013
thought i'd give you folks a quick update. chemo is progressing and while he feels like carp most days the blood work is LOOKING GOOD!! WOOHOO MY HERO!!!!
the house has been shown twice and there is a family who loves it and they are trying like hell to get a mortgage for it. in the meantime we've found a 25' tt on a camp site at a local pond which we've bought. this allows us to stay here for the summer on the pond while he recuperates and for us to learn about living in a small space. we can be there from may until october which works out beautifully, this way we spend the summer and fall in our comfort zone near friends and support and medical team and winters we can travel. we intend to upgrade from the 25'tt by the end of the summer, if not the first week,lol.
PIEERE said
10:03 PM Mar 21, 2013
The good Lord works in mysterious ways!!! Believe me I experienced it. I will keep everyone in my prayers as I stated before. Nine more days will be the year anniversary of my heart attack. I don't have the energy I once had and suffer from shortness of breath. Have a wonderful Summer and many more! PIEERE
suse1023 said
10:10 PM Mar 21, 2013
pieere i hope you start feeling like your old self very soon. the summer can be a time to really get back on your feet after your long recuperative time. i hope you've been taking good care of your diet and nutrition especially so your body has all the tools and fuel it needs. happy trails!
Lucky Mike said
10:13 PM Mar 21, 2013
Go Peter GO....................!!!!!!
Im happy to hear things are looking good and up!!!.....
The summer place will do everyone some good and give Peter a chance to heal and get back to a normal feeling with friends around
I just finished 6 months of Chem Therapy twice a week.....my heart & prayers go out to you Peter and Susan , the journey is worth it.......Life is good!!!
Hopefully We meet up as soon as the snow melts, or at the rate we are going maybe we will see each other at the snowmobile races in july at the campground!!
suse1023 said
10:16 PM Mar 21, 2013
thanks mike, we are so looking forward to the future! and btw, do you have a pic of your pup? i've never seen a miniature husky.
JayKim-no regrets said
03:04 PM Mar 25, 2013
Good news Suse, thanx for the update, we are wishing Peter all the very best for continued good news! Good luck with the house sale too, i'm sure you will both enjoy living in the TT by the pond
PIEERE said
04:32 PM Mar 25, 2013
suse1023 wrote:
pieere i hope you start feeling like your old self very soon. the summer can be a time to really get back on your feet after your long recuperative time. i hope you've been taking good care of your diet and nutrition especially so your body has all the tools and fuel it needs. happy trails!
I just have to lose some of the 22 #'s I gained. Maybe the summer heat and humidity will burn it off!!! LOL! Really; would like to know when the real Spring will arrive. It is 35 here at 10:30 AM and will be for the next few days
suse1023 said
12:13 PM May 12, 2013
hey folks-----here it is mothers' day and our house went under contract two days ago! my dh has just one last round of chemo next week and hopefully will be good to go for another two years. meanwhile i have packing and organizing, and more packing and organizing to do.
keep on trucking has so much more meaning now, i can appreciate the determination to get going, despite or because of the challenges life throws at us all.
see you guys on the road, happy trails!
Penny and Paul said
02:19 PM May 12, 2013
Suse - Congratulations! Now the countdown really starts. We close in just under 5 weeks and I imagine your time frame is similar. So exciting...so much to do! Good news about your DH; he must be so ready to be done with chemo. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Happy Mother's day!
Penny
JayKim-no regrets said
02:46 PM May 12, 2013
Thank you for the update Suse! Big happy dance for the DH!! Things are really moving along nicely for you guys now. Happy Mothers day to you and all the 'Moms' on the Forum xx huggs Kim x
phyllen said
02:58 PM May 12, 2013
Great news on this thread today!
PIEERE said
03:40 PM May 12, 2013
Really great news; and Happy Mother's Day to you!!!
judy-jack said
10:27 AM Jul 25, 2013
So many positive stories of you folks with health issues. I hope to get my hubby to read this ! Here is "our story"
We are both 72, have moved around a lot. Bought homes, sold homes. Since last Oct. we have moved 4 times and
I am so tired of it !
Bought a house we are totally unhappy with, now trying to sell ...I keep saying small RV....he says too late...
We both have a form of blood cancer called CLL....no treatments as yet. We do have to go to the M.D.ANDERSON
CANCER CENTER in Houston TX each year.
I say, RV....go to Texas....our kids are in the DFW area...
I look around this house and see "stuff"....we sit and look at each other, watch TV, eat, sleep and repeat daily.
I know, with the bit of cash we will have from selling house and "stuff" we can get a small RV....not really interested
in traveling the whole USA ( did that while working years ago)
Best of luck to all, hope to say we DID IT ! before its too late....
Judy and Jack
Missouri
suse1023 said
12:05 PM Jul 25, 2013
go judy go!!!
ny dh has cll too, and has chemo every couple of years treat it. the worst is the effect it has on his immune system. otherwise it's managed quite well and he feels pretty good overall.
he just turned 71 and we are LOVING living in our fiver.
PIEERE said
02:40 PM Jul 25, 2013
Haven't heard any thing form Carol>Judy and Jack; go for it. You only have to move the RV a few times a year and its easier than trying to move houses. Suse: Happy Dance knowing your out here enjoying the Life!!!
suse1023 said
02:46 PM Jul 25, 2013
let's hope they're too busy haing fun to write, shall we?
pierre how are you feeling?
jingling for your and everyone else's good health.
(jingling is a horse thing---on my horse boards we 'jingle' curb chains for each other).
PIEERE said
03:14 PM Jul 25, 2013
Am getting along; not like I would like; but the best that can be expected. I have fatigue; weakness; poor circulation makes my back and legs hurt bad at times. I have a very positive outlook on life. So long as I can keep from being in a wheel chair or housebound I will be OK!! I keep every one in my prayers knowing how challenging health and all of life's challenges can be.
Ever since Peter and I got married we had talked about traveling the country Over the years we did like most the one week or two week adventurers with our growing family. Two years ago we decided we wanted to retire early Peter at 61 and me at 56. We had a plan to make it happen. So we fixed up the house and got rid of the stuff and listed the house. Well the house wasn't selling but we decided what the heck, let's go anyway.
We got a workamper job in April of this year and worked thru Oct. We loved it the people we met where just awesome and the lifestyle is so peaceful you just can't imagine. So we decide to try our luck in florida and got a workkamper job in Naples. The pure excitment of the adventure is just more than words can describe.
This brings me to what are you waiting for. Three weeks ago Peter was diagnosed with stage 4 Esphogeal Cancer. If we had waited for the perfect time we would have missed out on an amazing although short experience. So ask your self what is really important and go after your dream. We are happy we did.
Carol,
Really sorry to hear about Peter's medical condition but am very glad you got to enjoy the full-timing lifestyle.
I firmly believe that you should not put off something that you really want to do. Too many times, something happens and you never get to do it.
Good luck. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Peter.
Jim and Linda
Peter + Carol,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. May the blessings of the season comfort you both.
We all need to listen to that inner voice that speaks to us. Life is not about the destination it's all about the journey. So happy you were able to follow your dream even if for only a short time.
Thanks for the wake-up
Win the day!
Mike
-- Edited by Team Murc on Friday 16th of December 2011 08:59:16 AM
It took until 1993 for me to get well enough to start all over again. In 1994 my brother and I purchased a 1988 CL-C and moved from NY State to Florida. I drove Taxi until 1998, then worked for a residential park in Michigan that summer.
Brother was diagnosed with dementia in 2000 and passed away in November 2006. The good news of all of this is; He and I had some of the greatest adventures form 1994 until 2004. We visited so many different states and attended many year round events as time permitted.
I do hope you both get the opportunity to do the same or more. Each day is a blessing. Thanks for sharing and Peter: Live each day to its' fullest. Merry Christmas! Pieere
-- Edited by PIEERE on Friday 16th of December 2011 07:56:12 AM
So glad you posted on your experience. Ours has been a positive one also. Both of our pasts have been filled with some difficult life lessons. We decided at 54 and 52 to make this happen and haven't looked back.
Prayers sent up, Merry Christmas to you both, and like Pieere says "Live each day to its fullest"
Wishing you both much continued strength.
Thank you all . Have a very Happy Holidays and A Wonderful Journey.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Peter. We will be starting out full time journey in 105 days. It is somewhat scary right now. but with your encouragement it makes it easier for us. Thank you, Happy holidays.
-- Edited by crl on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 10:57:59 AM
Thanks for telling your story, Carol and for being an inspiration for others to live like tomorrow may not come! Your story reminds me of my brother and sister in law. They fulfilled their dream of going fulltime after they both retired. Neither had ever even camped a night before but they knew they would love it and they were right. Two years into their adventure he had a series of strokes such that he could no longer drive the motorhome so they had to sell it and get off the road. Even though their adventure was cut short they were thankful for the wonderful 2 years they had. Guess you never know. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Sorry to hear of your medical troubles. Hope all goes well.
What are we waiting for...we're not! We 3/4 timed and full timed for years. Then Bob decided he was ready to settle down, get a house, work shop etc. We've enjoyed our time here in South Dakota. 2 years ago Bob fell in the ice and did a number on his leg and back. Surgery went well and he was healing nicely. Then had the biggest pulmonary embolism the hospital had ever seen. He flatlines in ER but they got him back and on a respirator. Told me I'd have to decide what to do with the body when they took him off the ventilator in a few days. In 2 days he was off the ventilator and talking. No memory loss and his heart was doing well. Now, with his sore back, we decided to sell the house and find something closer to town and we'd live in the 5th wheel in the time between homes. The more we got to talking the more we decided to tap some retirement $, trade in the truck and 5ver and get a motorhome and go back to full timing. We're activly looking now for a new rig, the house is for sale and if we get the rig before the house sells, we'll clean out the place and hit the road anyway. Life is too short and we are going to enjoy more of the RV lifestyle while we can!
Good luck to you Sue! Hope you guys can sell your house and get out on the road again soon!
Jay and I made the decision to become fulltimers just before Christmas this past year, we had planned on waiting until Jay retired (again) from his civilian job in another 13 yrs. We went through the worst thing a parent can go through in Nov 2011, when we lost our youngest Son (19) to complications of juvenile Diabetes. We came to the conclusion pretty quickly after that, that we were just wasting what time we have left together working, paying for a house, living day to day dreaming of a time when we could be free of all the commitments and just travel around this beautiful country. Jay receives a retirement check from his 23 yrs in the AF, not a huge amount, but enough (we hope) We are best friends, married for almost 25 yrs (in may) we have no qualms about being confined in a small space (well not too small lol)
So, when Jay gets home from his deployment in May, we plan to buy a DP, sell everything in the house we don't need, give up the rental house here in SC and move onto the famcamp on base, he will continue working until we sell the house we own in Illinois (currently renting it out) and pay down a few bills, but we are hoping to be ready to start our fulltime travelling adventure in about 12 months! I can't wait and would start straight away, but I'm willing to hang on a little bit longer.
Kim x
To All; Just remember when life seems to become so unbearable and you think there is no where to turn; Like "The Footprints in the Sand" and when you look down in your most difficult time and you see only your footprints; Jesus is carrying you. I will continue to pray for those who are in need! PIEERE
-- Edited by PIEERE on Wednesday 6th of February 2013 02:15:40 PM
dh and i talked about rving years ago, but he became ill and had to retire in 08. sadly it was just a few months before a good buy-out program and we missed out on it, so finances are much tighter than we had planned. we're been working like mad people to keep the house afloat and a few weekes ago we started talking abut rving again, decided to finally put the house on the market and maybe even take a year off to travel and enjoy each other's company.
monday we learned that his leukemia is back with a vengence and he needs chemo again.
so guess what?
if he gets though this there's no more hesitation, we are gone as soon as the house sells.
and if he doesn't get through it i'm leaving anyway, as i cannot imagine being here without him.
(((((((((hugs))))))))))) to folks who need them, there's been some hard blows all around.
((((((((((((((((((((huggies))))))))))))))) to you both too Suse! thoughts and prayers for your DH as he goes through his treatments, stay strong Suse, let us know how you are doing
huggies Kim x
Thank you Pierre
Suse, a good friend who happens to be staying at our home right now was diagnosed 7 years ago with stage 4 lung cancer. They wanted her to go in hospice right then after her chemo, shes still kicking and enjoying life. You never know!
Hugs to you both and others struggling w/health issues.
Sherry
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Monday 25th of March 2013 06:51:12 PM
chemo is progressing and while he feels like carp most days the blood work is LOOKING GOOD!! WOOHOO MY HERO!!!!
the house has been shown twice and there is a family who loves it and they are trying like hell to get a mortgage for it.
in the meantime we've found a 25' tt on a camp site at a local pond which we've bought.
this allows us to stay here for the summer on the pond while he recuperates and for us to learn about living in a small space.
we can be there from may until october which works out beautifully, this way we spend the summer and fall in our comfort zone near friends and support and medical team and winters we can travel.
we intend to upgrade from the 25'tt by the end of the summer, if not the first week,lol.
I will keep everyone in my prayers as I stated before. Nine more days will be the year
anniversary of my heart attack. I don't have the energy I once had and suffer from shortness
of breath.
Have a wonderful Summer and many more! PIEERE
i hope you've been taking good care of your diet and nutrition especially so your body has all the tools and fuel it needs.
happy trails!
Im happy to hear things are looking good and up!!!.....
The summer place will do everyone some good and give Peter a chance to heal and get back to a normal feeling with friends around
I just finished 6 months of Chem Therapy twice a week.....my heart & prayers go out to you Peter and Susan , the journey is worth it.......Life is good!!!
Hopefully We meet up as soon as the snow melts, or at the rate we are going maybe we will see each other at the snowmobile races in july at the campground!!
and btw, do you have a pic of your pup? i've never seen a miniature husky.
my dh has just one last round of chemo next week and hopefully will be good to go for another two years.
meanwhile i have packing and organizing, and more packing and organizing to do.
keep on trucking has so much more meaning now, i can appreciate the determination to get going, despite or because of the challenges life throws at us all.
see you guys on the road, happy trails!
Penny
huggs Kim x
We are both 72, have moved around a lot. Bought homes, sold homes. Since last Oct. we have moved 4 times and
I am so tired of it !
Bought a house we are totally unhappy with, now trying to sell ...I keep saying small RV....he says too late...
We both have a form of blood cancer called CLL....no treatments as yet. We do have to go to the M.D.ANDERSON
CANCER CENTER in Houston TX each year.
I say, RV....go to Texas....our kids are in the DFW area...
I look around this house and see "stuff"....we sit and look at each other, watch TV, eat, sleep and repeat daily.
I know, with the bit of cash we will have from selling house and "stuff" we can get a small RV....not really interested
in traveling the whole USA ( did that while working years ago)
Best of luck to all, hope to say we DID IT ! before its too late....
Judy and Jack
Missouri
ny dh has cll too, and has chemo every couple of years treat it. the worst is the effect it has on his immune system. otherwise it's managed quite well and he feels pretty good overall.
he just turned 71 and we are LOVING living in our fiver.
pierre how are you feeling?
jingling for your and everyone else's good health.
(jingling is a horse thing---on my horse boards we 'jingle' curb chains for each other).