My wife came up with the idea, a couple of month ago: To get rid of our house (with the equity that was once in there vanished anyway), move in an RV and criss-cross North America, experiencing and enjoying the Great Outdoors. We had been RVing several times with rented motorhomes before, the most recent one a scary (only in the beginning) 40 ft behemoth. We pretty soon decided that it should be a 5th wheel, and bought a Montana High Country 323RE, mainly because we liked the floorplan and the 20% less weight than other rigs of the same size. It's going to be delivered in February, fresh from the factory. The truck is going to be a RAM 3500 Laramie.
We plan to take off from our home town in South Carolina next summer, and I think we'll have our hands full until then with preparing the rig, making a week-long test run during spring break, learning how to homeschool, selling and storing furniture and other household items. Because I'll need to work online, I'll have to learn what the most reliable technology for accessing the internet is and then implement it, and so on.
We are so excited already, although it's more than a half year away, but I suspect time will fly by with all the preparations. One of the biggest unknowns is how our son will take his new life without his friends and buddies - he loves to play and socialize so much. Will it be boring with just his parents and occasional campground friends?
GENECOP said
09:09 PM Dec 21, 2011
Its hard to say for sure but seeing all there is to see while crisscrossing the country might be something he will find very exciting and interesting....also, encouraging him to stay in touch with his friends and sharing his fun with them might help ease the transition, welcome to the forum...G
Yonnie said
09:18 PM Dec 21, 2011
I agree with G. Between the Internet and cell phones he can share his experiences with his buddies. Good luck. It's a good idea to share with the forum also.
Safe travels
The Bear II said
03:45 PM Dec 22, 2011
I can remember travelling with my family during the summer for 3 to 4 weeks at a time. We tent camped and then graduated to a travel trailer. We would only stay for 1 to 2 days in most campgrounds, but I can remember making friends and doing kid things, it was never boring. Sometimes the travel from spot to spot got boring but then I began to read comic books...in fact that is how I became interested in reading (around 9 years old). First comic books, next kid novels and now big kid books.
When I first read your post, I thought wouldn't it be great if your son put together a daily blog sharing his adventures during your travels. Kind of like what Howard does.
Anyway good luck, I think you'll find this to be a great and rewarding lifestyle change.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 03:46:48 PM
Terry and Jo said
08:13 PM Dec 22, 2011
Loki,
I guess you could partially answer your own question regarding your son by thinking of what he thought of the times you have rented RV's and traveled.
Way back in 1976, we took our two boys camping in a National Forest campground. No hookups, no electric, no water but the manual pump at the sink, and the campground outhouses.
All week long I kept hearing, "Dad, I'm bored." So, we took some hikes and just goofed off together up there in God's country. Back on the farm a year later and thinking about going back to Colorado again, I was concerned that the boys wouldn't be happy with the idea. Keep in mind that the mountains rejuvenate me in ways no other place ever has.
They came to me one day and asked, "Dad, are we going on vacation this year?" I answered with a yes and looked at my wife with just a wee bit of concern. Then they asked, "Are we going to the mountains?" With my wife watching me with concern, I answered, "Yes."
It was, "OH GOODY!!!"
One of them, at 39 and unmarried, still likes to go to Colorado and the mountains with his Mom and Dad. That, Sir, makes it a blessing to me.
I guess I would say to give him a chance and if things don't work out, you could always make adjustments.
Terry
The Hensons said
09:15 AM Dec 29, 2011
Loki, I suggest you join us at Families On The Road! The site is active, but our Facebook group is more active so be sure and get onboard there.There are many other families doing what you plan to do. We have a rally in 2 weeks in Florida if you can make it.
We are full-timers now for 4 months and we do it with a 4 yr old daughter. She absolutely loves the lifestyle as we do. Your son will meet plenty of other kids his age. Be sure and keep us posted on your progress and message me if you have questions! Hope to meet you when you hit the road! Oh, and go to a RV-Dreams rally too...you'll be glad for it.
-- Edited by The Hensons on Thursday 29th of December 2011 09:33:53 AM
Bob and Cheri said
07:22 PM Dec 29, 2011
Loki - I am an Army Brat, (My Siblings may say emphasize the Brat), Meaning my father was an officer in the Army while I grew up, we moved all over the country and world. I noticed after we settled down that the kids adjusted more rapidly to the new surroundings than the adults did. We would make new friends easier and explore the area faster than the adults would. I think that a 9 year old would adapt very quickly to the new way of life as long as they were not forced to completely sever ties with their old friends.
Good luck and Happy Travels
Bob
J Riechman said
09:26 PM Jan 3, 2012
We use Switched on Schoolhouse for our 12 yr old. It can be used with or without internet. I love it - 12 yr. old...not so much, but he does not like anything with the word school in it.
Loki said
02:42 AM Feb 1, 2012
Thanks guys for all your encouraging thoughts. I will definitively leave a feedback here in this thread once we actually are on the road.
My wife came up with the idea, a couple of month ago: To get rid of our house (with the equity that was once in there vanished anyway), move in an RV and criss-cross North America, experiencing and enjoying the Great Outdoors. We had been RVing several times with rented motorhomes before, the most recent one a scary (only in the beginning) 40 ft behemoth. We pretty soon decided that it should be a 5th wheel, and bought a Montana High Country 323RE, mainly because we liked the floorplan and the 20% less weight than other rigs of the same size. It's going to be delivered in February, fresh from the factory. The truck is going to be a RAM 3500 Laramie.
We plan to take off from our home town in South Carolina next summer, and I think we'll have our hands full until then with preparing the rig, making a week-long test run during spring break, learning how to homeschool, selling and storing furniture and other household items. Because I'll need to work online, I'll have to learn what the most reliable technology for accessing the internet is and then implement it, and so on.
We are so excited already, although it's more than a half year away, but I suspect time will fly by with all the preparations. One of the biggest unknowns is how our son will take his new life without his friends and buddies - he loves to play and socialize so much. Will it be boring with just his parents and occasional campground friends?
I can remember travelling with my family during the summer for 3 to 4 weeks at a time. We tent camped and then graduated to a travel trailer. We would only stay for 1 to 2 days in most campgrounds, but I can remember making friends and doing kid things, it was never boring. Sometimes the travel from spot to spot got boring but then I began to read comic books...in fact that is how I became interested in reading (around 9 years old). First comic books, next kid novels and now big kid books.
When I first read your post, I thought wouldn't it be great if your son put together a daily blog sharing his adventures during your travels. Kind of like what Howard does.
Anyway good luck, I think you'll find this to be a great and rewarding lifestyle change.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 03:46:48 PM
Loki,
I guess you could partially answer your own question regarding your son by thinking of what he thought of the times you have rented RV's and traveled.
Way back in 1976, we took our two boys camping in a National Forest campground. No hookups, no electric, no water but the manual pump at the sink, and the campground outhouses.
All week long I kept hearing, "Dad, I'm bored." So, we took some hikes and just goofed off together up there in God's country. Back on the farm a year later and thinking about going back to Colorado again, I was concerned that the boys wouldn't be happy with the idea. Keep in mind that the mountains rejuvenate me in ways no other place ever has.
They came to me one day and asked, "Dad, are we going on vacation this year?" I answered with a yes and looked at my wife with just a wee bit of concern. Then they asked, "Are we going to the mountains?" With my wife watching me with concern, I answered, "Yes."
It was, "OH GOODY!!!"
One of them, at 39 and unmarried, still likes to go to Colorado and the mountains with his Mom and Dad. That, Sir, makes it a blessing to me.
I guess I would say to give him a chance and if things don't work out, you could always make adjustments.
Terry
Loki, I suggest you join us at Families On The Road! The site is active, but our Facebook group is more active so be sure and get onboard there.There are many other families doing what you plan to do. We have a rally in 2 weeks in Florida if you can make it.
We are full-timers now for 4 months and we do it with a 4 yr old daughter. She absolutely loves the lifestyle as we do. Your son will meet plenty of other kids his age. Be sure and keep us posted on your progress and message me if you have questions! Hope to meet you when you hit the road! Oh, and go to a RV-Dreams rally too...you'll be glad for it.
-- Edited by The Hensons on Thursday 29th of December 2011 09:33:53 AM
Loki - I am an Army Brat, (My Siblings may say emphasize the Brat), Meaning my father was an officer in the Army while I grew up, we moved all over the country and world. I noticed after we settled down that the kids adjusted more rapidly to the new surroundings than the adults did. We would make new friends easier and explore the area faster than the adults would. I think that a 9 year old would adapt very quickly to the new way of life as long as they were not forced to completely sever ties with their old friends.
Good luck and Happy Travels
Bob