Love this web site and we have to get out of this place
Parrish said
09:57 AM Jan 21, 2012
I have been lurking around on this web page for at least two years, digesting the all the information on Dave and Linda's budget, planning, working on the road info, etc. I have found it very encouraging; but, always felt a little apprehensive, they are trying to sell this lifestyle and other things could be construed as endorsments for various products. I'm sure life on the road will still be life, not one big vacation.
I am giving up my job, quick since my wifes medical condition is advancing faster than I can plan for her care. It just occured to me that my job is making me sick and I can't take care of her when they have me so mentally entangled. So we are on the fast track for selling out and going on a permanent camping trip. Cannot wait for the first week without a home to take care of, freedom and taking a fishing trip that I don't have to return from until I maybe feel like retreating to the cool fresh air in the national forest at an elevation over 6,000 feet. A friend of mine gave some great advice a year or so ago, saying that what I am talking about doing (leaving a six figure job and selling a nice home) doesn't have to be forever and with my resume I can always find another job.
I cannot imagine that my move would be a mistake. We both love the outdoors. Imagine booddocking in the desert southwest in the winter working my bird dogs, spring and fall at my favorite fishing camp and escaping to the mountan altitudes in the summer. Getting up in the morning and cooking a real breakfast rather than scurrying off to the high pressure job and eating a cinamon roll from the vending machine.
Can't wait to see how this all works out!
PIEERE said
09:38 PM Jan 21, 2012
As with anything else the biggest problems are the repairs needed to keep your vehicle(s) in good operating condition and the maintenance up to date is #1.
If you read the majority is enjoying their new lifestyle. For me; if i don't like an area, am free to move. It does take me some extra planning and budgeting because my source of income comes from work camping employ.
Some are affluent and have the luxury of just traveling and doing what they please. If both of you feel comfortable with it, do it! You only go thru this life once and if you don't try; one day you may look back and say: WHAT IF? Stress is the # 1 silent killer!
What made my decision was when an employer I worked for physically threatened me. Don't ask the details! I have been enjoying stress-free and mostly a good life and times since.
Rent or borrow a friends unit or buy a small unit and try it for a 3-6 month period and see if this appeals to you both! Happy Trails Pieere
rclvnv said
12:31 AM Jan 22, 2012
Before we made the move to full-time, we too researched this site and others. We had the advantage of having been RV'ers for most of the 43 years we've been married. For years we'd wonder what it would be like to be full-time as we encountered those weo were. We have been mom & pop small business owners our whole lives. Liberating in some ways,stifiling in others. in fact we started with the RV's so we could get away even if for short periods, only.
Change is difficult, but life is too short. Believe me, I know that first hand.My wife and I operated funeral homes for thirty-five years, 24/7 - 365! When we sold them some years ago,we briefly considered going on the road then, but since she is a cancer survivor, and was still in need of frequent check-ups, we didn't. Instead, we bought another small business of a completely different type.to which we of course, became tied.
When my brother died last year, I thought about the loss, but realized since he had retired "early", he at least had a lot of years to do what he wanted,stress-free. We decided that if we weren't careful, we'd find ourselves to old or infirm to live our dream, so we sold our home. We live at a great place locally, and in June,when our contracts are up for our business, we're out of here. For all the reasons you've done well over the years, you'll do well when you make the change. I have a cousultant/expert witness practice that I've kept up for the last 19 yrs, that helps out as well. See if what you are currently doing lends itself to something like that. You'd be surprised at the options available. We are also looking to doing some workcamping, as we want to stay active (very important, imho),and are looking for new experiences.
Wish you well.
R.
BruceandTrisha said
04:42 PM Jan 22, 2012
It's never a mistake to follow your dreams. There might be some bumps and boulders along the way, but when you don't let go of the dream, you find ways around those things that come up to stand in your way. That's key for life - not just for RVing. (But, oh, the RVing dream is the ONE that lights a fire in many hearts!)
Bruce's dad died at age 50 - a huge wake up call to us. Our mantra became "Life's Too Short!" One of my favorite quotes is by Mark Twain:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
ahoweth said
05:43 PM Jan 22, 2012
We only have today, Yesterday is a memory and tomorrow may never come. I have attempted to live my life in such a way that when the inevitable end does come, I can say that I ams sorry for things I have done, rather than saying that I am sorry that I didn't do anything.
You are a resourceful person whether you know it or not. If you make a commitment to a full timing way of life you will find a way to make it work. My wife of 42 years passed away in an accident last July. I am and will forever be eternally grateful for the 6 years we had together on the road. Without the stress of daily jobs, we lived happily with each other for those years. I could never put a price on those years. I say this simply because we never know what tomorrow might hold or how our lives might change. Live each day showing your loved ones how much you love them because you never know when you will not get another chance. I was able to do that for 6 wonderful years on the road and I will never regret our decision to go full time, regardless of what the future might hold for me.
BruceandTrisha said
07:16 PM Jan 22, 2012
Alan - beautifully written. Thank you for sharing that timeless message that we need to keep in front of us every day.
Terry and Jo said
12:55 AM Jan 23, 2012
Parrish,
First of all, welcome to being an active participant on the forums. After reading all that the others have said, I feel no need to offer encouragement towards going for the lifestyle. While Jo and I are not traveling full-timers, but "static" ones, we still long for the freedom of travel to wherever we may wish to go.
As for Howard and Linda "selling" the lifestyle or "promoting" various products, think of it as simply experience offering suggestions, not necessarily saying that "this" is the way to go. Many of us are thankful when Howard both suggests items or when he freely admits his mistakes in his journal. He is really serious about helping others enjoy the lifestyle that they have chosen.
His mistakes serve as cautions, and we all seem to appreciate his honesty. His suggestion/recommendations are just that, and each of us tends to "flesh out" our research to see if another product is better. However, if he weren't to make the suggestions/recommendations, we might not know to look at those as options for ourselves.
I've personally learned volumes of things from Howard's journals and his forum comments, and I will forever be thankful to both Howard and Linda.
I have been lurking around on this web page for at least two years, digesting the all the information on Dave and Linda's budget, planning, working on the road info, etc. I have found it very encouraging; but, always felt a little apprehensive, they are trying to sell this lifestyle and other things could be construed as endorsments for various products. I'm sure life on the road will still be life, not one big vacation.
I am giving up my job, quick since my wifes medical condition is advancing faster than I can plan for her care. It just occured to me that my job is making me sick and I can't take care of her when they have me so mentally entangled. So we are on the fast track for selling out and going on a permanent camping trip. Cannot wait for the first week without a home to take care of, freedom and taking a fishing trip that I don't have to return from until I maybe feel like retreating to the cool fresh air in the national forest at an elevation over 6,000 feet. A friend of mine gave some great advice a year or so ago, saying that what I am talking about doing (leaving a six figure job and selling a nice home) doesn't have to be forever and with my resume I can always find another job.
I cannot imagine that my move would be a mistake. We both love the outdoors. Imagine booddocking in the desert southwest in the winter working my bird dogs, spring and fall at my favorite fishing camp and escaping to the mountan altitudes in the summer. Getting up in the morning and cooking a real breakfast rather than scurrying off to the high pressure job and eating a cinamon roll from the vending machine.
Can't wait to see how this all works out!
If you read the majority is enjoying their new lifestyle. For me; if i don't like an area, am free to move. It does take me some extra planning and budgeting because my source of income comes from work camping employ.
Some are affluent and have the luxury of just traveling and doing what they please. If both of you feel comfortable with it, do it! You only go thru this life once and if you don't try; one day you may look back and say: WHAT IF?
Stress is the # 1 silent killer!
What made my decision was when an employer I worked for physically threatened me. Don't ask the details! I have been enjoying stress-free and mostly a good life and times since.
Rent or borrow a friends unit or buy a small unit and try it for a 3-6 month period and see if this appeals to you both!
Happy Trails Pieere
Before we made the move to full-time, we too researched this site and others. We had the advantage of having been RV'ers for most of the 43 years we've been married. For years we'd wonder what it would be like to be full-time as we encountered those weo were. We have been mom & pop small business owners our whole lives. Liberating in some ways,stifiling in others. in fact we started with the RV's so we could get away even if for short periods, only.
Change is difficult, but life is too short. Believe me, I know that first hand.My wife and I operated funeral homes for thirty-five years, 24/7 - 365! When we sold them some years ago,we briefly considered going on the road then, but since she is a cancer survivor, and was still in need of frequent check-ups, we didn't. Instead, we bought another small business of a completely different type.to which we of course, became tied.
When my brother died last year, I thought about the loss, but realized since he had retired "early", he at least had a lot of years to do what he wanted,stress-free. We decided that if we weren't careful, we'd find ourselves to old or infirm to live our dream, so we sold our home. We live at a great place locally, and in June,when our contracts are up for our business, we're out of here. For all the reasons you've done well over the years, you'll do well when you make the change. I have a cousultant/expert witness practice that I've kept up for the last 19 yrs, that helps out as well. See if what you are currently doing lends itself to something like that. You'd be surprised at the options available. We are also looking to doing some workcamping, as we want to stay active (very important, imho),and are looking for new experiences.
Wish you well.
R.
It's never a mistake to follow your dreams. There might be some bumps and boulders along the way, but when you don't let go of the dream, you find ways around those things that come up to stand in your way. That's key for life - not just for RVing. (But, oh, the RVing dream is the ONE that lights a fire in many hearts!)
Bruce's dad died at age 50 - a huge wake up call to us. Our mantra became "Life's Too Short!" One of my favorite quotes is by Mark Twain:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
You are a resourceful person whether you know it or not. If you make a commitment to a full timing way of life you will find a way to make it work. My wife of 42 years passed away in an accident last July. I am and will forever be eternally grateful for the 6 years we had together on the road. Without the stress of daily jobs, we lived happily with each other for those years. I could never put a price on those years. I say this simply because we never know what tomorrow might hold or how our lives might change. Live each day showing your loved ones how much you love them because you never know when you will not get another chance. I was able to do that for 6 wonderful years on the road and I will never regret our decision to go full time, regardless of what the future might hold for me.
Alan - beautifully written. Thank you for sharing that timeless message that we need to keep in front of us every day.
Parrish,
First of all, welcome to being an active participant on the forums. After reading all that the others have said, I feel no need to offer encouragement towards going for the lifestyle. While Jo and I are not traveling full-timers, but "static" ones, we still long for the freedom of travel to wherever we may wish to go.
As for Howard and Linda "selling" the lifestyle or "promoting" various products, think of it as simply experience offering suggestions, not necessarily saying that "this" is the way to go. Many of us are thankful when Howard both suggests items or when he freely admits his mistakes in his journal. He is really serious about helping others enjoy the lifestyle that they have chosen.
His mistakes serve as cautions, and we all seem to appreciate his honesty. His suggestion/recommendations are just that, and each of us tends to "flesh out" our research to see if another product is better. However, if he weren't to make the suggestions/recommendations, we might not know to look at those as options for ourselves.
I've personally learned volumes of things from Howard's journals and his forum comments, and I will forever be thankful to both Howard and Linda.
Terry