We've made the decision and have an 18-month plan! WARNING: long post
Rosie RV Thumper and Dog Dog said
03:04 AM Apr 6, 2012
Hi Everyone,
I've been lurking around here for a few weeks and am ready to introduce myself. My husband and I have made the decision to RV full-time. Funny thing is, we don't currently and never have had an RV. We just know it's what we want to do.
DH is 57 and I am 49. DH is medically disabled and had several serious conditions that require hospitalization occasionally and ER visits a bit more frequently. He has been unable to work for several years. We feel that we have a limited window of time before living in an RV is very difficult for him but we also know that we can adapt our surroundings to make things work better for him. He has Medicare so his health insurance is not something we have to worry about.
My parents live here locally and are in their early 70s. My daughter and her family live on the opposite side of the state. All of DH's family is on the East Coast so we'll be all over the place.
We want to go NOW but we have debt we must dispose of before we go. Thus the 18-month plan. We also have a fairly large mortgage and due to the economy we owe more than the house is worth. That is a familiar story I'm sure. We don't want the mortgage to put a strangle hold on our finances so we have decided to rent our house. If we could sell, we would and we hope the economy will improve over the next 18-months and might allow us to sell. I'm ready to be free of the house with its upkeep, landscaping and cleaning.
Our reason for doing this is to spend our time together doing things we enjoy. DH longs to see his children and grandchildren more often but travel to the other coast is very difficult for him. In an RV we can take our time and we can stop when we need to for as long as we need to. I'm going to do some of the driving and eventually may end up doing most of the driving. That scares me but I'm a smart cookie and will figure it out.
My reasons are bit different than "our" reasons. We've been married for almost 14 years and over those years I've seen my husband's health decline and I don't want either of us to have any regrets for not taking the chance. His world is so small here at home and I want it to be so much bigger for him. I want him to be excited to wake up in the morning not knowing what the day will bring.
I'm a doer so I'll have to have some projects to keep me busy when we are stationary but that's easy to accomplish I think.
After much discussion we have decided on a Class A with a toad. We feel that it will be easier for us to stop when needed. Easier for me to get set-up on my own when necessary. He can rest when he needs to and I can drive. The floor will be level and it will be easier to navigate inside. If we need to add a lift in the future we will. DH is still mobile but has some balance problems and nerve damage in his feet and hands. Some of the 5th wheels seem to be more difficult to navigate inside.
We're still trying to decide whether to purge completely but we are leaning toward getting rid of all of our "stuff".
Any tips, suggestions and or encouragement is welcome. If anyone has any particular experience with traveling as or with someone with chronic illness please chime in. There are so many things to think about and so much to do.
I'm really enjoying reading all of the posts and all of the great information on the RV-Dreams site. Nicely done!
Terry and Jo said
04:44 AM Apr 6, 2012
Rosie,
Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. There are a lot of knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful folks here, but I think you already know that. Feel free to ask any questions you need and be ready to comment as well. There are a number of others here who are dealing with health or handicap issues. Since we all tend to learn from each other, we all will absorb the things that you and the others say about RV'ing with health issues.
You are definitely ahead to be debt free and as you begin to get rid of "stuff," you will see that there are many things that we accumulate that are really unnecessary. It is liberating to get rid of the dreaded "stuff."
Glad to have you as a part of the "family."
Terry
Yonnie said
03:44 AM Apr 8, 2012
Welcome aboard. Keep us in the loop. Love to hear how folks launch into FT
Ivey said
09:06 PM Apr 12, 2012
Hello and welcome to the forum. Feel free to ask any questions you need. Someone here will have an answer for you or if not at least a direction for you to go to find the answers. I know there are many people who life this lifestyle with various kinds of medical problems. My hat is off to you and to them. Keep moving forward and let us know how it is going for you.
See you down the road one day.
Ira and Vicky
janieD said
05:30 PM Apr 14, 2012
Welcome to the forum. I applaud you for seeing ahead and trying to make the best of the world for your husband. Looks like you have put lots of forethought into this and have a solid plan. There are many of us here who never owned an RV when we decided on this lifestyle. We are like you in that way and now are two years on the road and so glad we are here. Best of luck and like Terry said this is a great place to ask questions. Lots of knowledgeable and supportive people.
Rosie RV Thumper and Dog Dog said
03:13 AM Apr 19, 2012
I realize everyone feels this way when they make the decision but it can't come soon enough. We're meeting with our real estate agent to get the word on whether she thinks we can sell and come out at least even. Hopefully she has good news. Otherwise we'll rent the house when the time comes. There are days when I wonder if we are crazy but most days I'm just excited. The purging must begin soon! Thanks for all of the warm welcomes!
Trabuco said
03:40 AM Apr 19, 2012
Rosie,
We're doing the same when it comes to the house. We are going to rent it for the first year and see what develops. The positive cash flow and the possibility of an improved housing market down the road is what has made the decision for us. Although we are not upside down on our home I'm looking for an improved market in the next few years.
Hi Everyone,
I've been lurking around here for a few weeks and am ready to introduce myself. My husband and I have made the decision to RV full-time. Funny thing is, we don't currently and never have had an RV. We just know it's what we want to do.
DH is 57 and I am 49. DH is medically disabled and had several serious conditions that require hospitalization occasionally and ER visits a bit more frequently. He has been unable to work for several years. We feel that we have a limited window of time before living in an RV is very difficult for him but we also know that we can adapt our surroundings to make things work better for him. He has Medicare so his health insurance is not something we have to worry about.
My parents live here locally and are in their early 70s. My daughter and her family live on the opposite side of the state. All of DH's family is on the East Coast so we'll be all over the place.
We want to go NOW but we have debt we must dispose of before we go. Thus the 18-month plan. We also have a fairly large mortgage and due to the economy we owe more than the house is worth. That is a familiar story I'm sure. We don't want the mortgage to put a strangle hold on our finances so we have decided to rent our house. If we could sell, we would and we hope the economy will improve over the next 18-months and might allow us to sell. I'm ready to be free of the house with its upkeep, landscaping and cleaning.
Our reason for doing this is to spend our time together doing things we enjoy. DH longs to see his children and grandchildren more often but travel to the other coast is very difficult for him. In an RV we can take our time and we can stop when we need to for as long as we need to. I'm going to do some of the driving and eventually may end up doing most of the driving. That scares me but I'm a smart cookie and will figure it out.
My reasons are bit different than "our" reasons. We've been married for almost 14 years and over those years I've seen my husband's health decline and I don't want either of us to have any regrets for not taking the chance. His world is so small here at home and I want it to be so much bigger for him. I want him to be excited to wake up in the morning not knowing what the day will bring.
I'm a doer so I'll have to have some projects to keep me busy when we are stationary but that's easy to accomplish I think.
After much discussion we have decided on a Class A with a toad. We feel that it will be easier for us to stop when needed. Easier for me to get set-up on my own when necessary. He can rest when he needs to and I can drive. The floor will be level and it will be easier to navigate inside. If we need to add a lift in the future we will. DH is still mobile but has some balance problems and nerve damage in his feet and hands. Some of the 5th wheels seem to be more difficult to navigate inside.
We're still trying to decide whether to purge completely but we are leaning toward getting rid of all of our "stuff".
Any tips, suggestions and or encouragement is welcome. If anyone has any particular experience with traveling as or with someone with chronic illness please chime in. There are so many things to think about and so much to do.
I'm really enjoying reading all of the posts and all of the great information on the RV-Dreams site. Nicely done!
Rosie,
Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. There are a lot of knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful folks here, but I think you already know that. Feel free to ask any questions you need and be ready to comment as well. There are a number of others here who are dealing with health or handicap issues. Since we all tend to learn from each other, we all will absorb the things that you and the others say about RV'ing with health issues.
You are definitely ahead to be debt free and as you begin to get rid of "stuff," you will see that there are many things that we accumulate that are really unnecessary. It is liberating to get rid of the dreaded "stuff."
Glad to have you as a part of the "family."
Terry
See you down the road one day.
Ira and Vicky
We're doing the same when it comes to the house. We are going to rent it for the first year and see what develops. The positive cash flow and the possibility of an improved housing market down the road is what has made the decision for us. Although we are not upside down on our home I'm looking for an improved market in the next few years.
Good luck on your plan!