.......that is me!  I am a feather on a thread......which way will I fall?  I sold my house and nearly everything in it.....sure, I kept a few things....camera's, a pot, a pan, a couple of shirts and a few pairs of pants....a lamp......my kayak........my bike.........and of course, my dog, Lilly.....the list is small, but still must be smaller.  I sold my house, bought a camper.....and am currently living in it, in a mighty fine Tampa, FLA RV resort......granted, this is a great place to live while I am still working, but when I leave my job (any day now?????) YES YES YES, MAYBE? YES....... I will hit the road, and enjoy the things that previously I rushed through on vacations.  I am a bit nervous, as I am a single female planning to go it alone.......I am preparing prior to leaving gainful employment......I have hired someone here at the park, to teach me everything about driving and maintaining the camper.....from hooking it up to emptying the portable black tanks...even some exposure to minor repairs should that come up...I am taking classes in First Aid, (even Pet first aid...) and I am going to Workamper seminars.......and perhaps most importantly, I am reaching out to all of you to share all of your experiences and to pass on your wisdom.

Who said life was about the security of a bank account, anyway??????

Pleased to meet all of you, and so looking forward to learning more and more until I can confidently hang up my nursing cap, and replace it with my "life is good" ball cap!!

see ya on the road!

Carol and Lilly lu lu

Carol,

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums.  As a long-time "lurker," you already know there is a lot of knowledge in the minds of the folks here on the forums, not to mention the rest of Howard and Linda's website.  Glad to have you with us, and we look forward to your questions and comments.

As for the sinkholes, every area has their own issues with natural events.  Florida has hurricanes and sink-holes, California has fires, mudslides, and earthquakes, Colorado has wildfires, Oklahoma has tornadoes, wildfires, and the occasional winter storm with wind.  One just needs to learn what to do where to remain as safe as possible.  At least with an RV, one can watch the "seasons" and move when one starts to come in.

Now, as for the idea of studying the mating habits of Elk, keep in mind that they might not like interlopers around when that season is in play.  I'd say you also want to invest in a good set of binoculars.

Good luck with your research and planning, and here's hoping that the traveling will come sooner than you anticipate.  In our case, it looks to be a year or three yet for full-time traveling.

Terry

you go, girl! Sounds like you've got it together!  Good luck and welcome!

More power to you Carol, life is what we make it, the journey is the the best part.  Sounds like you're getting the basics well in hand. When you feel reasonably comfortable push the ball down the road, get on with it and don't worry, the learning curve has just begun.

No matter what obstacles may arise one can only be grateful for the opportunity of this outstanding experience.

Best of luck to you in all you do, enjoy the moment and make the most of this fabulous lifestyle.

Bruce

Hey there Scrappy,

Thank you for your encouraging words.....I KNOW that they will carry me far, and it is a promising endeavor to hang on to the words of the 'well wishers' and walk away from the nay sayers......both of which, there have been many! Every morning we wake up with a choice.....Is it going to be a good day? Is it going to suck?

It is going to be a good day!!!

Care to share your story?

What got you into this lifestyle? Do you travel much? Do you go alone?.....etc and so forth.....

Gently,

Carol

Dear Terry and Jo,

Great response...........Mating Elk observation will be done from afar with a darn good pair of binocs!     I want to immerse myself in not only the Elk, but also in the geysers, sequoia, rock formations, fossils, fishing in the rivers, sitting by campfires, picking apples in new england, hiking on Mount Hood, and on and on......trying my darndest to avoid the tornadoes, hurricanes, sink holes, and earthquakes.....

It sounds as if you two have done your fair share of traveling.....any favorite spots? places you would avoid? funny stories?

Would love to hear about your experiences!!

Carol

Thanks Gene!!!

Carol,

Actually, Jo and I are what I call "static" full-timers as we live in our fifth wheel full time, but we're still working so we aren't traveling yet.  As for the traveling we have done, we've been camping as a couple since September of 1976.  That first trip was also spent on the Labor Day weekend with my mother and a male friend of hers.  We returned to the same campground for many years to come because it was back off the main road about 3 1/2 miles, had the Purgatoire River flowing through it, and had lots of trees and critters.

In addition to being in the campground, we always take day trips and go see other features.  Other major trips we've taken was a two week vacation with Jo's sister and her husband to Yellowstone Park, Grand Tetons National Park, Idaho and then back through Utah and Colorado.  Then a few years later, an Alaskan cruise and land tour with the same relatives and cousins from Idaho.

All that those have done is pique my interest in checking out as many state and national parks as I can once we get to traveling.  Until then and for now, we are living in Oklahoma City, but Colorado could be in our future in a couple of years.  Both of Jo's sisters will be living in Colorado.

Terry

Terry,

I, currently, too, am a 'static' full timer. I am living at the Bay Bayou RV Resort in Tampa Florida, and I work as a nurse at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer and Research Center. My patients give me eye opening  insights and wisdom about living for the moment and in a large way is assisting with my decision to hit the road. 

It's all good.

Carol

Soulsearcher wrote:

---

Hey there Scrappy,

Thank you for your encouraging words.....I KNOW that they will carry me far, and it is a promising endeavor to hang on to the words of the 'well wishers' and walk away from the nay sayers......both of which, there have been many! Every morning we wake up with a choice.....Is it going to be a good day? Is it going to suck?

It is going to be a good day!!!

Care to share your story?

What got you into this lifestyle? Do you travel much? Do you go alone?.....etc and so forth.....

Gently,

Carol

---

 Ah, the nay sayers.  Jealous, that's what they usually are.  We have met so many people that say they would LOVE to do what we are doing but their significant other would never go for it.  Or their kids. Or somebody.

We are also static full timers.  We have full time jobs but are on the prowl for jobs a little further south.  Im not alone, I have the darling fiancé and four dogs.  Two horses boarded down the road.  Our kids are grown and gone, we moved here two years ago for work and had a huge house. All we did was cut grass, fix things, and mop floors.  Our whole weekend seemed to be housework.  One day I woke up and said lets sell everything and live in an RV - with absolutely zero research - and no knowledge. I found this site, did a little research, did some shopping, sold our stuff, and here we are.  And quite happy.  No need to wait till we are too old or too tired to do what makes us happy!

Good for you, girl.  Find your happy place and enjoy life! ;)

Hey Edward,

Wow.....what an adventure you have been on.....I, too, looked around me and saw the folks where I work, sick and some in the last stages of their lives.........I am positive there were some "I wish i had......" being said.  Like Scrappy, I took a look around me and decided that I did not consciIIIously sign up for weeding, sweeping, raking, mowing, etc.....it all just sort of happened when you lived the typical American dream of 'Sticks and Bricks', home ownership....it was the right and responsible thing to do,right??? Naw!  The right and responsible thing to do is to be true to yourself and live your own personal dream.....I am so lucky to have found this website where I can connect with so many like minded souls!!

Thanks for your note, Edward!

Carol

Scrappy,

I am guessing that with a 'handle' like 'Scrappy', that you are one not to be reckoned with, yes?   As I just told Edward, I, too, decided that the typical American Dream of home ownership, hurricane insurance, sweeping, raking, washing all those dang windows, and mowing, was just not what it was cracked up to be.....and very much like you, one day took a look around me at all the crap that needing 'doing', and (seriously) called a realtor to discuss selling the old 'stead!

One month later put the place on the market, sold it quite quickly, bought a camper and now live in it as PHASE ONE of my plan.

Ain't life grand???? I do have to still do some cleaning, but hey, even I can spare the 30 to 45 minutes it takes to sweep and wash floors, and do a bit of dusting........heck.....windows even get washed now!!

I am so grateful to have found this site with other like minded individuals sharing their own personal dreams.....I can feel the connections happening!!  YIPPEE SKIPPEE!

In the process of completing PHASE TWO

Diggin it while its happening!

Carol

lol...Im in the scrap metals industry.  When I started in this industry I was one of very few females.  One to be reckoned with.........oh, you could say that.........Ive grown up in a very male dominated industry and have had to hold my own a few times.....being 6'1 helps.  *wink*

Right on sista!!!!

Carol

Hey Sherry,

Pleased as punch to meet your acquaintance! I will indeed look into the April Rally.....good way to cement some friendships and share in this oh so awesome an experience!! I am attending the workamper rally in October in Heber Springs Arkansas, hoping to walk away with some valuable skill sets for the PHASE 3 part of my adventure!!! The great thing is that I am very much enjoying each and every phase, and am learning so very much!!!

I look forward to communicating with you more !

Thanks for your post and your welcome to the group!

Love it!

Carol

Carol,

I am so glad to have "met" you on this forum.  Being a single female on the road is the only part that really unnerves me.  As I mentioned in our other post string, I am a newbie, too, and as a brand-new cancer survivor, I have decided that waiting for the perfect time is stupid.  The only time we have is Now.  My life is now lived Intentionally and with Joy!  I am so excited to get this new life started...but first, I need to LEARN from the people who are living the life I want.  

I am so thankful for this forum!

I support you and your dream.  It's no longer, "I want to do this someday".  It is now, "I am doing this today!"

Best,

Dawn

Many thanks to Candy,Phil, Rudee, and Sherry for your replies, I am such a tossed around swirling, big ole bag of feeling torn, nervous, adventuresome, practical, spontaneous, free spirited, sensible, prepared and unprepared all at once and, quite honestly and humbly I am not that large of a person to have that much of a shopping cart of emotions swimming around in the old bod at once. YIKES OH MIGHTY! I have spoken to my nay sayer friends and my 'yippee skippee 'go for it' friends on purpose.......always good to explore and enjoy (objectively) the benefits of diverse opinions, right? The nay sayers (ns) are saying ...."you should work until you are 65 and then you will have your well deserved medicare $$$$$$"......(I.e. all the practical and sensible things). The yippee skippee folks are telling me ......go for it!.....you can always get work later if you need to! Funny how both bits of advice are .......depending on your current state of mind...equally groovy. Do I eat a well balanced diet and then treat myself to dessert, or to heck with the norms and have a chocolate peanut butter sundae for my dinner? (That makes sense in my mind) Plan: talk to current employer about going part time 'enough' to get insurance.and then be able to work part time at my campground). call my financial advisor (who I suspect would prefer I work until the ripe old age of 90) and ask when I can collect on my annuity, and, lastly, decide when IS the RIGHT time to jump into PHASE 3 (retire and work camp) of my 3 part dream. Again, I am just processing the swirling little winged creatures flying around in my gut, and looking forward to hearing from those of you that can say....."been there done that". It is so fascinating that even for me ....the dreamer of my dreams..... The reality of DOING it varies remarkably from the reality of planning it!!!! Wowsy!

I come to visit here and I guess my goal is to throw out all the stuff that is currently spinning around in the noggin.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am on a journey and I have a 3 phase plan.  I am currently in phase 2. (Phase 1- sold the house, my possessions, and bought my 'new home' which I am currently living in)....Now,  I am gathering information, taking classes that fit in with 'workamper' positions (and beyond), hired someone to teach me all I need to know about driving, manuevring, and maintaining my 35' Camper (TT), consulting with financial advisors (which I think may not necessarily be the wisest thing).I will be attending a WORKAMPER seminar in October..and I am paving my path to ultimately leaving my job of 25 years and jumping on the Workamper wagon...and traveling around until I don't want to anymore....While I am still young enough to do it on my own as a single female.

I am 58 1/2 years old and I had the tentative plan to work (Oncology Nurse) until the spring or summer and then try my luck out there. Out of the blue the campground I am living in offered me a job in registration. All expenses paid, though I don't know if there is any stipend as I will be speaking to the manager tomorrow. 

I am not wealthy, but not poor either. I have bought all the 'toys' I need to hit the road except for a generator, but that is on my list.  I have no debt at all and only have one credit card for emergency's only.....which I haven't used in 10 years or more.  I work with cancer patients and have done so for many years and I believe I am suffering from burn out.

I don't KNOW how much money one needs to jump ship. My biggest concern is health insurance.

Now mind you I am just clearing my head, but sometimes that can generate conversations and discussions and we all garner some wisdom...

Feel free to jump in with your thoughts, questions, suggestions, admonitions, wisecracks, encouragements and what the heck....throw in some 'shock and awe' while you are at it!!

Looking forward to hearing your stories!!!

Carol