We just found this website and are really excited about what we see, and it looks like we'll be able to find the answers to the majority of our questions!
We'd originally planned to hit the road when we retire in 7 years, but after a review of our nest egg and some honest soul searching following the recent government shutdown, we're thinking we may be able to make it happen next year! We've narrowed down our abode selection to a 5th wheel, but we are just beginning to familiarize ourselves with full time life in an RV. We both have careers that are well adapted to travel, should we decide to continue working. I am an Informatics RN with an extensive programming background and surgical experience, and my husband is a project manager with extensive military background. We have a highly transferable skill set that lends itself well to contract work.
I have lived in Las Vegas since 1969 and have never lived anywhere else as an adult. The prospect of leaving the area and experiencing life outside the desert is exciting and something I've wanted most of my adult life. Both of my children and my granddaughter live here in the valley, so I'd have to get used to infrequent visits but lots of phone calls and email. My husband's children and grandson also live in the area, so he would face the same separation issues as me. Aside from our children, we have no other commitments to the area, so leaving it behind will not be difficult.
Our biggest decisions in the coming months will be whether or not to sell the house or keep it and rent it out should we decide to make LV our home base. I think we will probably eventually keep a bricks-and-mortar home somewhere, but plan to full-time it for at least two or three years. Our home is in an excellent area for rentals, so turning it over to a property mgm't company will probably be our best option.
Would love to chat with other couples who have made the decision to leave family behind and live on the road for a few years. What type of regrets did you have, if any? What type of obstacles did you encounter? Did you find it difficult to scale-down your lifestyle and do without the conveniences you'd grown accustomed to? How did your pets handle the transition? How did you handle mail forwarding? Did you store your furniture and other belongings or sell/give it away?
I/we have a thousand other questions before we take the plunge, but now that it's within reach, I'm really excited to get going! Please feel free to email or message us. Would LOVE to chat!
-- Edited by CWinLV on Saturday 30th of November 2013 08:26:04 PM
SnowGypsy said
06:35 AM Dec 1, 2013
Welcome! We have been moving around for years so I cannot address most of your issues but with pets, we have relocated several times with both cats, dogs and guinea pigs and all have adjusted with ease. We were usually transitioning from one home to another but staying in an RV while searching for a home, up to 5 months at a time. As you probably know, pets feed off of your emotions so the better your adjustment, probably the better the pets will do. I am wondering what sorts of pets you have though. We found a 10 year old dog adjusted as well as a 1 year old dog, probably a little better with the older dog.
mpierce said
09:17 AM Dec 1, 2013
Welcome aboard! New here myself. I think it is good that you decided you can go. Too many wait, then failing health or other stops their life long dream Go for it.
el Rojo and Pam said
10:44 AM Dec 1, 2013
Welcome aboard! Glad to have you here. As you can see we are only a few months ahead of you. You'll receive lots of help and answers to your questions from the experienced folks on this site.
Red
DeeJee said
03:01 PM Dec 1, 2013
Welcome to the group! Our's was a relatively short decision, 4 months and we are both still working. House closes on 12/23. We live in a campground with long term spaces and will travel occasionally to see family, children and grands in TN, OK, KS & AR plus we're only 4 hours from the beach:)
Terry and Jo said
05:12 PM Dec 1, 2013
Christy,
Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You are one of a l-o-n-g line of folks that have discovered the same dream. Do not be surprised if the process of research and planning ends up being longer than you think now. Then again, it could end up even shorter for that whole transition. When considering the fifth wheel, keep in mind the capabilities of your truck with regards to weight. In other words, you need to find out what the GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicular Weight) of your truck is. Then you also need to fill up the tank, load up what items you think might be added to the truck as cargo, get yourselves and the pets into the truck and go get it weighed with all of that. That will give you an idea of how much your truck will weigh. Then subtract the weight of your truck from the GCVW for your truck and you will have a "ballpark figure" for how heavy of a trailer (based on its GVWR - Gross Vehicular Weight Rating) your truck can safely handle.
Many of us believe in having more truck than is needed rather than have too much trailer for the truck. Along that line of thinking, some of us prefer to have a "weight cushion" by not going to the full weight needed by the combination of truck and trailer.
Good luck with your research and planning. Figure on trying to see as many RV shows as you can, and if those aren't available, go to as many dealers as possible and go through the actual trailers. Sometimes what looks good on the internet isn't necessarily as good as they appear. One thing I firmly believe in is making sure that the frame, axles, suspension, wheels and tires are as heavy as possible. After all, those make up the very foundation of the RV.
Feel free to ask questions here. There are a lot of folks here with a lot of knowledge to share. They are also helpful, friendly, and very encouraging. Glad to have you as part of the "family."
Terry
DRV said
12:50 PM Dec 6, 2013
Vegas,
Keep planning for full-timing. I saw Ur comment about plans changing due to recent government shutdown. I am a government worker and my plans changed too due to furloughs. I have lived in my 5th wheel for over a year when I started weekly Friday furloughs in Jul. I moved my 5th wheel to a campgound where I could Camphost and receive a free lot. Mid-Oct furloughs stopped but I am still working my full Govt job and workkamping duties on weekends. I will continue doing that til the govt passes a long term budget. I need to pay off my 5th wheel loan before I can quit my job. Greg
Camper Chronicles said
02:54 PM Dec 6, 2013
Welcome!!! We are on a similar timeline (target date Dec 1, 2014) and I am also a project manager!! Welcome to the group it's a terrific bunch of people here.
Hi all!
We just found this website and are really excited about what we see, and it looks like we'll be able to find the answers to the majority of our questions!
We'd originally planned to hit the road when we retire in 7 years, but after a review of our nest egg and some honest soul searching following the recent government shutdown, we're thinking we may be able to make it happen next year! We've narrowed down our abode selection to a 5th wheel, but we are just beginning to familiarize ourselves with full time life in an RV. We both have careers that are well adapted to travel, should we decide to continue working. I am an Informatics RN with an extensive programming background and surgical experience, and my husband is a project manager with extensive military background. We have a highly transferable skill set that lends itself well to contract work.
I have lived in Las Vegas since 1969 and have never lived anywhere else as an adult. The prospect of leaving the area and experiencing life outside the desert is exciting and something I've wanted most of my adult life. Both of my children and my granddaughter live here in the valley, so I'd have to get used to infrequent visits but lots of phone calls and email. My husband's children and grandson also live in the area, so he would face the same separation issues as me. Aside from our children, we have no other commitments to the area, so leaving it behind will not be difficult.
Our biggest decisions in the coming months will be whether or not to sell the house or keep it and rent it out should we decide to make LV our home base. I think we will probably eventually keep a bricks-and-mortar home somewhere, but plan to full-time it for at least two or three years. Our home is in an excellent area for rentals, so turning it over to a property mgm't company will probably be our best option.
Would love to chat with other couples who have made the decision to leave family behind and live on the road for a few years. What type of regrets did you have, if any? What type of obstacles did you encounter? Did you find it difficult to scale-down your lifestyle and do without the conveniences you'd grown accustomed to? How did your pets handle the transition? How did you handle mail forwarding? Did you store your furniture and other belongings or sell/give it away?
I/we have a thousand other questions before we take the plunge, but now that it's within reach, I'm really excited to get going! Please feel free to email or message us. Would LOVE to chat!
-- Edited by CWinLV on Saturday 30th of November 2013 08:26:04 PM
Welcome aboard! New here myself. I think it is good that you decided you can go. Too many wait, then failing health or other stops their life long dream Go for it.
Red
Christy,
Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You are one of a l-o-n-g line of folks that have discovered the same dream. Do not be surprised if the process of research and planning ends up being longer than you think now. Then again, it could end up even shorter for that whole transition. When considering the fifth wheel, keep in mind the capabilities of your truck with regards to weight. In other words, you need to find out what the GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicular Weight) of your truck is. Then you also need to fill up the tank, load up what items you think might be added to the truck as cargo, get yourselves and the pets into the truck and go get it weighed with all of that. That will give you an idea of how much your truck will weigh. Then subtract the weight of your truck from the GCVW for your truck and you will have a "ballpark figure" for how heavy of a trailer (based on its GVWR - Gross Vehicular Weight Rating) your truck can safely handle.
Many of us believe in having more truck than is needed rather than have too much trailer for the truck. Along that line of thinking, some of us prefer to have a "weight cushion" by not going to the full weight needed by the combination of truck and trailer.
Good luck with your research and planning. Figure on trying to see as many RV shows as you can, and if those aren't available, go to as many dealers as possible and go through the actual trailers. Sometimes what looks good on the internet isn't necessarily as good as they appear. One thing I firmly believe in is making sure that the frame, axles, suspension, wheels and tires are as heavy as possible. After all, those make up the very foundation of the RV.
Feel free to ask questions here. There are a lot of folks here with a lot of knowledge to share. They are also helpful, friendly, and very encouraging. Glad to have you as part of the "family."
Terry
Vegas,
Keep planning for full-timing. I saw Ur comment about plans changing due to recent government shutdown. I am a government worker and my plans changed too due to furloughs. I have lived in my 5th wheel for over a year when I started weekly Friday furloughs in Jul. I moved my 5th wheel to a campgound where I could Camphost and receive a free lot. Mid-Oct furloughs stopped but I am still working my full Govt job and workkamping duties on weekends. I will continue doing that til the govt passes a long term budget. I need to pay off my 5th wheel loan before I can quit my job. Greg