I hope I can express this as well as I'd like to. We read with interest the various lifestyle and activities and locations that you all share on here and we're learning that what we THOUGHT we'd prefer evolves as we go into our 8th month full-timing.

We've found that we really enjoyed staying a few nights at Seven Feathers Casino in Oregon and enjoying the provided shuttles to the casino for dinner. That might have something to do with we won enough on the penny slots to pay for our dinners both nights! The park is beautifully landscaped. We loved exploring so many places in the PNW and really appreciated the cooler summer but felt we had committed too long in one place. We have stayed on some military bases that we loved and others that were only workable for a stopover. We've stayed in some very rural private and state campgrounds that were amazing. We stayed a few days at a delightful hot springs resort. We spent a month in Seal Beach, California and while Jesse hates driving thru The LA basin, we very much enjoyed the great restaurants and movie theaters nearby within 10 minutes while being in a very quiet park. (Can you tell I get tired of cooking sometimes?) Now we're at Jojoba Hills SKP RV Resort 15 miles out of town and love the community warmth and inclusiveness Of this wonderful park.

We've already met up again with a bunch of folks we've met along the way plus made new wonderful friends. 

We started out the first month with almost everything that could go wrong actually did go wrong but we've figured it out, flexed with the situation and learned so much and laughed at ourselves and adjusted. As Cherie and Chris like to say we've "learned to manage our expectations."

I had a dream vision in my mind of what this lifestyle would look like and I'm finding it's only partly true. We love it even more than we thought we would. And what we love most of all is that we can and do experience a huge variety of locations and different ways of being in them. Sometimes we geocache, sometimes we hike or bike ride, or raft or kayak, sometimes we get together for cards and/or dinners with new or old friends, sometimes we're out exploring new locations, sometimes we're volunteering or workamping, sometimes we do the nature thing and sometimes we do the urban thang (intentional on the thang thing.) Sometimes we stop briefly and sometimes we stay a month or longer.

We've been in snow for part of one day only then got the heck out of there. We've been in pouring rain, hot, cold, humid, dry but mostly sunny as we are following our hearts. 

So keep posting the places you love and the things you love to do because we are expanding our minds and learning about ourselves and others and places in this beautiful country of ours and growing as we have new experiences. If you're still Dreaming about full timing we really do recommend going to an RV-Dreams Rally because that's the best possible way we can think of to get a good foundation for you to find out your heart's desires. 

Thank Howard and Linda for introducing us to this incredible lifestyle and to all of you on this forum family for sharing with us and helping us on our journey. 

Sherry

Sherry,

What a great post. I can NOT WAIT to get on the road this year. I am so disconnected already from this S&B lifestyle. I have yet to read someone that has started the FT lifestyle and quit it because they hated it.

See you at the April rally.

Happy RV-Dreams & Journey's

Ditto on the great post.  We learn so much, not just about the lifestyle, but the tribulations and the triumphs that everybody posts about.  Even now the S&B doesn't look the same.  Sure it's snug on these cold winter days, but it also seems like a symbolic ball and chain.  Freedommmmm!, we long for it, are planning for it and are already laying the groundwork for our turn to actually join in FT.  Can't wait... oh yeah, we have to wait! Darn.  Breathe, relax..... repeat!

Sherry, what a wonderful post!  It is obvious from the replies here that many are finding value in your experience.  Thanks so much for the kind words about RV-Dreams and us.

Howard and I are so happy for you and Jesse and that you are finding your RV Dreams with each new place or experience!

We are looking forward to seeing you at the spring rally!

Sherry - beautiful post, very well written!! Dale and I are at the 6th month mark for FT, and like you and Jesse we've had the ups and downs, but are so happy we have chosen this lifestyle, despite the challenges.

You know me, I keep planning, but I've had to learn to plan assuming we will have changes and flexibility is so important in this life. 

Can't wait to see you and Jesse again in mid-January, I've already warned Dale that you are looking to "whack" him  during the next Sequence game, and yes, the ladies are going to win again

Sherry,

I am very sorry to hear about the terrible thing that has happened in your family.  My prayers go out to you and your children.  

Thanks for your post!  I had Bill read it also, as I wanted him to see what a new full-timers perspective is.  To be honest, I am really not worried about that part at all.  I know I have a lot to do before we leave, getting rid of stuff, selling the house, etc. and that is what I worry about - how that will play out.  What if the house takes forever to sell?  That kind of thing is always on my mind and worries me a bit.  But, I believe once we pull out of the driveway for the last time it will be so amazing!  FREEDOM!  

I know Bill worries about the actuall being on the road - what if money gets too tight, what if the truck breaks down, what if something breaks on the 5er?  All these things worry him.  I am trying to drill it into his head that we are intellegent people and we can adapt and overcome and handle anything life brings us.  We have so far, we have done pretty well during our 28 years of marriage.  We have had some great times and some not so great times, but always come out on top and better than we were before.  On the other side, he is so happy and excited, knowing he will be giving notice and counting down til he can leave the office that one last time, although attached to that is that one last paycheck, so definitely two sides to that.  I think reading your thoughts helped him to see that it will be ok, even if things are not exactly what we invisioned.  It's all good!

Can't wait to meet up with you guys on the road!

Kelly

I often reflect on the changes that have taken place in my life over the course of 2+ years full-timing. It's amazing how we grow as individuals living this lifestyle. Maybe it's why a lot of us choose to live this way...because we are looking for those opportunities to "stretch" ourselves. Most of the other full-timers I meet and get to know are self-aware individuals that want to learn and grow. I have found there is a serious adjustment period, though. For me it took almost the entire first 2 years to actual settle down and start enjoying the life!

Our friends (and fellow RV-Dreamers here) Jerry and Kim wrote a good blog post last year which you might enjoy: Click here to read it

Kelly, please allow me to share my story with you... for what it's worth.  It might help you breathe and put things in perspective.

As fellow dreamers on this board have said (in so many words), life throw us curve balls.  Like 'em or not, they happen.  As Sherry and others have stated, they have had many challenges along the way, but flexibility is key.  Well, you sound a lot like me, so I feel your pain and I hope my story helps, if only a little bit. 

First, let me preface this by saying we have no children.  Up until about 2.5 years ago, we had been 'free' to do anything and everything we please, whenever the urge hit us.  We took at least 2 major vacations a year, traveling to various places including visiting family in Europe, and cruising.  (I once owned my own cruise business.)  My DH retired 5 years ago.  (I am still working.)  I/We got the bug to RV fulltime about 3 years ago.  I ate, drank, and slept RVing.  I have researched the lifestyle until I can't seem to research any more.  I already know which 5er I want to purchase and have considered how to decorate and what to put in it.  I have taken notes, bookmarked everything I will possibly need for our future travels, was probably the first Dreamer to sign up for the Spring rally in Tennessee, have read until I'm blue in the face, still keep up with many blogs, and you should see my spreadsheets!  (Sick!)  Yes, I was consumed!!!  For the longest time I woke up imagining I was in my 5er.  I pictured cooking in it, relaxing, and finally having time to read, for a change.  I was always imagining I was out there... sitting around a campfire, exploring nature, seeing and experiencing new things, spending one-on-one time with my sweetheart, meeting new people... seeing God's country.  My obsession with full time RVing was through the roof!  Well, life happens and nearly 2.5 years ago, we received a phone call from my DH's elderly aunt.  She was dazed and confused.  For us, that began a journey that would put our lives on hold... completely... to this day.  We could not even so much as go to church together!  Well, long story short, she has been in the hospital for nearly a month and is not doing well... at all.  As a matter of fact, we have been told we need to move her to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) which, as you may know, is not an easy task.  Life continues to throw us curve balls.

Quite some time ago, when I was posting more often on this board, I even counted down the years, months, days, hours, and minutes until I could retire.  Well, guess what?  Another curve ball.  I was eligible to retire last August, but couldn't.  Why?  Because I am a caregiver.

The moral to my story is this... no matter what our plans, no matter what we think our lives will look like, no matter how we think our lives will turn out, above all things... and this is key... everything happens in God's perfect timing!  As mentioned above, I was absolutely consumed with retiring and RVing; however, I do believe that He has been trying to teach me a couple of lessons... faith and patience.  I have, no doubt, kept the faith, and as difficult as it has been to learn patience, I have come a long, long way.  While I am a detail-oriented kook and have always planned everything to the nth degree (like a few other fellow Dreamers!), I have learned to take one day at a time... really!  It helps tremendously, it works beautifully, and it has certainly helped maintain my sanity (for whatever that's worth)!

So, after all this time, I feel I have come full circle and learned a lot along the way.  Looking back at what we have been through, the obstacles and challenges we have faced have been enormous.  But, when the Good Lord calls our dear aunt home, only then will we be able to start life anew... much wiser than before... and RVing full time when the time is right!

Best wishes!

Another "Jo"

Prayers sent! It is difficult to express my sincerest thoughts for you and yours; as you have been there rooting for me! I hope that his surgery goes well! We never really understand actually how fragile our lives are until tragedy strikes. PIEERE 

Great post Sherry.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.  

We have only been on the road a little over a year and find, as you , this life is much better than we envisioned.  We worried that we might not be able to do it on our income, but soon found that we could do it on less.  That was a very reassuring feeling. We weren't without mishaps, but we took care of them and were on our way. We have met some wonderful people and this is our 'family' now.   Every time we take off for a new place it is with the excitement of the first time we pulled away from the house. What can be better than that?

Hope to meet up again with those we have met and can't wait to meet the rest of the family.  Safe travels.