I'm turned 50 in 2013 and all hell broke loose! Quit my job, changed my name, and took off to travel by myself in Europe (couchsurfing and AirBNB make it reasonable $$).
I'm back now because my youngest is in his senior year of high school. But when he graduates, my plan is to sell my house, fulltime RV, and write. I worked for 10 years as a book editor in a publishing house so that's how I hope to support myself.
I'm trying to decide what kind of RV to get and I'm 85% sure I want a small travel trailer (less than 24') and a F150. I've never driven anything big before so I'm kinda nervous about it.
Does anyone have any advice as to the first thing I should do once I get on the road? Typically, when you move to a new place you check out the stores, meet the neighbors, go to the library... I'm kinda wondering where I should head first? I'm drawn to boondocking, but I can't imagine the middle of nowhere should be my first destination. Anybody have any stories about their first RV trip as a fulltimer?
Thanks for any advice for a future solo fulltimer.
Sophia
Lucky Mike said
07:58 PM Jan 19, 2014
Welcome Sophia!!!
First thing you should do is travel about 50 miles or so..........then once it has set in pull over , get out and Scream!!!!!!!
Now the thrill will set in happiness will take over and away you go!!!!!!
We have several Lady Solo boondockers on here..........let The fun Begin!!
bjoyce said
08:02 PM Jan 19, 2014
A talented editor should be able to find work. Many authors are becoming their own publishers and find they need editing. Luckily you can be anywhere to get and receive the files, you just need internet access. It will take some marketing, a catchy name and some references.
On where do you go first? We decided based on need. If we need food, we find grocery stores, if we need to find our way around, we find the chamber of commerce or visitors center, if we need fuel, we find gas stations.
As to where to go first, I think it depends on where you are starting, how far you want to travel and what time of the year you are going. I am not going to recommend Quartzsite AZ as a place to boondock to someone from New York in August.
SophiaR said
08:08 PM Jan 19, 2014
Thanks Mike!
And Bill you have an excellent point there. I'm in Chicago. I guess that's why I'm dreaming of boondocking. :)
bjoyce said
08:18 PM Jan 19, 2014
Take a day trip to RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN, about 2 hours east of Chicago - http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/. It should help with your education and you might find some knowledgeable people to talk to.
Bill and Jodee said
09:17 PM Jan 19, 2014
As said above, there are several solo women driving and towing rigs of all sizes out on the road. I recommend reading Sue Rogers' blog at rvsueandcrew.com from beginning to end. She is an inspiration to us all. Even if you never want to boondock (95% of her camping is off the grid) her stories will give you the confidence to know you can travel alone safely and enjoyably.
Best of luck in your search for the perfect rig, and keep us posted on your progress.
Jodee
BiggarView said
10:19 PM Jan 19, 2014
Welcome to this forum. A great bunch of people hang out in these parts. All kinds of helpful info to be had too. As a fellow Chicagolander I would recommend taking in the Chicago Camping and RV show at Donald E Stephens Convention Center near Ohare next month. Here's a link http://www.chicagorvshow.com
-- Edited by biggaRView on Sunday 19th of January 2014 10:20:22 PM
mylittledogs said
06:43 AM Jan 20, 2014
You came to the right place lots of info here. An you can write a couple of books just on Mike's posts.
Good luck and welcome
Kenny & frances
WestWardHo said
11:01 AM Jan 20, 2014
My suggestion, which was a great help to us, is to go to an RV-Dreams Rally. As I've said before, it's a great foundation for this lifestyle. Anyone who can take odd solo for a year in Europe will have all the innate ability to live and love this life.
Oh, and welcome!!
Sherry
SophiaR said
09:20 PM Jan 20, 2014
Oh thank you for the welcome and the advice! I am definitely considering the RV Dreams rally.
I'm off to read all of Mike's posts now.....
MerryPaws said
08:10 PM Jan 22, 2014
Hi Sophia!
I love seeing more solo females! I am one too! :) I went all-out and bought my Airstream in July and am trying to figure out the rest. I want to full-time but I don't have all the info yet to do the planning so its not exactly coming together properly. LOL I did just get a spot at the spring rally and I am hoping that will be a huge stepping stone for me and I can start to figure this whole thing out. (I still need to buy my truck though. I better get on that. ) There's lots of great people, ideas, and resources on here, go ahead and soak it up. Enjoy!
SophiaR said
03:19 PM Jan 23, 2014
Hi Merry
Hope to see you there! I'm focusing on selling my house now. I can look at RVs all I want but I have nowhere to park it while I'm getting rid of my stuff! My neighborhood doesn't all RVs. How did you manage to purchase an RV without a truck?
Sophia
MerryPaws said
10:50 PM Jan 23, 2014
Yea I am sort of doing everything backward. LoL I couldn't pass up the deal on the Airstream (have always wanted vintage) so I bought it and rented a pickup truck to go get it. And that's the first time I ever towed anything! I dove in head first! I live in the city in an apartment so I couldn't park it here either. It is residing at my mothers house 45min away until I figure out my plan. Glad I did it though or I may have given up on the full timing idea. Good luck, it will all fall into place...just believe.
Hello!
I'm turned 50 in 2013 and all hell broke loose! Quit my job, changed my name, and took off to travel by myself in Europe (couchsurfing and AirBNB make it reasonable $$).
I'm back now because my youngest is in his senior year of high school. But when he graduates, my plan is to sell my house, fulltime RV, and write. I worked for 10 years as a book editor in a publishing house so that's how I hope to support myself.
I'm trying to decide what kind of RV to get and I'm 85% sure I want a small travel trailer (less than 24') and a F150. I've never driven anything big before so I'm kinda nervous about it.
Does anyone have any advice as to the first thing I should do once I get on the road? Typically, when you move to a new place you check out the stores, meet the neighbors, go to the library... I'm kinda wondering where I should head first? I'm drawn to boondocking, but I can't imagine the middle of nowhere should be my first destination. Anybody have any stories about their first RV trip as a fulltimer?
Thanks for any advice for a future solo fulltimer.
Sophia
First thing you should do is travel about 50 miles or so..........then once it has set in pull over , get out and Scream!!!!!!!
Now the thrill will set in happiness will take over and away you go!!!!!!
We have several Lady Solo boondockers on here..........let The fun Begin!!
On where do you go first? We decided based on need. If we need food, we find grocery stores, if we need to find our way around, we find the chamber of commerce or visitors center, if we need fuel, we find gas stations.
As to where to go first, I think it depends on where you are starting, how far you want to travel and what time of the year you are going. I am not going to recommend Quartzsite AZ as a place to boondock to someone from New York in August.
And Bill you have an excellent point there. I'm in Chicago. I guess that's why I'm dreaming of boondocking. :)
Take a day trip to RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN, about 2 hours east of Chicago - http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/. It should help with your education and you might find some knowledgeable people to talk to.
Best of luck in your search for the perfect rig, and keep us posted on your progress.
Jodee
Welcome to this forum. A great bunch of people hang out in these parts. All kinds of helpful info to be had too. As a fellow Chicagolander I would recommend taking in the Chicago Camping and RV show at Donald E Stephens Convention Center near Ohare next month. Here's a link http://www.chicagorvshow.com
-- Edited by biggaRView on Sunday 19th of January 2014 10:20:22 PM
Good luck and welcome
Kenny & frances
Oh, and welcome!!
Sherry
Oh thank you for the welcome and the advice! I am definitely considering the RV Dreams rally.
I'm off to read all of Mike's posts now.....
Hi Sophia!
I want to full-time but I don't have all the info yet to do the planning so its not exactly coming together properly. LOL I did just get a spot at the spring rally and I am hoping that will be a huge stepping stone for me and I can start to figure this whole thing out. (I still need to buy my truck though. I better get on that. 
) There's lots of great people, ideas, and resources on here, go ahead and soak it up. Enjoy!
I love seeing more solo females! I am one too! :) I went all-out and bought my Airstream in July and am trying to figure out the rest.
Hope to see you there! I'm focusing on selling my house now. I can look at RVs all I want but I have nowhere to park it while I'm getting rid of my stuff! My neighborhood doesn't all RVs. How did you manage to purchase an RV without a truck?
Sophia
Yea I am sort of doing everything backward. LoL I couldn't pass up the deal on the Airstream (have always wanted vintage) so I bought it and rented a pickup truck to go get it. And that's the first time I ever towed anything! I dove in head first!
I live in the city in an apartment so I couldn't park it here either. It is residing at my mothers house 45min away until I figure out my plan. Glad I did it though or I may have given up on the full timing idea. Good luck, it will all fall into place...just believe.