Ready (we hope) to realize our dream of the full-time lifestyle in the next 10-34 months, we are officially the Graduating Class of 2015! We are different ages, live in different parts of the country(s), come from different backgrounds, have different or no rigs, are single or a couple, have different or no pets coming with us, have different rv/camping/travel experience, have different income sources, and came to this point in our lives for many different reasons.
BUT we all share the same dream of going full (or mostly full for some) time and we all expect to see that dream come true in 2015.
I'm hoping those from our class will check in here and keep us posted on progress and challenges and let us know when you pull out of the driveway so we can all do a big happy dance every time! What an exciting time this is for all of us.
Bill and I are on track to head out next Spring/Summer from SoCal following Bill's retirement on April 1, selling the house, buying the MH, graduation for our youngest, and all the fun of making each of those things happen.
Would love to make the Fall Rally in Indiana but with no cabin options and no rig as of those dates I'm not sure we want to stay off-site. It just seems like we would miss an important piece of the experience. Yet many recommend attending before getting a rig so maybe..... Is anyone from our class going without a rig in September?
Here's to getting to know each other!
Jodee
-- Edited by Bill and Jodee on Sunday 16th of March 2014 11:26:33 AM
Bill and Jodee said
10:18 AM Mar 16, 2014
I just opened a group at RVillage.com with the same name Dreamers Class of 2015 so we'll have a map of where we're starting out. Once we each graduate we'll be able to see all the cool places our class is visiting.
It will also give anyone in the group the option to plan get-togethers.
Okay, the field is built, let's see if they come !
Jodee
Nanascots said
11:18 AM Mar 16, 2014
Dennis (my hubby and best friend for 43 years) and I are going to buy our truck February 2015....and then the 5th wheel Spring of 2016...so we're in! We plan on attending the Fall 2015 rally!
janice
Bill and Jodee said
07:43 PM Mar 16, 2014
So I set up the RVillage group and confirmed the page. Went on there a minute ago and no group. I'll try again tomorrow and try to figure out what I did wrong.
Jodee
Bobc said
12:10 PM Mar 17, 2014
went to join the class of 2015 and could not find it
Bill and Jodee said
03:57 PM Mar 17, 2014
Thanks Bob, note entry above yours. I'm working on getting it up today. Fingers crossed .
Jodee
Bill and Jodee said
01:36 PM Mar 18, 2014
RVillage tech checking on why group won't save to the list.
Jodee
HighwayRanger said
09:23 PM Mar 18, 2014
We're in, JoDee. I'll go over to Our Village and try to join!
Roy
HighwayRanger said
09:31 PM Mar 18, 2014
Can't find the group yet, Jodee!
Roy
Bill and Jodee said
05:53 PM Mar 19, 2014
Yep, they got back to me once and were working on it but nothing since then. I'm sure they have dozens of things to follow up on so I'm being patient. I will definitely post here when it finally sets up. I can't figure out why it won't show up on the list, there seem to be more new groups every day.
Jodee
Bill and Jodee said
06:08 PM Mar 19, 2014
SUCCESS!!!
Dreamers Class of 2015 is now (finally) a group on RVillage.com. Now we can watch our map grow, see where we're starting from, plan get-togethers, etc.
Jodee
Talensnana said
09:57 PM Mar 21, 2014
Just joined the group.
Bobc said
09:10 AM Mar 22, 2014
I,m in
Malias Miles said
03:31 PM Apr 4, 2014
Just wanted to say how cool this is that you're organizing like this. I started fulltiming in 2001 and in 2005 I was invited by friends to join the "Fulltiming Graduating Class of 2005" in Quartzsite. This started as a group organized under Escapees forum and the first time I had heard of anything like that. Anyway, I met the neatest people there and so many of us are still good friends and meet up on the road whenever we can. Some are still on the road, some not, but lifelong friendships were made. You're gonna have a lot of fun with this!
Malia
Bill and Jodee said
06:35 PM Apr 4, 2014
Thanks Malia! With ten years experience ahead of us you could be our official class mentor!
Jodee
HighwayRanger said
09:12 AM Apr 5, 2014
We're in!
Roy
Nanascots said
09:12 AM May 25, 2014
Well...we've moved our purchase of the RV up to Fall of 2015!! It will be here before we know it!
Bill and Jodee said
06:04 PM May 25, 2014
Yeah Janice! Welcome to the class.
cherylbrv said
06:05 PM May 25, 2014
Anyone planning to attend the Fall rally in Goshen?
Talensnana said
06:43 PM May 25, 2014
We will be at the Rally. I am so excited
Nanascots said
01:59 PM May 26, 2014
We hope to attend our first rally in spring of 2015
Bill and Jodee said
05:52 PM May 28, 2014
Next spring would be our first as well. Sure hoping we can make it work, even if we don't have the coach yet
Jodee
cejones4210 said
05:59 PM May 29, 2014
cherylbrv wrote:
Anyone planning to attend the Fall rally in Goshen?
We will be there. We have been full timing since Jan 2014, but going forward for 2015, we will be part time full timing. Planning 3-6 months of year. Looking forward to meeting other Dreamers at the Fall 2014 rally in IN.
Bill and Jodee said
02:13 PM Aug 4, 2014
Back on track to being debt-free by Bill's retirement date of April 1 2015 - yahoo!! Looks like we'll be able to make the 2015 Spring Rally in TN as long as we can get a cabin. Although we should have the rig by then (fingers crossed), we won't have the time to make that round trip yet.
Looking forward, the time continues to crawl.....but looking back it's really flying by!! First NFL game aired last night which is always our first sign that summer is coming to an end .
Hope everyone's plans and preparations are coming together smoothly - would love to hear how other "classmates" are doing!!!
Jodee
Wyatt262 said
02:20 PM Aug 5, 2014
Hello,
Todd and Lisa here from Colorado. I was also wondering if others would be staying off site for the fall rally.
Just joined the group at RVillage.
Lisa
DebbieM said
04:41 PM Aug 5, 2014
Oh Jodee I hope you'll be at the fall rally! We'd love to meet you two!
-- Edited by DebbieM on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 04:41:57 PM
Gpndavid said
09:42 PM Aug 18, 2014
Oh wow...we found our rig and pulled the trigger early. It is a super clean 2007 Allegro Bus and we said "If we are going to do it, this is the rig for us." It is a bit ahead of our timeline, so we need to scramble to get funds transferred and get on with selling the house and stuff. Here we go...
Bill and Jodee said
08:08 AM Aug 19, 2014
Debbie - I sure wish we could make it to Goshen, but we just can't swing it . Part of me also thinks that having to come back to the S&B and the job for Bill (after going to the rally) would be pure torture as well! But the Spring rally is on our calendar, and I'm just waiting for the registration to open up!!!
David - you're my heroes! My last blog post was about "knowing it when you see it" so I love that you went for it!! I don't think you can do any better than a Tiffin . You may be the first of our class to "graduate" so keep us posted.
Jodee
galtgirl said
08:45 PM Aug 31, 2014
I will be signing up for the RV Village 2015 group as well. We are currently in the process of updating our 2003 5th wheel, after lots of discussion about the best thing to do. We really wanted a new rig but it makes terrible financial sense for us and so we are being sensible for once and not taking on new debt. Unfortunately we will not make any money when we sell our house (a manufactured home) so we don't have that big chunk of change to put into a new RV and Truck. You can follow our progress and see our updates on my blog, and I hope to meet lots of you on the road in the future. We are considering attending the Spring rally, but it's a bit up in the air right now.
Bill and Jodee said
08:40 PM Sep 1, 2014
Hi John and Carol!
Your furkids are adorable .
Will keep an eye out for you on our RVillage page - and sure hope to meet you at the Spring rally in TN.
It's great that you already have a rig that will allow you to head out without any debt. I made no money on my last two home sales but was so happy just getting out from under them! It looks like we'll do okay with this one next year (fingers and toes crossed!).
Enjoy all the planning and preparation - it's getting so close now!!!
Jodee
French Bikers said
02:51 PM Sep 2, 2014
I'm more than happy to join your group hoping that my DW will change her mind. In fact we've been planning the full time RV life style for more than 20 years. Last year we went to the Hershey RV show and I started to talk about changing the year of departure, because our initial plan was 2018 and I've tried to convince her for 2015. When we came back from the show she said 2016, so I said to myself I can wait one more year. I took my retirement last april and I find it very hard to wait but I don't have the choice. Few weeks ago we went on a three weeks vacations motorcycle ride along the southwest side of Florida, from Tampa to the Keys When we came back she started to talk about going FT in 2015 therefore it might still happen if not it will be in 2016. We already know the type of RV we want and the trailer that will be hooked up for the motorcycles. If she doesn't change her mind the house will be on the market in february and if it goes like the last two houses it should not take more than 7 days. for the sale.
Adam and Karen said
11:47 PM Sep 2, 2014
Hello class of '15. I am Adam, of Adam and Karen. We, along with Freyja, our Doberman Pinscher and my guide dog, should be on the road next year, hopefully by mid spring.
We purchased our new-to-us travel trailer on the last day of May, 2014. Like the couple above who bought the bus, we found this Dutchmen 30RL and it fit into our budget and "have to have" list. We decided it was close enough to what we wanted, at the price we could easily afford, that if we were going to do it, this was the one.
In a way, I'm lucky. Even though I'm legally blind, I still work part-time doing marketing for a local Chevy-Buick-GMC dealer. Last year, we traded for a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab with the 6.0 gas engine with only 9300 miles. My General Manager made me a deal I just couldn't pass up. I don't really want a diesel (I just can't make it make economic sense), and I don't want a Crew Cab (too long and Freyja doesn't need it), so this was the truck for us. "Tyronne", as I call him, matches perfectly to the Dutchmen, so we should be set.....
Except for some customizations. I want to be able to boondock, so solar and increased battery power is in our future. I am planning, in stages, to add 2 Trojan T1275 batteries and 400 watts of solar to the travel trailer; expandable to 600 watts if the need arises. I am also a ham radio operator (my callsign is WK4P), and I need to install a couple of connectors through the camper's wall for antennas. Since our trailer is an '04, it has the big, deep space for an old, analog TV; this will make the perfect place for a radio/computer station; with some modifications, of course. Ham radio will provide us with communications and email service (yes, you can do email via ham radio) no matter where we are on this planet.)
One of our most difficult decisions is what to do with our "fun car". I dreamed up a PT Road Runner, a PT Cruiser Convertible customized with a Road Runner theme. The car contains elements from the '68, '69, '70, and '71 Road Runners produced by Plymouth and we really love this car. It's not a high dollar car, but it draws tons of attention; I don't know how many times Karen has seen people taking pictures of it as we drive down the road. We can keep it with us for the first six months of our trip, but after that, we'll have to find some place to store it; or, God forbid, sell it. We may give it to our daughter, but she is 22 and I'm afraid she'd destroy it like she has every other car she has ever owned. The back deck of the PT Road Runner is in our avitar.
I am an aspiring novelist, having published my first novel, "Barely Retired" early this year, and the response has been so good I'm working on the sequel, "Barely Home: Back to the Hills" right now. These are sexy, spicy mysteries involving a couple who retire and set out, in their 5th wheel, of course, on a "risque" adventure. Barely Retired started out as a stand alone book, but I now have a trilogy planned, with the third novel being titled "Barely Running". Warning: while my novels are far from erotica (reviewers say they have a great storyline), they do contain adult scenes and language. No, I am not a prude, lol.
Anyway, we have mapped out our first stop in SC for the spring of '15, unless our house sells quickly, which I'm not expecting. We have lived her for 20+ years and raised 3 children here, so we have a lot of things to sort through and a lot of emotions to go through as we part ways with most of our "stuff" (I always think of George Carlin when I say "stuff"). But we are ready for this, ready to hit the road.
While in college at Appalachian State, we lived in a Lakota tipi. Raising our kids in the '90s and '00s we lived in a stick and mortar house. Now, starting in '15, we'll live in a travel trailer. We've hit our 50s, but the adventure continues. I hope it never ends.
Sorry to write so much, but I do write 100,000 word novels, lol.
Hope to see y'all, our classmates, on the road.
Bill and Jodee said
08:27 AM Sep 3, 2014
French Bikers - Welcome to the class, thanks for finding us!
You will "hear it" said here many times, that if both of you aren't 100% ready it will be a very difficult transition - so hopefully the DW is EXCITED about hitting the road next year I know what you mean about being retired and not able to head out yet - I retired in January 2013 and waiting for Bill's retirement on April 3, 2015. Then we both wait eight weeks for our son to graduate, and then we launch! Hope your good-house-sales mojo continues to work for you and your purging, planning and preparation all go smoothly.
Adam and Karen - Glad you found us, we're happy to have you join the class!
Love your story - and that it continues on the road together. Chris and Cherie over at technomadia.com are testing flexible solar panels right now for a full solar install on their bus. You might want to check out their research (still in progress) while doing your own. I hope you are already well into the purging of the house - it takes longer than you think I would think that if you can afford a good indoor storage place for the PT you would want to keep it - it's sweet! How fun that your novels take place in an RV!!
Hope to see you both, and all our class members, at the Spring rally in Tennessee. We are looking at local hotels, as the no-bathroom cabins don't look appealing for five nights, and having to rush 4400 miles seems excessive for our shakedown run
Keep dreaming - we're almost there!!!!!!
Jodee
Adam and Karen said
10:56 PM Sep 3, 2014
Today, we made progress in preparing for our launch. albeit difficult ones. I, Adam, sold 2 pieces of ham radio gear, one of which I have really enjoyed a lot over the years and will miss. But, I can't have a world class ham radio shack on the road, so it had to be done. I truly feel that selling this equipment is proof of my dedication to our decision to RV full-time. Besides, all the money from the ham radio sales go toward upgrading the travel trailer or giving us a cushion for the road.
I also contacted a company about taking down my ham radio towers today. Another big emotional issue for me.
Karen took pictures off the wall this evening. Many of these were pics of our kids growing up. They will be stored, not thrown away. I know it was hard for her to pack their baseball, soccer, and basketball pics that had hung on the wall for many years, but, again, it shows her dedication to our new lifestyle.
I also contacted a friend who is a realtor to get the ball rolling on listing the house. Listing the house is an touchy issue of timing. List to late and it won't sell in time. List too early and the house sells before we're ready, forcing decisions that will likely cost us money. If the house sells sooner than I expect, I'm not against an early launch date, but I don't relish the thought of being forced to dump things I know I can sell and at least get a little out of; especially since every dollar we can get from our "stuff" will help provide the financial cushion I want to have in the first couple of years of our journey.
cheryls-other-half said
12:03 AM Sep 4, 2014
Wow Adam, I agree that IS commitment. Selling Ham Gear and downsizing (and especially having your TOWER dismantled) is a HUGE step.
hope the $$$ goes a long way for retro-fitting the trailer.
keep the faith, it WILL come in time
Bill and Jodee said
06:00 AM Sep 4, 2014
Doing great Adam and Karen! Many things are done "to us" over the years, making big changes in our lives. This is a huge change and you are doing it "for you" instead. A small consolation while giving up things, but it will feel wonderful when the dream is reality
Our timing next year is critical as well We're hoping we can do a 30-60 day rent back when we sell, otherwise we will be scrambling to get all the ducks in a row.
Keep moving forward!!
Jodee
French Bikers said
07:51 AM Sep 4, 2014
Jodee, I don't know if it's a coincidence but last night my wife said let's go for 2015. In fact we are both at a 100% in the FT lifestyle in her case it was only a matter of when to leave her job. Because of a lot of factors she's now at a point that she has enough and told me that she won't be able to stay until 2016.
Like I said we have been dreaming and planning this lifestyle close to 20 years, actually we meet eachother in a campground many moons ago in the 70s!!!!!!! Yeah we've been together since we have celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last june and she just turned 50 on august 31st maybe it's her last birthday that changed her mind. Looking at the dates for the 2015 educational rally in Michigan we will probably attend if everything goes according to our plan. I've done my homework about what to do and the don't when you decide to FT, now it is time to be in the action mode. I'm not affraid for the sale of the house I think and hope it will sell fast, I'm more concern about the purging, eventhough I know what to do (keep, sale, give, garbage,etc) this phase will take sometime. Like I said we've been planning this for a while and everything we own is already paid for beside the house but we will make a good profit and the motorhome will be paid for as we want to be debt free. The profit of my pick-up truck will go toward the close trailer that I will purchase which will be customized for our needs as we have each a motorcycle and it will replace the lost of stick & brick house garage.
I'm happy to see that there is a 2015 class, I've followed the 2014 th and it is fun to see all the people that made their RV dreams come true. Now it will be our turn to talk about our progress. I already know that my plate will be full for the next 12 months, on the other hand I know it will go fast and the planning will help me going through another winter.
Jean & Jocelyne
Bill and Jodee said
03:52 PM Sep 4, 2014
Oh I'm so glad you're both 100%! And thrilled that Jocelyne is ready to be done with the job Sounds like you're on top of everything and on track to launch in 2015.
I look forward to hearing about your progress in the months to come. The closer we get the more we'll need to give each other occasional pep talks!!
Jodee
Adam and Karen said
05:30 PM Sep 15, 2014
After vascillating for months between renting and selling the house, there is a "For Sale" sign in the front yard. We signed the listing papers with the realtor Friday evening before we left town for the weekend. The realtor indicated the average age of inventory is around 150 days in our area, so, we are average, our house should sell about the middle of February.
We are contractually bound to the realtor until April 15, so if the house doesn't sell by then, it gives us the opportunity to back up, punt, and rent the house, which could still allow us to leave by May or June.
Either way, the wheels are in motion. Who knows, maybe someone will look at the house next week, fall in love with the neighborhood, and pay our price. Not likely, but hey, I can dream.
Bill and Jodee said
05:58 PM Sep 15, 2014
With timing being so important, here's hoping you're "a little better than average" so you have time to get through everything without additional stress! Hope you get your price and your timing
We plan to have the house "ready" at the first of the year then talk with our potential buyer for our own timing! Bill has moved up his retirement by one week to enable us to make the family reunion in NM the last week of March. Soooooo we have to sell house and buy rig before then. That will mean staying in the MH at local RV park until the youngest graduates on June 3. Should give us a nice break-in period .
Thanks for the update!!
Jodee
Adam and Karen said
10:15 PM Sep 15, 2014
Jodee, sounds great that you have a potential buyer for your house who's willing to work within your time schedule. Your plans sound better than ours at this point.
As far as stress goes, I don't know if any move is without stress, but I seem to add to mine on my own accord. I am trying to finish a rewrite of my second novel, and really need to have it to my editor before mid October. I'm still trying to put in 20-25 hrs/week marketing at a local auto dealership. All this leaves Karen doing most of the sorting of stuff, in addition to her 40 hr/week job. Add in a couple of book events for my first novel and the stress, and time demands, pile up.
I felt fall in the air this morning, and I dread another winter here in the NC High Country, where the winters can be long, snowy, and cold. The thought hit me today, we usually hope to make it until October 1 before having to turn on the heat or build a fire, and we're only 2 weeks away now. "Only one more winter," I keep telling myself. "Only one more winter."
French Bikers said
07:34 PM Sep 16, 2014
Hello Class 2015,
Tonight I'm feeling down, I know ihe feeling will not stay but I feel that there is not much going on toward FT. In fact I've been doing my homework for so long that almost everything is settle on paper but I'm still in a waiting mode everywhere. All the work on the house is done which will be on the market in february. I already sold a car this summer and the purge will be done next spring, regarding that matter family and friends asked me to make a pre-sale because they want to have the first choice pick over my stuff. I need to say that I'm the type of person that take good care of what he buy's therefore eventhough it is not brand new it still looks like.
I alreday meet the company that will built my close trailer, I already know the model of my rig and probably where I will buy it. I know which services I'll be using for tv, internet, cell phone but still everything seems to be on hold. I read the forum and I browse the net trying to learn something new that will help me get my mind out of the box but there is nothing new to me. Perhaps I've been planning this moment for so long and took all the steps to acheive the dream that I'm at a point that I'm having a hard time to wait.
I know that tomorrow is another day but I needed to share what I was going through. 12 months is no big thing and should go fast but still I feel that I'm not doing anything toward acheiving my goals toward FT. Maybe I should let go for a while and focus on something else and in a few weeks it will start all over again. Like I said FT is a life style that I've been awaiting for more than 20 years, maybe this is why I've a hard time to wait knowing it will happen next year.
Thanks for reading me. I'll get there no matter what.
Jean
Bill and Jodee said
08:46 PM Sep 16, 2014
We are feeling the SAME way Jean! We've got so much already done that now we are in a sort of "limbo" waiting for Bill's retirement in March. I think the holidays will help just to distract us, and then after the first of the year we have to figure out the timing of house sale and rig purchase. BUT right now is dragging by slooooooowly!
I could tell you all the things everybody tells us (and that you already know), but instead I'll just say that you aren't alone in the box
We really will be out there soon - and then we can celebrate our dream come true!
Jodee
Adam and Karen said
08:51 PM Sep 16, 2014
I understand, Jean. Somedays, I realize we have so much to do, and I feel like I'm doing so little to get it done. Right now, my goal is to do something each day. Somedays I'll do more, but I need to do at least one thing each day; even if it's just to throw out an old hat or shirt. At least that way, I'm making some progress, if only a little.
French Bikers said
05:49 AM Sep 17, 2014
Bill and Jodee wrote:
We are feeling the SAME way Jean! We've got so much already done that now we are in a sort of "limbo" waiting for Bill's retirement in March. I think the holidays will help just to distract us, and then after the first of the year we have to figure out the timing of house sale and rig purchase. BUT right now is dragging by slooooooowly!
I could tell you all the things everybody tells us (and that you already know), but instead I'll just say that you aren't alone in the box
We really will be out there soon - and then we can celebrate our dream come true!
Jodee
Jodee "Limbo" is the right word to describe the situation. On top of that I see another winter coming, meaning the end for the motorcycle season. Well I'll suvive to it loll.... I think I have to let and not to stick on the project for a while and thinking that everything will come into place when time arrive.
Jean
gilljr said
08:08 AM Sep 17, 2014
Hello all, Norma & I have joined the class. Target date is July 15, 2015. Presently purging a lot of stuff. 35 years of collecting Trying to move target date up.
2009 Select Suites 36RSB3
2013 Silverado dually diesel
Bill and Jodee said
08:19 AM Sep 17, 2014
Welcome Marlin and Norma!
How sweet that you already have your rig and a target date!
Best of luck on your purging. It's good to remember how long it took to "collect" it when it seems overwhelming to get through it all in such a short time period!!
Look forward to hearing about your progress, and if you're able to move up that date Maybe we'll see you at the Spring Rally?!
Jodee
French Bikers said
08:56 AM Sep 17, 2014
gilljr wrote:
Hello all, Norma & I have joined the class. Target date is July 15, 2015. Presently purging a lot of stuff. 35 years of collecting Trying to move target date up.
2009 Select Suites 36RSB3
2013 Silverado dually diesel
Welcome to the 2015 RV Dream Class, hope that you will acheive your goal. Don't worry about the purging exercise we are all in the same boat. If you are not to sentimental with your stuff it should be easy otherwise it can be a pain. Beside you already have your rig therefore one thing less on your mind to figure. The main two things to do is the sale of your house & the purging, so you are on track.
Good luck
Jean
Adam and Karen said
06:44 PM Sep 17, 2014
Marlin and Norma, welcome to the Class of 2015. We're looking forward to being encouraged by your experiences and maybe helping with the rocks in your road. Keep us informed of your progress.
It is an odd, and sometimes scary, process, getting rid of a lifetime of collecting. Society tells us we need more, more, more; and all of us in the Class of 2015 are bucking their teachings. I try to keep the words of Henry David Thoreau in mind..."Simplify, Simplify."
pkhalin said
08:35 PM Sep 17, 2014
Bill and Jodee,
So, ok, I'm a little slow on the uptake. I see this thread started in March 2014, and I joined RV-Dreams in April. Just found the thread. I guess better late than never. Went over to RVillage and joined the Dreamers Class of 2015. My wife and I have been talking about FTing for a little over 3 years. And the plan was to go anywhere from July 2015 to July 2016. Well, had a little health event in April that prompted a renewed discussion on timing, at which point, July 2015 is now the new, more definite 'go' time. It was during my short recovery period that I discovered RV-Dreams. And what a site and source of information it's been. Like this thread, I trip over something new almost every time. And I'm on almost every day.
To make a short story long, I'm a bit jealous of all the folks I've been reading about taking off this year, but am so looking forward to be able to take off next year.
Ready (we hope) to realize our dream of the full-time lifestyle in the next 10-34 months, we are officially the Graduating Class of 2015! We are different ages, live in different parts of the country(s), come from different backgrounds, have different or no rigs, are single or a couple, have different or no pets coming with us, have different rv/camping/travel experience, have different income sources, and came to this point in our lives for many different reasons.
BUT we all share the same dream of going full (or mostly full for some) time and we all expect to see that dream come true in 2015.
I'm hoping those from our class will check in here and keep us posted on progress and challenges and let us know when you pull out of the driveway so we can all do a big happy dance every time! What an exciting time this is for all of us.
Bill and I are on track to head out next Spring/Summer from SoCal following Bill's retirement on April 1, selling the house, buying the MH, graduation for our youngest, and all the fun of making each of those things happen.
Would love to make the Fall Rally in Indiana but with no cabin options and no rig as of those dates I'm not sure we want to stay off-site. It just seems like we would miss an important piece of the experience. Yet many recommend attending before getting a rig so maybe..... Is anyone from our class going without a rig in September?
Here's to getting to know each other!
Jodee
-- Edited by Bill and Jodee on Sunday 16th of March 2014 11:26:33 AM
It will also give anyone in the group the option to plan get-togethers.
Okay, the field is built, let's see if they come
Jodee
Dennis (my hubby and best friend for 43 years) and I are going to buy our truck February 2015....and then the 5th wheel Spring of 2016...so we're in! We plan on attending the Fall 2015 rally!
janice
Jodee
Jodee
Jodee
Roy
Roy
Jodee
Dreamers Class of 2015 is now (finally) a group on RVillage.com. Now we can watch our map grow, see where we're starting from, plan get-togethers, etc.
Jodee
Just joined the group.
Malia
Jodee
Roy
We will be at the Rally. I am so excited
Jodee
We will be there. We have been full timing since Jan 2014, but going forward for 2015, we will be part time full timing. Planning 3-6 months of year. Looking forward to meeting other Dreamers at the Fall 2014 rally in IN.
Looking forward, the time continues to crawl.....but looking back it's really flying by!! First NFL game aired last night which is always our first sign that summer is coming to an end
Hope everyone's plans and preparations are coming together smoothly - would love to hear how other "classmates" are doing!!!
Jodee
Hello,
Todd and Lisa here from Colorado. I was also wondering if others would be staying off site for the fall rally.
Just joined the group at RVillage.
Lisa
Oh Jodee I hope you'll be at the fall rally! We'd love to meet you two!
-- Edited by DebbieM on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 04:41:57 PM
Oh wow...we found our rig and pulled the trigger early. It is a super clean 2007 Allegro Bus and we said "If we are going to do it, this is the rig for us." It is a bit ahead of our timeline, so we need to scramble to get funds transferred and get on with selling the house and stuff. Here we go...
David - you're my heroes! My last blog post was about "knowing it when you see it" so I love that you went for it!! I don't think you can do any better than a Tiffin
Jodee
Your furkids are adorable
Will keep an eye out for you on our RVillage page - and sure hope to meet you at the Spring rally in TN.
It's great that you already have a rig that will allow you to head out without any debt. I made no money on my last two home sales
Enjoy all the planning and preparation - it's getting so close now!!!
Jodee
We purchased our new-to-us travel trailer on the last day of May, 2014. Like the couple above who bought the bus, we found this Dutchmen 30RL and it fit into our budget and "have to have" list. We decided it was close enough to what we wanted, at the price we could easily afford, that if we were going to do it, this was the one.
In a way, I'm lucky. Even though I'm legally blind, I still work part-time doing marketing for a local Chevy-Buick-GMC dealer. Last year, we traded for a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab with the 6.0 gas engine with only 9300 miles. My General Manager made me a deal I just couldn't pass up. I don't really want a diesel (I just can't make it make economic sense), and I don't want a Crew Cab (too long and Freyja doesn't need it), so this was the truck for us. "Tyronne", as I call him, matches perfectly to the Dutchmen, so we should be set.....
Except for some customizations. I want to be able to boondock, so solar and increased battery power is in our future. I am planning, in stages, to add 2 Trojan T1275 batteries and 400 watts of solar to the travel trailer; expandable to 600 watts if the need arises. I am also a ham radio operator (my callsign is WK4P), and I need to install a couple of connectors through the camper's wall for antennas. Since our trailer is an '04, it has the big, deep space for an old, analog TV; this will make the perfect place for a radio/computer station; with some modifications, of course. Ham radio will provide us with communications and email service (yes, you can do email via ham radio) no matter where we are on this planet.)
One of our most difficult decisions is what to do with our "fun car". I dreamed up a PT Road Runner, a PT Cruiser Convertible customized with a Road Runner theme. The car contains elements from the '68, '69, '70, and '71 Road Runners produced by Plymouth and we really love this car. It's not a high dollar car, but it draws tons of attention; I don't know how many times Karen has seen people taking pictures of it as we drive down the road. We can keep it with us for the first six months of our trip, but after that, we'll have to find some place to store it; or, God forbid, sell it. We may give it to our daughter, but she is 22 and I'm afraid she'd destroy it like she has every other car she has ever owned. The back deck of the PT Road Runner is in our avitar.
I am an aspiring novelist, having published my first novel, "Barely Retired" early this year, and the response has been so good I'm working on the sequel, "Barely Home: Back to the Hills" right now. These are sexy, spicy mysteries involving a couple who retire and set out, in their 5th wheel, of course, on a "risque" adventure. Barely Retired started out as a stand alone book, but I now have a trilogy planned, with the third novel being titled "Barely Running". Warning: while my novels are far from erotica (reviewers say they have a great storyline), they do contain adult scenes and language. No, I am not a prude, lol.
Anyway, we have mapped out our first stop in SC for the spring of '15, unless our house sells quickly, which I'm not expecting. We have lived her for 20+ years and raised 3 children here, so we have a lot of things to sort through and a lot of emotions to go through as we part ways with most of our "stuff" (I always think of George Carlin when I say "stuff"). But we are ready for this, ready to hit the road.
While in college at Appalachian State, we lived in a Lakota tipi. Raising our kids in the '90s and '00s we lived in a stick and mortar house. Now, starting in '15, we'll live in a travel trailer. We've hit our 50s, but the adventure continues. I hope it never ends.
Sorry to write so much, but I do write 100,000 word novels, lol.
Hope to see y'all, our classmates, on the road.
You will "hear it" said here many times, that if both of you aren't 100% ready it will be a very difficult transition - so hopefully the DW is EXCITED about hitting the road next year
Adam and Karen - Glad you found us, we're happy to have you join the class!
Love your story - and that it continues on the road together. Chris and Cherie over at technomadia.com are testing flexible solar panels right now for a full solar install on their bus. You might want to check out their research (still in progress) while doing your own. I hope you are already well into the purging of the house - it takes longer than you think
Hope to see you both, and all our class members, at the Spring rally in Tennessee. We are looking at local hotels, as the no-bathroom cabins don't look appealing for five nights, and having to rush 4400 miles seems excessive for our shakedown run
Keep dreaming - we're almost there!!!!!!
Jodee
I also contacted a company about taking down my ham radio towers today. Another big emotional issue for me.
Karen took pictures off the wall this evening. Many of these were pics of our kids growing up. They will be stored, not thrown away. I know it was hard for her to pack their baseball, soccer, and basketball pics that had hung on the wall for many years, but, again, it shows her dedication to our new lifestyle.
I also contacted a friend who is a realtor to get the ball rolling on listing the house. Listing the house is an touchy issue of timing. List to late and it won't sell in time. List too early and the house sells before we're ready, forcing decisions that will likely cost us money. If the house sells sooner than I expect, I'm not against an early launch date, but I don't relish the thought of being forced to dump things I know I can sell and at least get a little out of; especially since every dollar we can get from our "stuff" will help provide the financial cushion I want to have in the first couple of years of our journey.
Wow Adam, I agree that IS commitment. Selling Ham Gear and downsizing (and especially having your TOWER dismantled) is a HUGE step.
hope the $$$ goes a long way for retro-fitting the trailer.
keep the faith, it WILL come in time
Our timing next year is critical as well
Keep moving forward!!
Jodee
Jodee, I don't know if it's a coincidence but last night my wife said let's go for 2015. In fact we are both at a 100% in the FT lifestyle in her case it was only a matter of when to leave her job. Because of a lot of factors she's now at a point that she has enough and told me that she won't be able to stay until 2016.
Like I said we have been dreaming and planning this lifestyle close to 20 years, actually we meet eachother in a campground many moons ago in the 70s!!!!!!! Yeah we've been together since we have celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last june and she just turned 50 on august 31st maybe it's her last birthday that changed her mind. Looking at the dates for the 2015 educational rally in Michigan we will probably attend if everything goes according to our plan. I've done my homework about what to do and the don't when you decide to FT, now it is time to be in the action mode. I'm not affraid for the sale of the house I think and hope it will sell fast, I'm more concern about the purging, eventhough I know what to do (keep, sale, give, garbage,etc) this phase will take sometime. Like I said we've been planning this for a while and everything we own is already paid for beside the house but we will make a good profit and the motorhome will be paid for as we want to be debt free. The profit of my pick-up truck will go toward the close trailer that I will purchase which will be customized for our needs as we have each a motorcycle and it will replace the lost of stick & brick house garage.
I'm happy to see that there is a 2015 class, I've followed the 2014 th and it is fun to see all the people that made their RV dreams come true. Now it will be our turn to talk about our progress. I already know that my plate will be full for the next 12 months, on the other hand I know it will go fast and the planning will help me going through another winter.
Jean & Jocelyne
I look forward to hearing about your progress in the months to come. The closer we get the more we'll need to give each other occasional pep talks!!
Jodee
We are contractually bound to the realtor until April 15, so if the house doesn't sell by then, it gives us the opportunity to back up, punt, and rent the house, which could still allow us to leave by May or June.
Either way, the wheels are in motion. Who knows, maybe someone will look at the house next week, fall in love with the neighborhood, and pay our price. Not likely, but hey, I can dream.
We plan to have the house "ready" at the first of the year then talk with our potential buyer for our own timing! Bill has moved up his retirement by one week to enable us to make the family reunion in NM the last week of March. Soooooo we have to sell house and buy rig before then. That will mean staying in the MH at local RV park until the youngest graduates on June 3. Should give us a nice break-in period
Thanks for the update!!
Jodee
As far as stress goes, I don't know if any move is without stress, but I seem to add to mine on my own accord. I am trying to finish a rewrite of my second novel, and really need to have it to my editor before mid October. I'm still trying to put in 20-25 hrs/week marketing at a local auto dealership. All this leaves Karen doing most of the sorting of stuff, in addition to her 40 hr/week job. Add in a couple of book events for my first novel and the stress, and time demands, pile up.
I felt fall in the air this morning, and I dread another winter here in the NC High Country, where the winters can be long, snowy, and cold. The thought hit me today, we usually hope to make it until October 1 before having to turn on the heat or build a fire, and we're only 2 weeks away now. "Only one more winter," I keep telling myself. "Only one more winter."
Tonight I'm feeling down, I know ihe feeling will not stay but I feel that there is not much going on toward FT. In fact I've been doing my homework for so long that almost everything is settle on paper but I'm still in a waiting mode everywhere. All the work on the house is done which will be on the market in february. I already sold a car this summer and the purge will be done next spring, regarding that matter family and friends asked me to make a pre-sale because they want to have the first choice pick over my stuff. I need to say that I'm the type of person that take good care of what he buy's therefore eventhough it is not brand new it still looks like.
I alreday meet the company that will built my close trailer, I already know the model of my rig and probably where I will buy it. I know which services I'll be using for tv, internet, cell phone but still everything seems to be on hold. I read the forum and I browse the net trying to learn something new that will help me get my mind out of the box but there is nothing new to me. Perhaps I've been planning this moment for so long and took all the steps to acheive the dream that I'm at a point that I'm having a hard time to wait.
I know that tomorrow is another day but I needed to share what I was going through. 12 months is no big thing and should go fast but still I feel that I'm not doing anything toward acheiving my goals toward FT. Maybe I should let go for a while and focus on something else and in a few weeks it will start all over again. Like I said FT is a life style that I've been awaiting for more than 20 years, maybe this is why I've a hard time to wait knowing it will happen next year.
Thanks for reading me. I'll get there no matter what.
Jean
I could tell you all the things everybody tells us (and that you already know), but instead I'll just say that you aren't alone in the box
We really will be out there soon - and then we can celebrate our dream come true!
Jodee
Jodee "Limbo" is the right word to describe the situation. On top of that I see another winter coming, meaning the end for the motorcycle season. Well I'll suvive to it loll.... I think I have to let and not to stick on the project for a while and thinking that everything will come into place when time arrive.
Jean
Hello all, Norma & I have joined the class. Target date is July 15, 2015. Presently purging a lot of stuff. 35 years of collecting Trying to move target date up.
2009 Select Suites 36RSB3
2013 Silverado dually diesel
How sweet that you already have your rig and a target date!
Best of luck on your purging. It's good to remember how long it took to "collect" it when it seems overwhelming to get through it all in such a short time period!!
Look forward to hearing about your progress, and if you're able to move up that date
Jodee
Welcome to the 2015 RV Dream Class, hope that you will acheive your goal. Don't worry about the purging exercise we are all in the same boat. If you are not to sentimental with your stuff it should be easy otherwise it can be a pain. Beside you already have your rig therefore one thing less on your mind to figure. The main two things to do is the sale of your house & the purging, so you are on track.
Good luck
Jean
It is an odd, and sometimes scary, process, getting rid of a lifetime of collecting. Society tells us we need more, more, more; and all of us in the Class of 2015 are bucking their teachings. I try to keep the words of Henry David Thoreau in mind..."Simplify, Simplify."
Bill and Jodee,
So, ok, I'm a little slow on the uptake. I see this thread started in March 2014, and I joined RV-Dreams in April. Just found the thread. I guess better late than never. Went over to RVillage and joined the Dreamers Class of 2015. My wife and I have been talking about FTing for a little over 3 years. And the plan was to go anywhere from July 2015 to July 2016. Well, had a little health event in April that prompted a renewed discussion on timing, at which point, July 2015 is now the new, more definite 'go' time. It was during my short recovery period that I discovered RV-Dreams. And what a site and source of information it's been. Like this thread, I trip over something new almost every time. And I'm on almost every day.
To make a short story long, I'm a bit jealous of all the folks I've been reading about taking off this year, but am so looking forward to be able to take off next year.
Cheers to the Class of 2015. Happy travels all!