I'm so excited! I've read every single page on the rv-dreams website, researched several manufacturers (mostly 5ers) signed up for the rally in Goshen, IN & even went to look at a dealer's 5er. After reading some of the forum topics, I figured it was time to introduce myself, Brian and my high school sweetheart & wife, Chris. 2017 is our target date, as Chris will retire. (I'm already retired.) She suggests a MH, to move about in (bathroom & fridge, to make lunch) while we are driving. I'm thinking a 5er, bigger & we'll have the tow vehicle to go places, when we park. Thinking about boondocking about ½ the time? We like national parks, state parks & out of the way places. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
So nice to meet you all & hope to see some of you at the rally, this fall. (Chris has to work.)
High School sweethearts,
Chris & Brian
PS - Our honeymoon was spent tent camping out of a 1971 VW Super Beetle. We spent a month exploring our home state, Michigan. Looking forward to spending our retirement as full timers, coming full circle.
TRAILERKING said
09:22 PM Aug 20, 2014
welcome aboard Chris & Brian.......
mylittledogs said
03:16 AM Aug 21, 2014
Welcome chris & brian. You will love the rally. Lots of info and fun.
Kenny & frances
BiggarView said
05:03 AM Aug 21, 2014
Welcome Brian & Chris. As you know by now, after reading H&L's Journal and their other informative pages, there is a "plethora" (pkhalin's 25 cent word of the day from a few days ago) of good stuff to be found here, and knowedgeable, friendly types on the forum also. Since you have a few years (maybe less) till you start the journey, you have plenty of time to research your choices. MH or 5er is a long running debate and often asked question around here but the right answer is... whatever works for you and your style.
Boondocking, well lets just say, I'm OK with more of it, but Cindi is not convinced so a compromise will be the solution. I'm OK with that too. The operative word is compromise. To be sucessful in this, I have learned from many experienced RVers, you have to do a lot of that and not just between each of you but with any plans you both make. Be flexible and the adventure will be rewarding. A good sense of humor won't hurt either!
We won't be on the road by 2017 But we will be making a special trip for a special event that year.......and my suggestion for you to "kick off" your adventure... (drum roll)
... the 2017 Total solar eclipse in August of that year. Here's a link to the path of totality
I think it is a bucket list event, fortunately if you miss it there will be another in 2024. Total solar eclipses are AWESOME!
Enjoy the RV lifestyle research and again... Welcome!
-- Edited by biggaRView on Thursday 21st of August 2014 12:02:54 PM
pkhalin said
09:41 PM Aug 22, 2014
Welcome, welcome Chris & Brian. You will indeed find a lot 'o info here. We have a 5er but oddly, I still think at times if a MH wouldn't be better. But I don't think we'd go that way since we'd have the truck to travel around in. But remember, you can always tow something behind the MH. Truly a conundrum (here's another bigga! Not sure I want to keep up that habit.)
We'll be hitting the road full timing next year and pretty much have everything planned and, for the most part, will be at RV resorts through the winter. But the following summer, not sure if it will be all RV resorts or not. But as you do more research here, you'll find a very diverse group, many of which do a lot of boondocking. And many ideas on how they go about doing it. Another thing about boondocking is if you go MH, I believe most have generators. I could be wrong on this. With 5ers, not as much. But you can get them. Or you get portable generators. And many folks go solar.
So, a lot of research on the horizon, a lot of ideas, a lot of anticipation.
Good luck and happy trails.
Talensnana said
11:18 PM Aug 22, 2014
Chris and Brian welcome. We aren't full timing yet, but are working towards that next year. We also looked at 5ers, MH's and Class C's. We ended up going with a MH. I need my bathroom close and since we travel with 5 parrots it made more sense. We tow a smart car, so even if you go MH you can still have a second vehicle. We will also be attending the Fall Rally, it will be our first, and I am so excited.
BiggarView said
06:47 AM Aug 23, 2014
pkhalin wrote:
...Truly a conundrum (here's another biggaRView! Not sure I want to keep up that habit.)...
What? You don't want the title of forum "Sesquipedalian".... Had to look that one up. Here's my 25 cents.
Sorry Terry, for causing Threadus Interuptis. (oops I did it again)..
Brian & Chris, you've also fallen into with some lame comedy at times also... Couldn't help myself.
Apologies, Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 06:48:22 AM
DeeJee said
04:10 PM Aug 23, 2014
Welcome! It's great to hear your HS sweetheart story! We were too since 9th/10th grade. Married our 11th/12th grade year. NEVER dreamed we'd be full timing and LOVING it!!
Terry and Jo said
11:08 AM Aug 25, 2014
Welcome, Chris and Brian.
The RV Dreams website is an excellent source of information, and in addition, the folks on the forums have a lot of knowledge to share. So, ask away with questions, and I have one "answer" for Chris, even though the question hasn't been asked.
While the idea of getting something from the kitchen while traveling is a nice thought, a person suddenly becoming a "projectile" headed for the front windshield in the case of a sudden emergency stop isn't a good thought.
Terry
DeeJee said
03:41 PM Aug 25, 2014
For that reason we prefer the 5th wheel because the motor home doesn't really offer any more freedom. Maybe someone could invented a safety harness system:) maybe in the ceiling, lol or safety straps on the bed?? or seat belts on the toilet? lol
I better get back to work!!
pkhalin said
08:31 PM Aug 25, 2014
I like that idea of the ceiling harness system. Make it sliding. Could have a lot of fun with that.
Brian,
Ouch! But that was funny!
DebbieM said
10:12 AM Aug 26, 2014
Welcome! We have been fulltime for 2 months now. Loving every minute of it! We learned so much from this forum and this past spring rally. We will also be at the fall rally. I am retired, but my husband still works. This was a very important area of research for us and we received lots of info from many others doing it. So far, it really is working out great (finding good internet on the road). We also prefer State, NFS, county, boondocking, etc type of camping. We are currently in Custer State Park in SD and the internet is amazing!
I'm so excited! I've read every single page on the rv-dreams website, researched several manufacturers (mostly 5ers) signed up for the rally in Goshen, IN & even went to look at a dealer's 5er. After reading some of the forum topics, I figured it was time to introduce myself, Brian and my high school sweetheart & wife, Chris. 2017 is our target date, as Chris will retire. (I'm already retired.) She suggests a MH, to move about in (bathroom & fridge, to make lunch) while we are driving. I'm thinking a 5er, bigger & we'll have the tow vehicle to go places, when we park. Thinking about boondocking about ½ the time? We like national parks, state parks & out of the way places. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
So nice to meet you all & hope to see some of you at the rally, this fall. (Chris has to work.)
Chris & Brian
PS - Our honeymoon was spent tent camping out of a 1971 VW Super Beetle.
We spent a month exploring our home state, Michigan. Looking forward to spending our retirement as full timers, coming full circle. 
Kenny & frances
Welcome Brian & Chris. As you know by now, after reading H&L's Journal and their other informative pages, there is a "plethora"
(pkhalin's 25 cent word of the day from a few days ago) of good stuff to be found here, and knowedgeable, friendly types on the forum also. Since you have a few years (maybe less
) till you start the journey, you have plenty of time to research your choices. MH or 5er is a long running debate and often asked question around here but the right answer is... whatever works for you and your style.
Boondocking, well lets just say, I'm OK with more of it, but Cindi is not convinced so a compromise will be the solution. I'm OK with that too. The operative word is compromise. To be sucessful in this, I have learned from many experienced RVers, you have to do a lot of that and not just between each of you but with any plans you both make. Be flexible and the adventure will be rewarding. A good sense of humor won't hurt either!
We won't be on the road by 2017
But we will be making a special trip for a special event that year.......and my suggestion for you to "kick off" your adventure... (drum roll)
... the 2017 Total solar eclipse in August of that year. Here's a link to the path of totality
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2017_GoogleMapFull.html
I think it is a bucket list event, fortunately if you miss it there will be another in 2024. Total solar eclipses are AWESOME!
Enjoy the RV lifestyle research and again... Welcome!
-- Edited by biggaRView on Thursday 21st of August 2014 12:02:54 PM
Welcome, welcome Chris & Brian. You will indeed find a lot 'o info here. We have a 5er but oddly, I still think at times if a MH wouldn't be better. But I don't think we'd go that way since we'd have the truck to travel around in. But remember, you can always tow something behind the MH. Truly a conundrum (here's another bigga! Not sure I want to keep up that habit.)
We'll be hitting the road full timing next year and pretty much have everything planned and, for the most part, will be at RV resorts through the winter. But the following summer, not sure if it will be all RV resorts or not. But as you do more research here, you'll find a very diverse group, many of which do a lot of boondocking. And many ideas on how they go about doing it. Another thing about boondocking is if you go MH, I believe most have generators. I could be wrong on this. With 5ers, not as much. But you can get them. Or you get portable generators. And many folks go solar.
So, a lot of research on the horizon, a lot of ideas, a lot of anticipation.
Good luck and happy trails.
Chris and Brian welcome. We aren't full timing yet, but are working towards that next year. We also looked at 5ers, MH's and Class C's. We ended up going with a MH. I need my bathroom close and since we travel with 5 parrots it made more sense. We tow a smart car, so even if you go MH you can still have a second vehicle. We will also be attending the Fall Rally, it will be our first, and I am so excited.
What? You don't want the title of forum "Sesquipedalian"....
Had to look that one up. Here's my 25 cents.
Sorry Terry, for causing Threadus Interuptis. (oops I did it again)..
Brian & Chris, you've also fallen into with some lame comedy at times also... Couldn't help myself.
Apologies, Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 06:48:22 AM
Welcome! It's great to hear your HS sweetheart story! We were too since 9th/10th grade. Married our 11th/12th grade year. NEVER dreamed we'd be full timing and LOVING it!!
Welcome, Chris and Brian.
The RV Dreams website is an excellent source of information, and in addition, the folks on the forums have a lot of knowledge to share. So, ask away with questions, and I have one "answer" for Chris, even though the question hasn't been asked.
While the idea of getting something from the kitchen while traveling is a nice thought, a person suddenly becoming a "projectile" headed for the front windshield in the case of a sudden emergency stop isn't a good thought.
Terry
For that reason we prefer the 5th wheel because the motor home doesn't really offer any more freedom. Maybe someone could invented a safety harness system:) maybe in the ceiling, lol or safety straps on the bed?? or seat belts on the toilet? lol
I better get back to work!!
I like that idea of the ceiling harness system. Make it sliding. Could have a lot of fun with that.
Brian,
Ouch! But that was funny!
Welcome! We have been fulltime for 2 months now. Loving every minute of it! We learned so much from this forum and this past spring rally. We will also be at the fall rally. I am retired, but my husband still works. This was a very important area of research for us and we received lots of info from many others doing it. So far, it really is working out great (finding good internet on the road). We also prefer State, NFS, county, boondocking, etc type of camping. We are currently in Custer State Park in SD and the internet is amazing!
See you at the rally!