Hello everyone! My hubby and I are retired and have just made the huge decision to sell up and RV! We are excited, scared, sad, and thrilled. Still wild and crazy at 65!
We are Canadians which makes the whole process harder, I think. We have to be back in Canada for 6 months every year to maintain our status and health care but there are no RV parks open long enough in our climate. It'll be a challenge.
Our house on 14 acres will go up for sale next week. That will be very emotionally draining (especially for me!) since we've spent 15 years building, planting, attracting birds, and making it a nature's paradise.
We won't have an RV until the house sells (except for our 17ft Casita!) but plan on buying a Class C with a hybrid toad.
We have so much to learn and experience so I'm especially glad that we found RV-Dreams and this forum.
el Rojo and Pam said
08:06 AM Jul 2, 2016
Congratulations Hazel! Come on down. There are many Canadians boondocking in Quartzsite every winter...you'll feel like you're at home, well kinda.
Red
Hazel said
08:57 AM Jul 2, 2016
Hello Red and Pam! Yay! Canadians in the desert! It's good to know that Canadians are living the full time RV life.
Boondocking is a skill we'll have to learn for sure. One step at a time!
- Hazel
WestWardHo said
10:45 AM Jul 2, 2016
Welcome. I just ordered a Casita. You'll love the life. Steve and Diane are two Canadians active on here who can be great resources.
Sherry
Hazel said
01:01 PM Jul 2, 2016
Hi Sherry! You'll LOVE the Casita! It's so simple and yet gives you all you need. The longest we've travelled with our Casita, WREN, is 5 months. We've been in all kinds of weather from boiling hot and humid to freezing with sleet. We've just worked out all the mods that make life in a tiny space doable.
We'll certainly miss our Casita when we upsize.
Thanks for the tip about Steve and Diane. I'll check out their posts.
Hazel said
02:10 PM Jul 13, 2016
Well, STEP 1 has been checked off the list.........the house is SOLD! In less than a week! What a huge relief!
STEP 2 as well........we sold our little CASITA travel trailer on the weekend. Just a 22 ft boat to go......as well as most of our possessions!
The RV has been picked out and we just have to negotiate a deal. We have to change cars too to have a toad.
Our heads are spinning but we're thrilled on how well the process is going so far. I know a whole boatload of emotions are going to hit us but for now it's all good.
RonC said
08:03 PM Jul 13, 2016
We're going thru the process now, but you jumped ahead by selling the house. Congrats!! We hope to get ours on the market by Labor Day ... man do we have a lot of stuff to get rid of. It is sad to see how we humans cling to "things". I will never be able to get rid of some things, so I guess I'm doomed to a storage rental for the foreseeable future.
Hazel said
06:50 AM Jul 14, 2016
Isn't it fun?! I don't know which is more onerous......selling the house or purging all the 'stuff'!
We sat down this morning and counted: 54 days to divest ourselves of almost everything we've acquired in 15 years of living here. Shockingly that probably means dealing with 100 items a day!!! We did have a huge garage sale in the spring but it was just a dent. John's sorting out his workshop and is going to have a Guy's Garage Sale for tools and boat stuff. The house and garden shed are my chores. Antiques are the biggest problem.......no one values them anymore. I suppose a lot will be donated to a charity.
We're determined not to have a storage unit; from stories here and elsewhere, most people come back after a year or two and get rid of all that stuff too! Our daughter will let us store some 'sentimentals' in her basement, thank goodness.
It's such a huge job but we all have to keep our eye on the prize! To be free and unencumbered!
I hope your process goes well. Best of luck on the sale of your house!
Terry said
07:28 PM Jul 14, 2016
We are retired Canadians that spend Oct 15th to April 15th in the USA (mainly Arizona) and the rest of the time in Saskatchewan. ( Northern Saskatchewan). You are correct to assume that most campgrounds are not fully open that early in the year but the small towns in our area do have campgrounds with a sewer dump and both have water available and one location only (hydrant tap).
We have been doing this for the last 3 years without problems. But one must go with the flow and be able to make substitute plans.
Most Canadian Tire outlets in our area have a sewer dump as well.
Regards,
Terry
2005 Kountry Star Diesel Pusher 3907
Hazel said
05:58 AM Jul 15, 2016
Hi Terry! So happy to hear that Canadians DO and CAN full time. You're right, it must take being flexible and having back-up plans. Thanks for the C Tire tip!
Could you tell me if you fill out the American 'Substantial Presence' form to be out of Canada for 6 months a year?
Thanks for sharing!
Hazel
dianneandsteve said
08:30 AM Jul 21, 2016
Welcome Hazel. We are from Victoria and have been full timing for just over 6 years. We spend 6 months in the southwest USA each winter. If you need a warmer winter climate in Canada you have to go to the coast, the Vancouver area or Vancouver Island. The coastal areas are wetter so if you want a dryer climate your next option is the Okanagan area, Kelowna, or Osoyoos. It is a colder climate though.
Hello everyone! My hubby and I are retired and have just made the huge decision to sell up and RV! We are excited, scared, sad, and thrilled. Still wild and crazy at 65!
We are Canadians which makes the whole process harder, I think. We have to be back in Canada for 6 months every year to maintain our status and health care but there are no RV parks open long enough in our climate. It'll be a challenge.
Our house on 14 acres will go up for sale next week. That will be very emotionally draining (especially for me!) since we've spent 15 years building, planting, attracting birds, and making it a nature's paradise.
We won't have an RV until the house sells (except for our 17ft Casita!) but plan on buying a Class C with a hybrid toad.
We have so much to learn and experience so I'm especially glad that we found RV-Dreams and this forum.
Red
Hello Red and Pam! Yay! Canadians in the desert! It's good to know that Canadians are living the full time RV life.
Boondocking is a skill we'll have to learn for sure. One step at a time!
- Hazel
Sherry
Hi Sherry! You'll LOVE the Casita! It's so simple and yet gives you all you need. The longest we've travelled with our Casita, WREN, is 5 months. We've been in all kinds of weather from boiling hot and humid to freezing with sleet. We've just worked out all the mods that make life in a tiny space doable.
We'll certainly miss our Casita when we upsize.
Thanks for the tip about Steve and Diane. I'll check out their posts.
Well, STEP 1 has been checked off the list.........the house is SOLD! In less than a week! What a huge relief!
STEP 2 as well........we sold our little CASITA travel trailer on the weekend. Just a 22 ft boat to go......as well as most of our possessions!
The RV has been picked out and we just have to negotiate a deal. We have to change cars too to have a toad.
Our heads are spinning but we're thrilled on how well the process is going so far. I know a whole boatload of emotions are going to hit us but for now it's all good.
Isn't it fun?! I don't know which is more onerous......selling the house or purging all the 'stuff'!
We sat down this morning and counted: 54 days to divest ourselves of almost everything we've acquired in 15 years of living here. Shockingly that probably means dealing with 100 items a day!!! We did have a huge garage sale in the spring but it was just a dent. John's sorting out his workshop and is going to have a Guy's Garage Sale for tools and boat stuff. The house and garden shed are my chores. Antiques are the biggest problem.......no one values them anymore. I suppose a lot will be donated to a charity.
We're determined not to have a storage unit; from stories here and elsewhere, most people come back after a year or two and get rid of all that stuff too! Our daughter will let us store some 'sentimentals' in her basement, thank goodness.
It's such a huge job but we all have to keep our eye on the prize! To be free and unencumbered!
I hope your process goes well. Best of luck on the sale of your house!
We are retired Canadians that spend Oct 15th to April 15th in the USA (mainly Arizona) and the rest of the time in Saskatchewan. ( Northern Saskatchewan). You are correct to assume that most campgrounds are not fully open that early in the year but the small towns in our area do have campgrounds with a sewer dump and both have water available and one location only (hydrant tap).
We have been doing this for the last 3 years without problems. But one must go with the flow and be able to make substitute plans.
Most Canadian Tire outlets in our area have a sewer dump as well.
Regards,
Terry
2005 Kountry Star Diesel Pusher 3907
Hi Terry! So happy to hear that Canadians DO and CAN full time. You're right, it must take being flexible and having back-up plans. Thanks for the C Tire tip!
Could you tell me if you fill out the American 'Substantial Presence' form to be out of Canada for 6 months a year?
Thanks for sharing!
Hazel
Welcome Hazel. We are from Victoria and have been full timing for just over 6 years. We spend 6 months in the southwest USA each winter. If you need a warmer winter climate in Canada you have to go to the coast, the Vancouver area or Vancouver Island. The coastal areas are wetter so if you want a dryer climate your next option is the Okanagan area, Kelowna, or Osoyoos. It is a colder climate though.
Good luck with your plans!