Is anyone or has anyone struggled with giving up your home, property, and possessions to switch to full time RVing?
I agreed to all this but now that we've sold the house and are purging and selling for pennies on the dollar, it's killing me! I love our home and 14 acres in the country, all the nature and birds. 102 bird species! Where else could be so beautiful? I had nested in our homebuilt house and had so much treasures from nature and trips and family; now they're being tossed aside for a tin box! I am feeling a lot of resentment and regret right now.
Is this normal????!!!! Can anyone relate?
Hazel
dome said
08:05 AM Jul 21, 2016
Hazel,
I haven't yet gone through the transition from brick-and-stick living to living in an RV, but I have been preparing myself by downsizing for the last two years. I wonder if I will feel liberated when the final garage sales are done and everything, including the garage and house, is no longer mine. But I do know that when I am done and I have my life's "possessions" whittled down to the things I will need to enjoy and survive a life on the road, I will be freer to travel to see the people I care for (family and friends) and the places I'd like to be a part of, if only for a short period of time (such as living near the Grand Canyon for a month). I'd also be freer to work on the things I want to (art, writing, video) instead of a house and property that consumed most of my free time.
As far as not getting back what things are worth, remember that new value and replacement value are way above garage-sale value. If you've gotten some use out of an item, then getting a bit of money out of it when you sell it is important, but so is the fact that the item is going to someone who is also going to get use out of it, and that you have helped that person by passing along the item(s) that you won't need. And you've helped the environment.
I feel the same about selling my house. I want to see a young family move in here and bring up their kids in this beautiful setting just as I did three decades earlier. I will be proud to know that I have passed along a real homestead for them to love while they are here.
It's a bit like this: If I had money, I'd want to give as much away as possible to my kids (or good causes) BEFORE I died, so this way I could see how much I have helped them while I am alive. Alas, I haven't won any lotteries, so I can't give them money (until I sell the house!).
By liquidating everything except what you truly need, you are making the world a better place and helping someone else. It's okay to "let stuff go" though it feels unnatural!
Good luck.
Frank
Hazel said
09:24 AM Jul 21, 2016
Frank, thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. It helped so much reading your wise words. What a good attitude you have! Things have served a purpose and now it's time they served someone else. Even the house and property.
We were very, very fortunate in selling the house within a week to a lovely couple who will be good stewards of our home and land. I will be happy thinking how much they will enjoy and probably improve what we've already done.
Books are difficult for me but I read somewhere that even if you haven't read each book all the way through, it served a purpose at the time; somehow you needed the few ideas you gleaned from each one. And now it's time to share those thoughts. We will be donating many to our local library where many people can read them.
I think I'm just tired and overwhelmed now that we're down to the last 48 days. No matter how much you purge in preparation for the final days, there are layers upon layers of 'stuff'. Why did we ever accumulate so much? I AM looking forward to a simpler, more minimalist lifestyle where all you have to think about is the RV and the car. The Navion is only 25 feet long so I can only take things that are useful or 'Spark Joy', as Maria Kondo says.
It is ultimately a good feeling to release attachment to things and 'let stuff go'. Time with my husband, my children and grandchildren, and time in nature are so much more important than material things.
Thanks for the pep talk, Frank! I wish you the best on your journey to full-timing.
Barbaraok said
09:50 AM Jul 21, 2016
Hazel,
Yes, this is stressful - that's why you need to make some time for YOU. Go get an ice cream cone (well, that's my remedy, but it does work), sit in a park and just watch the world go by for a while. You need to let some of the stress wash away. You appear to have a handle on the fact that it is just stuff - - and we all go through the "why did we ever have all of this stuff?" and find that once you get started, every little bit that is sold/given away takes a little bit of stress off the shoulders.
A year from now you will wonder why you thought it was so hard to let go when letting go meant you had new adventurers ahead of you. It does get better. And, when you start to wind down and think about spending time in just one place (maybe for the winter) you'll be surprised at how your priorities will have changed. Functionality, things to make life easier, minimal amounts of stuff - we learn to do with less and enjoy more! Plus, in the end you've done your family a big favor and they won't have a wad through a huge amount of stuff after you're gone.
dome said
11:32 AM Jul 21, 2016
Barbaraok wrote:
Hazel,
Yes, this is stressful - that's why you need to make some time for YOU. Go get an ice cream cone (well, that's my remedy, but it does work), sit in a park and just watch the world go by for a while. You need to let some of the stress wash away. You appear to have a handle on the fact that it is just stuff - - and we all go through the "why did we ever have all of this stuff?" and find that once you get started, every little bit that is sold/given away takes a little bit of stress off the shoulders.
A year from now you will wonder why you thought it was so hard to let go when letting go meant you had new adventurers ahead of you. It does get better. And, when you start to wind down and think about spending time in just one place (maybe for the winter) you'll be surprised at how your priorities will have changed. Functionality, things to make life easier, minimal amounts of stuff - we learn to do with less and enjoy more! Plus, in the end you've done your family a big favor and they won't have a wad through a huge amount of stuff after you're gone.
Very true. At the end, our kids will be grateful for the time we visited with them and the stuff we didn't leave behind for them to sort through!
Good luck to Hazel and everyone already living the "less is more" lifestyle.
Hazel said
03:03 PM Jul 21, 2016
Barb and Dave, I can almost feel the blessed relief just imagining the 'AFTER'. AFTER the organizing of who gets what, AFTER the carting out of stuff is done, AFTER the massive garage sale is over, AFTER the hauling away of the charity donations, AFTER the house and workshop and outbuildings are empty. I know there WILL be an AFTER! Thanks for reminding me.
I need to keep my eye on the prize = ADVENTURES! LOL
Thanks for making the point that we're saving our children so much work and hassle in the long run. Right now they don't understand why on earth we would give up our lovely home at our age. I told them it's precisely BECAUSE of our age!!! We need fun and challenges and new experiences and new friends! So there! Plus they get to have our good stuff now.
I was also feeling the stress of having nowhere to go until we can snowbird down south but today we found a wonderful RV park that gave us a fabulous deal for September and October. What a relief!
One little step at a time.........
(Hubby DID have an ice cream treat today and I had a lick......does that count? )
Hazel said
03:04 PM Jul 21, 2016
Thanks for the good wishes, Dome. It's wonderful that we can support one another.
Camper Chronicles said
05:01 PM Jul 21, 2016
Hi Hazel,
First of all I appreciate your honesty. My home was never one I was attached to so that was pretty easy, but some of the things were very difficult. At some point...and it may have been about 6 months in...I started thinking of my rig as my home and something eased in my heart. I also realized most of those things I could no longer picture so they probably didn't mean as much as I originally thought they did. All that being said it was a process. I didn't flip a switch in my head and everything was just fine. It was a huge amount of change and I struggled. I think that's normal for many of us (although there are certainly others that jump right in without looking back). My advice is be honest with yourself, be honest with your partner, and give yourself time. It takes awhile to acclimate, it truly does. There will be things you like better, and probably things you don't like as much as your old life. You get to decided what the tipping point is and it may change as you experience more things in the lifestyle.
Good luck to you and I am glad you reached out to the group. They have been a wonderful support system for me over the last two years.
Trace
kb0zke said
06:13 PM Jul 21, 2016
Hazel, when we first started working on getting rid of our stuff, Jo Ann thought we would need a fairly large storage unit for all of the stuff we would need to keep. After finding out how much such a storage unit would cost, she decided that we could replace quite a few of the items for what a year's storage would cost. That made it easier to part with certain things. Our children took the items they wanted, but some of what they wanted they couldn't actually take into their (too small) homes quite yet, so we all went in on a storage unit. When our son bought a larger house everything that was in the storage unit went to his house. We, of course, took into the coach whatever we thought we would need to have with us. Selling the house wasn't much of an issue, since we had no attachment to the area.
After living full-time in our coach for over a year we had a better idea of what we really needed, and some of what we had with us either went away completely or was put in storage at our son's house.
As we were sorting through stuff, the kids had the opportunity to claim anything that they wanted that we weren't taking with us. Whatever was left over was either burned (their was lots in this category), sold (the majority), or given away. It was eye-opening to find out how little our children really wanted. All of us were happy that we got all of this taken care of BEFORE a nursing home or funeral added to the stress.
We chose to have an auction, rather than endless weeks of yard sales. I don't know if we made more or less that way, but it was MUCH easier on us. We got an itemized list of what each item sold for, but we have never looked at it.
Camper Chronicles said
06:23 PM Jul 21, 2016
kb0zke wrote:
As we were sorting through stuff, the kids had the opportunity to claim anything that they wanted that we weren't taking with us. Whatever was left over was either burned (their was lots in this category), sold (the majority), or given away. It was eye-opening to find out how little our children really wanted. All of us were happy that we got all of this taken care of BEFORE a nursing home or funeral added to the stress.
We did the same thing and it was a very interesting experience. I totally agree I am glad we did why we were still healthy.
Trace
Hazel said
05:32 AM Jul 22, 2016
This morning we're off on a road trip to pick up the Navion but I wanted to check the boards for more inspirational comments.
Thank you, Trace, for more reasons to just BE with this process. Right now it IS a struggle; I have to be kind to myself and just accept my feelings. It's all so overwhelming and chaotic, and it is a HUGE change.
6 months to settle in?! I really do need to alter the demands on myself! LOL I assumed that once I made the decision, I would move forward without a hitch. (Pun intended.) I think this will continue to be a rollercoaster ride until we fully move on with our new lifestyle.
I was thinking that meeting other full timers will really help me know that there's a good life after sticks and bricks! It's not as common up here in Canada so we'll meet you all down south.
David, we thought of an auction but having done that for John's mom and receiving pittance, and having talked to auctioneers in our area who say that people aren't buying, we decided on one massive garage sale. It sure is more work though!
Once again, thanks so much for your kind and wise words.
Second Chance said
06:10 AM Jul 22, 2016
During our purge - between the sale of the house and closing - I walked into the living room one afternoon to find Laura sitting on the floor with something in her lap and quietly weeping. The object was a gift her son had given her but that had been stored in a closet or box for several years. She was struggling with getting rid of it, not because of what it was, but because of who had given it to her. The gift was eventually given to one of our Hispanic friends or sold in one of our garage sales.
A couple of months after we hit the road, Laura asked me if I remembered the incident. I did and asked, "Why." She said, "Do you remember what it was that I was crying over? I don't." We feel much the same way, now, about the few things we left in a storage unit in South Carolina, too. It has been a liberating experience. What we value now is time with our aging mothers, our ever-increasing brood of grandchildren, seeing the sights, and not having to worry about what's going on "back home." Hang in there!
Rob
RonC said
03:30 PM Jul 22, 2016
Hazel ... I think you've asked the question that many others either do have, or have had. I've been reading the responses and it's helping us. Some days it seems easy, other days not so much. We are committed ... just got to work thru it. Thanks for "putting it out there!". We're shooting for Labor Day to list the house.
Hazel said
06:39 PM Jul 22, 2016
Rob, thanks for sharing that story about Laura. I've had crying fits at the strangest times too like watering the flowers or tossing my rocks and shells.
It's so true though. Once the stuff is gone, you can't even remember what it all was! Maybe our age and forgetfulness will work to our benefit. LOL Liberation......YES! Freedom from maintaining so many material things. We need to collect adventures and experiences not stuff.
Ron and Janice, you're just barely behind us. Let's stay focussed on the goal and keep sharing.
I realized today that what I'm feeling, and maybe other newbies are too, is FEAR! It sounds crazy but when I look deeper and deeper, I can see that I'm afraid of such big decisions, of such big changes, and of burning our bridges. It'll have to be "Feel the fear and do it anyway" for now.
Hazel
Hazel said
07:49 PM Jul 25, 2016
BIG NEWS!!! We just arrived home this evening with our new 'rolling home'!!! (I even drove it for 1/2 hour, my first time driving a truck. ) The Navion looks awesome sitting in our country laneway.
Now that I have my next home here, I feel so much better. I can SEE what the next adventure and lifestyle will be and I'm so excited! I can't wait to start 'nesting' and get everything organized.
The house is a chaotic mess of piles for various people, empty bookcases, cupboards, shelves, and drawers, boxes and bins. It really doesn't feel like my home anymore. The gardens are dreadful with the drought and my neglect. I feel ready to let it all go now. It's all just too much......too much stuff and too much work.
The Navion seems like it's big enough to fit us and how we want to live now. I was thinking as I was driving today: what 'things' are so important to me that I have to have them in the rig? Birding gear, a few books, tech stuff, kayaks, bikes, clothes, food........that's about it. A simple life.
RonC said
08:10 PM Jul 25, 2016
I feel ya Hazel. The bags of clothes that still need to go to Goodwill, the silverware, glasses, cups, kitchen appliances ... etc. (rig already has them). It's just overwhelming at times. It may take us several months to get thru all this, and I haven't even started on the garage. Man do we have a LOT of stuff. I think I'll have a martini now ... tomorrow will be better.
Cookie Dough said
12:53 PM Jul 27, 2016
Hazel,
Thanks for sharing, and to all who have put their experiences out there. 19 years ago we moved into a nice sized house on a half acre of property, in suburban Long Island. Our 3 children were in grade school and we had about 4 dogs and 4 cats. At one point we had 6 dogs and over a dozen cats. A reptile room, yes snakes, geckos, bearded dragon, tortoises. For reasons that aren't relevant to this discussion, we had to give the house back to the bank about 2 years ago. So 17 years of accumulation had to go, when it was done "the purge" the feeling was overwhelming exhilaration.
We are now renting a smaller house, with furniture from thrift stores, have just the clothes we actually wear, 2 dogs, 1 still at home son : ) , one everyday set of dishes, 2 sets of linens for each bed, and not much else.
OK the garage has about 20 boxes of memories, but the basement is empty. Less is truly more.
Retirement and full-timing are about 2 years away and we plan to collect adventures.
Note to those who are selling for pennies on the dollar, when we had a garage sale that included the toddler toys, my wife reminded me that it wasn't the $ we were getting that day, but that our childrens' enjoyment for the many years prior was priceless.
Bill
Flashman said
03:25 PM Jul 27, 2016
Our downsizing is 95% done and it has been tremendously liberating. We too were amazed at how little the kids wanted, and hopefully they recognize what a blessing it is that THEY will not have to deal with all the stuff when that time comes. Now, when 'that' time comes, we will probably have accumulated a whole 'nother collection of stuff, but that's a separate issue! At least this collection is gone! A lot of the stuff was sold and a lot we gave to young couples just starting out - what a blessing it was to see how much it was needed! Some of it was hard - for example, no one wanted my great-grandmother's rocking chair made for her wedding in 1880. So, it was sold in an antique store for $100. It may sound hard-hearted, but at the end of the day, it's just stuff....
Hazel said
07:45 AM Jul 28, 2016
Crazy busy preparing for our 'garage sale to end all garage sales' but I wanted to thank you, Bill and DB (Flashman), for the words of encouragement. 'Overwhelming exhilaration' and 'tremendously liberating' will get me through this week and weekend!
I'll be back to chat some more. Meanwhile thank you to everyone who has taken part in the discussion. It truly helps the ones who are going through this phase.
David and Cheryl said
06:12 PM Jul 29, 2016
We have been on the road for a little over a month now, after preparing for our full-time transition for about a year. I have definitely had my share of tears along the way but I have learned so much about what is truly important to me. I took tons of photos of my "stuff" before I sold it or gave it away and I gave away TONS of stuff. I invested in a good scanner and preserved lots of memories electronically where it made sense. Now I just have to scroll through images on my computer to reminisce, but I have to say, I haven't missed most of it. Our kids wanted very little, they are of the generation that doesn't value material things at this point in their lives, but I did make them take a few things :)
Change is harder for some people than others. I'm not very good at it. There is a part of me that still feels like I'm on vacation and we'll be going "home" soon. But as the flag that my daughter bought me says: "Home is where you park it!". What is most important is spending time with the people that you love - in my case my amazing husband - and having the opportunity to visit family and friends and see this breathtakingly beautiful country.
You will find time and opportunity for the things that you really love - that is why most of us chose this lifestyle. It may be different, but it can still be wonderful. And I'm sure that I'll shed some more tears along the way, but stuff can be replaced. And we're always making new memories every day.
Best of luck and see you on the road.
Cheryl
PrairieRV said
07:23 AM Jul 30, 2016
Hazel, I just now read this thread and it looks like you're doing better with the process. But FWIW, my thoughts on your OP were about mourning. I think as we go through big changes in life, it's natural to grieve for the life we are leaving behind. Especially a home you built, lived in and raised a family in. My advice is to just honor that grieving process and know that it will get better.
Patti
Hazel said
02:30 PM Jul 31, 2016
Cheryl, thank you for your perspective from a month into full timing. Photos are a good idea and I did take some when the house was perfectly staged to sell.
Your comment about 'feeling that you're on vacation and when will you go home' struck home. I wonder if that time will come for me? Maybe that will be time to visit family in their familiar homes.
It IS time and experiences that we hope to gain on our travels. Less time on things and more time on people and our hobbies/passions. Life is too short to waste on 'stuff'.
Thanks, Patti. Mourning is exactly what this is. All full time newbies need to give themselves permission to grieve. Women may recognize this more readily than men, don't you think?
I AM doing better and do you know what helped the most? Our massive garage sale yesterday! The barn was full of all our household goods, and the workshop had tools and boat stuff. Our son and daughter were here to help out, and our sweet 8 year old grandson set up a lemonade stand.
We had the most fantastic day! Yes, we made a staggeringly HUGE wad of cash, and cleaned out so many things but the main thing was that the letting go was EASY! It was because 99% of the people were sweet and friendly, were neighbours or local folks, and loved and appreciated the things they bought. Our stuff found good new homes! We chatted and laughed and exchanged email addresses with some. 2 different women brought their natural homemade soaps for our trip. So sweet! It was an absolutely WONDERFUL day! I went to bed happy and relieved.
Today we were a little wiped out but several friends dropped by who couldn't come yesterday, and we were able to gift them all kinds of good things. We forgot to take down the signs at the end of our country road so more people came and we made a few hundred dollars more!
Things seem to be falling into place so easily that we feel that this is indeed the right decision and the right time. I'm excited.
I can only wish that everyone else's journey to full timing goes as well.
Hazel
Terry and Jo said
05:50 PM Jul 31, 2016
Hazel,
It's good to see that you are 'adjusting' to the prospect of downsizing, so let me touch on something else from your original post. You spoke of leaving a beautiful 14 acres with over a 100 various types of birds. Now, think of having access to millions of square miles with things to see such as this:
Such scenes and creatures could be close to your RV's entryway, which just might be things you had never had an opportunity to see before. We've been living full-time in our RV now for just over 5 years and have had the opportunity to see a lot of beauty.
Terry
Hazel said
06:53 AM Aug 1, 2016
Oh my goodness, Terry! Your photos are STUNNING!!! You're absolutely right......there is so much more natural beauty to see on our amazing continent. I just hope that we can figure out how to find it all! LOL
Of course I don't have much time to spend on your photos or blog right now, but I've bookmarked them and VERY SOON I will have soooo much more time! Another bonus of full timing!
Thanks so much for sharing and for the encouragement. People here (and on the road!) are truly wonderful.
Cheers, Hazel
mcwyant said
10:57 AM Aug 1, 2016
Hazel,
All of those feelings are still fresh in my mind since we have only been on the road 3 months. Theresa is dealing with our lifestyle change better than I am; she was much more anxious to retire and hit the road than I was. We decided to retire and full time, bought the motorhome, got rid of our stuff, sold the house and hit the road in about 6 months! I think we were too busy to process everything, but once on the road I admit it is a big adjustment I am still working through. We were originally going to take about a year to do everything, but when we found out our oldest son was being transferred to Japan for 3 years (Air Force), we sped everything up. We went from our home in Colorado to upstate New York for our 3rd sons college graduation, then came down to Florida where our son is stationed to spend time with him before he left for Japan. We were fortunate to get a volunteer job at a wonderful state park for 3 months. Our son is now gone and we are facing our first major challenge on the road. We are having problems with our motorhomes communication system (2007 Monaco Dynasty), and due to the complexity and age of this system, very few people can properly diagnose the problem, so we have been at a Freightliner repair shop for 2 weeks while everything gets figured out. They have 30 amp so we have been able to stay in it part time. The good news is we have made some good friendships volunteering with fellow RVers who have taken us in while we are working. You will find that fellow full timers and RVers are the friendliest, most helpful people on this earth. Once we work through this I know we will be better equipped to handle things on the road in the future. It has definitely been a huge learning experience! Sorry for the long reply, but I guess my point is we will get through this and hopefully we rise to each challenge and are stronger for it. I am sure you will too! Have fun on your adventure!
Hazel said
07:09 PM Aug 1, 2016
Mike, I'm so sorry that you've started out full timing with such problems. I hope it's all figured out and repaired soon. I guess life and its problems go on whether we're at home or full timing.
6 months from a life in a house to life in an RV must be quite an adjustment especially if you didn't feel ready. It's interesting that your wife was keener than you to full time. I'm sure it's just a matter of time until you feel at peace. One day at a time.
Our time line is even shorter! 2 months from house to RV! We had been considering it off and on for a year but then suddenly made a final decision. At least we'll have 2 months in an RV park in our home area to adjust before we hit the road.
Good to know that you've found fellow RVers are so friendly and helpful. The lifestyle makes for relaxed, happy people!
Jerry8mm said
08:53 AM Aug 6, 2016
Hazel, Keep in mind that all of that stuff you're selling for pennies on the dollar can be replaced for pennies on the dollar by going to Goodwill or to garage sales.
Anytime you find that you wish you had something that you got rid of, it's easy to replace it for about what you sold it for. It's kind of like you still have it, but somebody is storing it for you.
Hazel said
02:24 PM Aug 6, 2016
Good idea, Jerry!
As things 'disappear', so far I feel lighter and lighter. Soon I will fly away! LOL
Hazel
-- Edited by Hazel on Saturday 6th of August 2016 02:25:10 PM
carolinakids said
07:30 AM Aug 7, 2016
We really got to thank everyone from the spring rally in May. Speaking to numerous fulltimers who some gave up alot more than ya'll helped us understand the task ahead. As far as getting rid of our belonging we went the auction path and our auctioneer did a fantastic job and we were overly ($) pleased. Did a lot better than we thought we'd do. I can't say how great full enough we are to Howard and Linda for doing the Rally which give us the push we needed. Yes we went through all the emotions but now that its over we happy on the road of dreams.
BiggarView said
07:13 AM Aug 9, 2016
I suspect you are going through the withdrawal phase of this process. For me, at the moment, it's my beloved model trains. Just can't seem to part with them. LOL. Their time is coming so in that regard I am resigned to it. We visited with my mother this week and in our travels we saw a sign the was just so apropos...
"Life is more than just stuff." This could apply to a nice home on 16 acres just as easily as clinging to anything else.
Recent Cindi was in California attending a wedding on her side of the family and tying up some loose ends relating to the death of her mother a couple of years ago. I was at home tending to the more mundane tasks of home ownership. In a weak moment, it dawned on me that the house, the yard, the stuff we had accumulated over the years was just too much for one person to manage... too much stuff. I called her and shared my feelings with her on it. Yep, we have a nice home, nice furnishings, nice yard, nice toys... but I look at it now and think... I was kidding myself that this is what I wanted. It's all an illusion. People and experiences are far more valuable. I came to this realization years ago but didn't really believe it at first, then slowly over time as "life" happens... But looking back I cannot regret this fact, nor can I resent the place that I currently find myself. Just keep moving forward. Besides researching the lifestyle, planning our adventures going forward is rather exciting all by itself... and in what now seems a very short couple of years that adventure will become a reality... fingers crossed and with determination to make it happen.
So it should be with you.
FWIW, Brian
The Restless Youngs said
01:54 PM Aug 11, 2016
Downsizing was the most stressful part by far. When we left for our adventure, we had a small storage unit that had "stuff" I couldn't part with. After six months, we came back home and had no issue getting rid of the remainder of that "stuff". Six months later, we did another major purge with our stuff on the rig that we never used. Eleven more trash bags of "stuff." And then a few months ago spent some time at my grandmas going through rooms and rooms full of her stuff just thinking how glad I am that no one will have to do that for us. As hard as it was going through it especially since it's just a lot all at once, but now, don't even give it a second thought. Hopefully you will find your happiness once you get through this difficult process!!
Gpndavid said
08:32 AM Aug 13, 2016
We have been FT for a year. It was daunting to get rid of stuff and the home we had made ours. One thing that made it easier was that I had two relatives pass away where I had to be the one to liquidate their estate. With no other relatives willing and without me knowing them very well, I had no emotional ties to their stuff. Things that I am sure meant something to them were given away or trashed. It was sad, but I clearly saw that material things are fun for a moment. Today I see much greater value in experiences and interactions with others. I have learned from others and taught others. I have spoken to people of many different faiths and shared my faith in Christ so we can better understand one another. I have helped someone who had no where else to turn and vanished without them ever knowing my name. We have watched the sunset from many different locations and kissed each day. A long time from now (I hope), when I am in a small room contemplating my next trip to the bathroom, I won't be staring at a cabinet full of fine china. I will be reliving the moments.
PrairieRV said
07:05 AM Aug 14, 2016
Gpndavid wrote:
We have been FT for a year. It was daunting to get rid of stuff and the home we had made ours. One thing that made it easier was that I had two relatives pass away where I had to be the one to liquidate their estate. With no other relatives willing and without me knowing them very well, I had no emotional ties to their stuff. Things that I am sure meant something to them were given away or trashed. It was sad, but I clearly saw that material things are fun for a moment. Today I see much greater value in experiences and interactions with others. I have learned from others and taught others. I have spoken to people of many different faiths and shared my faith in Christ so we can better understand one another. I have helped someone who had no where else to turn and vanished without them ever knowing my name. We have watched the sunset from many different locations and kissed each day. A long time from now (I hope), when I am in a small room contemplating my next trip to the bathroom, I won't be staring at a cabinet full of fine china. I will be reliving the moments.
That's a perfect way to look at the situation. Thank you!
Hazel said
05:08 PM Aug 14, 2016
Thank you for continuing this thread! One doesn't get to be a 'Fulltimer' without going through this stressful and emotional stage. I guess it's a rite of passage.
These 2 snippets of wisdom stand out: "Life is more than stuff." and "Material things are fun for a moment." Most of us, if we've been lucky or smart in our lives, have had MORE than enough material possessions, big and small. By this stage of life, if we're even luckier and smarter, we can figure out what will make us content for the rest of our active years.
People and experiences! Relationships and adventures! Those are our new goals.
With only 22 days left (!) our clearing out is still going well. Barer and emptier. Less is more is our motto!
LandL said
08:19 AM Oct 15, 2016
We "gave up everything" in May....started full-time in June....traveled to many places from southern Nevada up into Canada and now back because we have a leaky slide, defective awning, broken microwave, rain, wind...wind. We bought an older rig because finances dictated our budget. Anyway....Be careful what you wish for. Even tho' we've some adventures living like this is NOT a vacation....."don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...." Feeling very .... discouraged.
dream reachers said
12:18 AM Oct 21, 2016
We have been full timers for 9 years now. We felt a calling to do volunteer work (church building) before we left our sticks and bricks home. We gave heirlooms to the kids and whatever else they wanted and sold or gave away the rest. We had a house with swimming pool on a small acreage with horses, barn, and out buildings. We had no regrets at the time and have not missed anything because it was all just "material stuff". We have been very blessed to see 49 states 5 provinces and volunteered on over 40 projects. We plan on continuing as long as our health holds up. Has all this happened without anything going wrong? No, there will always be bumps in the road whether you stay in one place or are traveling all over, it is not realistic to think otherwise, but we can both say that it has been a totally worthwhile adventure. This life is not for everyone so think long and hard before you make the plunge. We have had more pleasant experiences and seen so much of God's beautiful creation in these 9 years then most people could in 100 years.
RonC said
09:57 PM Oct 21, 2016
We will be putting our house on the market next week. So ready to be out from under the weight of all this stuff!! $10K per year in taxes ... really!! Who thinks that is a good investment for 10 years? $100 grand for the "privilege"of living in a "paid for" house ... really?? I don't think so. Can't wait to start living the full time (less tax) lifestyle!!
Someday said
12:13 PM Oct 22, 2016
RonC wrote:
We will be putting our house on the market next week. So ready to be out from under the weight of all this stuff!! $10K per year in taxes ... really!! Who thinks that is a good investment for 10 years? $100 grand for the "privilege"of living in a "paid for" house ... really?? I don't think so. Can't wait to start living the full time (less tax) lifestyle!!
What a joy to read someone else thinking the same way I do. We pay over $10K a year in property taxes in Florida as non-homesteaders as well house insurance and flood premiums they decided two years ago to add an additional premium with it not being our main residence and here at our acreage we pay over C$1000/month in property taxes and house insurance and we have no garbage collection, no street lighting, pump our own water and have our own septic and so the story goes. Then we get the privilege of driving around seeing city and county workers standing around chatting in groups of 5 or 6 on a project monitoring one guy with a spade or spanner, using "OUR" tax paid dollars for their wasteful time. Yeah, that's right!! We're done with paying all these taxes and costs associated with house ownership too.
Few more months to go hopefully and it'll all be behind us and FTing here we come - Fla house went back on market this week, but sadly no showings yet. Just can't wait to "let go" of oh so much on the ties that bind. Heck we aren't expecting it all to be plain sailing when we hit the road FT but I see it as my "get out of jail" card so to speak for a while at least :)
Routing for you guys for a speedy sale.
SomeDay = almost here! Patience grasshopper, Patience!
RonC said
06:36 PM Oct 22, 2016
Thanks!! We're getting excited and can't wait until it's D O N E!!
LifeBeganInaWinnebago said
09:54 AM Oct 23, 2016
We have had our RV just at a year now. We are still a few years from retirement but have really enjoyed the trips we have made this past year. Selling it all and hitting the road seems more appealing the more time we spend in the RV. But I don't want to go through the emotional part of giving it all up. We have a modest home in the middle of the country that I think would serve us well as a home base for our travels. "The Plan" is to travel for several years and have one of the kids live here until we are ready to return. I always said the best part of vacation is the day before vacation starts. Once you are on vacation the days are ticking off. I kind of feel we are at that point right now, just before retirement starts, and I want to enjoy it while the feeling is there. Actual retirement may not be as good as the last year we have just had or the next year to come. For those our there living the dream of full timing, what would you say the percentage of those who sold there home regretted it later?
Sitting on the Fence
Mark & Becky
RonC said
02:14 PM Oct 23, 2016
You know ... this would be a total SWAG, but based on this website and Escapees, I only recall a handful. The vast majority seem EXTREMELY happy with their choice. Many (we'll be in this group ourselves), sell their homes, put the money in the bank, and when/if they decide to give up the RV lifestyle, use that money to buy a new place. The upside (for me) is avoiding all those taxes over the years. In Texas, there is no state income tax or personal property tax. The PRIMARY tax revenue stream is from REAL ESTATE taxes (sales tax is also in there, but that is not any different than most places). So compared to many states, Texas real estate taxes are HIGH. Not everyone would be in the same situation, so that could lead to a different approach than the one I've chosen. In my personal situation, we will avoid $25K per year in home ownership related expenses, and incur $12K in RV related costs (net plus $13K) so for us it is an easy decision.
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 23rd of October 2016 02:14:50 PM
LifeBeganInaWinnebago said
03:36 PM Oct 23, 2016
You know ... this would be a total SWAG, but based on this website and Escapees, I only recall a handful. The vast majority seem EXTREMELY happy with their choice. Many (we'll be in this group ourselves), sell their homes, put the money in the bank, and when/if they decide to give up the RV lifestyle, use that money to buy a new place. The upside (for me) is avoiding all those taxes over the years. In Texas, there is no state income tax or personal property tax. The PRIMARY tax revenue stream is from REAL ESTATE taxes (sales tax is also in there, but that is not any different than most places). So compared to many states, Texas real estate taxes are HIGH. Not everyone would be in the same situation, so that could lead to a different approach than the one I've chosen. In my personal situation, we will avoid $25K per year in home ownership related expenses, and incur $12K in RV related costs (net plus $13K) so for us it is an easy decision.
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 23rd of October 2016 02:14:50 PM
__________________
Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 3.73's, 4x4, CC, 6.7 Powerstroke, remote control air lift system
2017 K-Z Durango Gold 381REF
24,830 lbs CGVW
In our limited travels if I come across a full timer I always ask if there is any regrets. So far the only regret has been not starting sooner. I still fear selling it all, but I keep asking.
Mark & Becky
RonC said
04:23 PM Oct 23, 2016
I get that. Just follow your heart. What works for others may or may not work for you. There is no "right" answer. We are VERY sure it's what we want to do, but it certainly is not for everyone.
Whatever you chose to do, I wish you the very best!
MarkS said
12:14 PM Oct 24, 2016
Hazel, everyone is different. We have been planning full time for 6 years. She scrapbooks and I ?play? Guitar and tinker with the vehicles and RV. Our "stuff" is easy to get rid of because we adapted for 6 years. During that time it truly became just stuff. The art work, the furniture, all just stuff that stood between us and our dream. We didn't start our purge until we moved into the RV. I don't suggest that for anyone. It's kinda like turtle soup. The more we chew, the bigger it gets. To make it worse, our youngest has surgery nov 4 in cali and we have to be in Denver on Nov 8. I've threatened to go back to work to rest up!
Some of my more valuable possessions have been given to friends because they have admired them for some time. My turntable, amp, and tuner, along with most of my jazz records has a new home with a close friend who really appreciates them. The value to me is someone else's happiness. Monetary gain was never considered in our plan.
Good luck on your transition. It is something we all deal with in our own way.
jrzygrl64 said
05:55 PM Oct 27, 2016
Hazel,
Someone said it above and it's true - we all go through this when in the purging stage. Some people struggle more than others. There were some things I got rid of and felt the weight lift off my shoulders - and other things I cried over (most notably some "art" work my kids had made in HS).
Having said that - we have a 40' shipping container full of stuff that's part of our Plan B - aka settle back down and/or our kids decide they want it. Some people think of keeping a bunch of stuff like that "cheating" or the like, but I like to think it's just our way.
Everyone's mileage may vary - there is no right way.
Good luck as you find our way.
Kelly
RonC said
07:32 PM Nov 5, 2016
Really good news!! The house went on the market Thursday (Nov 3rd). Today is Saturday and we got our second offer today! The house was previously scheduled to be shown tomorrow, so we're going to let that happen. Who knows, there may be another offer.😜 Needless to say it's going well so far. Probably making a decision early next week on which offer turns out best. We are blessed. Should move into our 5er on Monday, unless more requests to view come in. Then comes the estate sale. I can see the roses from here, I just can't smell them yet. Soon😄😄
Someday said
12:39 AM Nov 6, 2016
Immense congratulations Ron and Janice. Pumped for you both.
RonC said
05:37 PM Nov 6, 2016
Yeah, we consider ourselves very fortunate. Final sale was to the first offer, who "adjusted" their offer after two more came in. We accepted today ... now we go thru the option period. There ain't nothin easy about any of this. It ain't over til it's over. (BTW, ain't is a real word in Texas). 😀
RonC said
10:10 PM Nov 11, 2016
We moved into the 5er on 11/09. So I guess we're officially full timers. Still clearing out the final stuff on the house, but for all intents and purposes, we're done. Close on the house set for 05 Dec. I know that it's not over until it's over, but I feel like it's over. Our buyers are very nice folks and said we could leave what ever we wanted and could take an extra week to clear out if needed. Freaky to sell our dream house to dream buyers ... God is GOOD!
Hazel said
11:21 AM Nov 20, 2016
Ron and Janice, I'm so happy to hear that things have worked out so well for you! You'll be on the road very soon and never look back (not too often anyway ).
We've been full timing now for almost 3 months. Woohoo! There was definitely a period of adjustment while we worked out our routines, how to do everything in a small space, the best place to keep things, how to do everything RV related, and for me, how to leave my beloved home behind and move on. Life is so much freer without a house, a lot of stuff, and an acreage to maintain but I must admit that sometimes I dream that I can go 'home' again. It fades more with every day that passes and every new place we discover.
We have had challenges of course and learned many lessons already. Every day I ask my hubby, "What lesson are we going to learn today?" ;-P It's still real life and good and bad still happens. I was very sick and just got a diagnosis and treatment/management plan before we left Canada. We've needed repairs done on the Nav. We've had a lot of trouble with internet. We get stronger and more knowledgeable and confident every day though. With fewer things in our life to 'manage', it's easier to concentrate on the issues we have.
We're in an RV resort in northern Florida for 3 weeks just to rest up from the long trip down south and my illness. It's lovely but the residents are older and more sedentary than we are. We'll be doing mostly State Parks from now on.
So far, life on the road is good! Hope you both enjoy it too!
Is anyone or has anyone struggled with giving up your home, property, and possessions to switch to full time RVing?
I agreed to all this but now that we've sold the house and are purging and selling for pennies on the dollar, it's killing me! I love our home and 14 acres in the country, all the nature and birds. 102 bird species! Where else could be so beautiful? I had nested in our homebuilt house and had so much treasures from nature and trips and family; now they're being tossed aside for a tin box! I am feeling a lot of resentment and regret right now.
Is this normal????!!!! Can anyone relate?
Hazel
Hazel,
I haven't yet gone through the transition from brick-and-stick living to living in an RV, but I have been preparing myself by downsizing for the last two years. I wonder if I will feel liberated when the final garage sales are done and everything, including the garage and house, is no longer mine. But I do know that when I am done and I have my life's "possessions" whittled down to the things I will need to enjoy and survive a life on the road, I will be freer to travel to see the people I care for (family and friends) and the places I'd like to be a part of, if only for a short period of time (such as living near the Grand Canyon for a month). I'd also be freer to work on the things I want to (art, writing, video) instead of a house and property that consumed most of my free time.
As far as not getting back what things are worth, remember that new value and replacement value are way above garage-sale value. If you've gotten some use out of an item, then getting a bit of money out of it when you sell it is important, but so is the fact that the item is going to someone who is also going to get use out of it, and that you have helped that person by passing along the item(s) that you won't need. And you've helped the environment.
I feel the same about selling my house. I want to see a young family move in here and bring up their kids in this beautiful setting just as I did three decades earlier. I will be proud to know that I have passed along a real homestead for them to love while they are here.
It's a bit like this: If I had money, I'd want to give as much away as possible to my kids (or good causes) BEFORE I died, so this way I could see how much I have helped them while I am alive. Alas, I haven't won any lotteries, so I can't give them money (until I sell the house!).
By liquidating everything except what you truly need, you are making the world a better place and helping someone else. It's okay to "let stuff go" though it feels unnatural!
Good luck.
Frank
Frank, thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. It helped so much reading your wise words. What a good attitude you have! Things have served a purpose and now it's time they served someone else. Even the house and property.
We were very, very fortunate in selling the house within a week to a lovely couple who will be good stewards of our home and land. I will be happy thinking how much they will enjoy and probably improve what we've already done.
Books are difficult for me but I read somewhere that even if you haven't read each book all the way through, it served a purpose at the time; somehow you needed the few ideas you gleaned from each one. And now it's time to share those thoughts. We will be donating many to our local library where many people can read them.
I think I'm just tired and overwhelmed now that we're down to the last 48 days. No matter how much you purge in preparation for the final days, there are layers upon layers of 'stuff'. Why did we ever accumulate so much? I AM looking forward to a simpler, more minimalist lifestyle where all you have to think about is the RV and the car. The Navion is only 25 feet long so I can only take things that are useful or 'Spark Joy', as Maria Kondo says.
It is ultimately a good feeling to release attachment to things and 'let stuff go'. Time with my husband, my children and grandchildren, and time in nature are so much more important than material things.
Thanks for the pep talk, Frank! I wish you the best on your journey to full-timing.
Yes, this is stressful - that's why you need to make some time for YOU. Go get an ice cream cone (well, that's my remedy, but it does work), sit in a park and just watch the world go by for a while. You need to let some of the stress wash away. You appear to have a handle on the fact that it is just stuff - - and we all go through the "why did we ever have all of this stuff?" and find that once you get started, every little bit that is sold/given away takes a little bit of stress off the shoulders.
A year from now you will wonder why you thought it was so hard to let go when letting go meant you had new adventurers ahead of you. It does get better. And, when you start to wind down and think about spending time in just one place (maybe for the winter) you'll be surprised at how your priorities will have changed. Functionality, things to make life easier, minimal amounts of stuff - we learn to do with less and enjoy more! Plus, in the end you've done your family a big favor and they won't have a wad through a huge amount of stuff after you're gone.
Very true. At the end, our kids will be grateful for the time we visited with them and the stuff we didn't leave behind for them to sort through!
Good luck to Hazel and everyone already living the "less is more" lifestyle.
Barb and Dave, I can almost feel the blessed relief just imagining the 'AFTER'. AFTER the organizing of who gets what, AFTER the carting out of stuff is done, AFTER the massive garage sale is over, AFTER the hauling away of the charity donations, AFTER the house and workshop and outbuildings are empty. I know there WILL be an AFTER! Thanks for reminding me.
I need to keep my eye on the prize = ADVENTURES! LOL
Thanks for making the point that we're saving our children so much work and hassle in the long run. Right now they don't understand why on earth we would give up our lovely home at our age. I told them it's precisely BECAUSE of our age!!! We need fun and challenges and new experiences and new friends! So there! Plus they get to have our good stuff now.
I was also feeling the stress of having nowhere to go until we can snowbird down south but today we found a wonderful RV park that gave us a fabulous deal for September and October. What a relief!
One little step at a time.........
(Hubby DID have an ice cream treat today and I had a lick......does that count?
)
Thanks for the good wishes, Dome. It's wonderful that we can support one another.
First of all I appreciate your honesty. My home was never one I was attached to so that was pretty easy, but some of the things were very difficult. At some point...and it may have been about 6 months in...I started thinking of my rig as my home and something eased in my heart. I also realized most of those things I could no longer picture so they probably didn't mean as much as I originally thought they did. All that being said it was a process. I didn't flip a switch in my head and everything was just fine. It was a huge amount of change and I struggled. I think that's normal for many of us (although there are certainly others that jump right in without looking back). My advice is be honest with yourself, be honest with your partner, and give yourself time. It takes awhile to acclimate, it truly does. There will be things you like better, and probably things you don't like as much as your old life. You get to decided what the tipping point is and it may change as you experience more things in the lifestyle.
Good luck to you and I am glad you reached out to the group. They have been a wonderful support system for me over the last two years.
Trace
After living full-time in our coach for over a year we had a better idea of what we really needed, and some of what we had with us either went away completely or was put in storage at our son's house.
As we were sorting through stuff, the kids had the opportunity to claim anything that they wanted that we weren't taking with us. Whatever was left over was either burned (their was lots in this category), sold (the majority), or given away. It was eye-opening to find out how little our children really wanted. All of us were happy that we got all of this taken care of BEFORE a nursing home or funeral added to the stress.
We chose to have an auction, rather than endless weeks of yard sales. I don't know if we made more or less that way, but it was MUCH easier on us. We got an itemized list of what each item sold for, but we have never looked at it.
Thank you, Trace, for more reasons to just BE with this process. Right now it IS a struggle; I have to be kind to myself and just accept my feelings. It's all so overwhelming and chaotic, and it is a HUGE change.
6 months to settle in?! I really do need to alter the demands on myself! LOL I assumed that once I made the decision, I would move forward without a hitch. (Pun intended.) I think this will continue to be a rollercoaster ride until we fully move on with our new lifestyle.
I was thinking that meeting other full timers will really help me know that there's a good life after sticks and bricks! It's not as common up here in Canada so we'll meet you all down south.
David, we thought of an auction but having done that for John's mom and receiving pittance, and having talked to auctioneers in our area who say that people aren't buying, we decided on one massive garage sale. It sure is more work though!
Once again, thanks so much for your kind and wise words.
During our purge - between the sale of the house and closing - I walked into the living room one afternoon to find Laura sitting on the floor with something in her lap and quietly weeping. The object was a gift her son had given her but that had been stored in a closet or box for several years. She was struggling with getting rid of it, not because of what it was, but because of who had given it to her. The gift was eventually given to one of our Hispanic friends or sold in one of our garage sales.
A couple of months after we hit the road, Laura asked me if I remembered the incident. I did and asked, "Why." She said, "Do you remember what it was that I was crying over? I don't." We feel much the same way, now, about the few things we left in a storage unit in South Carolina, too. It has been a liberating experience. What we value now is time with our aging mothers, our ever-increasing brood of grandchildren, seeing the sights, and not having to worry about what's going on "back home." Hang in there!
Rob
It's so true though. Once the stuff is gone, you can't even remember what it all was! Maybe our age and forgetfulness will work to our benefit. LOL Liberation......YES! Freedom from maintaining so many material things. We need to collect adventures and experiences not stuff.
Ron and Janice, you're just barely behind us. Let's stay focussed on the goal and keep sharing.
I realized today that what I'm feeling, and maybe other newbies are too, is FEAR! It sounds crazy but when I look deeper and deeper, I can see that I'm afraid of such big decisions, of such big changes, and of burning our bridges. It'll have to be "Feel the fear and do it anyway" for now.
Hazel
Now that I have my next home here, I feel so much better. I can SEE what the next adventure and lifestyle will be and I'm so excited! I can't wait to start 'nesting' and get everything organized.
The house is a chaotic mess of piles for various people, empty bookcases, cupboards, shelves, and drawers, boxes and bins. It really doesn't feel like my home anymore. The gardens are dreadful with the drought and my neglect. I feel ready to let it all go now. It's all just too much......too much stuff and too much work.
The Navion seems like it's big enough to fit us and how we want to live now. I was thinking as I was driving today: what 'things' are so important to me that I have to have them in the rig? Birding gear, a few books, tech stuff, kayaks, bikes, clothes, food........that's about it. A simple life.
Thanks for sharing, and to all who have put their experiences out there. 19 years ago we moved into a nice sized house on a half acre of property, in suburban Long Island. Our 3 children were in grade school and we had about 4 dogs and 4 cats. At one point we had 6 dogs and over a dozen cats. A reptile room, yes snakes, geckos, bearded dragon, tortoises. For reasons that aren't relevant to this discussion, we had to give the house back to the bank about 2 years ago. So 17 years of accumulation had to go, when it was done "the purge" the feeling was overwhelming exhilaration.
We are now renting a smaller house, with furniture from thrift stores, have just the clothes we actually wear, 2 dogs, 1 still at home son : ) , one everyday set of dishes, 2 sets of linens for each bed, and not much else.
OK the garage has about 20 boxes of memories, but the basement is empty. Less is truly more.
Retirement and full-timing are about 2 years away and we plan to collect adventures.
Note to those who are selling for pennies on the dollar, when we had a garage sale that included the toddler toys, my wife reminded me that it wasn't the $ we were getting that day, but that our childrens' enjoyment for the many years prior was priceless.
Bill
I'll be back to chat some more. Meanwhile thank you to everyone who has taken part in the discussion. It truly helps the ones who are going through this phase.
We have been on the road for a little over a month now, after preparing for our full-time transition for about a year. I have definitely had my share of tears along the way but I have learned so much about what is truly important to me. I took tons of photos of my "stuff" before I sold it or gave it away and I gave away TONS of stuff. I invested in a good scanner and preserved lots of memories electronically where it made sense. Now I just have to scroll through images on my computer to reminisce, but I have to say, I haven't missed most of it. Our kids wanted very little, they are of the generation that doesn't value material things at this point in their lives, but I did make them take a few things :)
Change is harder for some people than others. I'm not very good at it. There is a part of me that still feels like I'm on vacation and we'll be going "home" soon. But as the flag that my daughter bought me says: "Home is where you park it!". What is most important is spending time with the people that you love - in my case my amazing husband - and having the opportunity to visit family and friends and see this breathtakingly beautiful country.
You will find time and opportunity for the things that you really love - that is why most of us chose this lifestyle. It may be different, but it can still be wonderful. And I'm sure that I'll shed some more tears along the way, but stuff can be replaced. And we're always making new memories every day.
Best of luck and see you on the road.
Cheryl
Patti
Your comment about 'feeling that you're on vacation and when will you go home' struck home. I wonder if that time will come for me? Maybe that will be time to visit family in their familiar homes.
It IS time and experiences that we hope to gain on our travels. Less time on things and more time on people and our hobbies/passions. Life is too short to waste on 'stuff'.
Thanks, Patti. Mourning is exactly what this is. All full time newbies need to give themselves permission to grieve. Women may recognize this more readily than men, don't you think?
I AM doing better and do you know what helped the most? Our massive garage sale yesterday! The barn was full of all our household goods, and the workshop had tools and boat stuff. Our son and daughter were here to help out, and our sweet 8 year old grandson set up a lemonade stand.
We had the most fantastic day! Yes, we made a staggeringly HUGE wad of cash, and cleaned out so many things but the main thing was that the letting go was EASY! It was because 99% of the people were sweet and friendly, were neighbours or local folks, and loved and appreciated the things they bought. Our stuff found good new homes! We chatted and laughed and exchanged email addresses with some. 2 different women brought their natural homemade soaps for our trip. So sweet! It was an absolutely WONDERFUL day! I went to bed happy and relieved.
Today we were a little wiped out but several friends dropped by who couldn't come yesterday, and we were able to gift them all kinds of good things. We forgot to take down the signs at the end of our country road so more people came and we made a few hundred dollars more!
Things seem to be falling into place so easily that we feel that this is indeed the right decision and the right time. I'm excited.
I can only wish that everyone else's journey to full timing goes as well.
Hazel
Hazel,
It's good to see that you are 'adjusting' to the prospect of downsizing, so let me touch on something else from your original post. You spoke of leaving a beautiful 14 acres with over a 100 various types of birds. Now, think of having access to millions of square miles with things to see such as this:
A Few of My Favorites
Such scenes and creatures could be close to your RV's entryway, which just might be things you had never had an opportunity to see before. We've been living full-time in our RV now for just over 5 years and have had the opportunity to see a lot of beauty.
Terry
Of course I don't have much time to spend on your photos or blog right now, but I've bookmarked them and VERY SOON I will have soooo much more time! Another bonus of full timing!
Thanks so much for sharing and for the encouragement. People here (and on the road!) are truly wonderful.
Cheers, Hazel
All of those feelings are still fresh in my mind since we have only been on the road 3 months. Theresa is dealing with our lifestyle change better than I am; she was much more anxious to retire and hit the road than I was. We decided to retire and full time, bought the motorhome, got rid of our stuff, sold the house and hit the road in about 6 months! I think we were too busy to process everything, but once on the road I admit it is a big adjustment I am still working through. We were originally going to take about a year to do everything, but when we found out our oldest son was being transferred to Japan for 3 years (Air Force), we sped everything up. We went from our home in Colorado to upstate New York for our 3rd sons college graduation, then came down to Florida where our son is stationed to spend time with him before he left for Japan. We were fortunate to get a volunteer job at a wonderful state park for 3 months. Our son is now gone and we are facing our first major challenge on the road. We are having problems with our motorhomes communication system (2007 Monaco Dynasty), and due to the complexity and age of this system, very few people can properly diagnose the problem, so we have been at a Freightliner repair shop for 2 weeks while everything gets figured out. They have 30 amp so we have been able to stay in it part time. The good news is we have made some good friendships volunteering with fellow RVers who have taken us in while we are working. You will find that fellow full timers and RVers are the friendliest, most helpful people on this earth. Once we work through this I know we will be better equipped to handle things on the road in the future. It has definitely been a huge learning experience! Sorry for the long reply, but I guess my point is we will get through this and hopefully we rise to each challenge and are stronger for it. I am sure you will too! Have fun on your adventure!
6 months from a life in a house to life in an RV must be quite an adjustment especially if you didn't feel ready. It's interesting that your wife was keener than you to full time. I'm sure it's just a matter of time until you feel at peace. One day at a time.
Our time line is even shorter! 2 months from house to RV! We had been considering it off and on for a year but then suddenly made a final decision. At least we'll have 2 months in an RV park in our home area to adjust before we hit the road.
Good to know that you've found fellow RVers are so friendly and helpful. The lifestyle makes for relaxed, happy people!
Anytime you find that you wish you had something that you got rid of, it's easy to replace it for about what you sold it for. It's kind of like you still have it, but somebody is storing it for you.
Good idea, Jerry!
As things 'disappear', so far I feel lighter and lighter. Soon I will fly away! LOL
Hazel
-- Edited by Hazel on Saturday 6th of August 2016 02:25:10 PM
I suspect you are going through the withdrawal phase of this process. For me, at the moment, it's my beloved model trains. Just can't seem to part with them. LOL. Their time is coming so in that regard I am resigned to it. We visited with my mother this week and in our travels we saw a sign the was just so apropos...
"Life is more than just stuff." This could apply to a nice home on 16 acres just as easily as clinging to anything else.
Recent Cindi was in California attending a wedding on her side of the family and tying up some loose ends relating to the death of her mother a couple of years ago. I was at home tending to the more mundane tasks of home ownership. In a weak moment, it dawned on me that the house, the yard, the stuff we had accumulated over the years was just too much for one person to manage... too much stuff. I called her and shared my feelings with her on it. Yep, we have a nice home, nice furnishings, nice yard, nice toys... but I look at it now and think... I was kidding myself that this is what I wanted. It's all an illusion. People and experiences are far more valuable. I came to this realization years ago but didn't really believe it at first, then slowly over time as "life" happens... But looking back I cannot regret this fact, nor can I resent the place that I currently find myself. Just keep moving forward. Besides researching the lifestyle, planning our adventures going forward is rather exciting all by itself... and in what now seems a very short couple of years that adventure will become a reality... fingers crossed and with determination to make it happen.
So it should be with you.
FWIW, Brian
That's a perfect way to look at the situation. Thank you!
These 2 snippets of wisdom stand out: "Life is more than stuff." and "Material things are fun for a moment." Most of us, if we've been lucky or smart in our lives, have had MORE than enough material possessions, big and small. By this stage of life, if we're even luckier and smarter, we can figure out what will make us content for the rest of our active years.
People and experiences! Relationships and adventures! Those are our new goals.
With only 22 days left (!) our clearing out is still going well. Barer and emptier. Less is more is our motto!
We "gave up everything" in May....started full-time in June....traveled to many places from southern Nevada up into Canada and now back because we have a leaky slide, defective awning, broken microwave, rain, wind...wind. We bought an older rig because finances dictated our budget. Anyway....Be careful what you wish for. Even tho' we've some adventures living like this is NOT a vacation....."don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...." Feeling very .... discouraged.
What a joy to read someone else thinking the same way I do. We pay over $10K a year in property taxes in Florida as non-homesteaders as well house insurance and flood premiums they decided two years ago to add an additional premium with it not being our main residence and here at our acreage we pay over C$1000/month in property taxes and house insurance and we have no garbage collection, no street lighting, pump our own water and have our own septic and so the story goes. Then we get the privilege of driving around seeing city and county workers standing around chatting in groups of 5 or 6 on a project monitoring one guy with a spade or spanner, using "OUR" tax paid dollars for their wasteful time. Yeah, that's right!! We're done with paying all these taxes and costs associated with house ownership too.
Few more months to go hopefully and it'll all be behind us and FTing here we come - Fla house went back on market this week, but sadly no showings yet. Just can't wait to "let go" of oh so much on the ties that bind. Heck we aren't expecting it all to be plain sailing when we hit the road FT but I see it as my "get out of jail" card so to speak for a while at least :)
Routing for you guys for a speedy sale.
SomeDay = almost here! Patience grasshopper, Patience!
Sitting on the Fence
Mark & Becky
You know ... this would be a total SWAG, but based on this website and Escapees, I only recall a handful. The vast majority seem EXTREMELY happy with their choice. Many (we'll be in this group ourselves), sell their homes, put the money in the bank, and when/if they decide to give up the RV lifestyle, use that money to buy a new place. The upside (for me) is avoiding all those taxes over the years. In Texas, there is no state income tax or personal property tax. The PRIMARY tax revenue stream is from REAL ESTATE taxes (sales tax is also in there, but that is not any different than most places). So compared to many states, Texas real estate taxes are HIGH. Not everyone would be in the same situation, so that could lead to a different approach than the one I've chosen. In my personal situation, we will avoid $25K per year in home ownership related expenses, and incur $12K in RV related costs (net plus $13K) so for us it is an easy decision.
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 23rd of October 2016 02:14:50 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 23rd of October 2016 02:14:50 PM
__________________
Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 3.73's, 4x4, CC, 6.7 Powerstroke, remote control air lift system
2017 K-Z Durango Gold 381REF
24,830 lbs CGVW
In our limited travels if I come across a full timer I always ask if there is any regrets. So far the only regret has been not starting sooner. I still fear selling it all, but I keep asking.
Mark & Becky
Whatever you chose to do, I wish you the very best!
Some of my more valuable possessions have been given to friends because they have admired them for some time. My turntable, amp, and tuner, along with most of my jazz records has a new home with a close friend who really appreciates them. The value to me is someone else's happiness. Monetary gain was never considered in our plan.
Good luck on your transition. It is something we all deal with in our own way.
Someone said it above and it's true - we all go through this when in the purging stage. Some people struggle more than others. There were some things I got rid of and felt the weight lift off my shoulders - and other things I cried over (most notably some "art" work my kids had made in HS).
Having said that - we have a 40' shipping container full of stuff that's part of our Plan B - aka settle back down and/or our kids decide they want it. Some people think of keeping a bunch of stuff like that "cheating" or the like, but I like to think it's just our way.
Everyone's mileage may vary - there is no right way.
Good luck as you find our way.
Kelly
We've been full timing now for almost 3 months. Woohoo! There was definitely a period of adjustment while we worked out our routines, how to do everything in a small space, the best place to keep things, how to do everything RV related, and for me, how to leave my beloved home behind and move on. Life is so much freer without a house, a lot of stuff, and an acreage to maintain but I must admit that sometimes I dream that I can go 'home' again. It fades more with every day that passes and every new place we discover.
We have had challenges of course and learned many lessons already. Every day I ask my hubby, "What lesson are we going to learn today?" ;-P It's still real life and good and bad still happens. I was very sick and just got a diagnosis and treatment/management plan before we left Canada. We've needed repairs done on the Nav. We've had a lot of trouble with internet. We get stronger and more knowledgeable and confident every day though. With fewer things in our life to 'manage', it's easier to concentrate on the issues we have.
We're in an RV resort in northern Florida for 3 weeks just to rest up from the long trip down south and my illness. It's lovely but the residents are older and more sedentary than we are. We'll be doing mostly State Parks from now on.
So far, life on the road is good! Hope you both enjoy it too!