I have been following many full time RV blogs for about 4 years now and so envy the people that can do this. I have been trying for that four year time to figure out how to make it work for me/us and quit frankly I am no closer now than I was four years ago. Well with the exception that I now own a truck and trailer I was able to get about six months ago, so I guess I am a little closer. I have basically two major obstacles to overcome. 1) how to finance living full time in an RV, I have worked my whole life and still work fulltime now but none of it can be done from an RV. 2) my other half. She is on board with going full time RV'ing, (sort of), she has certain demands that need to be meet in order for her get 100% on board. 1-She doesn't want to be financially responsible for any of it, in other words any money that may be made workcamping ( in order to finance the lifestyle) will need to be by me only. 2-when camping we must be at full hook up only, no boondocking. 3) must have bathroom/shower in RV, which we have but is to small for her taste. 4) must have satellite TV at all times, anywhere. To be fair we have also discussed buying a small plot of land and putting a tiny house on it, but there are certain demands there as well, they are - house must be no less than 1000sqft, have running water, flush toilets, no septic tanks, must have electricity, satellite TV, heating /AC, within a few miles of a mall and restaurants and most of all she doesn't want to be in any way financially responsible for any of it. The bottom line is she is very comfortable were she is at and has no intentions of going anywhere else (I get it), hence the reason for the unreasonable demands cause she knows it is not going to happen. Say's we can occasionally go camping locally for a few day's at a time but that's the extent of it. I am not trying to sound like I am complaining just pointing out for those that are able to tour the country, have some freedom you are very lucky and hope you realize it, not everyone is fortunate to have the opportunity.
LarryW21 said
10:06 AM May 9, 2017
"2-when camping we must be at full hook up only, no boondocking."
These statements they usually come from those that don't understand the capabilities of RVs.
VUP said
12:21 PM May 9, 2017
I agree, nor does she want to take the time to understand. She simply is not interested in the whole concept. I try and remain positive and live with what I Have.
Barbaraok said
02:18 PM May 9, 2017
She has made her position clear. Unless both WANT to do this, it will not work. Try several short trips and maybe attitude will change. If not, then you need to decide the future.
VUP said
04:30 PM May 9, 2017
agree and exactly my point. All the Full time blogs I follow and also I follow some homesteading blogs as well have one thing in common, they all talk about we, us or our. In other words both people work together to make things happen. If only one side of the couple is doing all the necessary work to make the life style a reality it simple will not work. So the people that have that type of relationship and work together they are very lucky and I say more power to them.
jrzygrl64 said
05:35 PM May 9, 2017
I suggest you take your vacations and see what she thinks after a few trips. Plan out an extended trip and let her see how fun it can be. If it turns out she isn't swayed - then I guess you will have to settle for vacation trips. Maybe go to an RV Show to see the huge variety of RV options.
Neil and Connie said
12:12 PM May 10, 2017
If your other half isn't on board it isn't going to work…so either you need to convince her by the short trips, etc as recommended, give up on the idea, or get a different other half.
If she's not on board it ain't gonna work as others have said…and I would wonder about an other half that refused to be financially responsible and/or do any work camping to support the lifestyle…it's s'posed to be a partnership ya know.
Sounds like she wants to be supported…sorry if that's harsh but that's what I read from your post.
The Bear II said
12:38 PM May 10, 2017
For my dad's generation her requests would be reasonable. Men were the breadwinners and they provided for their wife whatever they could afford and she desired.
It sounds like you need to take her out camping for a few weekends (some boondocking/some full hookups) and a couple of two week long outings similar to how you would like your fulltiming experience to be. She will either learn to like it and reduce her demands or she won't budge or she'll learn to hate it...
Captain Happy said
07:32 AM May 13, 2017
That's how my former wife looked at it. She's no longer with us. As long as we where going camping anywhere near a casino that was OK. And had full hock u ps. I brought up the idea of going full-time, while we where out in Bullhead City visiting my brother and his wife. And the answer was, "I'm not about to give up my home", so that was the end of it. Came home, put a for sale sign on the Motor Home, and that ended the it. We went on with our lives as most of us do. Some years later she got Panceratic Cancer and after a year and half we dealt with trying to find a cure.
But in the end I lost her. And after the funeral and all the other stuff that one has to deal with I went on with my life. And then I asked myself the question, "Is this how you want to spend the rest of my life"? So I started read everything I could find on the subject of full-time RVing. And here I'm at now doing what I wanted to do many years ago. So now I've looking for an RV at start my new life adventures in. Found a used 2007 Winnebago Vista, got my little truck setup to tow 4 down.
I joined Escapees RV Club, bought into a co-op park in Nevada, because I've always wanted to travel and see the western states. Made a trip to the Pacific northwest up the 101 hwy. And I want to go back someday. So far life has been a blast.
KTS said
04:05 PM May 14, 2017
I echo planning some short trips also consider attending a RV dreams rally. Great way to meet people that already full time. Might be a fear of the unknown that has her too scared to even give it a chance. She could have some preconceived notions of what RV life is like. Seeing and talking with others and learning how "normal" and nice they can be may open her mind a bit.
VUP said
07:12 PM May 14, 2017
Thanks for all the replies. I am still working on the prospect, maybe someday, still young at 59, got time.
GiniaJ said
07:48 AM May 15, 2017
Not sure what to say about your other half, but RVing for the most park (workcamping in particular) is team work, or should be. My former hubby and I were in it together. We loved the life. Other issues got in the way so had to sell our beautiful trailer and truck during the divorce process, but in the RV life, we both worked and were a team.
GiniaJ said
07:50 AM May 15, 2017
Captain Happy, glad you went forth and followed your bliss. So sorry your wife passed away, however. Enjoy your new adventures to the fullest now!
Dave and Denise said
09:58 AM May 16, 2017
VUP, you appear to be a very wise and patient man. I always believe things will work out in the end and there is a reason behind it all. I can't offer any other advice that the great folks on this forum have not already provided.
Terry and Jo said
07:22 PM Jun 12, 2017
I recall a participant here at RV Dreams' forums that had a similar situation with his wife. She didn't even really want to do short term camping, so he ended up selling their camper, although he still checked in at the forums and visited.
They got into doing church missionary work here in the states, primarily in Texas, and she commented one day that if they had another camper, she would always know how clean the sheets were on her bed. Thus, he went out and bought another camper and she even began to plan trips to state parks and such.
Point is, things can change, so don't get too discouraged.
I have been following many full time RV blogs for about 4 years now and so envy the people that can do this. I have been trying for that four year time to figure out how to make it work for me/us and quit frankly I am no closer now than I was four years ago. Well with the exception that I now own a truck and trailer I was able to get about six months ago, so I guess I am a little closer. I have basically two major obstacles to overcome. 1) how to finance living full time in an RV, I have worked my whole life and still work fulltime now but none of it can be done from an RV. 2) my other half. She is on board with going full time RV'ing, (sort of), she has certain demands that need to be meet in order for her get 100% on board. 1-She doesn't want to be financially responsible for any of it, in other words any money that may be made workcamping ( in order to finance the lifestyle) will need to be by me only. 2-when camping we must be at full hook up only, no boondocking. 3) must have bathroom/shower in RV, which we have but is to small for her taste. 4) must have satellite TV at all times, anywhere. To be fair we have also discussed buying a small plot of land and putting a tiny house on it, but there are certain demands there as well, they are - house must be no less than 1000sqft, have running water, flush toilets, no septic tanks, must have electricity, satellite TV, heating /AC, within a few miles of a mall and restaurants and most of all she doesn't want to be in any way financially responsible for any of it. The bottom line is she is very comfortable were she is at and has no intentions of going anywhere else (I get it), hence the reason for the unreasonable demands cause she knows it is not going to happen. Say's we can occasionally go camping locally for a few day's at a time but that's the extent of it. I am not trying to sound like I am complaining just pointing out for those that are able to tour the country, have some freedom you are very lucky and hope you realize it, not everyone is fortunate to have the opportunity.
These statements they usually come from those that don't understand the capabilities of RVs.
I agree, nor does she want to take the time to understand. She simply is not interested in the whole concept. I try and remain positive and live with what I Have.
agree and exactly my point. All the Full time blogs I follow and also I follow some homesteading blogs as well have one thing in common, they all talk about we, us or our. In other words both people work together to make things happen. If only one side of the couple is doing all the necessary work to make the life style a reality it simple will not work. So the people that have that type of relationship and work together they are very lucky and I say more power to them.
If your other half isn't on board it isn't going to work…so either you need to convince her by the short trips, etc as recommended, give up on the idea, or get a different other half.
If she's not on board it ain't gonna work as others have said…and I would wonder about an other half that refused to be financially responsible and/or do any work camping to support the lifestyle…it's s'posed to be a partnership ya know.
Sounds like she wants to be supported…sorry if that's harsh but that's what I read from your post.
It sounds like you need to take her out camping for a few weekends (some boondocking/some full hookups) and a couple of two week long outings similar to how you would like your fulltiming experience to be. She will either learn to like it and reduce her demands or she won't budge or she'll learn to hate it...
But in the end I lost her. And after the funeral and all the other stuff that one has to deal with I went on with my life. And then I asked myself the question, "Is this how you want to spend the rest of my life"? So I started read everything I could find on the subject of full-time RVing. And here I'm at now doing what I wanted to do many years ago. So now I've looking for an RV at start my new life adventures in. Found a used 2007 Winnebago Vista, got my little truck setup to tow 4 down.
I joined Escapees RV Club, bought into a co-op park in Nevada, because I've always wanted to travel and see the western states. Made a trip to the Pacific northwest up the 101 hwy. And I want to go back someday. So far life has been a blast.
I recall a participant here at RV Dreams' forums that had a similar situation with his wife. She didn't even really want to do short term camping, so he ended up selling their camper, although he still checked in at the forums and visited.
They got into doing church missionary work here in the states, primarily in Texas, and she commented one day that if they had another camper, she would always know how clean the sheets were on her bed. Thus, he went out and bought another camper and she even began to plan trips to state parks and such.
Point is, things can change, so don't get too discouraged.
Terry