Well, I have knots for a tummy but we set Jerry's retirement date (I'm already retired) as Dec 31st, 2006. We are putting the house on the market next week. All of a sudden you wouldn't think that I have spent the last three years reading everything I could find on the internet and books to be ready for this. It all went out my head!!! It's so weird, because I have been begging Jerry to go ahead and retire, and he finally said okay. I went dumb! He said, now what, because he has not been in on this interenet journey that I have been taking. He has selective hearing about RVing. He thinks we just buy one and go. Oh, my! In bed last night I couldn't sleep and I said well, I remember that those folks that go down the road with the propane turned to their refrigerator, turn off propane before filling with fuel. I also rembember to not empty the black tank until it is half full and don't leave open when hooked up to sewer! Okay that just about covers #1,245 and #62 out of 14,000,000 things we need to know.
Best I stop and breathe deeply! This was not what I had expected to happen to me. I thought it would be jubilation! We have to figure out what to do with a 4200sq. ft. home's worth of stuff. Boy, this is going to be interesting. All of you that have done it - my biggest question is - HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THE BUTTERFLIES!!!!!
This is going to be a wonderful lilfe. I need to post that sign all over my house before it goes on the market, or buy wine. I don't even drink.
We have never been to LOW or a rally or a rv show! We thought we had two years and were going to shop slowly for the MH and attend LOW in April. We've been to no plant tours, but have been to RV show rooms. My husband finally said okay, it has been rumbling in his brain since we had dinner with some fulltimers that I follow their website, Norm and Linda Payne in Sept. and he liked everything they told us. I have read every word of Howard and Linda's advise and I am going to complile lists. Just talking about this to ya'll has helped me set a plan in motion. Baby Steps!
Anyway we will be fulltiming by Dec. 31st or when the house sells, which ever come first.
Dianne and Jerry
bjoyce said
10:24 AM Oct 6, 2006
Learn that it is all a learning process and don't blame each other, you are in it together. Sounds like Jerry has the attitude that you are going to be the expert, don't let that happen. Both of you will eventually be the experts, even Norm and Linda Payne had to learn to make it easy - http://www.seeya-downtheroad.com/ShortStories/ThatWasEasy.html .
You won't be the first to dive right in and full-time and you won't be the last. I don't know if this helps you cope or not, but butterflies is normal.
DJ Wannabees said
05:54 PM Oct 7, 2006
Thanks for your reply. Jerry will be with the rving project soon when he's not working 10 hrs a day. I have made this my retirement project. I loved the easy button. When Norm wrote that I used it to send out in a mailing to remind our club members to send in their dues. I will have to reread and bunch of things, but we are very happy. I have made lists and started checking them off.
Happy Travels,
Dianne
Delaine and Lindy said
07:16 AM Oct 8, 2006
Hi Guy's, your gonna have fun. We just completed what your doing. We started full timing 6 Sept 06 or I should say "FUN TIMING" it's great. We sold the stick house and all funiture. Had moving sale and in two days sold $12,000 dollars worth of funiture and household items. First thing DW did was set down and decide what we wanted to sell and what family items to keep. Gave our kids the pick of what they wanted, and sold the rest. What was left we gave to Goodwill. I think the thing to do is have a plan. And remember things are just things. Even after all the things were sold we still have some things stored. We went and bought a 30' inclosed Trailer to store my tools in. Wanted to keep it portable. Our home base site in out in the woods (45 minutes from Wally World) and hard to secure things, so no storage building on site. We just hook to the storage trailer and take it to DW dads farm. We are still in the process of simplifying or down sizing. Example is the Dish for HDTV and the Dish for our computer which will be tripod mounted because of not wanting to mount on top of fiver. Both Dishes are large. Never do have enough storage when RVing. So again be sure and have a plan, plan, and plan some more. Good Luck and don't look back. Life is Good. GBY.......
Tmcblane said
04:52 AM Oct 20, 2006
Diane and Jerry, some people are just worriers and fulltiming will probably not change that. BUT if it is just "new stuff jitters" they will quickly go away, unfortunately it won't be till after you are out there and traveling. After a couple of weeks on the road you will probably wonder why you waited so long to do this. I love that jittery feeling about doing new things unknown, just nature of the beast for me but my wife likes to feel secure. Best info I could offer is be sure the two of you are compatable to spend this much time together, ensure you have the proper funds and invest whatever money you will not be using is invested in a high interest savings of some type or other investement. Don't start cutting your budget up front to fit your funding unless you are ready to stick to it. If money is not really a concern your are on your way. We found it exciting to start selling things and you actually start enjoying it, thing about that is it helps you thru to the next step as you can't really go back once all the furniture and house are sold. Enjoy yourself and believe me the jitters will go away. :)
Joan On The Road said
09:33 PM Oct 20, 2006
Congratulations on the big step! The most important thing is that BOTH of you are really committed to this RV way of life. It doesn't work if one is doing it just to please the other. Jim and I had traveled many times in rented units and knew we'd have tons of fun along with some trials and tribulations :).
Since your hubby is still working and busy maybe you can "feed" him some short/sweet stuff on the RV life. We read MOVIN' ON by Barb and Ron Hofmeister. It's on most RV books lists and is a great overall view of this life. It was my "bible" for getting ready to RV and many times during that first year.
We've been on the road 3.5 years and I still get butterflies when we start out on long trips. I guess I'm a bit of a worry wart. But as soon as the coach is ready to move, the butterflies go away, the big IMax window view is ready and am ready for the next adventure.
The only way you'll learn it all and banish the butterflies is to "just do it". If you've not done a lot of motorhoming I'd stick close to your home area and your dealer for your shakedown cruise. We spent 3 weeks in a park 80 miles from our house just to see how we'd like an extended time alone in the MH. Practice will make nearly perfect.
Well, I have knots for a tummy but we set Jerry's retirement date (I'm already retired) as Dec 31st, 2006.
We are putting the house on the market next week. All of a sudden you wouldn't think that I have spent the last three years reading everything I could find on the internet and books to be ready for this. It all went out my head!!! It's so weird, because I have been begging Jerry to go ahead and retire, and he finally said okay. I went dumb! He said, now what, because he has not been in on this interenet journey that I have been taking. He has selective hearing about RVing. He thinks we just buy one and go. Oh, my! In bed last night I couldn't sleep and I said well, I remember that those folks that go down the road with the propane turned to their refrigerator, turn off propane before filling with fuel. I also rembember to not empty the black tank until it is half full and don't leave open when hooked up to sewer! Okay that just about covers #1,245 and #62 out of 14,000,000 things we need to know. 
Best I stop and breathe deeply! This was not what I had expected to happen to me. I thought it would be jubilation! We have to figure out what to do with a 4200sq. ft. home's worth of stuff. Boy, this is going to be interesting. All of you that have done it - my biggest question is - HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THE BUTTERFLIES!!!!!
This is going to be a wonderful lilfe. I need to post that sign all over my house before it goes on the market, or buy wine. I don't even drink.
We have never been to LOW or a rally or a rv show! We thought we had two years and were going to shop slowly for the MH and attend LOW in April. We've been to no plant tours, but have been to RV show rooms. My husband finally said okay, it has been rumbling in his brain since we had dinner with some fulltimers that I follow their website, Norm and Linda Payne in Sept. and he liked everything they told us. I have read every word of Howard and Linda's advise and I am going to complile lists. Just talking about this to ya'll has helped me set a plan in motion. Baby Steps!
Anyway we will be fulltiming by Dec. 31st or when the house sells, which ever come first.
Dianne and Jerry
Learn that it is all a learning process and don't blame each other, you are in it together. Sounds like Jerry has the attitude that you are going to be the expert, don't let that happen. Both of you will eventually be the experts, even Norm and Linda Payne had to learn to make it easy - http://www.seeya-downtheroad.com/ShortStories/ThatWasEasy.html .
You won't be the first to dive right in and full-time and you won't be the last. I don't know if this helps you cope or not, but butterflies is normal.
Thanks for your reply. Jerry will be with the rving project soon when he's not working 10 hrs a day. I have made this my retirement project. I loved the easy button. When Norm wrote that I used it to send out in a mailing to remind our club members to send in their dues. I will have to reread and bunch of things, but we are very happy. I have made lists and started checking them off.
Happy Travels,
Dianne
Congratulations on the big step! The most important thing is that BOTH of you are really committed to this RV way of life. It doesn't work if one is doing it just to please the other. Jim and I had traveled many times in rented units and knew we'd have tons of fun along with some trials and tribulations :).
Since your hubby is still working and busy maybe you can "feed" him some short/sweet stuff on the RV life. We read MOVIN' ON by Barb and Ron Hofmeister. It's on most RV books lists and is a great overall view of this life. It was my "bible" for getting ready to RV and many times during that first year.
We've been on the road 3.5 years and I still get butterflies when we start out on long trips. I guess I'm a bit of a worry wart. But as soon as the coach is ready to move, the butterflies go away, the big IMax window view is ready and am ready for the next adventure.
The only way you'll learn it all and banish the butterflies is to "just do it". If you've not done a lot of motorhoming I'd stick close to your home area and your dealer for your shakedown cruise. We spent 3 weeks in a park 80 miles from our house just to see how we'd like an extended time alone in the MH. Practice will make nearly perfect.
Good luck!