Announcing Our Plans - RV-Dreams Community Forum

DreamerBob · RV-Dreams Family Member

Announcing Our Plans

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats on your new purchase! I'm not good with one liners, but we just told people that we wanted to see the country while we still can (and gas/diesel is still affordable). RV living also has a minimal impact on the environment (assuming you're not doing tons of driving) as RVers tend to conserve more (we use less water, less electricity/propane to cool/heat our home because we have a smaller space, we don't have property taxes to pay or lawns to mow, and we don't buy crap we don't need because we don't have the space for it. There are so many reasons why RVing is a good thing. I'm sure some folks will have some good one liners.

Congrats!
Colleen

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would advise them that they must be really jealous because while they are mowing the lawn,painting the house and etc. you will be thinking of them while sipping the beverage of your choice and sitting in your chair under the awning.I have said before shame on people for their snide remarks about something they know nothing about.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just tell them your spending their inheritance :)

retread · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congratulations Bob and Carrie,
No one-liners here either and our adult child was very supportive. We allowed and still allow negative comments to roll off as we are so pleased with our decision to go on this adventure. When we sensed genuine concern, we matched their sincerity with our responses regarding our plans and how we envisioned things working out. Sharing our blog and photos of our experiences helps to sooth the concerns from family. Don't allow anyone's smart aleck fun rain on your parade! Linda

Sandra · RV-Dreams Family Member

How about "it's my life and I'll do what I want"! LOL

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since they're your kids just remind them of when they were teenagers and tell them your going to say to them what they always said to you;

"You don't know what your talking about."

Mallo

nwlambear · RV-Dreams Family Member

Had to laugh at this response!! "It's my life and I'll do with it what I want". Hmmmmm..seems like heard that once or twice during my children's teenage years..lol. I even remember "thinking it" when I was a teenager..oh my!! What goes around comes around...

"NWlambear" - Tricia

gypsymaus · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congratulations Bob and Carrie! Yes we got those remarks too. My daughter refers to me as her "crazy vagabond Mother". She does love it though when I show up in Las Vegas, NV where she lives and stay for a week or so.

We tell people to please stay in there stick and bricks houses and pay their taxes. We don't want the crowding our favorite RV parks. <g>

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had planned to take off in January and for various reasons it was put off. Yesterday we started paperwork for Len's pension effective Oct. We plan in hitting the road at that time.

When we told people two years ago our plans, only one person was really negative and said we would hate it because she had a friend who did it for a year and hated it. Is that logical???

My older daughter was not thrilled with the idea but seemed to accept it. In early January when we did not go, she told me she was glad as she has a 2 year old and just announced she was pregnant again and is due June 14. She is almost 43 and had been wanting children for 12 years of marriage.

When things settled down and Len and I decided we would be fulltiming later, she became angry for several reasons. She then cut off all contact with me. We have not spoken since Jan 28. I sent her a card and it came back "return to sender". She had said since we were leaving anyway, what difference does it make and I am not to call, write, email or attempt any contact with her. I miss my granddaughter more than I can say. And now another one is on the way whom I am told I will never see.

She has now gotten angry with her sister and cut off contact with her effective last week because she does not like the man her sister is marrying in Sept. I refuse to let this daughter dictate how I will live my life. I do not understand her at all right now.

I am glad most family members do not have this reaction. This is an extreme case, I am sure your family will be fine once they know that you are happy with your decision.

Good luck and happy traveling!

monkey islanders · RV-Dreams Family Member

This is SO our life right now... we annouced our plans a couple of months ago, just listed the house this week. We have run the entire gamet (SP) of reactions. My oldest daughter has a two yr old and trying for another (sound familiar?). She was NOT too happy about it. When we listed the house she said, Oh, you really ARE going to do this? My broker found out (facebook) and now asks daily if we are still planning on leaving this fall. Our youngest daughter is 18 and leaving for college this fall. She supports us....but of course hates to see the house sell. A few people are really supportive..most say they wanted to do the same thing but just "never got around to it". Well I lost my best friend this year to cancer at age 49.....she made a list of things she never got to do....you might say I'm just trying to shorten my list. Oh and my husbands parents are so mad they will not let us store our things in their barn.
But we are going on with our plans, this feels right to us . I think once we are out there having a great time everyone will settle down. Keep your head up! Keep Moving forward! Maybe we will meet on the road somewhere.
Christy and Paul
Ps-- House on the market for two days........no buyers yet.

blessthisvoyage · RV-Dreams Community Member

I guess our situation is different -- we have three kids leaving in three different states -- NC, TX and OK. When my husb retired from the AF, we returned to AR to be near our aging parents. One son and grandson came with us. Now, 15 yrs later, parents have all passed and kids are scattered. So, we have nothing holding us here but a job and a house. I retired last year and husb plans to retire early 2010 and we plan to "hit the road." We tell the kids we plan to stay near each of them for 3 mos at a time and travel the other 3 mos. We hope to auction our home in late summer/early fall.

2007 Winnebago Voyage
No Toad Yet

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

I never cease to be amazed at how family members and close friends feel as if they can/should dictate how others plan and live their lives. It can, and so often does, occur most unexpectedly.

As my father approached ninety, he enjoyed saying, "You can choose your friends, move away from your neighbors, but there is nothing you can do about your relatives."

We work hard to live and let live. We focus on "the only thing that is all about us, is us". What others do is not about us, it is about them.

So often others cannot "allow" for others what they cannot envision for themselves.

-- Edited by Roz on Friday 5th of June 2009 05:07:00 AM

macattack · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think you hit the nail right on the head Charles.

macpac6562 · RV-Dreams Community Member

We are in our 40s with one child still in high school, so when we told our family that we were selling our house most thought we were crazy, and that was before we decided we wanted to live in a "camper". We haven't even gone there yet! (Luckily our kids have been very supportive.)

Most people can't look beyond their own life and decisions to be able to see other ways to live. If we can be successful and happy without the normal life trappings, i.e. the big house, in debt to our eyeballs, then what does that say about the decisions they make. Most people are in over their heads anyway and have to justify the way they live by saying that everyone else lives like this so it must be the right way! BTW sold the house April 30th.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Actually Sherri and I left the circus and joined what is known as the fun bunch "Dreamers" we know where it is and enjoy it while it is still here to enjoy. Your friends are in the circus with their funny suits and three ring circus acts....the old Dog and Pony shows....Yes one day they too will leave that but it will be much too late to enjoy this part of life...they will be in the home for retired circus acts and you will be filled with great memories of great places and the people that where there. Good luck to you and hope your Dreams all come true.

AnnDon · RV-Dreams Family Member

As always Speedhitch has such great words of wisdom! And we agree!

nwlambear · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congratulations...Bob'n'Carrie!!! We just got our 5th wheel also. What did you get? I'm excited, but a bit overwhelmed as well! How 'bout you?
Take care....~NWlambear

-- Edited by nwlambear on Friday 14th of August 2009 11:48:58 AM