Getting scared - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Getting scared

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

What may have been or may be a good thing to do is rent a camper or motorhome and do some short local trips. That way you get a "Feel" for it and see if it's even "Up Your Alley".

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's been suggested before. The main reasons we chose not to do that was (1) because the campers one can rent don't even come close to what we would be living in full time and therefore wouldn't really give us a good picture of what it would be like to live in one, and (2) it would still be more like a mini-vacation and not really reflect what a "day in the life" would really be like.

We KNOW this is right for us, beyond a shadow of a doubt (plus, if it doesn't work out, we can always sell the RV and settle down somewhere). We're just going through the normal "what if's" before making such a huge decision. It was kind of like this 30 years ago when we decided to start a family. We knew it was the right thing for us at the time, but the way it would change our lives forever, and especially the fear of the unknown, was still pretty scary. Maybe that's what it all boils down to right now -- the fear of the unknown. To which I can reply to myself that no one knows even what the next moment in life will bring, so take the risk, follow your dreams, and deal with each situation as it arises. It's all part of the journey.

See, you're helping me so much already -- I need to keep giving myself "the talk!"

DRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

I bought my 5th wheel June 2012. Prior to that I had only tent camped. I bought the 5th wheel because I was tired of paying rent, signing a lease, and job moving me prior to my lease being up, then paying an early move penalty to break the lease. I have not had any regrets about living in a 5th wheel and it will be 2 years in June.

I learn the driving and maintenance as needed. Expect to learn more this week since I am at the Spring Rally.

manycats · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheryl,

I've said this before in other posts - my DH and I full-timed in our 40s with no income and no savings. Now I'm 76 yrs old and we're planning to do it again next year. To every "what if" disaster thought there's an opposite answer. Besides, if you don't like it or it doesn't work for you, other options will open. The world won't end when you take this step.

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have you ever said to yourself " What if we succeed" "What if we don't like it but Love it" etc.. The more people get older in age the more they get scared of new things or to begin something they have never tried before. If you have planned this lifestyle for a long time and wish to live the dream you will succeed. Sit down and close your eyes for a while and try to remember all the hard and bad situation you overcome since you were 20 years old, you will see that you don't have to be scared of hiiting the road FT.

I will only tell you that a lot of your friends, relatives and family members will envy you. I've read several of your comments on this forum. It seems that even with all the difficulties you had you were able to overcome them.

DON'T BE SCARED BE POSITIVE AND HAPPY.

FT is only another chapter in your life, go for it if **** hits the fan you ajust and keep going, Im sure you will succeed, good luck.

PS: You only have one life to live and it is short. .

Jean

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were spared the initial angst since we didn't really plan to be full timers. We were going to take a six month or so trip around the country visiting friends and relatives then buy or build a retirement home in a place warmer and cheaper than NH. Along the way we discovered we liked living in the motor home so much and were having so much fun that we decided to keep on doing it.
The first year there were some feelings of rootlessness and maybe a little feeling of missing a home base.
That faded pretty quickly though and we had a ball for the next eleven years.

The time came for us to execute our exit plan and we are happy we did, but still there is a little nostalgia for the good old days.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheryl,

Jo and I have been in our Mobile Suites now for three years and have absolutely no regrets, in spite of temperatures between 6 degrees and 115 degrees. I say that because I know you are considering the Mobile Suites in Florida. So, even if you do choose to not travel, it will still serve well as a home, which we will still consider doing when our traveling is all done. I see no reason to ever buy another house and staying in fifth wheel is as good as being in an apartment. Besides, if we tire of our neighbors, we'd move elsewhere.

As for maintenance, you have the advantage of the internet. It will serve to educate you in both articles, and if you have the data plans, in videos. Search engines are awesome for finding out how to fix things.

If you've really got the "wanderlust," you'll find a way to make it happen.

Terry

tigercx1 · RV-Dreams Family Member

My suggestion is to not spend a ton on the Motorhome or travel trailer. That way if you find it is not the lifestyle you want, you can get out of it without taking too much of a beating on the rig. However if you love it, then you can always trade up for something bigger and better.

Mark

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you, my dear Dreamer family, for coming through as usual. Sometimes I just need a slight sanity check or brain readjustment. I'm back on the path of being excited again! It's scary to make such a big change, but it's a change we've always dreamed of and things WILL work out. Besides, I'm just not happy if I don't have something to worry about!!!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheryl - it's normal to be scared, lots of changes so I totally get that, but you've come a long way getting ready for this dream.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

cherylbrv wrote:
...Besides, I'm just not happy if I don't have something to worry about!!!

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin smile biggrin biggrin

Easy for us to laugh, we're in the cheap seats and years away from the same situation. Be kind when it's our turn! biggrin

Brian

RVKevi · RV-Dreams Family Member

I felt a little that way, too, Cheryl, but found when it came down to it, I was more afraid of NOT doing it, than doing it. What I mean is, I knew that if we didn't I would regret it for the rest of my life. The fear left as soon as we actually moved into the fiver, and it has never come back!

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Came across this the other day, there's something to it.

"Worrying works! 90 percent of the things I worry about never happen."

Jim

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheryl, this just proves your human. I think everyone goes through the emotional phases Howard talks about, some of us just think about a little longer than others. You're just like us.......breezing through the scary parts.

Red

Vstarrider1946 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I can empathize completely with you. We put or house on the market and it sold in 11 days. Closing is in mid July and now we have to actually retire from out school district jobs and buy a motor-home. After 47 years of marriage, I think these past few months are some of the most stressful that we had since I was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam back in '68.

Now we have a ton of things to get done...like getting rid of our "stuff" and a couple of cars, camper, boat, etc. I goes on an on. At times we feel its almost overwhelming. We'll be the newest in the Class of 2014. We're shooting to make the fall rally in Indiana

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the "Class of 2014"! Please join us over on that thread, as well as in RVillage!