Question for full timers July 07, 2018, 10:14:53 am I find myself getting to the point in life where being a full timer sounds better and better. As a vacation ends and I'm heading home all I see is a bunch of work waiting for me, decks to stain, lawns to mow, household repairs etc. I'm curious if there's any full timers in here and if they have any regrets about taking this alternate life route. I'm sure it has it's trials and tribulations but a permanent vacation and ditching everything that won't fit in my motorhome sure sounds like a simple carefree way to live. So what's the truth? Is the reality as good as the fantasy or are there things I'm missing here? 3 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #1 – July 07, 2018, 10:29:39 am Not one, but have listened to plenty of stories - each one unique, don't expect to find YOUR answer, but perhaps some advice. Anyway, there is a consistency - it doesn't last forever. Expect it to end one day, and make some plans for that eventuality before 'ditching' it all.Steve 2 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #2 – July 07, 2018, 11:24:36 am Sawyer, you may want to take a look at Bob Well's website and Youtube channel. Lots of good full-timing stories, information and tips; the good, the bad, and the ugly!Cheap RV Living.com-Homehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJLowydxGmQ 2 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #3 – July 07, 2018, 11:28:52 am "I find myself getting to the point in life where being a full timer sounds better and better."I was at that point thirteen years ago when I lost my dear wife. My final decision was to maintain a home base, primarily because of the familiarity factor and also because my kids live nearby. But, you're right, there's a certain desire to be totally free of responsibility!At that point I'd advise close consul with someone who's had experience with that lifestyle, like Andy Baird or Jim & Gayle. 3 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #4 – July 07, 2018, 11:31:37 am "I'm sure it has it's trials and tribulations but a permanent vacation and ditching everything that won't fit in my motorhome sure sounds like a simple carefree way to live. So what's the truth? Is the reality as good as the fantasy or are there things I'm missing here?"•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•This is probably the ultimate in "Your Mileage May Vary" that there is!The "reality" from my own perspective is that YES, it is worth the effort to change your life around for some [unknown] period of time.What period of time and what vehicle suits you best is where the YMMV comes in.We fulltimed for eight years in a 40-foot behemoth (1998 to 2007). I loved it and would do it again in a flash. Our plan had been for a 20-year stint and then settle down to part-time when we hit ~80 years of age. Cancer cut short the reality of that dream, but it did not erase it from my head. The dream remains with me to this day.My best advice would be to "try before you buy" into the lifestyle. Many folks tire of the upkeep of a house, but not willing to commit totally to the tiny floorspace and storage areas of an RV, even a really large one, they migrate their possessions to a condo for some period of time. As time goes by, you will learn what suits you and what doesn't. Different ideas are appealing at different times in our lives.A small condo of some sort, packed with your treasures, is a nice feeling that if it turns out you are not quite ready, and may never be, to fulltime, you can easily retrieve your lifestyle by either living in the condo, or changing your mode to something more suitable.Putting your treasures in a storage room is a good alternative, but you might find that the price differential when you consider the cost of moving them in, and then out, plus the cost of climate controlled storage, to be not that much different from providing yourself with a static, if temporary, homebase for a trial period. One where you can spread out and relax as the mood strikes. The downside is not only the cost, but the responsibility and vulnerability of an auxiliary abode.If you have a usable place at the moment, and the upkeep can be hired out while you are gone, then this could provide you with a good experience to see how you do in fulltime mode with little downside apart from the cost to do.No matter what route you take, it is going to require expenditures, and if there is a spouse/SO involved, this experiment can get pretty dicey, so MUCH care and thought is required. Testing the waters with as little disruption as possible, at least to me, would provide the best gauge to evaluate the experiment, with a cushion to fall back on if it turns out just not to suit as much as you thought it would.Once a year has passed, and you have experienced what it is like to be encased in a small space, and have experienced the joys of making sure you always have a safe place to turn off your motor at bedtime, along with dealing with a year's worth of weather, highway and purchasing of necessities experiences, you will be in a better position to evaluate what actions on your part would make you the happiest.Virtual hugs,Judie <-- Sierra Vista, ArizonaAdventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the WestToday: Baby Pizzas******************************** 6 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #5 – July 07, 2018, 11:37:04 am I have been full timing now for 11 years.Before this adventure I spent 7 years living on a motorcycle traveling the world.So for the last 18 years I have not had a home to deal with.It has been a very interesting life to live and I highly recommend it.I also don't pay to stay, so that has added some challenges.I am a simple man, so my needs are minimal, I am also solo, no wifeor companion to complicate matters.I've seen Bob Wells and his traveling circus camped out near Flagstaff.He has a cult following, I suppose he enjoys the accolades they bestow upon him.Not my thing, but... 6 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #6 – July 07, 2018, 11:54:44 am P.S.I call it a nomadic lifestyle, it suits me just fine and always has.Think of that when considering this approach.Not everyone is meant to wander, but if you are, then this lifestyle works out rather well. 3 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #7 – July 07, 2018, 12:02:34 pm What Judie said! Good to have an exit plan, just in case. You may also want to join the Escapees:Escapees RV Club (Home) · Freedom Driven
Re: Question for full timers Reply #8 – July 07, 2018, 12:29:00 pm Quote from: Jota - July 07, 2018, 11:54:44 amP.S.I call it a nomadic lifestyle, it suits me just fine and always has.Think of that when considering this approach.Not everyone is meant to wander, but if you are, then this lifestyle works out rather well.I think I'm there but getting my wife there is the challenge. She loves her garden and her home.
Re: Question for full timers Reply #9 – July 07, 2018, 12:41:54 pm "I think I'm there but getting my wife there is the challenge. She loves her garden and her home. "From what I have read and experienced over the years, unless there is harmony in decisions along the way, abandoning Ye Old Homestead, even temporarily for extended, or even short, periods of time over objections of one party seldom works out well.Some couples compromise by having the wanderlust party travel alone some of the time, with joint (possibly shorter) adventures from time to time. You will no doubt hear of such arrangements, but it is definitely NOT something that would work in our household.There is plenty of frustration to go around with any method you choose, but the rewards must outweigh the annoyances, or there is no point to doing this. Virtual hugs, Judie 2 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #10 – July 07, 2018, 01:15:27 pm Quote from: Judie Ashford - July 07, 2018, 12:41:54 pm"I think I'm there but getting my wife there is the challenge. She loves her garden and her home. "From what I have read and experienced over the years, unless there is harmony in decisions along the way, abandoning Ye Old Homestead, even temporarily for extended, or even short, periods of time over objections of one party seldom works out well.Some couples compromise by having the wanderlust party travel alone some of the time, with joint (possibly shorter) adventures from time to time. You will no doubt hear of such arrangements, but it is definitely NOT something that would work in our household.There is plenty of frustration to go around with any method you choose, but the rewards must outweigh the annoyances, or there is no point to doing this. Virtual hugs, Judie I think I've convinced her to leave for next summer and not plant her garden and see what we both think after a few months. We may both then decide we love it or can't wait to get home. Time will tell. She always looks happiest working in her vegetable garden though so I have my doubts but you never know. 1 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #11 – July 07, 2018, 01:20:05 pm "From what I have read and experienced over the years, unless there is harmony in decisions along the way, abandoning Ye Old Homestead, even temporarily for extended, or even short, periods of time over objections of one party seldom works out well."-----I am not a fulltimer, but have known (and do know) quite a few fulltiming couples who would agree wholeheartedly with Judie's statement. In my experience, if both "halves" are not on the same page with the plan, it's not going to work. Depending on the relationship and the individuals involved, maybe the "reluctant" one will agree to go along to please the other, but from my observations, this decision can lead to foot-dragging resentment and unhappiness for both. Gaylord Maxwell was the founder of Life on Wheels, an RV lifestyle educational seminar that ran for several years until Gaylord passed away in 2008. (If interested, see these links: Life on Wheels gaylord maxwell at DuckDuckGo)Gaylord presented "fulltiming lifestyle compatibility assessment" how-to in many sessions at LoW, and wrote several books on all aspects of fulltiming. Some of the information in the materials in his booklet, Fulltiming: An Introduction to Full-time RVing, is outdated, but the basic information on the lifestyle is just as valid today as when it was written. The best buys on the booklet is from a vendor on Abe Books:Gaylord Maxwell - AbeBooksAnother source is Bill and Jan Moeller's Complete Guide to Full-Time RVing: Life on the Open Road; check Abe Books for vendors of this one, too. Information and resources and technologies change quickly; people are much slower to do so.As ever, YMMV. 3 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #12 – July 07, 2018, 01:42:00 pm Quote from: Sawyer - July 07, 2018, 01:15:27 pmI think I've convinced her to leave for next summer and not plant her garden and see what we both think after a few months. We may both then decide we love it or can't wait to get home. Time will tell. She always looks happiest working in her vegetable garden though so I have my doubts but you never know.We have the same issue regarding the garden. Our solution (when we get to that point) is to travel in the Fall and Winter. Too crowded (and hot) in the Summer months anyway!
Re: Question for full timers Reply #13 – July 07, 2018, 01:54:36 pm Compromise is always in order when choosing a lifestyle.That doesn't mean the creative person can't overcome some of the problems.Vertical garden could work.
Re: Question for full timers Reply #14 – July 07, 2018, 02:12:37 pm "Vertical garden could work."Wow, where do you store that while underway?It looks so... so... Sanitary! 1 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #15 – July 07, 2018, 02:21:44 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - July 07, 2018, 02:12:37 pm"Vertical garden could work."Wow, where do you store that while underway?It looks so... so... Sanitary! Looks like it would fit in my shower just right. Remove when at camp.I did say creativity is in order.I was at Casino Del Sol in their giant parking lot.Someone in a big class A diesel pusher had a hanging garden for tomatoes outside their RV.
Re: Question for full timers Reply #16 – July 07, 2018, 03:46:09 pm "Someone [...] had a hanging garden for tomatoes outside their RV."One year at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta my Boston Terrier 'Jiggs' lifted his leg and contributed 'water' to a potted tomato. The lady whose plant it was did not seem too happy. I told her I would not charge for the added liquid! The discussion came to an abrupt end at that point. 4 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #17 – July 07, 2018, 04:04:10 pm We'll be giving it a go end of next year. Reaching a few milestones in life - kids graduate college, I'll be 65 and pretty much done with the work thing. Love to travel but work and family have kept me tied up. Looking forward to it.Bob 2 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #18 – July 07, 2018, 06:07:41 pm Quote from: JCT - July 07, 2018, 01:20:05 pm"From what I have read and experienced over the years, unless there is harmony in decisions along the way, abandoning Ye Old Homestead, even temporarily for extended, or even short, periods of time over objections of one party seldom works out well."-----I am not a fulltimer, but have known (and do know) quite a few fulltiming couples who would agree wholeheartedly with Judie's statement. In my experience, if both "halves" are not on the same page with the plan, it's not going to work. Depending on the relationship and the individuals involved, maybe the "reluctant" one will agree to go along to please the other, but from my observations, this decision can lead to foot-dragging resentment and unhappiness for both. Gaylord Maxwell was the founder of Life on Wheels, an RV lifestyle educational seminar that ran for several years until Gaylord passed away in 2008. (If interested, see these links: Life on Wheels gaylord maxwell at DuckDuckGo)Gaylord presented "fulltiming lifestyle compatibility assessment" how-to in many sessions at LoW, and wrote several books on all aspects of fulltiming. Some of the information in the materials in his booklet, Fulltiming: An Introduction to Full-time RVing, is outdated, but the basic information on the lifestyle is just as valid today as when it was written. The best buys on the booklet is from a vendor on Abe Books:Gaylord Maxwell - AbeBooksAnother source is Bill and Jan Moeller's Complete Guide to Full-Time RVing: Life on the Open Road; check Abe Books for vendors of this one, too. Information and resources and technologies change quickly; people are much slower to do so.As ever, YMMV.Good links. Thanks
Re: Question for full timers Reply #19 – July 07, 2018, 06:17:38 pm Quote from: rprice - July 07, 2018, 04:04:10 pmWe'll be giving it a go end of next year. Reaching a few milestones in life - kids graduate college, I'm be 65 and pretty much done with the work thing. Love to travel but work and family have kept me tied up. Looking forward to it.BobI'm about two years younger than you and have been thinking 65 would be a good number to shoot for to go full time. Give me a little time to get the house sold and divest myself of way too much stuff. I'd probably get a storage locker for essential tools and my wife's a gourmet cook so she'd want to keep her cook wear but I'd love to get rid of extra cars and lawnmowers and snowblowers and tractors and a saw mill and a barn full of junk from never throwing anything away in my life. George Carlin has a good scetch on this.https://youtu.be/MvgN5gCuLac
Re: Question for full timers Reply #20 – July 07, 2018, 06:39:15 pm "my wife's a gourmet cook so she'd want to keep her cook wear"Hint: If your wife has quality gourmet cookware - virtually anything to do with cooking/baking - box it up and keep it safe if it isn't going to go with you everywhere.I was astounded when I re-opened some of my boxes of cookware and other utensils when we got off the road. Quality had plummeted during those years, and it was YIPPEE time when I reclaimed my darlings.Cooking/Eating is VERY import to us, and it isn't hard to keep it going on the road. Please make every effort to stay well by being careful with food while on the road. Virtual hugs, Judie <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West Today: Javelina Upheaval ********************************
Re: Question for full timers Reply #21 – July 07, 2018, 06:54:36 pm Quote from: Judie Ashford - July 07, 2018, 06:39:15 pm"my wife's a gourmet cook so she'd want to keep her cook wear"Hint: If your wife has quality gourmet cookware - virtually anything to do with cooking/baking - box it up and keep it safe if it isn't going to go with you everywhere.I was astounded when I re-opened some of my boxes of cookware and other utensils when we got off the road. Quality had plummeted during those years, and it was YIPPEE time when I reclaimed my darlings.Cooking/Eating is VERY import to us, and it isn't hard to keep it going on the road. Please make every effort to stay well by being careful with food while on the road. Virtual hugs, Judie <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West Today: Javelina Upheaval ******************************** Cookware, I stand corrected. LOL She has her tools and I have mine , oh and guns too, have to keep my guns. Oh and my chainsaws, have to keep them. Hmmm I'd like to keep the Honda atv too and the snowmobile and.....This might be harder than I think. 3 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #22 – July 08, 2018, 01:31:34 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - July 07, 2018, 03:46:09 pm"Someone [...] had a hanging garden for tomatoes outside their RV."One year at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta my Boston Terrier 'Jiggs' lifted his leg and contributed 'water' to a potted tomato. The lady whose plant it was did not seem too happy. I told her I would not charge for the added liquid! The discussion came to an abrupt end at that point. Golly, with drought & the need to conserve water--some people just can't appreciate a gift. I've learned to pick up the solids when the 4-Legged Alarm & I are off our own terra firma, but I'm not upset if somebody leaves some free fertilizer in my "pasture"...though the better-fertilized places sometimes look so healthy compared to the rest of the "pasture" that doesn't get such nutrients that I sometimes take a rake to re-distribute the gifts. On the other hand, I have a neighbor who periodically walks around his yard picking up after his dog--he also bags & sends his yard to the landfill each week (rather than letting the commercial fertilizer he applied in the spring recycle back into the lawn as he mows). Lynne 3 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #23 – July 08, 2018, 09:00:12 pm As someone earlier said, everyone's path into fulltiming is different. Barbara and I retired somewhat early and then spent 13 years traveling in a 27' LD MB on trips ranging from weekend to multi-month excursions. Barbara voiced an interest in fulltiming, but I still liked having a place with a workshop, etc. In 2014 on a 6 month tour of the southeast we had a few major goals and housesitters we had to get back to release, and felt that we couldn't take the time to explore some areas as much as we would have liked. That tipped our thinking strongly toward fulltiming. Our extended traveling in the LD convinced us that we got along fine living 24x7 in a small space. We also discovered that we didn't really have any strong attachment to most of our belongings and our son wasn't interested in any of it. Several fulltimers we talked to told similar stories of emptying storage lockers after 2 or 3 years and regretted spending the money storing stuff they no longer cared about. So think carefully about why you want to store anything. We still find we are often getting rid of stuff and further simplifying our lives. We felt like we needed a coach with the cargo capacity to take everything we needed/wanted with us, have sufficient room to live in for an extended time and to tow any reasonable toad. We ended up looking at Class A diesel pushers and ended up with a Tiffin 37AP Allegro Bus which has worked well for us. All RV decisions are set of compromises. Certainly there are times we miss some of the small, out of the way places we could get with the LD, but we are very comfortable in our current coach. It seems that the majority of people that enjoy the fulltime lifestyle are forced to quit because of health issues or diminishing physical capability. You really need to have a rational exit strategy for when that time comes.Art and Barbara,Currently visiting Glacier NP 2 Likes
Re: Question for full timers Reply #24 – July 08, 2018, 09:21:45 pm Art & Barbara,I had an older co-worker who was very enthusiastic about our RB. The last I saw him he was heading out for a “walk-about” in his Tiffin. I haven’t seen him back at the plant in over a year. Full timing is an idea that has crossed my mind but the Sticks & Bricks is a good place to hang my hat when it’s time to do so. In the meantime, I’m disposing of everything that takes up space at home that has little use. All except my Laserdisc Collection. Still plenty of room for that. But not in the LD.Kent 2 Likes
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