maddog348 wrote: WOW!! Whatta thread. Just tryin' to figure out what to do an' how to plan to get out there. Don't rightly feel welcome no more. Guess won't post no more ???'s on this forum.
I find that really interesting. You're a Senior Member and feel offended by varying opinions and comments. I guess I don't see what you found so offensive on this topic.
As someone who does not full-time (yet!), I guess I would fall into the camp of those who might post questions about money and what to do if the MH is in the shop for days. I have not done so, but I can see the reason for such posts.
As I read it, if I were posting such a question, I would not be looking for absolute answers. With regard to money, I would be reading the various responses to reassure myself that my dream is not crazy. In fact, some of the discussions have helped to convince my wife that this might be doable sooner rather than later.
As far as maintenance questions are concerned, I would guess that we are looking to draw upon the experience of those who are living the lifestyle we dream of so as to have a better idea of what to expect in such situations.
I personally don't worry much about either. I have also had the pleasure of meeting a couple of full-timers face to face: Clay and his wife, Lee, who have been out there for a while doing this, and another couple we met while in Oregon that had just begun their adventure and were campground hosting for the first time this summer. I think my wife and I already know that it takes all kinds to full-time; otherwise, there would be no place for us
I also think maddog348 may have read in some of the posts what I did initially - until I read through the later messages where things were expanded upon and perhaps better explained.
In addition, I think it is much as Firedude put it. We who are not fulltiming or cannot live vicariously through those of you who can full-time and do. One day, I hope to be among your numbers.
trckrhlp - Luci and Desi are sitting by the windshield, warding off bad mojo as always. Not much of that in the off season anyway. The place looks like Slab City without people in it. Wonderfully unexciting, if visually unappealing. (I have found the spare parts I once mentioned, but got diverted by various repairs and another project. Turned out, what I have been learning from it will be pretty useful. I'll get back to souping up my pink pals soon, I hope!)
Mad, I never mind answering people's questions when I can. If nobody answered mine, where would I be?
I wouldn't discourage anyone from this choice of abode, either. I guess that's the thing - similar housing, but lots of ways to live in it. Just like anyplace else, except it's lots of places. The oddity of fulltiming is that it's sociable, but not exactly social unless you belong to a club. Everybody's off floating around at will. That's the whole purpose of it - to do your thing, your way. If some of us see it similarly, that just makes for a kind of virtual neighborhood, that's all. There's nothing exclusive about it, except that you live there or not. You just choose it when or if you choose it.
Shoot - I disagree with some of these guys at times. No big. They each have their own style, and that's what I like about 'em. Strong opinions and often acerbic wit (yay!) or not, I don't often catch any of them telling other people how to live. They get that. Considering our choices, anything else would be sheer hypocrisy. I suspect that we are generally nicer than you suspect we are, lol.
Walt, one thing to keep in the back of your mind, and it's a well-kept secret None of us who are F/Ters started out knowing it all or probably even a small portion of it. It's like golf.... we all had to learn. Some of us before these forums started, but we fumbled through and for the most part, are still learning. It's great to have the forums available to ask questions and sift through the information.
That said, I totally understand what the OP said. Because we have different experiences and events that we must sort through periodically, doesn't imply that we don't want to answer the questions of those contemplating this lifestyle or those who are newly F/Ters. I take it the OP was just opining about the events of her day with random thoughts.
Well I'm not mad at anybody nor would I ever be... it's like a bad movie ..don't like it shut it off. Lifes to short to finish a bad book, toss it start a better one.
I've spent most of my life worring more about what other people think of me then I spent worrying about what " I " think of me...no more, nope.
I know I have so much to learn but am trying to prepare my selt to handle whatever comes my way.
F/T can't be that hard mostly it's done by older folks and I figure if they can I can... I never even thought of what if my T/V ended up in the shop for a week or so...but I know I can deal with it, I read and found the answer...tow the TT to a CG and wait!...in a MH I guess that's not an option.
Most of the answers to the questions I don't know are here in this place, I have a laptop and a cell phone, one to research with and one to call somebody who may give a **** about my problem! lol
My biggest problem is the thought of looking at a beautiful sunset and not having somebody to share it with... that too will solve it's self one way or another.
I'm thankful I found this place, and the people here that can and will help us cherrys and not laugh too hard... maybe?
It's a bit scary jumping off into the abyss alone but there it is...deal with it.
I guess my first thing is to pick a direction, got that, West... Utah...Lake Powell area, then who knows... will think of another place after that one...
I may be wrong but I really don't think squating in a CG all winter would be fun... rather be out hiking the boonies and watching the sun rises... but??? who knows?
I've never hit a golf ball..... well I did shoot one once from a ways off to prove I could..
Don't swim with this body...BUT ..plan to!! as soon as I lose third of me!!
I'm maybe a mile from the beach, if it makes more sense to you that way, Trip. Down here, when the snowbirds go home it's like ghost towns. I like it better that way. More hookups, less people. In town, but not. About as little or as much solitude as I please. I like people. Just don't need 'em in my face 24/7. Or even 1/7. Got a MH and no toad (shopping for one now). I don't need to be way out in the boonies where a simple grocery run is a life-altering event, lol. Just trying to decide what to do for the winter, that's all.
Amazing to me is the number of people who own MH's and store them around here most of the year. They just fly in and out or drive their cars here and hardly use the MH's at all. Then they stick 'em in a CG and don't drive them anyway. That's just...beyond me. I see the point of not wanting to store up north, since you have to winterize and all. I see the savings in flying or driving a car. I just don't see the point of letting the MH sit virtually unattended or maintained, or why you'd want a Class A if you aren't really going anywhere in it when there are much less expensive and complicated park models all over the place. I asked a couple of permanents here, but they don't get it, either. Maybe that's park of the 'mystique'? Some people just like the idea of it much more than the fact of it - enough to sink many thousands into the things, anyway. I looked at the storage lot. They are not high-end rigs, in general. So these are not wealthy people with just oodles of cash to burn. They must be getting something out of it they really, really want or I suppose they wouldn't do it.
Serena, I've never gotten that either The park where we winter in Malabar has a storage lot with several trailers and MH's in it as well. I get storing the trailer, saves you having to have a TV, but I don't get storing a MH. And you're also right about them not being the high enders, which is whole other story. I especially like the Prevosts parked next to the beach home. They drive it down from up north, park it next to their beach place - then drive it back up north in the summer. A million and a half or more to drive back and forth between the summer and winter houses. Must be nice to have that much money to burn.
Glad to hear the kids are well Uppity and Persnickity are standing guard outside the front door fending off the uppitys for us
* This post was
edited 07/21/08 07:23pm by trkrhelp *
John Ewing
2007 Allegro Bus 42QRP ("TisIt")
2005 Sportster/HydraLift ("Dinky")
2002 Miata toad ("Mellow Yellow") www.jandse.com
FMCA 104106
What goes around comes around - always treat others the way you'd like them to treat you.
Hey John did you find out anything on the toad yet??? Hope it wasn't the worse case scenario!
Just to set the record straight here for those who might not know. I have an awful lot of respect and admiration for Wacky (WTTCS) and they have a wealth of information available to those who ask as many of you do. I learned though along time ago not to argue with Wacky........................................................
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I know that's right John. This place here is a bit different from what I saw further up the coast. But you know where I was - not a high-end anything anywhere on that lot! A neighbor wanted to go look at the old Bounder for sale on the highway, so I went along. Daylight was streaming in through the roof from the big hold in the bedroom roof. So rickety, he was afraid to climb the ladder. That hole had been there so long, the dresser under it had completely disintegrated. (I was...downbeach from y'all, I guess we'd call it, lol.)
I also met a couple of people there who liked to fulltime it on their boats. Sounds like they've kinda outdone us both in terms of appreciating compact living spaces, and the solitude-on-demand deal. Just cast off and drop an anchor when you figure you're far enough out, and come back in when you want. No trailer. That's home. I'm told that's even way different than this. They sweat maintenance in ways we probably haven't even thought of yet.
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None of us who are F/Ters started out knowing it all or probably even a small portion of it. It's like golf.... we all had to learn. Some of us before these forums started, but we fumbled through and for the most part, are still learning. It's great to have the forums available to ask questions and sift through the information. 
The park where we winter in Malabar has a storage lot with several trailers and MH's in it as well. I get storing the trailer, saves you having to have a TV, but I don't get storing a MH. And you're also right about them not being the high enders, which is whole other story. I especially like the Prevosts parked next to the beach home. They drive it down from up north, park it next to their beach place - then drive it back up north in the summer. A million and a half or more to drive back and forth between the summer and winter houses. Must be nice to have that much money to burn. 
