Judgerr
Ilinois
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Joined: 07/17/2001
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My Wife and I have dreamed of full timing for the last 8 years or more. We couldn’t do it due to our need to care for my Mother. Long story short we lost her to cancer the end of March. Five years ago DR. told us to get Grand and Great Grandkids home to see her. She stayed healthy till about Nov. of last year then things started going bad and we lost her!
We are in the midst of wrapping up her estate, selling house etc. Now seriously thinking about full timing, it is mind blowing! How do we get rid of all the stuff we have accumulated in 44 years of marriage?
You who are full timers, did you have an auction? Did you feel you got a fair price for your stuff? How do I decide what tools to take and what to just sell? Did you get rid of anything that you regretted later?
At this point it looks like at least 2 years before we can be ready to full time. I am 67 years old, am I to old?? I will be 69 going on 70 before we can go. I am in good health now but who knows, how long can we expect to be able to do this?
I guess the whole thing in a nut shell is, now that the time is here I am suffering from the “I really want to go, but I’m afraid it is too late, and I really should stay" syndrome, if there is such a thing.
I guess I should tell you my wife is 64 and so excited about full timing she is already getting rid of some of her stuff! I guess it is just me who is now uncertain.
Help me please!!!!
2000 F-350 V-10 SRW Super Cab, 4x4 Short Bed. Prodigy Brake Control, BilSteins, and Scan Gauge II!
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shelbyd
20min west of Rochester, NY
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Joined: 10/25/2003
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Think of it as unloading some of the baggage so that when you finish your adventures on the road it will be that much easier to move on the the next phase. Your key words are that you are healthy and your spouse supports it. You will always wonder if you should have gone for it. We only go around once. It's never to late. Do what makes your heart happy.
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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How about closing up the house and try full timing for 6 months or so? Then deal with the house `stuff' if the FT lifestyle is still appealing.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
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sljkansas
Miami Co. Kansas
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Joined: 09/28/2005
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Several FT's I know have rented storage units for the things they want to keep and or need seasonal and sold the house. Then when the time comes to leave the road, they still have some of there things.
Steve & Linda
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2 Retired
Myrtle Beach, SC
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Think the suggestion to give it a try for 1/2 a year seems very practical. I think it would be a good idea (full timing or not) to begin the process of 'down-sizing' your possessions. DH and I made what will hopefully be our 'last move' into our retirement house and I unloaded soooooo much 'stuff' I always thought I would need (so did he) and now know we never really needed most of it in the first place. So what if you get rid of a tool you later find out you might need - go get a new one! Most of your power tools won't be necessary - yes, you might want a couple (drill, maybe a small circular saw) but a lawn mower? A jig saw? A belt sander? Doubt it strongly!!! Open the closet doors, get rid of everything you haven't used in a year anyway, and start there. After a 6 month 'trial run', see how well it works and move from there. We're in a similar situation you were in, but in reverse. We are helping our children with their 'munchkins' until they finish college. After that, hopefully, we're on the road. Don't think we will be true 'full timers', but, hopefully, many months of every year left will be spent seeing as much of this great country as possible. We have already set it up so we can afford to keep our house and still enjoy the road. Hopefully, 2 more years! Best of luck to you both.
BTW - with your good health, you'll never be too old to enjoy life!!
Two young retirees restless to GO!
Life is too short to wait too long to do all we want to do!!
Go and enjoy!!
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john and terry
Texas
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Joined: 05/19/2010
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sljkansas wrote:Several FT's I know have rented storage units for the things they want to keep and or need seasonal and sold the house. Then when the time comes to leave the road, they still have some of there things.
That may work for some, but all the full timers I know (including us) decided to sell all that junk. The ones that kept the stuff decided they were wasting their money on storage costs. They never missed the stuff. We don't either.
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rolling_rhoda
South Dakota
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Our good friends, over age 85, just bought a brand new top of the line MH. Winters = Florida, Summers = Wisconsin. They get out there and enjoy, because tomorrow things might be different. To each his own.
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MiPaJacks
Dallas
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Joined: 07/23/2010
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Big change is always scary. Humans are not built for it. Don't worry about health and stuff you have no control over. Go for it, you can always come off the road.
Sell the junk. Don't pay storage unless it will go up in value equal to the storage cost.
Pa
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Judgerr
Ilinois
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Joined: 07/17/2001
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Thanks for all the replys. I guess I really wasn't meaning to ask if we should go, as we have already decided we are! It is hard to not have second thoughts I guess.
We are hoping to get away for a few months after the first of the year. Going to South Texas to visit full timing friends. Have to get Moms house sold etc. Before we can think about ours.
I guess I mainly want to know, how did you all get rid of everything? Don't want to just give it away! I guess an auction is the best way.
Like I said did you feel you got a fair price? Ripped off?
I look around and it's like "where did all this stuff come from"?
Anyhow Thanks again!
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Chillyrodent
On the road
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Joined: 05/23/2009
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We moved into our MH parked in the driveway - lived there for the best part of a year before untethering and going. It helped us figure out what we needed to live and be happy, and what was just weighing us down.
Glad you're going. Two years ago I was going through some normalish fears about leaving the "safety" of home, when my ex-husband (49) dropped dead. One month later, our 49-year-old neighbor died from cancer no one knew about. I was 48 and decided it was time to GET OUTTA THERE! Don't postpone joy.
Happy travels!
The Good Luck Duck
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