We did 11,000 miles the first six months - all four coasts (Pacific, Great Lakes, Atlantic, Gulf) and we're exhausted when we got back to Texas. After that we slowed down and went to the 2-2-2 plan when we traveled and spent more time in membership parks at 2 weeks each. While we still travel 8-10,000 miles a year, it is a lot slower and we only have a couple of weeks that are travel almost every day, like getting from Dallas to Phoenix - that's a five day through boring country that we make each year.
Barb
Barb & Dave O'Keeffe - full-timing since 2006 Traveling catpanion Shadow (age 15) Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS) Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) FMCA - F337834, SKP #90761 Our Blog
Start with a simple day, to the first camp ground, do not drive to long, in miles, or time, get there with plenty of time.
Prepare a meal at home, that you only need to heat, in the micro or the oven, set a table, with a table cloth, with wine, a candle in a hurricane ( mayo jar with a candle in it), serve dinner, on good plastic coated paper plates, use real cuttlery, when dinner is done, trow plates out, cutlery wash next morning.
Hang a sign that says
"IF RV BE ROCKING, DON'T COME A KNOKING"
Let her know, that the best part of life, is just starting, we have been full timers, for 5 years and we love it, no get-there-ittis.
We travell and if we like the area, we stay longer, if not we move on, try to get information, on the areas that you are going to be in, to see what there is, and do.
Navegator
* This post was
edited 03/27/12 09:12am by an administrator/moderator *
It's funny how differently we all think. We start fulltime on 4/5. We have always been planners. Not knowing where we are going - where we will stay, we both would find very stressful. Our first 12 months of full timing is planned out as to where we will be going and where we will be staying - some reservations have been made a year in advance. Most places we will be staying 2-4 weeks. We have places and things we want to see and the way we do that is to plan it out. To us - half the journey is the planning of the journey.
This is what works for us.
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I would ask her where she would like to go and then make a rough plan and route to get there. Research interesting places to check out along the way. Stop at places that catch your eye.
Remember, it is not just the destination anymore, it is also the journey getting there. People are used to only having a few days vacation so they rush along, using mostly super highways, rush rush rush! If you are retired what is the rush? Enjoy every mile of the road! Smell the roses! Take your time. I think once you get the need to hurry out of her system and she learns to just kick back and relax she will wonder why you have not been doing that all along.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness..."
Mark Twain
I would suggest you talk with your wife and find out what her ideas are. She may be looking at fulltiming in a completely different light than you are.
You didn't indicate if she suggested other options, or where it was she was wanting to "get to". Look at maps, pick out things you both want to see and take each others ideas.
I think sometimes we forget that the freedoms we have are freedoms not because of celebrities. The freedoms are because of ordinary people who did extraordinary things, who loved this country more than life itself.
We did 11,000 miles the first six months - all four coasts (Pacific, Great Lakes, Atlantic, Gulf) and we're exhausted when we got back to Texas. After that we slowed down and went to the 2-2-2 plan when we traveled and spent more time in membership parks at 2 weeks each. While we still travel 8-10,000 miles a year, it is a lot slower and we only have a couple of weeks that are travel almost every day, like getting from Dallas to Phoenix - that's a five day through boring country that we make each year.
Barb
Thanks Barbara, we'll probably be a bit like that at first, hopefully we'll learn that not having to follow a schedule is a good thing.
I agree that you need to find out what your wife would like to do and where she would like to go. on the ocassion when we don't have to be to a rally for weeks, a month or more we try to explore the area near us. We also loosely plan our route to our next rally and decide what sights we want to see along the way. We try to get on the road by the crack of 10 and stop by 3 or 4. We travel up to about 250 miles in a day if needed.
My wife does most of the planning while we are on the road. She will read about the area we are passing thru and find interesting things to see along the way. It did take a little while for us to get out of vacation mode and we enjoy the journey when we have the time. (we are vendors at about a dozen rallies a year)
So, maybe you should pull out a map and ask her where she wants to go first.
We've been part timing now for about 5 years. Not everyone is cut out for the lifestyle. You can't make someone like FT'ing if it's not their style regardless what you attempt.
I remember so many years ago in college reading that some can relax while watching grass grow, while others need to skydive to get the same recharge. Maybe she just needs more then you do. Never hurts to have a heart to heart talk.
We went to Yellowstone the first trip after I retired. I found out that she is afraid of the scenic view type of roads. We left Yellowstone by the northwest exit because it wasn't as steep and swung back around through Montana. I would love to go out to Yellowstone again and beyond because there is still so much more to see in the North West. But on the other hand I understand what it is like to have a phobia and that you have to want to do something really strongly before you can do it and overcome the phobia. I used to be afraid of flying-I just couldn't relax. I had to take an anxiety pill to fly to Hawaii and again to Cancun but now flying doesn't bother me. I think I was as afraid of not being in control as I was of the altitude.
Get rid of bills!
Don't worry about reunions, kids, who shot John or what's on tv.
Throw away the clock.
Buy a Pontoon boat and let her take you fishing.
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