Yogi and Boo wrote: 1. The obstacles of doing every days tasks, (like getting mail)
2. Erratic or NO internet access
3. Getting adequate medical treatment
4. The MH just wasn't big enough
Then onto the emotional aspect:
1. The lonely & empty feeling of not belonging any where. Having no safe haven to return to in case of significant events causing us to "go home".
2. Well, I guess there is no # 2, and # 1 just about covers it.
Fulltiming is definitely not for everyone. After more than 8 years on the road we have met many who have tried and did not like it. The main reasons we have seen is...
#1 No garage/shop for him and his tools and toys
#2 No nest for her and the place to have family and friends, gardens and things
#3 No order and routine
This lifestyle is made to order for those with the "pioneer spirit. A hundred and fifty years ago we would have been using conesotga wagons pulled by oxen and mules to move around, seeking our future. Everything we own is with us. My ancestors were among those folks.
We have solved all the the problems mentioned above. It took some work, but...there it is
We are those modern pioneers. If we ever find that "perfect" place or get physically unable to travel we may settle down. If we do, we know it will have to be where it is green and by water. But those are the only requirements.
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
DataStorm
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2005 Teton 39' Frontier Grand
2003 Freightliner FL60
Life Member Good Sam
Escapees
Geocache..."RVcachers" RV net Blog
We wanted the freedom that the full-timing lifestyle embodies. Yes we are still young and have two small children, but we got tired of being tied down to a house and all that it entails: maintenance, yard, furnishings, trying to keep up with your neighbors and a society that says you have to! We were tired of being defined and confined by a lot and privacy fence and neighbors that yelled at us for leaving for a trip too early in the morning and waking them up! So we said to h*ll with it and moved into our TT and now our 5er and are not looking back. Me and the DW have decided that we very likely will not ever have a house again. We love to travel too much and when I am off, the truck is hitched and ready to go, not having to worry about the house and belongings that we are leaving behind and that is the freedom that we enjoy.
And BTW, our lot where we are parked when we aren't on the road only costs us $240/mo. It is a nice, quiet little mobile home/RV park and we have quite a bit of space. Our water bill is less than $20/mo and my electric bill is less than $100/mo with me running two electric heaters and the water heater full blast in the dead of winter. My insurance is less than the house insurance was and I have no taxes to pay. I still get a tax break on my 5er payment and we come out WAY ahead, so much so that I was able to afford my wife a newer car to replace the beater she had driven for 3 years. We still come out ahead and I should be able to retire earlier now than if we had stayed in the stick and brick, only because we can save more now. I know that most full-timers aren't working full time anymore but we are and we know a lot more people that are doing what we are doing. Just food for thought.
* This post was
edited 02/06/08 01:10pm by HaulinBass02 *
'06 Chevy CC/LB 4x4 3500 DRW Dmax/Alli a few go fast mods
'08 Pilgrim Legends 37QB4S-H5 full-timing ready!
JT Strongarms, 5th Airborne, few custom touches
Me (DH), DW, darling little boy and sweet little girl.
HaulinBass02 - good for you. With so many young people thinking the world owes them a living it's nice to hear from someone with a spirit of adventure and the gumption to get up and do something with thier life.
Be safe and stop by and say hi if you ever see me out there on the road.
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.
trkrhelp wrote: It's not a life style for everyone which is why you should start out part time and try it. Take longer and longer trips and one of two things will happen -
1. It'll be time to go back to the SB and you will be asking each other "Do we really have to go back?" - you're ready to try fulltiming.
or
2. It'll be time to go back to the SB and you will be anxious to get HOME - you are not ready to go fulltiming.
I'd never suggest anyone sell everything and hit the road until the road is calling them in a loud, clear and easy to understand voice. For those who've heard the call all the above are just part of life not problems or obstacles.
Great advice. I pretty much decided to do this but the above is clear and to the point. I'm a pessimist so don't think it will work for my wife and myself...but have to try!
We knew within 6 months of starting the full time lifestyle that we would need a home base or two to return to for either family or health reasons. We didn't miss the house but a place where you know the neighburs, maybe have a little storage shed, a place where you know your doctor, dentist, Vet etc. So we opted to buy a couple of RV lots in places we like and in one case close to Family. This has scratched the itch for us and after 4 1/2 of full timing years are in our happy place. In this way we also continue to have our feet in the ever changing real estate market. We have a home base in BC Canada and one in Palm Springs. This year we have been travelling through Mexico so we haven't spent a lot of time in Palm Springs but when we do go back it feels good to be in familiar surroundings for awhile. if you go to our website you can peruse our summer and winter digs. We picked up a couple of other lots along the way for long term investment but primarily only use the two.
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