I have just told the two family members closest to me about our plans. They think we are crazy giving up all the stability that we have now. I expected as much and have not been swayed from our decision. We are young to be fulltimers, I am 37, Damian is 35. What has been others experiences in telling their family their decision?

Damain&Dawn

We get those looks from friends and family alike but life is an adventure again and they are getting used to the idea.  Being retired we have more stability than some but not having a house is a big deal to a lot of people.  We do have a home and it is on wheels.  We try to be flexible and work with those who are not so flexible.  Sometimes we have to bend a long ways to work out their needs.

Larry and Jacki

I've had a very positive response.  First, my 4 kids haven't tried to talk me out of it, although the oldest plays devil's advocate once in a while.  Thatis his job as the oldest, which I understand, being the oldest of 8.   One of my 7 siblings was leery of the idea at first, but he has become pretty enthusiastic.  Another plans to do the same thing in his Class A if their house ever sells.  But what others think or say has never swayed my own decisions, although it's a good idea to listen to the negatives (and positives) that they pose.   Good luck.
gypsy

Welcome to the Crazy Club!!

Yep, we're crazy because we don't want to maintain a house and pay those taxes,

We're crazy because we don't want to shovel snow any more.

We're crazy because we want to travel all over the U.S. and see all the beautiful areas of our country. 

We're crazy because we want to go South in the winter and North in the summer to avoid the temperature extremes.

We're crazy because we love the freedom that we have by being Full-timers.

By now, I think you get the idea. Yea, we're crazy but it sure is wonderful!!

Jim

Thanks everyone!

It is good to see that I am not the only "crazy" person out there. I wish we could head out tonight but alas it will be another 9-12 months before we have this house sold and all our ducks in a row.

Looking forward to meeting you all on the open road!

Dawn

Yep, that "stability" and "home base" stuff just seems to freak some folks out. Last I checked my stabilizing jacks were very "stable" thank you and my "home base" - is wherever I want it in the weather I want accessing the things I want to do - which seems pretty nice too. But alas, it's just not considered the "norm." Go figure. To stay put and only dream about doing that which you want is considered the norm, to actually live your dream is considered weird. I don't get it.

I have found that after some personal thought by those you tell, it eventually hits them: OMG! What could be better than living where and when you choose near that which you enjoy? They then further realize - Why do we continue to live "the dream" that everyone else thinks is "the dream "(you know, 2 cars, half acre, stuff everywhere, putting off what we want to do in the name of a "vacation", mowing, acquiring, etc.). That's the "stability" and "home base" that society has deemed as common and acceptable. Ughhh! It seems to usually take 6 months or so before it dawns on them what you are seeking and doing and finally to accept it - if not even embrace it. You are living a perpetual vacation without bounds! They become envious!

But, my one caveat as a solo is that my pickup line of "your place or my camper" just does not seem to work very well... I wonder why? (That's a rhetorical question folks - but feel free to PM me any tips!) Oh well, I am in the middle of magnificent mountains and trout laden waters today. Who knows tomorrow? Can it be any better?

OK Dude you got your point across... as I set here in Dallas with 105 degree weather...Who is crazy??? What intelligent human being would stay here when he could be with the Dude in the mountains on a stream fishing??? Well the only thing that holds me here is the fact I have to work until I can get some other form of income to feed me and keep me in a RV by that stream. Alas, come February I will be free to leave this place and follow the comfortable climates where ever they may be. Yes I am STARK RAVING MAD....and soon I will be lose on this nations Highways. Somebody Stop Me..... The Mad Dr Speedmister

Dr. Speed, that's exactly how I feel until I get a couple of potential buyers come through my house.  I'm so keyed up I started listing items in the kitchen that I just have to take with me, and I will weigh each, and then go on to the other rooms.  I wish I already had my rv so I could just start putting things into it.
gypsy

As a safety net and for financial security we are going to buy our RV before we sell, when we sell live in a nearby RV park and Damian will continue to work his secure job and we can save a ton of money. I think it is important for us to live the lifestyle BEFORE he quits a good secure job.

Have any of you gone this route? Staying in your area with your RV for a while to make sure you want to live the lifestyle fulltime for a least a few years.

My family thinks it will be so difficult for us financially, we will actually have an extra 1,000 dollars a month to play with, right now we just get by, how is that not making it? We are a few months paychecks away from losing our house the same as most people now anyways.

Speedy - you crack me up!!  I like your sense of humor.

Rainbow, I'm 35 and hubby is 48.  Most people we talked to thought we were crazy, but I think they are just jealous.  I actually had a couple people admit they were jealous and wished they could travel the country too.   My father on the other hand says "You gotta raise hell today, because you never know what tomorrow will bring." 

Enjoy your adventure!

My brother thinks we're crazy!  He has a lot to talk about since he will be 74 this year and still rides his motorcycle and flys a plane!  I'm younger  than he is, so don't feel that our dream of full-time RVing is crazy at all!!  I'm just sorry we didn't think about it when I retired 7 years ago!

My family had a tough time adjusting to the thought that we'd be out of town most of the time. We are all very close and this is "not normal" for our family. Our middle daughter had the toughest time, but now, 3.5 years into it, the family is very supportive. They've found that we keep in touch easily and we make a point of being home for Christmas and most of the summer. Biggest thing is to do what you want to do - once the kids are grown, you gotta live your dreams. The family will handle it. And if they can't, then that's on them, not you! ;) Enjoy!!

          My grown children are unfazed while my siblings (I'm almost 60) look at me in distraught horror as they are now childless again but opted to up-size.  Now they have arthritus and huge lawns; no kids and 4 bedrooms; and need an intercom to find each other.  Who's crazy?

Great point as usual Howard!

Stability is a myth for everyone.  We are more stable here on the road than we ever were in our stick and bricks and our jobs, with budget cuts, Reductions in Force, legislative whims, etc.  At the least, here on the road we know what it takes for us to get by and we know now exactly how we can get it should all those legislative whims decide to take away what we now have.  All in all and when everything else has been said and done, the freedom of being debt free and know how to get what you need is very reassuring and gives me a great deal of stability.

JMO

I agree with all that has been said here.  There is NO stability living in a "sticks and bricks" and following the norm.  We have been planning to fulltime for about a year - waiting for the house to sell.  In that length of time our house has depreciated (or at least the value has gone down) about $15K and they say only RVs depreciate. LOL . Not in this housing market.  Last month Mike found out his company was in a buyout.  For three weeks we have waited not knowing if his unit would be retained or closed.  We found out last week that his unit was purchased as a franchise so his product output(bottom line) has now been dropped greatly.  He has worked for five years to build up that business and now it is being greatly reduced.  You work hard, late hours and bust yourself and then it all goes away.  Now that sounds like stability doesn't it??  We are not sure how long things will last as it is but it doesn't matter to us.  As soon as the house sells Mike retires and we are on our way fulltiming. It will feel good to be debt free and in charge of our own destiny and not have someone else control it. 
Our society has defined the norm and most people just live in it without ever questioning why.  Oh well, if we are crazy then I guess we are in great company. 
I think you need to know what you want for your life and what brings peace to your life and then stand strong in your convictions.  People do adjust to the concept and some really do envy the idea.
Hang in there and oh by the way - welcome!!!

There are many people who cannot comprehend not being able to accumulate nice "stuff".  They go shopping several times a week and never come home empty handed.  My next door neighbors own a triple-wide, have a beautiful wrap around deck on 3 sides; on the front deck are 4 patio umbrellas & a table & chair set.  On the back deck are 5 patio umbrells & table/chair set.  Two huge grills, hot tub, unbelievable landscaping, and I could go on and on.  They would NEVER understand why anyone would give up their house & possessions to go live in a 250-350 sq ft RV, and they would never envy someone who does so.  To them freedom is something else entirely, and debt and accumulation of things is a way of life that they know & understand.  I will be SO glad to be out of this environment.
gypsy

Living in southern California, (earthquake central) what stability does a sticks & bricks house provide. All of this that we've struggled for can be wiped out in a 7.0 on the Richter Scale minute.

I'm sure it's the same for those folks who live in tornado alley, hurricane territory or flood plains, all of "it" can be wiped out in a blink of an eye.

In an RV, in most cases with warning of natural disasters, you can move out of the way to be safe. In case of an earhtquake, I'd much rather be in an RV with springs than a solid foundation sticks & bricks.

Howard & Linda and others who have taken the plunge and lived to blog about it, seem very happy in their chosen lifestyle.

This might call for a medical study.... compare the lifespan of 30 to 40 year olds who stay in their sticks & bricks and work hard to make ends meet- to 30 to 40 year olds that go out on the road and have fun making ends meet...who lives longer ???

What about the 50, 60, 70 and 80+ year old folks who choose to fulltime, How will their lifespan be affected                 

-- Edited by The Bear II at 09:52, 2008-08-11