Glenn and Dixie here, living east of Denton, TX. Just got started in the planning stages. Lots of spreadsheets calculating investment income projections, pension drawdown dates, etc. Visited a few RV dealer lots. Our plan so far:
- leave work end of 2010 (next year - *gulp*) - short sell or walk away from underwater mortgage - sell both cars and contents of house - purchase Jeep Liberty 4x4 and haul a trailer (17-20') - buy both used - trailer of choice is (so far) a Hi-Lo - trailer to be decorated in Tiki Bar style, christened as the 'Tiki Bar-V' (TM) - explore US and Canada, 2-3 years - eventually Mexico and maybe central America - utilize state and national parks, BLM land, forest service, etc. to minimize lot expense - stash the trailer, maybe sell the Jeep, hit the road doing long-term travel internationally
Best-case scenario is my investment strategy continues to work well and we leave work a bit early with around $150K in the bank, and the principal balance stays steady or increases. Wife's pension kicks in around 2020. SS comes later. Supplement income w/ workamping if necessary.
If things go south on us, we go back to work for awhile. Heck, we're already doing that now!
dixonge said
04:11 PM Dec 2, 2009
updates to my initial post:
- have upgraded plans to 3/4 ton pickup and 25' trailer - trailer of choice is a Timberlodge or equivalent
GENECOP said
07:44 PM Dec 2, 2009
Sounds like a GREEEEEAT PLAN, good luck, see you on the road, G
Speedhitch said
07:27 AM Dec 3, 2009
Looks like you are doing your homework. Your planning your work...now work your plan. The end results of whatever you end up with will be fun and the memories will be endless.
-- Edited by Speedhitch on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 07:27:54 AM
Adventurekat said
01:34 PM Dec 3, 2009
Thanks for sharing your story and plans with such honesty. I am planning on being on the road full time right around the time it looks like you are. We are also planning on a travel trailer, pulled by a truck. All the best to you, you seem like you have a solid plan and it sounds like a great lifestyle too, while you're at it!
dixonge said
01:43 PM Dec 3, 2009
Speedhitch wrote:
Looks like you are doing your homework. Your planning your work...now work your plan. The end results of whatever you end up with will be fun and the memories will be endless.
-- Edited by Speedhitch on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 07:27:54 AM
The reading can be exhausting. I tend to do it in spurts of hyperfocus. Then a week later I read something else and totally change my plans. LOL
One other update, actually something I left out of my original post: when I say 'explore' I mean leaving the campground in the morning and driving the truck to area hiking and biking opportunities. This will include some overnight backpacking/camping as well. The trailer will be part home, part base-station.
Our original plans were to car-camp everywhere, so the current plans are luxurious by comparison. LOL
eagleshea said
03:47 PM Dec 3, 2009
Welcome, sounds like you have a good plan. With a year to go those plans may change several times between now and then. I know ours is always changing, which is ok as long as we keep the main idea in focus.
rwarner22 said
08:43 PM Dec 3, 2009
Sounds like you are off and running. Good luck with your plans. And as you are finding out, your plans may change a lot more by the time you get the RV and underway. Be sure to enjoy it all. The planning for 2 years was a lot of fun for us. Now that we have been on the road for 6 months, we are very glad we spent the time we did to learn all we could.
Let us know if we can help and looking forward to hearing how your plans unfold...
Best wishes,
Terry and Jo said
07:38 AM Dec 4, 2009
Welcome to the RV Dreamer's family. If you are "crazy", then you aren't alone. Many of us are either full-timers, part-timers, or wannabees like yourself.
Glenn and Dixie here, living east of Denton, TX. Just got started in the planning stages. Lots of spreadsheets calculating investment income projections, pension drawdown dates, etc. Visited a few RV dealer lots. Our plan so far:
- leave work end of 2010 (next year - *gulp*)
- short sell or walk away from underwater mortgage
- sell both cars and contents of house
- purchase Jeep Liberty 4x4 and haul a trailer (17-20') - buy both used
- trailer of choice is (so far) a Hi-Lo
- trailer to be decorated in Tiki Bar style, christened as the 'Tiki Bar-V' (TM)
- explore US and Canada, 2-3 years - eventually Mexico and maybe central America
- utilize state and national parks, BLM land, forest service, etc. to minimize lot expense
- stash the trailer, maybe sell the Jeep, hit the road doing long-term travel internationally
Best-case scenario is my investment strategy continues to work well and we leave work a bit early with around $150K in the bank, and the principal balance stays steady or increases. Wife's pension kicks in around 2020. SS comes later. Supplement income w/ workamping if necessary.
If things go south on us, we go back to work for awhile. Heck, we're already doing that now!
- have upgraded plans to 3/4 ton pickup and 25' trailer
- trailer of choice is a Timberlodge or equivalent
-- Edited by Speedhitch on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 07:27:54 AM
The reading can be exhausting. I tend to do it in spurts of hyperfocus. Then a week later I read something else and totally change my plans. LOL
One other update, actually something I left out of my original post: when I say 'explore' I mean leaving the campground in the morning and driving the truck to area hiking and biking opportunities. This will include some overnight backpacking/camping as well. The trailer will be part home, part base-station.
Our original plans were to car-camp everywhere, so the current plans are luxurious by comparison. LOL
Feel free to ask questions.
Terry