Wanted to say hi and stop lurking. I found this site over the weekend and find I keep coming back. While I've looked at other RV and/or Full-Timing Forums in the past, this one just has a different tone and so much fun and helpful information.
I'm Carol and my SE (Spousal Equivelant) is Johnny. We have a 13 year old Australian Shepherd / Dingo mix named Sage who absolutely loves to travel. Before she came to live with me 8 years ago she traveled with my dad in his 18 wheeler all over the country. I think the happiest day of her life with me was when Johnny brought home the F350 HD Diesel King Ranch and she got to go for a ride!
I can't tell you where we are in terms of the full-timing dream. It's really just a big question mark right now. But I'm finding it more and more intriguing. We just came back from a 3 week rv trip (I hesitate to call it a vacation since as a realtor I did some work pretty much everyday we were gone) and I keep finding myself wandering back to exploring the full-timing question.
As mentioned, I'm a Realtor here in Austin, TX and about to turn 50 in a little less than 6 months. I've been getting those lovely reminders from AARP for over a year now. Johnny is 10 years older and semi-retired. He's 100% military disabled and works about 5 - 6 months a year at power plant outages. We live in Austin now but Johnny lived most of his life in Louisiana where he has grown kids and 3 grandsons with a 4th grandkid on the way. I never had any kids of my own, but have happily skipped directly to "gramma" status.
I have a big house in Austin and Johnny has a 40ft Fuzion 393 Toyhauler 5th wheel. He had a little travel trailer, but when he started working the outages decided it was time for something more liveable. The toyhauler lets us take the Suzuki Intruder 1500 with us on the road. So we've got an option here... When we travel we pretty much split the driving -- unless I do most of it. Remember... Truck driver dad... I think it's genetic!
As we were traveling the past month we got to talking about whether a motorhome would be a better fit for us. Johnny has rhuematoid arthritis so some of the set up gets to be a little difficult depending on how he's doing. So being the data queen I am I started poking around the internet looking at options and found this site. I also had a 35ft Fleetwood Pace Arrow in a previous life before Johnny... So I've had a motorhome and some experience manuvering one.
Part of me is very intrigued with the notion of simplifying. Just not sure we're ready to give up a bricks and sticks 100%. But it sure would be nice to have fewer expenses and not have to work quite so much. And having more flexibility to go visit the grandkids would be good and go with Johnny when he travels to an outage would be great. It would mean giving up real estate and doing something else, but I've been self-employed since 2001 so that wouldn't be an entirely new thing... Just not quite sure what I'd do.
Sorry to ramble on so long, but that's where we're at... Looking forward to getting to know all you fine folks better.
Carol and Johnny
heyduke said
07:12 PM Jul 21, 2010
carol we are about 100 miles from you and are on the path to fulltiming in march2011... welcome to the forum...
Speedhitch said
07:37 PM Jul 21, 2010
Corol...Sherri and I want to welcome you to the forum and hope we all can be of help to you both in the future. Maybe we will bump into each other down the road...
Somewhere in Time
Happytrails said
09:53 PM Jul 21, 2010
Welcome and glad you decided to drop in! Remember that we all started with the question mark!! You have to begin asking the questions and searching for the answers. In doing this you will find your personal answer.
We started full-timing in August 2009 and for us this has been a great decision. We love the lifestyle!!
Ask questions, read lots of books and listen. Attend rallies if that is a possibility for you all. Look into RV shows that might be in your area. Every bit of information will help you.
Good luck to you all!!
Ckerr said
09:59 PM Jul 21, 2010
Thanks for the warm welcomes! I'm sure none of the answers will come quickly, but I am the queen of analysis and research -- Just ask Johnny!
Looking forward to all future adventures and hope to run into many of you in the future!
Sammy said
04:21 AM Jul 22, 2010
Hi guys
How are your?!?
phyllen said
05:45 AM Jul 22, 2010
HI and welcome. As my hubby is from Louisiana and I am from New Jersey, we always wondered where we would settle come retirement. His kids live in Lake Charles area of Lousiana, Houston and Alabama. MIne live in NJ and Maryland. He has granddaughter not far from Austin in Burnett. Our solution? Fulltime RV as long as we enjoy it and are healthy enough.
But it was a process to come to this decision. Likewise, you are going through this process now. In the meantime continue to enjoy those trips.
You are right. This RV site is different. Not only a source of info but a real community.
Again, welcome and stop by often.
Jbbar said
07:46 PM Jul 22, 2010
Carol,
Welcome to the group, I am sure you will find someone here who has the answers to all of your questions. My wife and I live fulltime in our Motorhome but also have sticks and bricks back on the farm in Alberta. We are presently enjoying the summer back here on the farm down the road from Dogpound.
Racerguy said
08:37 PM Jul 22, 2010
Welcome, you found the right place for your questions.We are a friendly bunch.
Ckerr said
08:43 PM Jul 22, 2010
Racerguy: I'm intrigued by the name... We just came back from the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona Beach... Our annual BIG RV trip...
Jbbar: I grew up in North Dakota. Not sure how far it is to Dogpound.
Phyllis and Leonard: We're starting to think that fulltime rv living would let us visit the grandkids, but then take off for other parts of the world when we feel like it. And we've come to the conclusion that even though we have room for them to come visit us, somehow it will always fall on us to come their direction. Oh well... Louisiana is a nice place to visit.
Racerguy said
11:56 PM Jul 22, 2010
Ckerr,I've been involved in everything from dirt track stock car racing to Drag Racing.I'm envious of your trip to the Coke Race but plan to attend the Daytona 500 this coming year as we will be wintering in Florida. I'm to old to participate anymore but enjoy watching anything on 4 wheels go fast.
Ckerr said
06:53 AM Jul 23, 2010
Very cool George! I grew up watching winged sprint and late model cars on dirt tracks -- know Donny Schatz's dad from back home. Still love World of Outlaws races! Jealous about the Daytona 500. It's a great experience -- you'll love it. Only been once with my dad in 2002. That was the year Earnhardt was killed. Talk about a surreal experience...
Jbbar said
08:43 AM Jul 23, 2010
Dogpound is or rather was a whistle stop on a railroad that has been gone for 20 years 40 miles NW of Calgary. Although I have been to North Dakota I have not spent much time there, but I have spent a lot of time in Southern Saskatchewan and other than a pencil line on the map it is pretty much the same kind of country.
Terry and Jo said
01:03 PM Jul 23, 2010
Carol and Johnny,
Welcome to the process of research and learning. You have found a good source of information in the form of a number of knowledgable people who have been doing what you are thinking of doing. To be honest, Jo and I are not at that stage yet, although we have been researching for over 2 years.
Being that there is such a large number of knowledgeable as well as new learners, feel free to ask questions. You never know when one that you ask is one that no one else thought of asking. Also, your questions serve to give us all a chance to learn along with you in the answers that you get.
Should it be that you are embarrassed to ask a question, put that out of your mind. As I like to say, there are no dumb questions, although, there may be some smart alecky answers. Especially since you are Texans and I'm an Okie. I think it is in the constitution that us Okies are supposed to give you Texans fits.
But then, if you are embarrassed enough, there is always the private message function of the forums. Although that would limit the answers you could get, it can still be helpful. For instance, my research has led me to accumulate Ford Superduty brochures in Adobe (pdf) format. There has been a time or two that I sent some of those to interested people via e-mail so they could have access to the weight capacities of the truck they were interested in.
So, ask away, and have fun in the process.
Terry
Terry and Jo said
01:05 PM Jul 23, 2010
Edit: Crud! Double Post. Sorry.
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 23rd of July 2010 01:07:42 PM
I'm Carol and my SE (Spousal Equivelant) is Johnny. We have a 13 year old Australian Shepherd / Dingo mix named Sage who absolutely loves to travel. Before she came to live with me 8 years ago she traveled with my dad in his 18 wheeler all over the country. I think the happiest day of her life with me was when Johnny brought home the F350 HD Diesel King Ranch and she got to go for a ride!
I can't tell you where we are in terms of the full-timing dream. It's really just a big question mark right now. But I'm finding it more and more intriguing. We just came back from a 3 week rv trip (I hesitate to call it a vacation since as a realtor I did some work pretty much everyday we were gone) and I keep finding myself wandering back to exploring the full-timing question.
As mentioned, I'm a Realtor here in Austin, TX and about to turn 50 in a little less than 6 months. I've been getting those lovely reminders from AARP for over a year now.
I have a big house in Austin and Johnny has a 40ft Fuzion 393 Toyhauler 5th wheel. He had a little travel trailer, but when he started working the outages decided it was time for something more liveable. The toyhauler lets us take the Suzuki Intruder 1500 with us on the road. So we've got an option here... When we travel we pretty much split the driving -- unless I do most of it. Remember... Truck driver dad... I think it's genetic!
As we were traveling the past month we got to talking about whether a motorhome would be a better fit for us. Johnny has rhuematoid arthritis so some of the set up gets to be a little difficult depending on how he's doing. So being the data queen I am I started poking around the internet looking at options and found this site. I also had a 35ft Fleetwood Pace Arrow in a previous life before Johnny... So I've had a motorhome and some experience manuvering one.
Part of me is very intrigued with the notion of simplifying. Just not sure we're ready to give up a bricks and sticks 100%. But it sure would be nice to have fewer expenses and not have to work quite so much. And having more flexibility to go visit the grandkids would be good and go with Johnny when he travels to an outage would be great. It would mean giving up real estate and doing something else, but I've been self-employed since 2001 so that wouldn't be an entirely new thing... Just not quite sure what I'd do.
Sorry to ramble on so long, but that's where we're at... Looking forward to getting to know all you fine folks better.
Carol and Johnny
Welcome to the group, I am sure you will find someone here who has the answers to all of your questions. My wife and I live fulltime in our Motorhome but also have sticks and bricks back on the farm in Alberta. We are presently enjoying the summer back here on the farm down the road from Dogpound.
Welcome to the process of research and learning. You have found a good source of information in the form of a number of knowledgable people who have been doing what you are thinking of doing. To be honest, Jo and I are not at that stage yet, although we have been researching for over 2 years.
Being that there is such a large number of knowledgeable as well as new learners, feel free to ask questions. You never know when one that you ask is one that no one else thought of asking. Also, your questions serve to give us all a chance to learn along with you in the answers that you get.
Should it be that you are embarrassed to ask a question, put that out of your mind. As I like to say, there are no dumb questions, although, there may be some smart alecky answers. Especially since you are Texans and I'm an Okie. I think it is in the constitution that us Okies are supposed to give you Texans fits.
But then, if you are embarrassed enough, there is always the private message function of the forums. Although that would limit the answers you could get, it can still be helpful. For instance, my research has led me to accumulate Ford Superduty brochures in Adobe (pdf) format. There has been a time or two that I sent some of those to interested people via e-mail so they could have access to the weight capacities of the truck they were interested in.
So, ask away, and have fun in the process.
Terry
Edit: Crud! Double Post. Sorry.
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 23rd of July 2010 01:07:42 PM