My name is Bruce Matthews and at 67 I am preparing to hit the road once again.
Traveled most my life from early age of 16 and continue on up to present age.
Hitchhiked to Florida and picked oranges in 1970's
1. rode bicycle from Conn. to Ohio
2. Hopped freight train to parts unknown ending up in Sparks, Nevada in late 70's (worked in casino's and ended up on security force at Circus Circus in Reno .
3. Worked on Potatoe farms, Dairy farms, in Idaho, Oregon, in late 70's
4. Married and spent 21 yrs shoeing draft horses in Vermont, Ny state, Mass. N.H. 80's to 2010. My wife and I sold home and bought Jayco 5th wheel (35 ft) and traveled to Florida and back up to North Carolina then back to Vermont. My wife passed away in 2006.
I kept shoeing horses until 2011 then bought a 28 ft 5th wheel and came south to Fla. then over to Texas.
2011 found me in the VA hospital in Houston having open heart surgery along with a triple by-pass.
sold 5th wheel and trade my3/4 ton truck and moved into stick house on a farm. 3 years in Alvin, Texas then moved onto a larger farm in Liverpool, Tx and have been here ever since.
2018 January will find me back in an RV and back full timing.
Deciding now what I want for an RV. Looks like a tow behind. I do chain saw carving for a supplimental income so want the truck to carry my chain saws and tools under a cap.
Taking the year of 2017 to get everything ready and set up so I can be on road 1rst of next year.
Over the years I have owned an old 1970 something Concord motorhome, a Toyota class C, A Jayco 35 ft 5th wheel (bought new) and a 28 ft 5th wheel.
Longevity runs in my family , sister 87 and still bowing, jogging etc. brother 86 drives from southern Fla. to his other home in Northern most Maine each year. Brother 77 and lives in N.H. winters in Fla. So if I run true to form I am looking at 20 more years of traveling.
50% disability check along with social security for reliable income along with supplemental income from chainsaw carving.
Health care.....VA and medicare
OK folks that is my intro in a very large nut shell.
LarryW21 said
06:09 PM Jan 9, 2017
67? Oh my goodness! Another old guy like me. My advice: Take fours months and hit the road May 1.
gypsymaus said
11:49 AM Jan 10, 2017
What a wonderful story of your life! Have fun with the next 20 full-timing!
PIEERE said
11:59 AM Jan 10, 2017
Enjoy! Plans are good as it makes dreams come true! PIEERE
RetiredVagabond said
02:05 PM Jan 11, 2017
Great life story "retired horseshoer" thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have a lot of experience.
I retired at 66 three years ago and within four months bought a truck, fifth wheel and hit the road. It's my first RV, but I tent camped all my life. Now I'm full timing and loving every bit of it! Plan on doing it until I can't.
My name is Bruce Matthews and at 67 I am preparing to hit the road once again.
Traveled most my life from early age of 16 and continue on up to present age.
Hitchhiked to Florida and picked oranges in 1970's
1. rode bicycle from Conn. to Ohio
2. Hopped freight train to parts unknown ending up in Sparks, Nevada in late 70's (worked in casino's and ended up on security force at Circus Circus in Reno .
3. Worked on Potatoe farms, Dairy farms, in Idaho, Oregon, in late 70's
4. Married and spent 21 yrs shoeing draft horses in Vermont, Ny state, Mass. N.H. 80's to 2010. My wife and I sold home and bought Jayco 5th wheel (35 ft) and traveled to Florida and back up to North Carolina then back to Vermont. My wife passed away in 2006.
I kept shoeing horses until 2011 then bought a 28 ft 5th wheel and came south to Fla. then over to Texas.
2011 found me in the VA hospital in Houston having open heart surgery along with a triple by-pass.
sold 5th wheel and trade my3/4 ton truck and moved into stick house on a farm. 3 years in Alvin, Texas then moved onto a larger farm in Liverpool, Tx and have been here ever since.
2018 January will find me back in an RV and back full timing.
Deciding now what I want for an RV. Looks like a tow behind. I do chain saw carving for a supplimental income so want the truck to carry my chain saws and tools under a cap.
Taking the year of 2017 to get everything ready and set up so I can be on road 1rst of next year.
Over the years I have owned an old 1970 something Concord motorhome, a Toyota class C, A Jayco 35 ft 5th wheel (bought new) and a 28 ft 5th wheel.
Longevity runs in my family , sister 87 and still bowing, jogging etc. brother 86 drives from southern Fla. to his other home in Northern most Maine each year. Brother 77 and lives in N.H. winters in Fla. So if I run true to form I am looking at 20 more years of traveling.
50% disability check along with social security for reliable income along with supplemental income from chainsaw carving.
Health care.....VA and medicare
OK folks that is my intro in a very large nut shell.
I retired at 66 three years ago and within four months bought a truck, fifth wheel and hit the road. It's my first RV, but I tent camped all my life. Now I'm full timing and loving every bit of it! Plan on doing it until I can't.