Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

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Post Info TOPIC: fulltiming


RV-Dreams Family Member

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fulltiming


hello everyone
I haven't been on the site for some time-really busy-getting our home ready for the market-wish I could keep it but still having a mortgage on it does not make it feasible-I must be stressed over our decision to go fulltime-I don't sleep very well and always planning-also wondering if this is the right decision-I'm getting very nervous and apprehensive-are we making the right decision???? What if we are sitting in a campsite and look at each other and say what did we do????or worse say let'a go home???? what then???no home-we live in Canada it's cold-can't just pack up and put our fiver back on our lot-can't even get in-when we decided to go fulltime I was so excited-now I'm scared-we also traded in our other truck and bought a diesel-we are basically set to go except for the house-in our area it will sell within a week-have anybody else gone through this apprehension???I saw the acid reflux post-I also have it but medication works-however I would check it out if I were you-hmm

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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liketowin,

I think that almost everyone goes through what you are going through. It's a big and sometimes scary move. I would suggest that you sit down with your spouse and have a heart to heart talk about your fears and apprehensions. Don't keep any feelings back. Put it all out on the table and then calmly discuss everything and then decide if what you are doing is the right thing. Once you have made up your mind, go with your decision and don't look back.

Fulltiming is a great lifestyle, and more than likely you will love it once you are out here. There will be problems, but no matter what you do or where you are they will always come up. They can always be solved one way or another. If for some reason full-timing doesn't work for you, you will find a way to go back to a stix and brix home. It may not be easy, but it's possible.

By your post, it sounds like originally, you were very enthused about making the move. Don't worry, the feelings you're having are normal.smile

Good luck,

Jim

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Jim and Linda
Full-timers from 2001 to 2013
http://parttimewithjandl.blogspot.com/ 
2006 Dodge 2500 Diesel pulling a Heartland 26LRSS TT
May your days be warm, and your skies be blue.
May your roads be smooth, and your views ever-new.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Posts: 33
Date:

Don't feel like you're the only one with those feelings!!

We, too, are having the same ones and are currently looking at 5ers. We have the truck and a prospective buyer on our place, but I've NEVER not had a home and I'm a real "nester"! Makes me nervous, but at the same time, I think it will be fun and I love meeting new people and enjoying the campground lifestyle. I am determined to make it enjoyable.

Hang in there with us!! Maybe we'll see you on the road soon. Good luck!!

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Tim & Cathy and our traveling buddy, Suzy
2000 Gold Wing
2007 Ford Edge (to be sold when our cabin sells)
F450 King Ranch
No Trailer yet :(


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Jim is right, there are many emotional "ups and downs" while making the transition to fulltiming. Fulltiming isn't for everyone so you need to sit down and review what you want out of life - try to visualize what your "happiest" life scenario would be. Remember, most decisions are not life threating or irreversible - you can change your mind later. Also, this is not a succeed or fail situation, this is simply a different option. There are a lot of benefits to this lifestyle that make it well worth while and if you have followed Jim's advice about talking it through and decide that you want to fulltime the odds are in your favor that you'll enjoy the lifestyle. Crossing over can be a little "scary" at times especially when you are parting with all of your "stuff" but once it is behind you you'll have peace and feel free.

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Wandering America
2006 38' Cedar Creek Custom
2500 HD GMC Sierra Duramax Diesel


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Your apprehension is totally understandable.  We have not yet reached the "fulltime" point of selling the domicile, but once on the road the plan is to look for a location we would eventually feel  has the"it" factor (to use Howards' term) we think we might purchase a lot, suitable for eventual building, adapt it for an RV, and if the need to "park" for an extended period, then return to THE SPOT till we caught our breath, then hookup again and continue with the adventure.  With a spot somewhere mutually acceptable to return to, then the day when being on the road is no longer practical would not seem so scary.  Simply take the rig to "the spot" and settle in for the long haul.  Just a little "forward thinking" on our part.  Leaving the old hacienda will never be an easy, comfortable decision.  Sort of like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, tough to leave the plane, but the ride down is thrilling.....Good Luck   
Marty & Roz

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Marty & Roz Hill
A Pair of Kentucky Loafers

'08 Arctic Fox
'10 F-250 PSD
'08 Honda GW


RV-Dreams Family Member

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With me, it was a feeling of peace when we decided this is what we want to do.

Sure, there are times I look around this house that I truly love and will miss. However, it is a question of finances. We love to travel. We would not be able to maintain this house and property and travel as we want. Something has to give. In 11 months we retire - keeping the house and being tied to it is not an option.

We are truly at peace with our mutual desicion.

Good luck and find your own peace whatever you decide.



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Phyllis and Leonard

2011 F350 King Ranch Dually    2016 Ford Escape

No longer own an RV.   No need.  No longer RV.

 

myownhighwaysinmymind.blogspot.com

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I had a close friend that planned for 30 years to fulltime and see the US from his RV. He kept putting it off because of one thing are the other and soon was told he had brain cancer. Well they gave him about a month to live and his biggest regret was that he and his DW didn't take the leap when they had the chance. Even if it had only been for 1 year...the memories and the fun would have been well worth all the worry that they went through getting ready to go. Life is short and you need to get crazy and live out that dream. This is RV Dreams after all.

Good Luck to you

Joe and Sherri

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Joe Sherri and Kris living in a Open Range Lite 308BHS. 2500 Dodge Ram Diesel  http://speedysgreatadventure.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thank you guys for your words of encouragement-I guess the hard part is leaving your home and putting your life treasures in plastic containers-I know when it's all said and done I'll be happy that I stuck to my original decision-We should be ready to go in November-if the house sells in June we will be spending our time on our lot on St. Joe's Island for the summer and then pulling our rv out in November and heading south-we haven't quite decided where will be going first-however we are still in the planning stages-just getting the house ready and looking into insurances etc...... is time consuming at this point-thanks for your help

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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liketowin,

Don't plan too much. You don't have to decide where you are going to go first. The only decision you will need to make as a new full-timer is which way to turn the steering wheel as you pull that RV out of the lot.

Full-timing is freedom like you've never known before. The only thing on our schedule is to be in Branson in June and in Florida in August for our granddaughter's wedding. Other than that, we're free!!biggrin

Jim

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Jim and Linda
Full-timers from 2001 to 2013
http://parttimewithjandl.blogspot.com/ 
2006 Dodge 2500 Diesel pulling a Heartland 26LRSS TT
May your days be warm, and your skies be blue.
May your roads be smooth, and your views ever-new.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Posts: 219
Date:

We, too, are from Canada and have now been on the road over 3 1/2 years. Bite the bullet! You'll love it. It's 83F today in Tucson!

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Sandra


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Hey Guys, I understand the feelings of apprehension.  From someone who has been on the road for over 3 years, you are making the right decision.  We lived in our house for 35 years.  Our children were raised there and it was the only house we ever bought.  The interesting thing we have found is that now that we are on the road we have more close friends by dozens than we did when we lived in that one spot for those 35 years.  Houses aren't homes without the people that are in them.  You can get another if need be, but my bet is you won't.  The people you will meet are genuine and they really care about you.  They will give you whatever help they can in the event you need help.  They will run up to you and hug you when they see you. 

Change is one of the most difficult things we deal with in life but without change we get stagnant and don't grow.  Get ready to grow because you will in so many ways that you can't even imagine now.  We'll be looking forward to seeing you on the road.  Welcome aboard!!!

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Full timing since 1/1/2005
American Tradition & Jeep Wrangler
www.howethsjournal.blogspot.com


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Only 1-1/2 yrs on the road and we really dont know yet if it is for us.  Sold home and plan to travel more so hoping it will help.  We BOTH still miss our home in N.M. and the comforts that it had.  Sorry gotta be honest here.
southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs


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Judy & Bob & 2blackdogs
www.mytripjournal.com/elitesuitestravels


RV-Dreams Family Member

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helloo judy and bob
thanks for your honesty-what kind of rig do you have? we have a 32' fver with double extention it's beautiful and lots of space but in comparison to our home it's small-however we will be in it 6 months at a time and hopefully our son will purchase a home here with an apartment and we can still have a place to stay when we are here in canada-I think if I have that option I will be ok-then we also have the option of building a big covered porch attached to our 5ver on the lot that we have which would give us lots of space-in any case like another member said there are always options-we are not selling out furniture just in case this lifestyle is not for us-I think it's the getting my house ready to sell that is the hardest-when that's done I'll feel differently-we love camping and travelling-so I'm trying to balance things out-life is short and should be enjoyed-we have had it with the winters around here-cold and lots of snow-winter is long and we are not outdoor winter sports people-we like to golf etc....thanks for your input

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Judy, Bob, and 2Blackdogs are what I was referring to when I said this lifestyle may not be for everyone. They are being honest and may discover that they would prefer maintaining a home while doing some traveling. But, if they hadn't tried it they never would have known for sure. Of course, the verdict is still out for them - it is not a question of "succeed or fail", just preferences and should they decide to opt out I'm sure they will be glad they gave it a try. I wish them the best as they continue traveling.

It sounds as if you have several options and making the transition is the hardest part. We had an advantage in that we had moved several times living in different states. The longest we had stayed in one place was 10 years so we didn't have the " deep roots" that most people have developed. But none the less it was still hard to part with "our stuff" that we had had for years. However, once it is behind you a big weight lifts off your shoulders - you have a new sense of freedom. It sounds like you'll do just fine.

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Wandering America
2006 38' Cedar Creek Custom
2500 HD GMC Sierra Duramax Diesel


RV-Dreams Family Member

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It was easy for us since once we were not working our house was big and was in a location based on convenience to work.  We were either going to move and downsize or become full-timers.  Getting rid of the stuff was harder but also freeing.  Even with all that we were questioning our decision and having second thoughts. 
Four and a half years of full-timing and we are already making vague plans for where we will be travelling in the next couple years.

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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003



RV-Dreams Family Member

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We have a new fiver with 3 slides, its a Doubletree Elite, 36 ft. and we do love it. A F-550 Star Hauler pulls our rig.
southwestjudy


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Judy & Bob & 2blackdogs
www.mytripjournal.com/elitesuitestravels


RV-Dreams Family Member

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We had moved a lot over the years, but I still had big lumps in my throat thinking about going fulltime.  Our house sold quickly and the new owners wanted us out NOW! so all our stuff "went" in one afternoon in an auction.  Talk about having a sick, sinking feeling!  The first year on the road I had a few spells of "I want to go home" but there was no home to go to and I got over it.  We've now been on the road 7 1/2 years and have far more good friends than we did when in our house.  We often stop and look at new housing developments and have some RV friends who are now buying homes again...and the thought of having to take care of even a small house and yard turns me totally off.  I'd much rather spend my time traveling, playing golf and tennis and pursuing hobbies.  Best of luck in getting on the road!

Mary


-- Edited by mcw50 at 23:27, 2008-02-26

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'04 Dutch Star DP 4015
'12 Ford Escape



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Well here we are setting in our least favorite camping spot, our house.  Our youngest child of 7 will soon graduate high school and be heading off to college.  But a change in plans, she now plans to have a couple of room mates and stay in our house while attending State.  Okay, but now we will be sort of fulltiming because there are still things to maintain and calls for help.  Talk about apprehensive!

Sure we are struggling with the upcoming changes in address, working out our banking, and getting rid of stuff but there is quite a bit of frustration with not being able to clean the slate.

The bottom line:  change is stressfull and no matter what you do, change is just around the corner.

Did I mention that we are also having a June wedding in Seattle?  Our son will be getting married so we will be down to 3 children who are not married yet.  We should be able to handle change by now but it still seems to throw a curve or two.

Making the right decision is hard on us all but making any decision is sometimes a struggle in our life.  If you don't like what's going on it will change.

We will be back on the lake tomorrow for a couple or three weeks.  Things will be calmer then.

Just a bit of our perspective.
Really fulltiming would be greatly appreciated here.

Larry and Jacki



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Larry and Jacki-belle Linley with Taiga our minature dachsund - 2011 34 ft Montana towed by a 2014 Silverado Durmax Allison 4x4.

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