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!!
I just came across this forum today and am happy I did!
My husband and my story might be a little different then most full timers. Our journey began in 2003 when Steve lost his job. He looked for work for several months and then made a life altering decision. So with no job, good credit and a spirit of adventure, he said, "Let's buy a used MH and work at Yellowstoine NP for a couple of months". We sold our 9 year old Pop Up on ebay, bought a 1997 Holiday Rambler Endeavor , 34 ft., no SLIDE MH. We were both hired at the Fishing Bridge store and off we went on our adventure. I was more reluctant, but glad we went. We met great people and saw some amazing country while we were there for 2 months. I will forever have that memory etched in my mind.
We then headed back to NC. He secured a contract job with his old company and then was hired full time in 2004. Fast forward to October 2008... He was laid off again! Finally in January 2009 was hired here in Scottsdale as an embedded software engineer contractor. That is were we are now, but are living in a 40 ft., 4 slide Holiday Rambler Endeavor that we bought last July.
We just closed on our home of 17 years in NC, have the money in the bank, gave away lots to the 7 children, packed up and stored some things, gave away lots, and went to the dump several times. Now we are officially FULLTIMING, although Steve is still working a 40 hour week.
Our decision did not come easy nor our fulltiming come when we expected. These plans were on the "back burner" for sometime in the future. They came at least 8 to 10 years earlier, but we are glad that we forced ourselves to look outside the box and the economy gave us a big push. We both love our MH and our lifestyle. Not quite the freedom as some have, but when we need to move to another job, we just start up the motor and go...Freedom, yes freedom!!!
And welcome to full-timing. Glad you found this forum and hope you will ask questions or leave comments. There's a great bunch of folks here that can help you if you have any questions about the life-style.
Be sure to check out all the different topics that Howard and Linda discuss on this site. There's tons of information there.
Good Luck. Maybe we'll catch you down the road one of these days.
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.
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. People full-time for a wide variety of reasons, but I would imagine the number one reason would be freedom, and that's what you have in your own way. We haven't made it there yet, but hoping to at some point. We just have to work out some things concerning my health.
Welcome to the RV Dreams forum!! You will find some great folks here and lots of information. We started full-timing in August 2009 after many delays and setbacks...some heartbreaking. Just like you all, we finally made it to this wonderful lifestyle. Welcome!!
By the way...we have owned two Endeavors and love them. Great MH. I would love 4 slides. :) We now have a Dutch Star and are loving it too. :)
IMHO)
