wait & see or go for it? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

SLIPSLID-N-AWAY · RV-Dreams Family Member

wait & see or go for it?

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

That is how we were beginning to think. I just know that with the way things are going now it is not cost effective for owning a home. Taxes keep going up, we live in NJ, and the value of the house keeps going down. It is time to rethink and just go with our wishes and dreams, and like you said, we could always workcamp or host if we need to. I am just excited to get going.

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

SLIPSLID-N-AWAY wrote:
Anybody on the verge of taking the plunge reconsidering their decision due to the economic mess we are experiencing?

Concerned, yes... reconsidering, no. We have a long ways to go, selling 2 homes in a market that is flooded with pennies-on-the-dollar foreclosures here in Florida. We've just decided that this is just one more challenge we need to work out in the pursuit of our dream. There's always a way to make it happen if you want it bad enough.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

Concerned, yes... reconsidering, no. We have a long ways to go, selling 2 homes in a market that is flooded with pennies-on-the-dollar foreclosures here in Florida. We've just decided that this is just one more challenge we need to work out in the pursuit of our dream. There's always a way to make it happen if you want it bad enough.

RVRon you are such an inspiration. You have echoed our conversation tonight or we have echoed your words. So true and wise what you said - it is exactly how we feel. Our home has been on the market here in Santa Fe NM for six months now and we are not going to give up hope. We will attain our dream of full timing!!! Thanks for the reassurance!!!

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our "Go Live" date of Feb 2012 is not changing due to economy. I look at this transition from wage slave to retired RVer as a one way door.

Yes, there are complications and a need to be concerned. RVRon stated it well.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

To mis-use an old adage, nothing comes to he who waits. You can wait all your life to win the lottery, but unless you buy a ticket, you ain't gonna win.

MNdrifters · RV-Dreams Family Member

Concerned, No, Reconsidering, No. Full steam ahead. Can't wait.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

SLIPSLID-N-AWAY wrote:
I guess the worst that can happen is, we do what we dream of doing for as long as we can. Then if things get tough, workcamp or campground host. At least we won't end up at the end of our life wishing our fear of the unknown had not kept us from experiencing the known......this beautiful country called the USA!

I like this thinking...no regrets...take the leap and enjoy the ride.

Being the king of worry I was second guessing our decision to sell everything and hit the road. Almost 4 years later I have no regrets and wouldn't change a thing. There is no perfect time to make the switch. Follow your plan and enjoy life. Don't let the oppoutunity pass you by...

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

My Father in Law had plans for ... some day just needed this that and the other. He passed a year short of starting to live those plans.

My Father had plans for ... some day just had to get another year or two in then take care of this that and the other. He passed two years short of starting those plans.

My wife and I had plans to use the Fifth Wheel two to four weeks a year. But my work changed my work location and methods of work and suddenly we were free to travel. Yes I've been told "You're not a real full timer because you have to work during the week so you can't really see the places you go.". OK but I'm not worried that I'm not going to see anything because I "planned" to do it some day.

Fear the economy fear death, fear is the mind killer. (Bonus points if you know the book the last part of that is from)

Mallo

rclvnv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Fear is the great inhibitor of joy, in my experience. As someone who has always been self-employed, I learned first hand that life can present you with problems not of your making,about which you can do nothing,like the economy,housing market,and the political situation. What you can do is to take control,working with what you have,or can gather,to achieve a goal,rather than remaining static,fearing that things will worsen. Our house,in one of the "worst" markets in the country,sold in three weeks. Why,because we priced it realistically,and did so before the values lessened (last week's news said a further 10% decline in market value occured last month). The sale of our business fell through,so we have to work it 'till June. If it doesn't sell, we'll just sell the equipment, but living in our RV,for 25% of what the house used to cost us, will add to our "cushion" for full-time travel, starting in June. BTW, we traveled 6300 miles over the past six weeks, to visit our children and grandchildren. The difference was we were always "home",as everything we own of a personal nature is packed into our RV.

We are eligible for Medicare in the spring,which is essential to our ability to travel full-time. We'll consider taking SS a year before our full retirement age,depending on what income is on the radar,but I fear staying in business in uncertain economic times a lot more than the need to find occasional employment. We have another business that can be run from the road, but it is in a very narrow niche,and so can vary from super busy to none,year to year. All that said, we've made the move,and are now back in the area we lived in for 12 yrs.We're in a very nice RV Resort,at an affordable monthly rent,surrounded by great folks.If we waited,we'd never have done it. Something would have come up next year,I'm sure. Go for it!

Richard

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. -- Frank Herbert (Dune)

We are two weeks away from being officially full-time. Until now, I have not paid much attention to the emotional aspects of the transition. I figured, rather ignorantly, that as long as my wife comes to terms with this emotionally then we will be fine. Well she did and I am not fine. We determined that she dealt with the emotional aspects first and then the logistics. I started with the logistics but ignored the emotions. Now, 2 weeks away, fear has gripped me. I couldn't quite identify what was going on so I pulled my notes from the 2010 rally and thumbed to the section on emotions. First bullet point: Fear will take over. Now I am working on coming to terms with it.

I have found that most of the things I fear would happen never happen. Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.

As Mark Twain said...

I'm an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Hensons wrote:
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. -- Frank Herbert (Dune)

As Mark Twain said...

I'm an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.

Some day in some campground I owe you a beer.

As for going full time remember 90 year old great grandparents full time. I keep that in mind when something makes me fearful.

Mallo

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

My experiences with fear.

Fear needs to be changed to respect and caution. Some people fear rattlesnakes, but change the fear to respect and caution and fear is gone. Just don't take your eye off of the rattlesnake.

For most of my life, in all kinds of "situations" I never felt an overwhelming fear, thus I never knew what fear really was. Then one day, before 300 people in church, I got up to do a 3 to 5 minute "dissertation" and was suddenly overcome with it. Jo said that she could see the blood drain from my face.

I got through the fear by force of will and then got outside to suck in air like I have never done before. I went home that day fearing FEAR. A nap, some thinking about it, and I went back to church and told them to put me up again as soon as possible and as often as possible.

Am I over the fear? Not entirely. I dread getting up before others, but it isn't an overwhelming fear. I can watch the rattlesnake until he leaves or until I can ease myself away. While I can't make the congregation go away, I know they don't bite. Therefore, I have no more "fear" of the situation.

The unknown is what most fear. Unknown future income, physical and mental health, and personal situations with regards to those around us. If your family is supportive, worry and fear will only lead to mental un-healthiness.

Fear is the rattlesnake. Just keep an eye on him.

Oh, and no....I don't handle snakes. That is why I like shovels and shotguns, but only for the harmful ones.

Terry

granny · RV-Dreams Family Member

We agree. Life is too short to not go for it. We are inspired by our son and his friends who travelled the country after college graduation. The worked music festivals and just made $ along the way. We are tired of always worrying about everyone else but us.

SO WE ARE GOING FOR IT!!!

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have to agree with Terry. Fear, no. Respect and caution, yes. I have experienced fear a few times in my working career. But, it was only immediately before and during explosions and fires in a refinery. If your survival is in serious doubt, you do get just a mite fearful. Then experience kicks in and and you attack the problem. After it is all over, you just sit down and thank God for being with you and spreading his covering hand over you.
Most of the responders here have said to do your homework, and then go for it. Amen

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

granny wrote:
We agree. Life is too short to not go for it. We are inspired by our son and his friends who travelled the country after college graduation. The worked music festivals and just made $ along the way. We are tired of always worrying about everyone else but us.
SO WE ARE GOING FOR IT!!!

You have earned it.Now do your homework and go for it! You will not regret it. smile smile