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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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Introduce Yourself! -> Another Newbie (coming out of hiding)
Post Info TOPIC: Another Newbie (coming out of hiding)
JayKim-no regrets


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Another Newbie (coming out of hiding)
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Hi theresmile

We have been reading this forum for a couple of months now and getting lots of great info from all the members. I thought it was time to say 'hello' and join in the discussions. We are hoping to buy our first motor home sometime this year, if we can find our perfect fit, or as near to perfect as we can get in our budgetsmile

Jay is retired AF, 23 yrs active duty, mostly as a wing historian. He now works as a civilian doing the same job, he loves it and is coming up on 6 years. We are stationed at Charleston AFB in SC. I am currently not working, so I am doing most of the research and reading a lot of full-timers blogs.

 

Our oldest Son is in the Navy and stationed in HI, he is married (no kids) so we don't see him often. Our youngest Son left home in August last year to go to college, unfortunately, he passed away in November in his dorm room from Ketoacidosis, a condition caused by his juvenile diabetes. His passing came as a shock to all of us as he had very good control of his disease.

 

I don't mention our loss to make anyone reading this uncomfortable or to gain sympathy, but to explain why we have decided to 'follow our dream' of full timing in an RV, we had always planned on doing this after Jay had retired (for the 2nd time) from his civilian job in another 14 years, but we realised that we just never know what will happen from one day to the next, we want to spend our days, however many we have, doing what we will be happy doing together. Right now, Jay is deployed in Afghanistan until early May, he volunteered to go because it will enable us to pay off most of our debt much sooner than we were doing, We will have a set income after he leaves his current position and we are aware that we will probably have to do some work-camping to save money, or try and come up with some other way to increase income, but we are looking forward to the freedom and independence we will have on the roadsmile

 

For now, we will keep up on the research and try to be as informed as we can in preparation of the 'big day'. I can't wait and would be happy to start  the day he gets home, but 'the sensible one' has to know that our finances are in order firsthmm 

 

Thank you to everyone that contributes to this Forum, you help so many people just like us, to know that we are not crazy or that we can come here if things get a little overwhelming and ask the same questions that I am sure have been asked 100's of times before! Also, A big thank you to Howard and Linda! You have been so kind to us, we really appreciate youwink

Take care all and drive safe, huggs Kim x



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2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW

Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX

Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!

Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
Jim01


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Welcome to the forum! smile

Hope all your plans go well. Keep following that dream.

And, No, you're not crazy 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.
Terry and Jo


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Allow me to welcome both of you to the forums.  Also, I'd like to offer thanks to Jay for his service to our country, and thanks to you for being in support of a serviceman.

Have fun researching and looking.  Take your time and you will be surprised at how much there is to learn.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
Yonnie


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Welcome aboard. You have picked to right place to come for information. Thank you and Jay for your service to our country. And to thank your son for his service. Many veterans are part of this forum. Sometimes we forget the wives who run the family and pay the bills while husbands and sons sit on the wall protecting all of us. Hope we see you folks on the road. Yonnie USMC 67-73

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HAPPY TRAVELS YONNIE and TINA

2011 TIFFIN OPEN ROAD 35 QBA Class of 2015 ( or 2014 if I can convince my wife)
JayKim-no regrets


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Thank you for the welcomes!
Ok, here's my first question (I know, allready huh?) As retired military, are there any particular memberships that offer more benefits? for example RV camps/State parks etc? Also, which memberships (eg: America the beautiful) would you recommend as worth the yearly subscription?
Thank you, Jay and Kim x

__________________

2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW

Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX

Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!

Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
Yonnie


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I haven't come across anything specific. If you google military campgrounds you can join their forum but in general this forum seems to be one of the most informative. If you are 62 or older, you can get a 50%off camping fees at national parks. There are probably folks on this forum more familiar with the question than I am. Good luck

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HAPPY TRAVELS YONNIE and TINA

2011 TIFFIN OPEN ROAD 35 QBA Class of 2015 ( or 2014 if I can convince my wife)
PIEERE


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First of all: Welcome! I heard some retired vets speak of: Famcamps on military installation. And Thank You Jay for your Service! There is also: Passport America and Camp Club USA; For a rate of about $40.00 YR., they offer up to 50% off campground fees. You can also look into: Allstays.com, Free Campgrounds.com and Free Campsites.net. Just do a search and browse can come up with a lot of info on campgrounds and employ there. Workamper News has a bunch of info. Escapees.com is a Texas based site that has much info.
Hope this helps! Happy Planning! Pieere

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Life is too short. Live it Now!

Currently at Shady Acres RV Park   Lebanon; Tennessee

http://1Irishrover.blogspot.com

 
JayKim-no regrets


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Thank you guys:)
Appreciate the thanx for service, but honestly, it was a duty of love! Woouldn't have missed it for the World

Won't be eligible for the age benefits for some time, I am still a young 'un I guess for retirement, (Jay is 48 this year!) But ready to have some freedom and enjoy life

We have been making a few notes on different makes/models of motorhomes, so will be back with questions on those...Should probably think of posting those in an older thread huh.
Thanx again, Jay and Kim

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2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW

Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX

Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!

Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
FT Dreamin


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Welcome! We are fairly new at this ourselves but already loving it! You couldn't have picked a better time to purchase a MH as there are great deals out there to be had. Start emptying the S&B now as time will fly!

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JayKim-no regrets


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Thanx FT Dreamin

I am making lists!! I am actually in California at the moment (this is kim) I'm helping Jays folks get their house ready and packed, they are moving into a 55+ community next month. After I am done here, I am off to Canada to stay with some good friends. Trying to stay busy and with company, until Jay gets home in May:) Once Jay gets home, We will be 'downsizing' at home and sorting through all the 'stuff'. I really don't want to pay for storage!
Kim x

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2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW

Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX

Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!

Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
Waggin Tails


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JayKim,
Welcome to the forum. As you already know, the folks here are friendly and very knowledgeable about the lifestyle. It all starts with a dream, then a plan. As your start date gets closer, the clock will tick faster then you can imagine.

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Jerry & Carol Pearson (+ fur babies)
FullTime since 2012
04 Winnebago Adventure, 06 Grand Marquis
www.waggintailsrv.com

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JayKim-no regrets


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Thanx guys:)
I am making a list (hubby laughs at my lists, but we would be lost without them!) We are cutting down the makes/model of DP we want to purchase, top of the list is an Allegro bus:) I have found a few used ones reasonably priced, but we do intend on having an 'expert' check them over before any handover of the green stuff! From my research, the tiffin has a great reputation and so tends to have a higher re-sale price than a lot of other DP's, of the same year/length etc. Is it worth the extra cost to buy the Tiffin?
Also, i'm looking at the options on several DP's, for example, Cummins Chassis, is 300 or above a good idea for minimum? Generator, min 550? Fresh water tank 100+? We also would like solar panels, is it better to go for one with them allready fitted, is that a big expense to add them? Other question is, average yearly mileage, I realise this differs a lot depending on previous owners travel habits, but is there an average that would be too high say a 2000 built, that has over 70,000 miles on it? Or because it's a tiffin would you accept a higher mileage?

Any comments would be appreciated:)
We have decided now that when hubby gets back from his deployment in May, we will start getting rid of our 'stuff' and after we find our perfect home on wheels, we are going to move onto the base famcamp, until we have paid off all our debts, then we will be off on our travels! We can stay on base for up to two years, so we have plenty of time to get used to the new living space and also take a few trips for hubby to get used to handling it:)

__________________

2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW

Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX

Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!

Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
grobpilot


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Good afternoon everyone,

I introduced myself on another thread recently and see a couple of familiar names.  My name is Martin and my wife is Tracy.  Thanks all, for the warm welcome.

A little bit about the two of us:  I grew up in California and went into the Coast Guard in 1977 at 18, stayed for 24 years and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.  Saw a good bit of the country and liked most of what I saw.  Tracy was a military brat whose dad was in the Air Force in the '60's and '70's.  She lived overseas a lot, in England and France and has seen a lot more of the world than I have.  So, both of have a little bit of an itch to move around and see things.  We both have children from previous marriages but none together and that suits us fine.

Tracy and I are really taking stock of what we want to do with our future.  I think one of the most difficult things to do will be to pare down our belongings.  We have grown children to whom most of it will go and much of what remains will either be donated or sold.  No matter how we do it, it's going to be a challenge.  

I have found, however, that once I start getting rid of stuff, I can go overboard very quickly and dispose of stuff I maybe shouldn't have.  But I haven't replaced any of it, either.  So, I guess I really didn't need it.

I did some basic figuring based on some of the information that Howard has posted on what it will cost to support this endeavour and just plugging in my own numbers.  As I'd mentioned before on the other thread, it will be about three years before we buy the vehicles (5th and TV) but several more years before we really start motoring around.  We'll remain in SoCal, working full time and getting them paid off.  But, we'll be living in the RV, occasionally traveling and getting the bugs worked out.

So, at first glance, it is workable and that's encouraging.  I have numerous scraps of paper, cardboard and envelopes scattered around the house (and at work) covered with notes I make on all the information I find as I read through different forums and websites.  Maybe I'll organize it one day......disbelief

Anyway, I look forward to talking with all of you over the next few years as we ramp up for this.  It should be interesting. 

 



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M.G. Rothwell
Yonnie


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Greetings. Welcome aboard. I think shedding our past collection of STUFF seems to be one of the biggest issues. We decided to start downsizing but have no clue where to start. We plan on a condo and extended travel so we can have some solid base because of being close to grand kids. We will probably look to sell some of our furniture along with the house. Only about three or four pieces have sentimental value. Dresser where diapers were changed on our girls ( now 38 and 41) and an old rocking chair that was used to sqeek and helped them fall asleep. But can't figure out what to do with 100 lbs of photos. Current thought is move them to CD. Let us know how you handle the downsizing. Welcome

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HAPPY TRAVELS YONNIE and TINA

2011 TIFFIN OPEN ROAD 35 QBA Class of 2015 ( or 2014 if I can convince my wife)
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