Is late 60's too old to start full time rving - RV-Dreams Community Forum

retirednana · RV-Dreams Community Member

Is late 60's too old to start full time rving

JSathe · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hello Jean. My wife is 4 years older also. She is 71 and I am 67. We will hit the full time road in May or June of this year. So I guess you guys aren't too old by our standards. Good luck on your preparations.

PD CFK · RV-Dreams Family Member

I hope that it is not too late at that age, because that is just where we are. DH retired last year and we are turning 68 this year, so we fit right into where you would be starting out. Never did the RV thing before. Just went out and got a Ford 350 and a fifth wheel and off we went! Just behind the learning curve, or maybe just ahead of it. At least we've stopped bumping our heads on stuff :)

Only thing different is we are not full time. Still have our house and really haven't thought about selling that, yet...

Study up to see if it is doable financially for you. There are lots of different ways to approach it and lots of experience shared by many on this forum, so that you can make an informed decision. Otherwise, life is a gamble anyway. So you may as well follow your dream. We're all headed in the same direction, time wise. :) All the best to you! Pat K

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey all! If you are in good health and the affordability. Beats setting in the rocking chair and waiting for the days to take there toll! Howard has a good grasp on their budgeting for RVERS. By the way! this is on excellent forum to start out on. reaserching RV living thread is also very informative and we all are here to assist! Welcome to the best forum on the Internet; get out here and enjoy our crazy way of life! Pieere

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. This is the friendliest place to get information and share experiences. So, ask away and comment away.

As for your question, I recall a couple on a forum (can't remember for sure which one) where the husband had some serious health issues. They first began to think the thing to do was sit on the back porch and watch the scenery. Then, they got the idea of "why not go RV'ing and have changing scenery.

So, I would say that if you have your health and the financial capability, go for it. Just imagine how much you can go see, even if your age is along their. I'm 65 and it will be a few years yet before Jo and I get to travel as much as we want.

Enjoy the life and the travels.

Terry

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jean and Vince,

It's only too old if you think you're too old.

If you start out with the mindset that you're too old, then maybe you are. If you don't feel old and want to go full-timing, go for it!!

There are many people well into their 70's and 80's that are full-timing and enjoying the lifestyle.

Jim

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think you'll find you have far more peers in your age group than you're anticipating :) We meet folks in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond out on the road all the time (and it's darn inspiring to see people enjoying life to the fullest at any age!).

My only concern about waiting to hit the road is... life throws you curve balls. A few years can make dreams unattainable. Just as an example - My father just turned 67 this year, and he and my mom kept putting retirement off and their dreams of more travel. His health in the past few months, unfortunately, has put a snafu in that plan. My sweetie and I hit the road in our early 30s, so now we're in FL.. with my family. We hope that medical technology can get him to a state of getting out there on the road. But there are no guarantees in life, as we all know.

If you can make it happen earlier... do it!

- Cherie

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

I sure hope 60's isn't too old! We're both in our 60's and plan to begin our fulltime life in the next couple of months. We decided it really doesn't matter what you live in or where you are as you get older - you still get older! So, why not do fun things and see new stuff while the inevitable aging process occurs? On the serious side though, we plan to swing through "home" once a year and see our doctors and get whatever we need on the medical end.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

How old will you be in five years if you DON'T go on the road? Go for it!!!

I have some health issues that forced me into retirement. When I told my doctor about my plans to go full time, he looked me square in the eye and said:

"Good for you. You will live ten years longer." (Lower stress)

Been on the road for almost 6 years now, and I believe him. I have a lot less health issues now.

retirednana · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you all so much for all the encouraging words. When I was in my 40's I had a boss who would ask me questions when I met someone that knew her. She would try and figure out who it was and I would say oh she was old around 60. My boss would always laugh and say Jean 60 isn't old. Then I started trying to figure out why I always thought someone that age was old in my eyes and I finally figured it out. I lost both my parents at young ages. My dad was 40 and my mom 56 so the way I looked at it 60 was old to me.

I have gotten a little better in that department and don't look at people being old until they are in their 90's so I have come a long way. I am so looking forward to hubby retiring. I have been retired for 10 years now so I am anxous to get on the road.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have some friends and their parents having been full time for over 20 years. They are now in their mid 80's and have just recently considered coming off the road, although at this time they are still on the road.

Usnret · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi,

I could not tell from your post if ya'll are working or retired. You mentioned waiting on the housing market to recover. That could be a long wait.

My wife and I planned to sell the house before we would go fulltime. I am 61 and she is 59. Well the house has not sold but we are going anyway. So our plan had to be modified. The house is being put back on the mkt in a couple of weeks. Judy has 17 more days to work. We are not going to wait. We will be at a workamper job in mid Mar. If the house does not sell by Aug we may rent it out or we may keep it as a base. If we have to workamp or volunteer we will.

You have to determine your budget because the bottom line has to be met. In the end you have to make the decision. We are prepared to sell our house at a lower price. If we were younger we would wait it out. As you know, we aren't getting younger and in some cases you are only one health issue away from not being able to go. That is the main reason we are going now. Most people we talked to for advice said "go now,don't wait".

You are invited to take a look at our blog. It may provide some insight.

Good Luck

Dreamers · RV-Dreams Family Member

My DH and I began our "on the road" full timing on March 21, 2011. He was 74 and I was 69. We tried for almost a year to sell the house in this market with no success. So, we decided we weren't getting any younger, found a property manager to lease and take care of it, then hit the road. To add to our ages, DH has a bad heart with congestive heart failure, is on blood thinner and must have regular blood tests!!! Plus he has an internal cardiac defibulator (ICD) which requires a report be transmitted every month. We are doing this - full timing and doing workamping jobs including two months at Amazon last winter (never again).

All I can say is it sure beats sitting in a recliner in the S & B waiting to die. The stress is so much less and you meet such interesting people. Besides that we are doing what we love. With todays technology you can do this lifestyle if you want to. We have had no problems with the blood work as our doctor writes us a standing order which we just take to a lab wherever we are and they fax the results back to him. He then calls us with the report and any adjustements that need to be made to his medication. When we first started we had to find a land line phone to transmit his ICD report but now they have a cell tower attachment and he can transmit from the privacy of our RV.

The biggest challenge we have is trying to get back to our previous home area approximately every 6 months to visit his doctors whom he has had for years and know his condition. This sure cramps our style but it's better than not doing this. If you would like to read more about our decision to do this at our ages and with DH's medical conditions
you can read our blog: rvpilgrims.blogspot.com and start with "The Beginning".

Hope this helps!

Judy (& Bob)

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you wait the inevitable may happen and you will be older and say: If only I would have; I should have, and regret that you never did! Really; I met many who said those things. You can't do much about the past; but you can do the present. I started living when I lost everything I had acqured in my late 30's and had a near death experience. I made a plan and as the song goes: AND HE SAID: I HOPE YOU GET THE CHANCE TO LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING! I treat each day of life as a gift. You can't control the length of your life. Authored by Tim McGraw, about his Dad; Tug Mcgraw one of the best baseball pitchers ever. You can have control of the actions you take today.

By the time I was 48; I had acquired enough to own a used RV and I did the scary part of the unknown. I started work camping, enjoying my life, and will continue to do so until it is my time. At least I will know that I did the things of my wildest dreams. Just do it!

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

My wife will be 61 & I will be 57 when we hit the road. Author Bill Byham's book entitled: "70: The New 50" discusses the issue of what used to be thought of as retirement age. Because of medical advances and the integration of fitness introduced into American culture, many individuals can live an active life well into their 80s/90s.

However, God doesn't guarantee any of us a certain life-span so if you're healthy and financially able to hit the road, go ahead and live one of your dreams. Good luck!

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't think any age is too old as long as you are healthy. We are 65-66 and this is our year. We are looking forward to joining and meeting everyone on the road. As amatter of fact, we are so excited about this that we feel like we are kids again.

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

Loretta wrote:
I don't think any age is too old as long as you are healthy. We are 65-66 and this is our year. We are looking forward to joining and meeting everyone on the road. As amatter of fact, we are so excited about this that we feel like we are kids again.

We can relate to the kids again feeling, Loretta! We're in the process of getting rid of everything that won't fit in the RV now that our house is under contract. We got to thinking today how much simpler life was when we were in our early 20's and just starting out in life. We didn't have a whole bunch of possessions and got a lot of fun out of life. Not too different from how we'll be once we're living in the RV!

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

RVRon wrote:
Loretta wrote:
I don't think any age is too old as long as you are healthy. We are 65-66 and this is our year. We are looking forward to joining and meeting everyone on the road. As amatter of fact, we are so excited about this that we feel like we are kids again.
We can relate to the kids again feeling, Loretta! We're in the process of getting rid of everything that won't fit in the RV now that our house is under contract. We got to thinking today how much simpler life was when we were in our early 20's and just starting out in life. We didn't have a whole bunch of possessions and got a lot of fun out of life. Not too different from how we'll be once we're living in the RV!

That is right where we are now. Getting rid of 'stuff' to get the house on the market. Today we went to another RV show and came away with the same thoughts on what we would like to have and more determined to get moving. It is amazing what you can live without and not miss it, and you wonder why you had all that 'stuff' to begin with.

Tim & Robyn · RV-Dreams Family Member

No, I don't think it's too late. As many have said (or implied) in this inspiring thread, you're only as old as you think you are. As long as you have your health, and the financial wherewithal to do it, go for it! Nothing in this life is permanent after all.

I too have an ICD heart implant device, and have felt tethered to the stix 'n brix so that it can 'phone home' once in a while. But as someone else posted it's now possible to do that without a land line. I'm going to have to look into that. ALthough fulltiming is no longer in my crosshairs, this has kindled in my mind the possibilty of a class B or a class C for some excursions so that I can visit family without being an imposition.

I met Howard and Linda at Whitetail Ridge COE campround near LaGrange, GA last April, and it was one of the most beautiful, serene places I have ever seen in my life. If I only had a year or two left, and knew it, I would do everything I could to spend that time in environments like that.

God bless,

Tim

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tim,

If that is a real possibility for you, I am excited for you. Good luck with the chance to visit family or whatever in a small RV.

Terry