Stress level less/different? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cherab831 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Stress level less/different?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, Jo and I are different in that we are full-timers but living in one place until we can retire and start traveling. So, my comments will lean somewhat related to not traveling.

I think things changed for us when we got rid of all that absolutely unnecessary "stuff." Then, when the house finally sold, we got rid of all the extra expenses in taxes, house upkeep, yard work, etc. While we are in a mobile home park and have a yard to mow, it takes me about 20 minutes to mow what is inside the fence; 40 minutes if I also mow outside the fence.

We've moved closer to work and instead of driving 25+ miles to work, we drive 3. The 400 square foot RV is a lot easier to keep clean than a 2200+ square foot house.

When we have been able to vacation in the past, especially up into Colorado, just being away from the rat-race is uplifting in itself, but the mountains, streams, Pine and Aspen trees just really rejuvenate me. Also, when camping, one is around other people of a like mind that are almost always friendly and helpful.

Even if we have to do some workkamping when we retire and start traveling, I'm sure that we will be a lot happier than we are now.

Terry

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't think for a minute that you leave the Stress behind when you retire and go full time on the road! My Gosh...have you ever tried to plan what to do one morning when you had nothing to do??? Have you ever tried to get through with nothing??? Have you ever ran out of time to get something done when you have over slept and you wake up and half the day is gone. Have you ever got brain lock when trying to decide whether to go east or west. Have you ever been confused over where in the heck you are. How did you get there and how long have you been like this.

Let me tell you...This is S T R E S S like you have never had in your life. I just hope that you are up to it. I have a program that I have offered to many rallies. It is, "How to come down off of Retirement Stress", for RVers. No rallies have taken me up on my offer...but I know they will...

Somewhere in Time

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Joe, you CRACK me up!!

Seriously though, stress level waaaayyyyy down.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Speedhitch wrote:
Don't think for a minute that you leave the Stress behind when you retire and go full time on the road! My Gosh...have you ever tried to plan what to do one morning when you had nothing to do??? Have you ever tried to get through with nothing??? Have you ever ran out of time to get something done when you have over slept and you wake up and half the day is gone. Have you ever got brain lock when trying to decide whether to go east or west. Have you ever been confused over where in the heck you are. How did you get there and how long have you been like this.

Let me tell you...This is S T R E S S like you have never had in your life. I just hope that you are up to it. I have a program that I have offered to many rallies. It is, "How to come down off of Retirement Stress", for RVers. No rallies have taken me up on my offer...but I know they will...

Somewhere in Time
BUMP

cherab831 · RV-Dreams Community Member

THANKS!!!

steved44 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well, lets see, you have to remember where you parked your house! This can be exacerbated by having too many GPS units "shouting at you" and trying to tell you the best way to get there. Re-calculate indeed! Then once you find your house you have to figure out what time is the proper time to show up at the campfire? If you show up too early, you may have to start it, but if you show up too late you may be sitting downwind of the smoke. Decisions decisions! Then if that isn't tooo much, you have to contend with this: it's the middle of the night and all of a sudden you hear a beeping noise. Drat, what's that noise. Hmmmmm, tire monitor, refrigerator, computer, some truck backing up at 3:am. Sigh it may be all to much for you. Or NOT!! I say have a blast!!! biggrin Steve

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheryl,
Stress does not go away at all. The emotional roller coaster can drive many folks away for FT RVing. The good news is there the stress can be managed by keeping the focus on the larger picture not the details. I would rate the stress level about the same as getting married. You may think you know your spouse but then you he/she may not like the RV type, or road trips on washboard highways, or close quarters. When I feel stressed, I look out our front door and ask myself if I would give up this view. Stress goes away. I take a breath and go back inside and tell my wife, I am sorry.

PS - we are in our first year of living FT Rving.

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Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

For us, I'd say stress is more a state of mind of how you approach the things in your life, than necessarily what things are up in your life.

We started full timing in our early 30s and are still working as we roam (running our own software business). But I was running that same company from my home when I was stationary. The stresses of working are still there, and being on the road does bring out other new challenges - like finding enough internet. I still worry about the long term future, my client's happiness, meeting deadlines and all that other stuff. But RVing has been so much cheaper for us, and so much more flexible to adjust to what our budget is each month - that a lot of the stress of 'making ends meet' has gone away. I've also designed my business to revolve around my lifestyle, not me around it.

RVing is not without difficulty itself - you are driving your home, and all your eggs really are in one basket when you're on the road. Sometimes you just can't find a RV Park or accommodations in the place you want to be. If something on your house breaks, it may cause you a delay to your next destination.

Your family will still have their issues. People you love will still get sick, laid off from jobs, add new family members, celebrate major milestones and have crappy days. And there will be times you feel absent from their daily lives and out of touch, and you in theirs.

But if you can take the right mindset and be agile to it all - you can mitigate the challenges and not let them impact you as stress.

- Cherie

rvingft · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with Cherie ... AND Joe!

The reality is, if you are unhappy, the roof over your head or the location you are in can or can NOT be the source. The PRO about RVing is that if your financial situation is such that you don't like your neighborhood, you can easily move. Not so in a SNB. The CONS about moving the RV all the time is that you don't get a chance to develop deep friendships with your neighbors. I think that's why so many snowbirds stay for a season in the same RVP every year - they need that sense of community.

RVing full-time can bring different stresses, such as mechanical breakdowns, fuel costs, making RSVP during holidays, getting in & out of a VERY tight spot, not having consistent power, not to mention foul weather in the area.

On the other hand, we have found it's much easier to DE-stress by sitting outside listening to the birds, watching the sun set or rise, talking a walk/hike in the natural surrounds of the park, smelling a campfire, enjoying the clearer skies so you can REALLY see the stars, S'MORES, and on and on.

Sure we COULD do some of those things in a house, but we never did. Get us out in an RVP or campground and now cooking supper is fun ...a simpler dish maybe, and possibly on disposable dishes, but it really TASTES better

Successful full-time RVers, at least the ones we have met seem to all be very flexible people, taking each challenge and day as it comes. They realize there will be challenges, but they are OK with that. Either way, make each day a good one. Tomorrow will be even better

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'd think the longer one fulltimes the less stressful it becomes. We're relatively new fulltimers (only a couple of months) and we can feel the stress melting off already. This is a new life for us - our complete home being in our RV, with no house "backup". Fears of breakdowns or other catastrophes can bring on mostly needless stress. All in all it's about like having any other house... if something breaks you call someone to fix it if you can't do it yourself.

The big stress reliever for us is... no timetable! We don't have to be at work the next morning, no squeezing in tasks around all sorts of other obligations. Our time constraints are now measured by the calendar - where we want to be at certain times of year instead of what we need to do each hour or minute.

I suppose you could stress yourself out in any kind of situation. The best remedy for that is something I read years ago: Try to think of the absolute worst case scenerio outcome of what you're worried about. OK, now how will you deal with it? Just the process of mentally walking yourself through a potential situation usually dissects it into manageable pieces and makes you realize it's not worth getting all wound up about.

cherab831 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Ron,

Thank you very much I really needed to read what you wrote today!

Warmly,

Cheryl

melvonnar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hows this for stress"
very first day on the road; got broad sided; motorhome in for repair; was promised it would be done in two weeks; and the next week; and the next week; four months later finally got it. now this is stress.

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

As you have hear there are stressfull days on the road, however the opportunity to de-stress are much increased from our former lifestyle.

Things I avoid.

Set schedules instead of vague plans.
Things to do list instead of things I want or might do lists.
Vacation mode instead of when I want to mode.

I think you get the idea,

Larry

Scubabeck · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not sure of the stress of full timing: However! This I do know...I am my happiest when I am away from the house and the burdens of everyday stress that goes with it. Been camping since I was a kid and never looked forward to coming home cause the camper is my home. Right now I am so tight with money I can't go away in my camper and working two jobs to get caught up! This is so we can place the house for sale and get out! I am sure there will be days where the fifth wheel will get on my nerves....but a good bottle of wine will help relieve that stress lol. There will be less responiblities going full time compared to owning a house. Right now I am getting rid of stuff that I have been collecting! Gosh...I really am a pack rat! Getting rid of things isn't bothering me as bad as I thought it would. My biggest worry is the house not selling fast enough...and that is my major concern at the moment. But once it goes that worry will go away. Full timing living causing stress????......I will have to wait and see.

cherab831 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Scubabeck,
Yes decluttering feels so GOOD it is funny but we rent our house a three bedroom and live where we work a room with a basement where we have a makeshift kitchen so we are slowly paring down to the point that we rarely purchase non-essentials a bike was my newest and I ride every day so health wise this feels essential lol!!!
Wishing you a quick house sale and happy times on the road!!
Warmly,
Cheryl

bagolady · RV-Dreams Community Member

Sometimes when I wake up I forget where I am. Little stressful, but I know where the lightswitch is! Sold the house, 6 acres of upkeep, horses sold, and the best of the stressors gone? Our 23 year old son and all his twenty-something drama! YEA US! No room in the Inn, bubba! HaHa! Mom and Dad are outta here! We took off for the desolation of west Texas, Alpine, and the beautiful Big Bend area. Spent 6 months being Desert rats (and applying tons of lotion- 4% humidity.) We're now in the hill country of my beloved Texas. Really stressfree tubing the river. Next we will be going to the town of Kemah, close to the gulf of Mexico where we will be spending time on the docks fishing. Sure miss cleaning the big old house! Not. I can clean my new home in under an hour!
I love being the Bagolady! My grandkids love the bago and enjoy visiting us. I have a 1972 Honda trail 90 and they have big fun cruising with me exploring new places. I haven't ridden a motorcycle since the 70's and am really enjoying being a biker! ;)
Yep, really stressful living fulltime in our bago. Have to go vacuum the house, be back in 10! :)

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I loved those Honda trail 90's. Wish I had one, but wait........the Harley would probably get jealous:)

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

When I told my docotr of our plans to go full time he replied seriously: "That is great. You will live ten years longer."

I think he is right. I never was the type to recognize how much strss I had when working, but can see it now.

Just starting out is a little stressful as it is a major change in lifestyle, but you will soon learn to love it. That should take ........................................................................about an hour! LOL

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

My wife and I volunteer on church construction projects. Yes I retired from work to go to work but there is a huge difference. No stress, less hours, I don't wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something on the job. We are fulltimers and do not have the responsibilities of a home owner. We still have plenty of time to do sightseeing, relaxing, visiting with friends we meet. When we are on the road between projects we take our time to smell the roses. My wife sayes " when she wakes up in morning she doesn't know what day it is, where we are located, and she doesn't care." Life is good.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't want to comes off as negative but; yes there are stressors in all walks of life. Had my biggest one the end of March; a heart attack.
Had only 15 months before my early retirement and wanted to remain work camping. I was told that it was caused by smoking; shrinking the arteries and veins and hardening them. I have high cloresterol and take Zocor, Plavix, Lisinopril and coated aspirin.
Drive a 1988 Motorhome that requires many repairs; but I keep on keeping on. You might say I'm addicted to this life style and have been since 1998. Some day going to have to either upgrade to a better motor home or unit or give it up entirely (which will cause great stress).
I camped from the first time my Mom saved S&H Green stamps at the age of 8 and camped ever since on and off. I have quit smoking and hope to never start again.

road of happy destiny · RV-Dreams Family Member

One year ago last month we walked away for our sticks and brick home and moved into our TT becauce of the economy. The house was 800 square feet and our TT is 26' long with 1 small slide. THis TT was meant for weekends and vacations & not to live in; yet here we are. Try moving two adults, 2 dogs and a cat into this small space. One dog is gone sadly but the space is still limited. Should be even more stressful but isn't. Bills are still there just not as much. Lets see, no water,sewer, trash, mortage, electric, laundry,. I'm retired an SS sure ain't much but DW still works. OH I forgot, we are still paying for an over/under TT, Truck, phone, insurance etc. But because we live in a County park and I work at the front gate and we get W/S/E plus ice, laundty, propane and a truck to drive when I work. " What a life". How does that saying go; " When life gives you lemons make lemonaide ". Space is hard but wouldn't change anything except when hopefully in a few more months we'll move up to a fifthwheel. And wife and I have grown closer.

Sorry, got kind of wordy here. There is stress wherever you are. When DW retires we won't have much more that our SS but we plan on workamping for a few years. Maybe work for a wage one season and volunteer one season. Plus during the shoulder seasons travel where we want and see family during those times.

Anyway good luck with your stressful times and enjoy the road. One way we de-stress is to invite friends up, havev a potluck dinner and share a campfire for those poor people in the city who don't get to enjoy this life. Ain't it Grand

Tom and Fran

cherab831 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi All,
So GOOD to read the posts!!!!
I have been really enjoying all of your shares! I have found a new love: bike riding and most days I ride along the canal where there are a few camp grounds and see all of the different "homes" set/ups, people sitting outside early morning and then I know what I am looking forward to!!!! The bike riding is changing my life and for me is the best stress reliever yet!!!! Working hard for a bit longer but enjoying each moment as I prepare for a new chapter.
So grateful to have found this forum!

Beth-Cal · RV-Dreams Community Member

Good for you Pieere! Stay strong...you can do it. What ya save from not buying ciggies can probably fund your new camper:))

Beth