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! -> Starting out....
Post Info TOPIC: Starting out....
Jgrosdidier


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Starting out....
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Hello Forum!

Excited to see a site with a wealth of information for those WANTING to become fulltimers.  We have many questions and would love the expertise of those that have been in our "shoes".  Let me introduce ourselves, we: a family of four, including our 4-legged Elwood.  Our intent is to travel across the country wherever work takes us while homeschooling our 9 and 12 year old boys.  My busband will be incharge of the homeschooling and outdoor adventures.  I am a labor and delivery nurse, planning on becoming a travel nurse. 

We have been thinking and playing with the idea of fulltiming for 3-4 months now, tired of the rat race and schooling in CA.  We are a family that makes decisions quick and jumps on them quicker, so we are trying to get all of our "ducks in a row" before our rent/lease is up in May, 2013.  We have the 5th wheel picked out and the truck to pull it, but are waiting until we are closer to the end of our lease to buy, so we won't have to pay storage fees or live with just 1 vehicle.  Due to homeschooling we have decided to make our domicile Texas, so here is where we begin to solidify our fulltiming decision and start acting on it. 

There is a lot of information and questions to filter through in taking this giant leap!  We hope we can get some help from this site and its members. 

Plan of action: sell, sell, sell most of our 2500 sq. ft household! (yay!), purchase a 41 ft. Road Warrior 5th wheel, purchase Ford F450 (with our trade-ins), set up residence in TX, plan to be living on the road by the end of June 2013!

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

Jason & Renee Grosdidier



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The Grosdidier's, On the Road

43 ft Raptor Velocity, pulled by Ford F450

Jaarotr.blogspot.com

 
Alie and Jims Carrilite


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Sounds like a plan!

Welcome to the forum.
We're hoping to be fulltime this spring (whenever the house sells), and start traveling in November 2013.

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Carrilite Home

Volvo Pickup

Alie & Jim

Morgan- DD

Sallie- 4 legged lab

Tabitha & Brooke -other furballs

FullTiming since March 2013
Jwar


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Hooray for you guys. I am not a FT'er yet but noticed you live in my state. I elected on florida as my son lives there for a home resendecy address. After chatting with my accountant he advised me into getting a florida drivers license, using my sons address and change all our bank accounts (two) to a Fl bank first. This way we can purchase a DP as a florida resident in Ca without paying Ca tax.

We may have a 6 yr old granchild with us as her mother is totaly illresponsible at this point in her life. We will also look into home school as we have never done that. 

Wishing you the best whater your decision is.

John



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Terry and Jo


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Welcome, Jason and Renee.

You will find this to be a good site for information.  In addition to all the knowledgeable folks on the forums, Howard and Linda have put a wealth of information on the rest of their website.  They put a lot of information in their daily journal, but also check out the "Site Map" on the home page of the website.  In that section, you can begin to find a lot of answers to some of your questions.  Also, when in the forum area, make use of the "Search" function up in the blue bar towards the top of the forum categories.

Feel free to ask your questions as there are no dumb questions.  You might get a few smart-alecky answers, but it is usually always in jest.  The only dumb questions are those that don't get asked in order to get an answer.

When using the forums, try to choose a relevant category that relates to your question if you are starting a new thread.  It makes it easier for us to find relevant questions and you get better answers as not everyone checks all of the categories.

Good luck with the research and planning.  It looks like a lot of your plans are started, but you would still have time to change a choice should your questions find answers that show a negative light on your choices.

Glad to have you as part of the family.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

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

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Trabuco


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Welcome Jason and Renee,

Sounds like you guys have your act together and know exactly what you want!! Good luck with the adventure.


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Ken

2005 Monaco Diplomat 400 ISL Cummins

2012 Honda CRV AWD

2008 Harley Ultra Classic

 

 
53 Merc


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Welcome. We did the homeschooling of our grandson i TX, so be aware there is a tremondous amount of information out there. I can recommend FEAST, a homeschool book center in San Antonio. Numerous support groups exist out there, so do your due diligence and join the world of adventure.
May I suggest if you plan on buying a larger pickup/truck, look into purchase in state of residence. CA is gonna kill you on taxes, licenses and insurance. TX will be a little gentler, but it is still expensive. Likewise the 5er, of whatever denomination. So, make your residence choice in one or the other before you begin this event/adventure.

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Ken and Fran 2006 Sunnybrook F250 SD CC PSD
Jgrosdidier


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Posts: 5
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Thank you everyone for your input and advice, we really appreciate it. Can anyone recommend a mail-forwarding service that will also be able to be our permanent address (ie. for setting up residence, getting registered, licenses, insurance etc.)?

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The Grosdidier's, On the Road

43 ft Raptor Velocity, pulled by Ford F450

Jaarotr.blogspot.com

 
Lucky Mike


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Most in texas use Escapees Rv Club.......seems to be a good deal


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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

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My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Workinrvers


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Lucky Mike wrote:

Most in texas use Escapees Rv Club.......seems to be a good deal

 X2 - Great to work with.



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Phil and Rudee
http://workinrvers.blogspot.com
2002 Winnebago Journey DL
2007 Dodge Dakota
2011 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited
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