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!!
I'm turned 50 in 2013 and all hell broke loose! Quit my job, changed my name, and took off to travel by myself in Europe (couchsurfing and AirBNB make it reasonable $$).
I'm back now because my youngest is in his senior year of high school. But when he graduates, my plan is to sell my house, fulltime RV, and write. I worked for 10 years as a book editor in a publishing house so that's how I hope to support myself.
I'm trying to decide what kind of RV to get and I'm 85% sure I want a small travel trailer (less than 24') and a F150. I've never driven anything big before so I'm kinda nervous about it.
Does anyone have any advice as to the first thing I should do once I get on the road? Typically, when you move to a new place you check out the stores, meet the neighbors, go to the library... I'm kinda wondering where I should head first? I'm drawn to boondocking, but I can't imagine the middle of nowhere should be my first destination. Anybody have any stories about their first RV trip as a fulltimer?
Thanks for any advice for a future solo fulltimer.
A talented editor should be able to find work. Many authors are becoming their own publishers and find they need editing. Luckily you can be anywhere to get and receive the files, you just need internet access. It will take some marketing, a catchy name and some references.
On where do you go first? We decided based on need. If we need food, we find grocery stores, if we need to find our way around, we find the chamber of commerce or visitors center, if we need fuel, we find gas stations.
As to where to go first, I think it depends on where you are starting, how far you want to travel and what time of the year you are going. I am not going to recommend Quartzsite AZ as a place to boondock to someone from New York in August.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
Take a day trip to RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN, about 2 hours east of Chicago - http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/. It should help with your education and you might find some knowledgeable people to talk to.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
As said above, there are several solo women driving and towing rigs of all sizes out on the road. I recommend reading Sue Rogers' blog at rvsueandcrew.com from beginning to end. She is an inspiration to us all. Even if you never want to boondock (95% of her camping is off the grid) her stories will give you the confidence to know you can travel alone safely and enjoyably.
Best of luck in your search for the perfect rig, and keep us posted on your progress.
Welcome to this forum. A great bunch of people hang out in these parts. All kinds of helpful info to be had too. As a fellow Chicagolander I would recommend taking in the Chicago Camping and RV show at Donald E Stephens Convention Center near Ohare next month. Here's a link http://www.chicagorvshow.com
-- Edited by biggaRView on Sunday 19th of January 2014 10:20:22 PM
My suggestion, which was a great help to us, is to go to an RV-Dreams Rally. As I've said before, it's a great foundation for this lifestyle. Anyone who can take odd solo for a year in Europe will have all the innate ability to live and love this life.
Oh, and welcome!!
Sherry
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I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way. - Carl Segan
Our "Rolling Rest Home" 2013 Trilogy 3650RL dragged by a 2005 GMC Sierra 4x4 Diesel Dually -SOLD
I love seeing more solo females! I am one too! :) I went all-out and bought my Airstream in July and am trying to figure out the rest. I want to full-time but I don't have all the info yet to do the planning so its not exactly coming together properly. LOL I did just get a spot at the spring rally and I am hoping that will be a huge stepping stone for me and I can start to figure this whole thing out. (I still need to buy my truck though. I better get on that. ) There's lots of great people, ideas, and resources on here, go ahead and soak it up. Enjoy!
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~Merry~
A solo chick and her fuzzy dog Newman (aspiring full-timers)
1976 Airstream Tradewind 25' named Penelope
2005 Chevy Silverado TV named Puck
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new."
Hope to see you there! I'm focusing on selling my house now. I can look at RVs all I want but I have nowhere to park it while I'm getting rid of my stuff! My neighborhood doesn't all RVs. How did you manage to purchase an RV without a truck?
Yea I am sort of doing everything backward. LoL I couldn't pass up the deal on the Airstream (have always wanted vintage) so I bought it and rented a pickup truck to go get it. And that's the first time I ever towed anything! I dove in head first! I live in the city in an apartment so I couldn't park it here either. It is residing at my mothers house 45min away until I figure out my plan. Glad I did it though or I may have given up on the full timing idea. Good luck, it will all fall into place...just believe.
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~Merry~
A solo chick and her fuzzy dog Newman (aspiring full-timers)
1976 Airstream Tradewind 25' named Penelope
2005 Chevy Silverado TV named Puck
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new."