Full-time by 2016?? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

BoAndRach · RV-Dreams Family Member

Full-time by 2016??

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Antoan wrote:
Well, we did it, we ordered our DRV home which should be ready by the second week in April. We will have the house on the market in the next couple of weeks, fingers crossed for a quick sell. As soon as the house sells, I will submit my retirement paperwork and the Dream will begin. We've been planning this for the last three years, can't believe we are on the brink of our new life!! Still working on downsizing which seems like the never ending chore but we're getting there. So excited!!! We feel like we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It's funny how our thinking has changed, the closer we get to getting on the road the more willing we are to let household possessions go. Things that seemed important before just don't seem that important anymore. Very liberating!!

We are in Maryland, just finished digging out of 29 inches of snow, more coming tonight through tomorrow and more this weekend, so ready to spend our winters somewhere around the Golf Coast. Snow birds, here we come!!

Good luck to all of you, hope your full time in 2016 dreams come true!!!

OK, congratulations. Now, being DRV owners ourselves, you need to let me know what model of DRV you purchased.

Terry

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

BoAndRach wrote:
We are excited to report that our DRV Full House arrived in Oklahoma last weekend. We're heading up there this weekend to "close" on it. I don't feel like we own it yet, but since the finance company already mailed us the check, I suspect they feel differently.

Not sure if we'll be picking it up this weekend or just doing the walk-thru and paying for it. (I'll fess up - still working out the deal on our truck. No biggie. LOL)

Either way, we are closing in on this dream. The house is nearly empty. As soon as the RV makes its way down here to Dallas, we'll move in and put the house on the market. Praying for a quick sell. (Friends of ours who live in our town, but not our neighborhood, sold their home last weekend after only 72 hours, with a record-breaking 23 offers! So, hopefully the real estate winds are in our favor!)

Anyhow, I know I haven't met any of you yet, but I already feel like I know you in some small way. Thank you for all the knowledge and laughs you've shared. I am looking forward to meeting you all out there!

Peace!
Rachael

-- Edited by BoAndRach on Monday 8th of February 2016 09:32:45 AM

Congratulations on the DRV Full House. Did you order through Alicia and Slade at Rolling Retreats in Elk City or the dealer in Moore, OK?

Terry

BoAndRach · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
BoAndRach wrote:
We are excited to report that our DRV Full House arrived in Oklahoma last weekend. We're heading up there this weekend to "close" on it. I don't feel like we own it yet, but since the finance company already mailed us the check, I suspect they feel differently.

Not sure if we'll be picking it up this weekend or just doing the walk-thru and paying for it. (I'll fess up - still working out the deal on our truck. No biggie. LOL)

Either way, we are closing in on this dream. The house is nearly empty. As soon as the RV makes its way down here to Dallas, we'll move in and put the house on the market. Praying for a quick sell. (Friends of ours who live in our town, but not our neighborhood, sold their home last weekend after only 72 hours, with a record-breaking 23 offers! So, hopefully the real estate winds are in our favor!)

Anyhow, I know I haven't met any of you yet, but I already feel like I know you in some small way. Thank you for all the knowledge and laughs you've shared. I am looking forward to meeting you all out there!

Peace!
Rachael

-- Edited by BoAndRach on Monday 8th of February 2016 09:32:45 AM
Congratulations on the DRV Full House. Did you order through Alicia and Slade at Rolling Retreats in Elk City or the dealer in Moore, OK?
Terry

Thank you, Terry. Yes, we ordered from Alicia and Slade. It has been a fantastic experience. We met them a few weeks ago and are looking forward to seeing them again next weekend.

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Terry and Jo,

We ordered the 39dbrs3 Mobile Suites. We ordered from RVsforLess in Tennessee. Can't wait to be on the road to pick it up, about 10 more weeks.

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Anita,

We ordered the same model! Did you get the half bath or the pantry? We should be able to pick it up from Alicia & Slade in April. We're almost ready to put the house on the market and the truck will be here in March. We're getting close now!

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Ran n Joe,

We ordered the bath and a half, which one did you get? That is so awesome. We first saw it when we were at the Spring RV Rally in 2015 and knew that was the one. We weren't ready to order it at the time but we knew when we were ready that was the one. We ordered it from RVsforLess in Tennessee. When we pick it up they will let us stay on their lot for the night and pay for us to stay two additional nights at the RV River Plantation Campground while they work with us as we get used to everything. We thought that was a great deal. It won't be ready for pick up until around the second week of April.

We bought the truck in the Spring so we are ready with that, now we have to sell the house. Hopefully, it will be on the market in the next couple of weeks and will sell quickly.

We're getting there, so excited!!

melody · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just checking in, hope everyone is working hard to be ready to move when the time comes!

Having fun driving the new SUV now that it has running boards, it beats carrying a stool with a hoisting rope to get in the thing. The original owner for some reason put on big shiny rims, such that I though someone had sprayed gold paint on the lawn til I realized it was reflections from the rims. Hope I don't get out west and start any brush fires!

Found a brand new floorplan that is going to be good for me and probably other solos. Glad I didn't buy sooner because I would have gotten stuck with a traincar-like floorplan. Now I know most of you guys are into the big heavy duty 5th wheels or Class As, but my situation has me getting in the game using a short and light TT. In a few years I'll either migrate to a custom plan or something heavier duty, but for now this'll work. (Wildwood X-Lite 171RBXL) Hopefully I can tie up some loose ends and buy the thing within a month. Link to walkaround if anybody is researching this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2Ik_EY4Zr0

Measured and computed the storage space on a couple models, it is scary to think of fitting all your possessions into about 100 cubic feet! Doing some serious purging, although I was glad to see a box of music books I would like to keep with me is "only" 21 pounds. It is eye opening to really be faced with 'what do I really care about having with me, and what is just filler that I don't have to have'. Some article claims there are 300,000 items in the average house, and it is daunting to keep making decisions on so many things.

I am blessed with mostly decent weather right now and I will try to be appreciative of that because I know a lot of you have intense winter weather working against you. Good wishes to all.

coastalrv · RV-Dreams Community Member

Congrats Melody on your new TT... I just moved into mine (5er) and trust me it is heart wrenching to see years of hard work and money get sold for pennies...I just separated all my photos and getting them put on SD cards after I purchased one of those auto photo frames. That will take care of some free space... lol. It is really amazing what we purchase and then never use... all the money I have wasted on thinking "I need that"... lol

MikkiNJay · RV-Dreams Family Member

love this floor plan! Very nice! Congrats!

tktoth · RV-Dreams Family Member

We picked up our 39DBRS3 last May, and love the floor plan. No regrets!

I feel your excitement and hope you enjoy yours!

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wish us luck, the house went on the market today! It showed up on line at 2pm, we had a showing at 6pm tonight and another at 11:30 am tomorrow.

We are SOOO ready to start the next chapter in our lives!

Hope to see you on the road real soon!

Mike

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

MikenRobin,

Congrats! Maybe you will have a solid offer by the end of the week! We are shooting for the house to go on the market by March 15th.

Jo

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Jo, that would be nice.

Best of luck to you as well!

Mike

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good luck guys now is the best time.
We sold our last year at this time and it went in 4 days.
You will be hitting the road before you know it

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hello All! As many of you know, we will be getting our truck soon. We just got news that our truck, Storm, is ready and will be delivered in the next few weeks.

Enjoy!

youtu.be/iqadyRTlMJo

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW!!! That is Awesome!

Looks like you may need to be a Rocket Scientist to learn to drive it.

Ooops...Never mind.

Mike

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Update from the Crazy French Bikers, well folks it took us a little more time to sell our present house in comparaison of our last two but it is a done deal. We sold our two last house in 7 and 10 days and this one in 55 days, if you take into consideration that we have never took a broker nor a realtor agent it is not too bad, therefore we keep the profits for ourself.

In my case I'm already retired but now my wife will be able to announce her retirement and beleive me she is a HAPPY CAMPER Loll.......

Even if the house is sold we still have a lot to accomplish before leaving in october but beleive me our dream of the last 20 years as never been so close. Selling the house is always a lot of pressure but we can say this pressure is gone and behind us, now we can concentrate on smoother things.

Jean & Jocelyne

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats on your sale guys, now the fun begins
We just pick up our new home and are on our way back to Mass. From Kansas.
One mor day to go.
Wife retired 2 weeks ago and I am done the end of April, will spend 3 months local souting
Out all the minor bugs before we head out the explore this wonderful country

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike,

Your comment made Ran laugh out loud. We're in the "waiting for the house to sell" mode. How are things going with you?

-- Edited by Ran n Jo on Monday 4th of April 2016 08:24:47 PM

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Update for Mike & Robin

Sorry for not updating earlier but as most of you know this is a busy time in the life of a future Full Timer.

We put the house on the market March 1st and 10 days later we were able to put a SOLD sign out front. The engineers inspection went off without a hitch, buyers are preapproved and putting 20% down and no contingencies, so everything should go well. We are meeting with the household sale people this afternoon to begin cataloging all the items for the sale. Our fifth wheel is in the driveway, and we have been loading some of the essentials. We have been separating the take and sell items, and I am seriously nervous about the amount of STUFF in the garage the we need to cram in the camper. We have a local camp site reserved until June 1st so that is when we hit the road. Robins last day of work was last Friday and I go until May 13th. We are extremely excited and cant wait to start living it for real instead of vicariously from our favorite bloggers.

Hope to meet up on the road.

Mike

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike & Robin,

WOOHOO! I knew your house would sell quickly because of all of the hard work you both put into it! Congrats to Robin on retiring. You guys just might beat us on the road. We're with you on the nightmare of going through everything.

Jo & Ran

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

mike we are right there with you. we just got back with our new trailer last wednesday
and have started to load up. the real job of getting everything in is just crazy.

lots of stress, lots of stuff not going in that the wife wanted so even more stress.
we will also send some time local to just get a handle on everything.

we have spent over 2 years planning all this and now that the time has come it is still just crazy.
always feels like so much to do and so little time.

i guess the great part is, for us starting sometime in may, time will no longer matter ever again

melody · RV-Dreams Family Member

So glad to see you all making great progress!

Had a few setbacks over here, but the contractors are making strides doing some good things around the house this month, then it's back to the interior painting and emptying shop and garage.

The kitchen looks 30 years younger with new countertops, but OMG the cartons of 'stuff' that came out of there, and I didn't even empty most of the cabinets yet. Sheesh. And the 'if you seldom use it' test doesn't always work well, because guess what, I'm going to have to stop using a lot of gadgets and pans I rely on daily, and those tongs and little grilling things that seem fairly useless right now may be taking center stage on the road...too many things, too many decisions! And how did I come to have 4 jars of cloves??? And why is the toaster so huge!? I'm thinking I may need to give up toast, or try pan-grilling it?

jt · RV-Dreams Family Member

We stated full timing in Aug. 2016. We will be on the road for about 7 or 8 years. We want to see all 50 states. If we don't do it in 8 years i will stay on the road until we do it.

There are over 1000 things i want to see and do. We are taking are time doing it. Enjoy life now. just do it.

Take care

jt

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

living the dream JT, Living the Dream

LandL · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hopefully early this summer!

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would like to say thanks to Marianne to have started (Class 2016) topic. In our case we were with the 2015 class but we had to change our plans for several reasons. We followed 2015 class until the end and we were a bit sad that we couldn't start FT with the group, Suddenly I saw the 2016 class topic, I was happy to see that someone thaught about forming this new edition. I'm not the type of person who spend a lot of hours on forums but I appreciate the fact that people share their stories and let others know what they have acheive to get their goals.

Again Thank you Marianne, I wish everyone good luck and hope one day you will not say it is a dream but in fact you're living the dream. In our case we are also on RVillage forum under French Bikers.

Jean & Jocelyne

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well, we are finally on our way. We put the house on the market the first of March, it sold in a 8 days. Settlement is scheduled for May 16th. Our DRV will be ready around the first week of March, timing couldn't be better. I sent in my retirement paperwork last week, my last day is April 21. So excited how things have come together. Sounds like many of you are starting your new life on the road around the same time, congrats to all of you!!!

We aren't sure where we are going first, probably around the Grand Canyon, working our way north as the weather warms up. I hope that we have the opportunity to meet up on the road sometime, It's been great to share our experience!!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats Anita, May all your Dreams come true.

Time to smell the Roses!!!!

SuzieQ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just finished the last of the income tax returns. I sold my business January 1. The sale included an agreement to stay on through April 15 to help with the transition. (Looks like it may be another month or so to make sure all the clients are seen by the new owner.)
Hubby and I were hoping to go full time around Labor Day but it's looking like it will take a little longer. We plan to start looking for a fifth wheel next week!

kellygirl57 · RV-Dreams Community Member

We hope to be out of "Dodge" by late summer or early Fall of 2016. Our Estate Sale is next weekend, we have our new to us Class C rig and our house is going up for sale in June.

My sweetie, will retire as soon as we get a closing date on the house....we are hoping it sells fast! So....things are moving along.

It's scary, it's fascinating....it's an adventure of a lifetime!

Peace and blessings!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well it is finally our time, everything is done, retired last week, apartment is all most cleaned out and we hit the road next Friday to start our next adventure. We hope to at least spend the next 5 years or more checking out the countryside.

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats Bob, This is your time to enjoy.

We are right behind you, my last day is the 13th.

Hope to meet on the road,

Mike

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bobc wrote:
Well it is finally our time, everything is done, retired last week, apartment is all most cleaned out and we hit the road next Friday to start our next adventure. We hope to at least spend the next 5 years or more checking out the countryside.

Good Luck and drive safe.

Jean & Jocelyne

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats Bob! Like Mike & Robin, we are right behind you! The sold sign went on the lawn today and settlement is the first week of June. We pick up our coach the following week.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

CONGRATS GUYS!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats,Ran and Jo it is a exciting time. Hope to see you on the road. We hope to make it to a RV Dreams Rally next spring, timing just was not good for us this year

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats Ran and Jo!!!

Very excited for you both. I think its just gonna get better and better. Tomorrow is my last day of work and we close on the house tomorrow.

We're off and running in no time.

I'm not just saying this, but I REALLY hope to meet all youse guys on the road.

Mike

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

So nice to see everybody so plan coming together

mcwyant · RV-Dreams Community Member

We just started our new full-time life last Tuesday! Our original plans were to retire around September of this year and hit the road. However we found out our oldest son was being transferred by the Air Force to Japan for 3 years. Found the motorhome we wanted ( 43' Monaco Dynasty). Purged everything, sold the house, and both retired (sort of) in 4 months! It was an incredibly stressful time, but at the same time felt very liberating. We had attended the fall 2015 rv dreams rally in Lake Leelanau Michigan, ( for those of you that were there we were the "tent people", ha ha). We learned so much and met so many great people it really gave us the push we needed to change our life. It also helped allay our fears about meeting people on the road. So we drove 1800 miles in 5 days and are currently at 4 mile creek state park in upstate New York to attend our youngest sons college graduation. We will be here till next Thursday and are helping him relocate to Rochester for grad school. He got a uhaul full of our furniture as a graduation present! Then it's off to Florida where we are volunteering at Topsail Hill state park for the summer so we can be close to our oldest son before he leaves for Japan. Then we are going to Tennessee to work for Amazon for 3 months. So we have the first 6 months planned; after that who knows? We are just starting to catch our breath, but we are amazed at what we have accomplished these last 4 months. I don't think we would have done this without rv dreams, and we hope to meet many of you down the road!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW, what a turn around, good luck in your travels, don't forget to stop and smell the roses!

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

mcwyant wrote:
We just started our new full-time life last Tuesday! Our original plans were to retire around September of this year and hit the road. However we found out our oldest son was being transferred by the Air Force to Japan for 3 years. Found the motorhome we wanted ( 43' Monaco Dynasty). Purged everything, sold the house, and both retired (sort of) in 4 months! It was an incredibly stressful time, but at the same time felt very liberating. We had attended the fall 2015 rv dreams rally in Lake Leelanau Michigan, ( for those of you that were there we were the "tent people", ha ha). We learned so much and met so many great people it really gave us the push we needed to change our life. It also helped allay our fears about meeting people on the road. So we drove 1800 miles in 5 days and are currently at 4 mile creek state park in upstate New York to attend our youngest sons college graduation. We will be here till next Thursday and are helping him relocate to Rochester for grad school. He got a uhaul full of our furniture as a graduation present! Then it's off to Florida where we are volunteering at Topsail Hill state park for the summer so we can be close to our oldest son before he leaves for Japan. Then we are going to Tennessee to work for Amazon for 3 months. So we have the first 6 months planned; after that who knows? We are just starting to catch our breath, but we are amazed at what we have accomplished these last 4 months. I don't think we would have done this without rv dreams, and we hope to meet many of you down the road!

Wish you the best, have fun and drive safe

Jean & Jocelyne

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

The purge mode is almost completed, we will have a last yard sale may 21st & 22nd we have sold 90% of what we were expecting to sale. Most of the furniture, electronics, tools, etc have been given to our two sons but we still have everything in our house until the end of june because my boys bought a house 5 years ago and they sold it few weeks ago and they will now live each on their side after 29 years, our FT way of life will coincide with their new life apart.

Days are flying by not enough of 24 hours in a day, still a lot to manage and think about, we are schedule to finalize the sale of the house at the notary's office on july 4th, day of the USA and my youngest son birthday who will turn 29.

July 8th, we are leaving the house and we are still aiming october 30th for our first departure in the motorhome.

Wish everyone success with their plan and hope you will acheive your goal.

Jean & Jocelyne

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

We talked to an auctioneer last evening and signed the papers and will be having the auction in July. Next is getting rid of the S&B's. If not sold by the time we auction belonging we will stay in BB (f/w). Poor Lola didn't sleep well last night. More of reality of her home of 40 plus years will soon to be gone. I sleep the best I've sleep in weeks. It felt good after our talk with Auctioneer. I am ready but still a little nervous about House sale. The week at the Spring Educational Rally has been a lot of help. The manual we got I continue to review. Happy Trails until we meet again.

melody · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is finally an RV sitting in my driveway! Yay! Drove it home a couple hours without incident, thank heaven for large gas stations and pull-through rest stop parking. Yesterday had a friend give me an hour's lesson on backing and the finer points. Then it was time to let him back it in to my extremely tough to back into driveway, unhitch and set up so I can start figuring out how to get it ready to roll. I did manage to get the stabilizers down, although one was stuck in a weird position. Now I know the first tool I will need to have on board, the king size screwdriver.

Well, I will not bore you with any other details. Just reporting in. I am way behind schedule and may have to list the house in Sept or later, but much has been out of my control. At least now I can take a break, take a trip, and feel like I am getting somewhere.

Hope everyone else is having good progress on their plans. Anybody else with major delays cropping up?

When I first started hearing so many people talk about 5 year plans, it seemed excessive and I thought it must be because they were saving to pay cash for a huge rig and a huge slush fund. Now I am thinking maybe it is because it really is hard to do all the things to get ready, especially if you're holding down a job. Downsizing, prepping a house for sale, researching RVs and tow vehicles, any one can take large amounts of time. Do them all at once, in addition to 'real life' events, and yeah, 5 years is a reasonable time frame.

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, it's official! We are living in our coach! We spent this past weekend living at our dealer's while a few things were attended to and we hit the road tomorrow. Then we will work our way back to PA to finish moving in. We will be stationary for about 4 weeks and then we will brave New England roads for most of the summer. How are things coming along for everyone else?

Jo

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats guy. We started our adventure last most. We are on Cape Cod for the summer before we take off for our US tour.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are intending to go full time this year ... we have a LOT of stuff to sell (or give away). Hopefully we'll be fully divested by the end of the year. Selling house is the biggie.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Resigned from the Country Club today ... baby steps😎