Six Months on the Road Musings - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Six Months on the Road Musings

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Try to do some of the moving day stuff the night before. We always take the covers off the wheels & windows, put chairs away, pull in the big front slide, empty waste tanks & put hose away, etc. In the morning we have less to do, makes getting on the road easier, quicker.

Barb

pkhalin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Trace,

Thanks for your musings, or insights as the case may be. I do like your observations.

We take off in two and a half months and it's nice to get the new perspectives of folks that have recently taken off. Listen and learn. It's been said more than once there is no particularly right way to do this. Have to find what's best for you.

And I'm with Barb on the picking up the night before. Although we've only had the opportunity of doing this while ending vacation, a bummer of an acknowledgement, it'll be interesting to see if there's a change in attitude knowing the vacation (yes I know, it's no longer vacation, it's a life style) isn't coming to an end.

I find your comment on 'not everyone will be happy for you' as interesting. Do folks really get that much push back when they make it known they're going to do this? I guess I'm lucky. All the folks I have told seem to be very receptive, family, friends, and co-workers alike. It would seem they would be envious of such a lifestyle.

And Barb, I've always appreciated reading your viewpoints as a veteran of the road as well. I haven't read much at all that hasn't been useful.

Still looking forward to the adventure with great anticipation.

Offtosmelltheroses · RV-Dreams Family Member

Great Reflections Trace! Wonderful insights.

As I read the first of your thoughts, about the drudgery of "breaking camp" I was reminded of so many past vacations, and the depression that always started to sit in on the last day or two when all I could think about was "Vacations almost over, time to go back to work!" Cripes I hated that feeling! What often made it worse, particularly on fishing trips (a passion) was my fishing companions were mostly already retired!

There was this one trip I particularly remember - I was scheduled for a week of fishing on the coast, followed immediately by a second trip, fishing somewhere else - don't really remember where, but what sticks in my mind is how dramatically different I felt as the first week came to a close, the feeling of freedom knowing I wasn't headed back to the office on Monday, nope! I was off on another adventure! biggrin

While our FTRV life has not yet begun, we've got a few more months of the old life yet before then, I can only imagine that has to be the feeling I'll enjoy each time we clean up, load up and head off -- not back to the old "nine to five" but to the next adventure!

Jim and Deb

"Off to Smell the Roses!"

-- Edited by Offtosmelltheroses on Thursday 14th of May 2015 10:00:48 PM

2riker2go · RV-Dreams Family Member

A great six month reflection! :) At almost two and a half years, most of your points also ring true for us. Although we have gotten our moving days down to a pretty smooth system, so we don't find them as stressful as we used to.

One thing that I've found is that a lot of our days have settled down to "just life". We're not always out sightseeing, or planning touristy kinds of things for part of each week. The other day I was having a conversation with someone about wintering in Florida, and they were asking me what we do while we're down there. The question threw me for a minute because I didn't have a huge list of big unusual things we do. We're just living our life. Except our house moves.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jim and Deb touched on something that had occurred to me, many a time while on vacation... last day.. Uggh. I've though about that a fair bit since we decided to go FT. What if this... what if that. Cindi has expressed some angst on this subject also.

Heres my take... Life is full of little jobs we do everyday or every week, month year. The dread of "last day" can be put into a different light when looking at the "pack up" as just another of life's little jobs. In a S&B I'd mow the grass every weekend, help with gardening, spend an hour on the road 5 days a week commuting... when We go FT, those jobs will be replaced with, packing up and setting up periodically, and other tasks not associated with S&B living. I merely traded some of those little jobs for other ones. Water off a duck's back. Additionally, so called chores, have the added benefit of requiring you to focus on something mundane thus relieving you of the self-torture of worrying about other more pressing issues that may be of concern to you. By changing your focus you may gain a fresh perspective on a problem or defuse a tense situation. Sometimes "drugdery of the mundane" has it's own rewards.

If you don't pack up, you'll miss the next great adventure that will happen with or without you at the next place you stop. Nothing wrong with staying where you are currently and soaking up local things... but when it's time to go, for whatever reason, look at packing up as the first step in that next great adventure.

Your last point was interesting... Relationships can be challenging, but life is full of cathartic moments. Especially with loved ones. We all get comfortable in the status quo and can unintentionally take things for granted and ignore important clues that something is amiss. The alert student of human interaction will quickly recognize this and make the necessary relationship adjustments to restore harmony. Sometimes it's easy, most of the time breaking through the stubborness of the ego results in some measure of confrontation. Catharsis then restoration of balance, moving to a new level of the relationship. Or not, if the willpower to listen and reason and compromise isn't there. I'm no genius on this subject, and my life is proof of that. I'm hoping that each day I'm doing enough to get better at it. Sherry (WestWardHo) recently shared a comment on FB that hit home with me...paraphrasing it from the cobwebs upstairs... In school, you are taught a lesson then given a test.... life gives you a test that teaches you a lesson. So it is in relationships also.

Thanks for sharing your perspectives. Love your blog and Lee's occasional adlibs. I hope we cross paths down the road.

Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 15th of May 2015 07:51:52 AM

Curtis and Rhandi · RV-Dreams Family Member

I LOVE what you say about not everyone being happy for you! I get that. Although the majority of my co-workers are happy for us - there is the other side that is ticked off - I guess because they feel they "can't" do it. I also got a LOT of push back from one of my brothers. The oldest one thinks I'm insane for taking on this life style. After the younger brother explained it to him, he was happier about the decision. Bottom line is, he wishes he could do it, but he's not willing to make the sacrifice (selling home and things) to do it. And breaking camp - always sucks, I agree. When we had our little travel trailer, hated doing that....although we got pretty good at it. I imagine we will handle the fiver the same way come October when we hit the road!
I work full time as well - so we are actually looking at staying several months in one place before moving on. That will also allow my husband to get a job and work as well. Excited for you - October 1 is our go date! Can't wait!

Offtosmelltheroses · RV-Dreams Family Member

Gosh I envy you guys that are "a few months away" from "graduating" to the life. Our time table figures that with any luck, we'll be one of the last members to "graduate" with the class of 2016, (right after Christmas next year).

Jim and Deb

(not yet) Off to Smell the Roses!

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Offtosmelltheroses wrote:
Gosh I envy you guys that are "a few months away" from "graduating" to the life. Our time table figures that with any luck, we'll be one of the last members to "graduate" with the class of 2016, (right after Christmas next year).
Jim and Deb
(not yet) Off to Smell the Roses!

Ohhhh quit rubbing it in!! biggrin biggrin biggrin Us? 2018 probable start, late 2017 if all goes well.

Brian

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace - thanks for sharing.

We're with you on not liking moving days, at least until we at the part where we're actually moving. We've gotten really good at packing up most of our outside stuff the night ahead of time and if we're somewhere that's not too hot or cold, we'll actually get all the utilities disconnected the night before and run off our batteries for the night to make the morning a little easier. Moving on Saturday or Sunday while we're working is just so much simpler for us, we do everything we can to avoid weekday moves. We've got a couple of those moves coming up due to art shows and I'm already dreading them.

I chuckled at your comment about being with friends is complicated and I'll just add if they are other RV friends, it can be even more complicated. Just watch those plans change as one of the rigs has a flat or a breakdown. Debbie & Steve (DebbieM) were heading our way last Saturday and wanted to see us at an art show in the location where Debbie used to have her store, flat tire, less than 2 hours away resulted in changing those plans to meet for coffee on Sunday morning before the art show started. Being with friends is complicated and sometimes a lot of flexibility is needed, but so worth it when you have an evening like we had last night with a couple that is leaving today, my rib cage still hurts this morning from laughing the evening away with them last night. And our next middle of the week move that is not associated with an art show is just so we can see them for a couple more days in July as we head in opposite directions at that time.

After the first few months on the road we started to settle back down into life and a routine, we realized that while we love spending our weekends exploring we're more likely now to have one weekend day to "play" and then there's a day to sleep in, run errands, grocery shop, clean house, wash the rig, etc, etc. We do have some weekends where both days are spent exploring, especially if we're in the area for a very limited time, but when we're in an area for a longer period of time we've really gotten into a routine of one day for exploring, one day for taking care of home and truck "stuff". For us, we've found that it's a better balance and we've given up trying to see everything with the attitude that if we don't see if this year, we'll see it next. LOL, we're still saying that about some areas of AZ and we've now wintered there twice, we really are going to make it to Organ Pipe next year wink If it's a move weekend, we try to move on one day and leave the other day for exploring, or if necessary start the move late Friday afternoon and stay one night enroute so we can arrive by Saturday and thus enjoy Sunday off.

One thing we've also learned is that we no longer plan any kind of a move on a 3 day weekend and we were doing really good with that rule for this year until Dale got accepted into an art show that has waitlisted or rejected him for the last 6 years. So now we're moving on Labor Day, but luckily through a fairly sparsely populated portion of Idaho. Gotta be flexible but at least we know far enough in advance that I can do a little planning.

There's so much about this life I love and no, not everything is quite the way we expected, but we still feel like we have more "life" now than when we had a house and we're enjoying the scenery changing as we move about the country.

Ruth

-- Edited by NWescapee on Friday 15th of May 2015 09:28:43 AM

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace, you do an absolutely fabulous job with your musings and for sure we value beyond belief your candidness, deep seated sharing of your feelings and openess with your budgets and writings. Kudos to you for the dedication you put in to your camper chronicles as well as sharing on this forum all that you do. This can but benefit others coming behind you as well allay fears of those experiencing similar maybe at the same stage on this road less travelled.

I was thinking as we are all different personalities with different perceptions, after reading your 6 month on the road musings, it would be wonderful if more folks would share their 6 month, 1 year and 3 years FTing musings as well. Just purely to get different perspectives from those that are still working age on the road, versus those not or those that chose to volunteer and why etc etc. As well, as mentioned before everyone has a different personality and what bugs one is of zero consequence to another, but is that because they are at a different place in their lives as FTers by comparison or just different strokes for different folks?

It for sure would be wonderful to read others experiences now 6 months, 1 year, 3 years into FTing and how it changes over time with thought patterns or how they change how they roll after several years.

As for breaking up camp, we are much like Barb in that we tend to secure away a lot of our stuff the night before we retire, especially outside stuff like mats, chairs, table and bench covers, Grill etc. Next day, hubby takes about 5 to 10 mins tops depending if we are dry camping or hooked up outside to check slides in properly, tires OK, jacks retracted fully, and walk around and stow any hoses/cords if applicable, assess any obstacles for leaving the site, and we are ready for the off. Whilst he is doing that I usually check around the slides are clear of obstructions, bring them in, scout around securing shower door, things into sinsk and cabinets and secure all counter top items. If we are on rare occasions in full hook up, then we spend probably a good extra 10 mins filling black tank to capacity for dilution, flushing and black and grey tank cleaning and emptying. Filling the fresh water tank occurs whilst we are doing these other things typically, if not we do it the day before whilst enjoying sitting outside.

Breaking camp for us doesn't phase us personally in the slightest but I'm thinking it possibly feels a lot easier though for the likes of Barb and us because we have an A series versus a 5er which involves hooking up, as well not being 'typical' on the road workers etc. Also we tend to put any bikes or other stuff back where they live the night or day before, so do a little bit here and there. We also tend to be minimalists not to have a lot of stuff outside for the most part even when staying for a couple of weeks in one place. It just might take Barb a few extra minutes to pick up her empty wine bottles than us (LOL)

Once again Trace Kudos to you for the effort you put in to sharing this lifestyle of yours, so very many do appreciate it, many reading and never commenting but benefiting just the same. We for one are so very envious of your new lifestyle.

Safe, Happy and Enjoyable Travels wished to you and Lee always.

SD.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Love reading what folks learn on the road... the only fact out there is that there is no one true way :)

Since it was requested, I actually shared my 8 Years on the Road reflections earlier this week on the blog:

www.technomadia.com/2015/05/eight-years-on-the-road-a-letter-back-to-myself-then/

It's hard to believe how quickly 8 years goes by :)

- Cherie

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

L&T enjoyed your insights!

Great read Cherie!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here was my first year on the road post:

rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t58066690/a-very-fast-first-year-on-the-road/

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of moving into the RV, although it would be another 2 months before we left the driveway for the last time, can't believe how fast the time flies and how much more "life" we have now than we even thought possible.

gilljr · RV-Dreams Family Member

GREAT POST !!! Like you we just finished our first six months and are still excited about our lifestyle. We have had our share of bumps, tire problems, refrigerator just pooped, but living in a stick and bricks also has problems, Hope to meet up with you sometime, somewhere.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

biggaRView wrote:
Offtosmelltheroses wrote:
Gosh I envy you guys that are "a few months away" from "graduating" to the life. Our time table figures that with any luck, we'll be one of the last members to "graduate" with the class of 2016, (right after Christmas next year).
Jim and Deb
(not yet) Off to Smell the Roses!
Ohhhh quit rubbing it in!! Us? 2018 probable start, late 2017 if all goes well.
Brian

Finally, someone else who's not afraid to speak their mind! One certain thing, there is no political correctness or fear of offending others on this forum. You people who are living the full-time lifestyle should be more empathetic with those of us who are bound to the drudgery of a "normal" life. You people should be ashamed of enjoying life so much.

OK, I'm off my soap box. I need to go hug my fifth wheel and pat my tow vehicle. Now when I tell them it won't be long they just respond with, whatever.

Trace, well said. Next time you are dreading packing up... Think of us poor daily dregerators. (Oh yeah, well it's my word and I'll make them up any time I want)

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

On behalf of all of us who are retired, let me pass along a big thank you to those of you still working and paying taxes - you're the reason we do this. smile We are spending money to keep the economy growing and you working until it is your turn to join us.

-- Edited by Barbaraok on Saturday 16th of May 2015 03:26:31 PM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
biggaRView wrote:
Offtosmelltheroses wrote:
Gosh I envy you guys that are "a few months away" from "graduating" to the life. Our time table figures that with any luck, we'll be one of the last members to "graduate" with the class of 2016, (right after Christmas next year).
Jim and Deb
(not yet) Off to Smell the Roses!
Ohhhh quit rubbing it in!! Us? 2018 probable start, late 2017 if all goes well.
Brian
Finally, someone else who's not afraid to speak their mind! One certain thing, there is no political correctness or fear of offending others on this forum. You people who are living the full-time lifestyle should be more empathetic with those of us who are bound to the drudgery of a "normal" life. You people should be ashamed of enjoying life so much.
OK, I'm off my soap box. I need to go hug my fifth wheel and pat my tow vehicle. Now when I tell them it won't be long they just respond with, whatever.
Trace, well said. Next time you are dreading packing up... Think of us poor daily dregerators. (Oh yeah, well it's my word and I'll make them up any time I want)

Ohhh quit rubbing it in biggrin biggrin biggrin At least you have a 5er and tow vehicle. Our 2003 Stixenbrix 2240RLK is a like jealous woman. Just mention a 5er and she thows a fit and breaks something, demands we fix it immediately and is ungrateful when we do so.

All I can add to that is at least we don't have any irradiated rodentasaurus like your monster lurking around the rig. biggrin biggrin biggrin Yeah we are looking forward to that problem. confuse

mds1 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Awesome post Trace. We enjoy following your blog as well.

pkhalin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mark,

When your vehicles start responding, let me know. I'm gonna steer clear. Shades of 'Maximum Overdrive'.

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
biggaRView wrote:
Offtosmelltheroses wrote:
Gosh I envy you guys that are "a few months away" from "graduating" to the life. Our time table figures that with any luck, we'll be one of the last members to "graduate" with the class of 2016, (right after Christmas next year).
Jim and Deb
(not yet) Off to Smell the Roses!
Ohhhh quit rubbing it in!! Us? 2018 probable start, late 2017 if all goes well.
Brian
Finally, someone else who's not afraid to speak their mind! One certain thing, there is no political correctness or fear of offending others on this forum. You people who are living the full-time lifestyle should be more empathetic with those of us who are bound to the drudgery of a "normal" life. You people should be ashamed of enjoying life so much.
OK, I'm off my soap box. I need to go hug my fifth wheel and pat my tow vehicle. Now when I tell them it won't be long they just respond with, whatever.
Trace, well said. Next time you are dreading packing up... Think of us poor daily dregerators. (Oh yeah, well it's my word and I'll make them up any time I want)

Mark, Too funny ... but since you're a retired MSG, you're no doubt half way there ... or more.

"Retired" is such a nebulous term, but by definition does mean you "stop employment completely." I prefer to think of my upcoming retirement as a "transition" which takes us down another road in life. By the end of this year, I'll be 57, and there is still much in life to accomplish, so I prefer "not" to think of myself as retired. (O.k., I know by the definition I will be, but when I talk to friends and their idea of retirement is living on a golf course and hanging out with old people talking about their aches and pains, I know that type of retirement is just not for me...)

Good luck heading towards your next transition ...

Roll Me Away · RV-Dreams Family Member

There's just a moment in time when you hear the rustle of wanderlust. smile

Everything has a vanishing point, especially the two-lane byways with their silver stitchery. No matter how obscured that point is, rain, storm, dust, or landscape, the vanishing point is there.
Into an Angry Sky
I rolled away on a crackling, rainy night in 2009 after I had settled Bill’s estate and sold or gave away everything. I had bought a 27 foot Born Free, the motor coach of my heart’s desire, stuffed my pets, computers, and a few clothes into it and tried to plot, map, and plan the route from the vanishing point of one lifestyle, and the new one, always in the future. One only has to see the road by moonlight, with the silver lines disappearing into the horizon and notice how when one has gotten to where one thought the road would end, it opens up again, new landscape, and each day a new sunrise and each night a new face of the moon.
The future begins with some action, but 3 a.m. contemplation only brought questions of how to cut the umbilical cord of memory and find something less painful than walking alone where my best friend and boon companion had walked with me. Work wasn’t a problem as I had enjoyed working on line with court reporters, attorneys, and various other clients as editor and scopist. My favorite professor, director of my master’s degree, lit a fire under my almost pathological desire to work with language, by telling me a story, a legend of a rushing river by which one must leap from stone to stone to cross to the future or stand frozen in however much time one has left in life. “Don’t stand there. Do not turn back. Jump!” I jumped, and my work is quite suited to the lifestyle I had once only imagined.
If I asked myself would I do this again, would I turn on the motor and just roll, not caring when or where my final “vanishing point” might be, Self would say, heck yes, in a heartbeat.
Roll Me Away

fun2travel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Nice post Trace. It's good to read your candid musings. We've been fulltiming in one spot for the last couple months since selling our home down the street. Hope to be on the road in July. Reading this helps get me prepared for the highs and lows to come. Our goal is to not get too high or too low

Good luck to you both

gypsymaus · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow you got all that in 6 months! Great post and very candid....can't wait for your 12 month post. <g> You are on the road to success.

Bob and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace, great recap. We will have 1 year in a few days. It still seems like vacation at times. Moving day is tough but no where near what it was a year ago when we sold our 35 year residence. We have found that sitting 4 weeks is long enough, shorter is better (for us). See you soon, travel safe.

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Really nice responses...can't tell you how much this group means to me.