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.
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My name is Bruce Matthews and at 67 I am preparing to hit the road once again.
Traveled most my life from early age of 16 and continue on up to present age.
Hitchhiked to Florida and picked oranges in 1970's
1. rode bicycle from Conn. to Ohio
2. Hopped freight train to parts unknown ending up in Sparks, Nevada in late 70's (worked in casino's and ended up on security force at Circus Circus in Reno .
3. Worked on Potatoe farms, Dairy farms, in Idaho, Oregon, in late 70's
4. Married and spent 21 yrs shoeing draft horses in Vermont, Ny state, Mass. N.H. 80's to 2010. My wife and I sold home and bought Jayco 5th wheel (35 ft) and traveled to Florida and back up to North Carolina then back to Vermont. My wife passed away in 2006.
I kept shoeing horses until 2011 then bought a 28 ft 5th wheel and came south to Fla. then over to Texas.
2011 found me in the VA hospital in Houston having open heart surgery along with a triple by-pass.
sold 5th wheel and trade my3/4 ton truck and moved into stick house on a farm. 3 years in Alvin, Texas then moved onto a larger farm in Liverpool, Tx and have been here ever since.
2018 January will find me back in an RV and back full timing.
Deciding now what I want for an RV. Looks like a tow behind. I do chain saw carving for a supplimental income so want the truck to carry my chain saws and tools under a cap.
Taking the year of 2017 to get everything ready and set up so I can be on road 1rst of next year.
Over the years I have owned an old 1970 something Concord motorhome, a Toyota class C, A Jayco 35 ft 5th wheel (bought new) and a 28 ft 5th wheel.
Longevity runs in my family , sister 87 and still bowing, jogging etc. brother 86 drives from southern Fla. to his other home in Northern most Maine each year. Brother 77 and lives in N.H. winters in Fla. So if I run true to form I am looking at 20 more years of traveling.
50% disability check along with social security for reliable income along with supplemental income from chainsaw carving.
Health care.....VA and medicare
OK folks that is my intro in a very large nut shell.
67? Oh my goodness! Another old guy like me. My advice: Take fours months and hit the road May 1.
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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
Great life story "retired horseshoer" thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have a lot of experience.
I retired at 66 three years ago and within four months bought a truck, fifth wheel and hit the road. It's my first RV, but I tent camped all my life. Now I'm full timing and loving every bit of it! Plan on doing it until I can't.