Thank you for sharing your plans. Seem very well reasoned to me.

That sounds like a good plan. Different from our plan, but just like full timing, there is no right way. Our “want list” is similar ... no yard work, house keeping service, etc. sounds perfect. Not interested in 2-3 overseas trips per year ... maybe 1-2 max. My military career was 26 years in the Air Force, so we got plenty of travel “over there”. I hope you guys have a great time in the next phase of your journey. Good luck.

-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 14th of November 2019 05:09:35 PM

Well, I guess Neil and Connie’s post is as relevant a place to say this as a new thread for anyone interested. I’ve been kind of waiting a few months for Neil to post.  Linda and I sort of “knew” this would happen for N & C and us about the same time even though we are older.  Predicted same earlier this year for all of us.

We have sold the New Horizons and our wonderful Ram 5500HD truck. (“Sniff” –‘specially for the truck. That was a great truck for the purpose.)  We have very close RV friends who wanted the NH and other good friends who needed to replace their truck with the Ram which was much more capable, suited to their trailer and Alaska travel.  All good for all concerned.

As some know, we’ve been on the forum officially since January of 2010.  “Lurked” long before that.  We’ve been RVing since the mid 1970’s.  My parents were full-timers since the late 1970’s and we didn’t sell their Airstream – 5^th one - until Mom was 93 as she was still using it.  So, we do have some “perspective.”

We’ve never wanted to sell the sticks and brinks. Never seriously crossed our minds. Recall my parents sold their home, so we have that perspective.  We’ve traveled over 160,000 logged towing miles in the past 13 years. Who knows how many touring miles without the rig in tow.  Took the trailer to all 49 states and all Provinces and Territories of Canada including taking the RV to the Arctic Ocean area and on the big ocean-going ferry to Newfoundland like N & C.  So having a house has never slowed down our travel and it really made “getting off the road” super easy.  So, it was the right thing - for us.  As H&L came to say, we were “Part-time - Full-timers.”  We had to do all the things full-timers did so our views of the RV life and its needs were pretty much in-line with any full-timers who had a home base, house or not, for legal and doctor things. There are many ways to do this.

We are / were considering “down-sizing” to a smaller 5^th wheel that could safely be handled by a 2500 Ram. 12K-ish – looked hard at a Grand Design – toured the factory - would purchase one.  Nice trailer, pretty well built trailer for the purpose - basically a mobile motel room. Hate motels.  But no. We’re going to do other kinds of travel and enjoy many things here at home.  It’s time.  We’re considering getting a park model in the mountains (less then two hours from the house) so I don’t have to fix stuff as often and they are better suited to remain in one place then an RV with slides, etc.  More to this but I won’t digress more.

We’ll probably hang around the forum and make some comments which might be helpful. I guess in the 45 odd years we’ve been involved in the RV world we might have picked up a few things that could be helpful to others.

The real point of this post is to say:  Do what works for you.  Don’t be led into doing anything that doesn’t seem right – for you.  The way N & C did this RV thing is correct for them.  The way we did this RV thing is correct for us.  Do the RV thing the way that is right for you.  Not because someone else did it some way, but because it works for you.

Selling the house is good.  Keeping the house is good.  Neither is right.  Both have advantages and disadvantages. “It depends.”

Safe travels,

Bill and Linda

Now I know why you didn't look at buying a lot at Cypress Trails or someplace else in the area.

I wonder if they have "town home" communities in Fort Myers area, since we have friends living in one in Port St. Lucie. A town home is half of a duplex that you own, where the homeowners association handles the landscaping. A cousin lived in one in Sequim WA and friends are looking to move into one in Richland WA.

Anyway good luck.

My time was in the Navy…and they don't let nuclear powered submarines into a lot of places…and they don't spend much time in port anyway so I didn't see much beyond the port city. Plenty of places we want to visit…my guess on how much travel we'll be doing is just a SWAG…no idea how much we'll really do at this point.

 

We're not really leaving the forum…at least I don't think I will as we have friends here and knowledge to share. Like Bill…I'll continue to contribute when I have something to offer and answer whatever questions I can.

I'm sure I speak for Bill as well in appreciation for your gratitude for whatever we could provide…both of us I think wanted to pass along lessons we've learned just like those before us passed theirs along to us. While Bill and Linda have RVed basically forever we were newbies in 2011 when we started and appreciated the advice we got from H&L, B&L, and too many others to list.

 We joined in 2011…so Bill predates me a bit. He's right though…do things you way. We considered briefly keeping our house up in Fairfax VA when we went on the road for winter stays…but since getting away from snow, ice, and traffic was one of our goals in RVing that was pretty much a non-starter. If our house had been someplace warm we may have made the same decision that B&L made and kept the house…but I wanted to never, never, ever have to deal with snow or yard work again…ever.

-- Edited by Neil and Connie on Sunday 17th of November 2019 06:59:18 AM

-- Edited by Neil and Connie on Sunday 17th of November 2019 07:01:35 AM

Wow - best of luck to N&C and also B&L in this new phase of your lives! Bill and I both very much appreciate all your advice and perspectives!

Now that we have a grandchild, time spent in PA will increase. (We spent a total of 8 months of 2019 there!)

We’ve always been on the look-out for Plan B/ Exit strategy and no luck so far, and we aren’t in a hurry at all. Lots of our “Class of 2014” friends have made major changes to their lives in the past year or so and we are paying attention in order to get ideas and weigh options. We have no plans to settle down any time soon, even if we do find our “it” place.

We agree, each time their own on how you live your RV life - or any part of it for that matter!

Well, I suppose it comes down to "all good things...." To N&C and to B&L you have inspired us and educated us and we hope to follow in your intrepid tracks (with different paths but the same spirit.) I suspect that you can take the couple out of the RV but you can't take the RV out of the couple. I think you will have plenty to continue to share to those of us that will or still have questions and hopefully your "student Kuren-sei" can carry the torch as time goes by. I hope by chance we get to make a real connection in person as we travel the land. Safe travels. 

We are also putting together thoughts on an exit strategy but we feel that is a long way off... too much to see and do before then, health and finances permitting, so far we are well equipped on those fronts along with the knowledge you have imparted on us. But before that, our "entry plan" starts with H&L's 2020 spring rally forearmed with all of yours  (and others) sage advice.

Many thanks.

We're with Bill…feel to email anytime, it's my first name @ my last name dot net.

Update on the house front…we've offered and agreed on a 3BR/2 Bath house in a gated community (sounds fancy but there are literally dozens of these in the Fort Myers area) named Magnolia Gardens and are currently doing the inspection/mortgage thing. Expect closing middle of January and then we'll build a spa on the lanai (fancy word for screened in patio down here in FL) and slowly move out. I'll be putting the rig and truck up for sale sometime after the new year…when Connie tells me it's time. Our current plan is to finish moving into the house in probably April and then finish selling the rig…although once it goes on the market if we get an offer we'll have to negotiate to meet the needs of both us and the buyer. In the meantime…if anybody knows people interested in a well maintained 2012 New Horizons 40 foot Majestic 5ver…please either pass them my email or PM me with theirs so we can start whatever discussions might be relevant. I'll put up a web page with details when it's actually on the market but wanted friends to know about when ours will be available in case they know anybody looking for a nice full timing rig that has given us excellent service. I'll be including all my spares and RV related stuff…water, sewer, extension cords, and the like so it will pretty much be a turn key operation for somebody looking to full time.

I will continue to monitor the forum because we've got friends here…but posting might slack off a bit unless I've got something to say that I feel contributes to the conversation or is an answer to a question I can provide.

 

 

Our exit from fulltiming was 3 years ago last week. After 7 years on the road we both wanted to settle. As my daughters and families are in PA and MD and the rest of the family (sister, etc) in NJ and hubbys daughters in Louisiana and Houston area and his son in north Alabama, it was Alabama for us.

Unlike most, we wanted acreage, out in the country. While in PA I found the perfect setting online. Bought it sight unseen. No regrets at all. Four acres surrounded by fields and forest. No neighbors in sight. Two acres were cleared. We cleared another. Also had a pond re-dug. I enjoy the mowing. It's my peaceful time.

We were fortunate to have done most of the projects we wanted to accomplish in the first two and a half years that we've lived here. Hubby is now disabled. Pulmonary aterial hypertension. He is on oxygen 24/7 and will be rest of his life. He is unable to walk more than about 75 feet before stopping to catch his breath. We live 45 miles north of University of Alabama/Birmingham hospital. They are been fabulous. He is on a specialized med that with time is expected to improved his quality of life.

We made the decision last month to sell the RV. We know even short trips in it are now out of the question. We are thankful for the traveling we did, the things we saw, the friends we made. We are now in another season of our lives. I am thankful for my health and being able to take up the slack and keep this place functioning.

Speaking of which, time to get off the computer and head to the basement. All that STUFF we unloaded from the RV is waiting for me down there to sort through and decide what to do with.

Phyllis