I've been reading this forum(and others)since 2007. I've been wanting to full time for several years...but my DW has been hot & cold about the FT idea. She loves going to RV shows...would love to travel the US and Canada for a few years...but doesn't want leave our home of 24 years.We have a large home on 5 acres, with a beautiful view...however from April to October we rarely go overnight more than 2-3 days...because we have to water the yard, orchard. etc.We had a discussion today about how difficult it's going to be to maintain this property when we're 80 years old. I love our home too...but am tired of the never ending projects.I just replaced the siding on the front of the house and I'm going to start painting next week...but climbing up a 32' ladder to reach the upper eaves is not as much fun as when I was younger(I don't bounce as well as I used too).Sorry to be long winded...but how many of you that are/were full timers...loved your home....but just got worn out with the upkeep and decided to sell and hit the road?

Had a great home, great neighbors, rural area BUT we wanted to TRAVEL.Had Estate Sale, sold house and hit the road for 7 wonderful, glorious years.We KNEW we didn't want to come back to that area and if/when it was time to come off the road it wold be somewhere else all togetherLetting go of our stuff at auction was at first a bit disconcerting then it become fun/exciting as those fools gt into biding wars over our stuff :BHardest part was letting go of my John Deer tractor and my Reloading equipment...hers was all of her Lenox Holiday Ware.But BOTH of us where FULLY on-board with the idea of FTng....downsizing/traveling. No what ifs/hesitation from either of us.Hard to FT if ONE party is hesitant/holding back.Good Luck!

Thanks Old-Biscuit. I've been lurking on this forum and others for about 10 years. Always enjoy your posts and words of wisdom.I know what you mean about both spouses fully on-board. I haven't pressed the issue for years..just hoping DW will finally get tired of the home being a huge weight on her. UPDATE: the DW just got off a 2 hour phone call with her best friend from Chicago. I overheard my DW tell her friend that "We have a lot of projects to get done over the next year..so we can sell and travel in an RV for a few years!!! Maybe...just maybe..she's ready..

I would guess nearly every full-timer has left a home they loved in some way. However, once retired it's difficult to keep them up if they have big yards to mow, snow to shovel, homes to paint, etc. How about asking your wife to help you with your jobs and you'll help with the cooking, cleaning, etc.? Then you'll both be ready to hit the road and have some fun!!

I had a bathroom to die for - in fact we bought the house because I loved the master bath, but we really never enjoyed it because when we got home from work, there was still more work to do. And in order to enjoy some of our 'off' hours, we began to hire things done - like heavy yard work, painting, etc. At that point it was obvious that we were not going to want to spend our retirement working FOR the house rather than enjoying ourselves. That's the point you have to come to - - do you control what happens or are you controlled by your house and your 'stuff'?

We are not full time but had a similar situation with our previous home. We loved the home. We had two houses on 4 acres. We had an orchard and pasture. It was beautifully landscaped. We had solar power and had no utility bills.But we were a slave to the property. As you, we could not be away for very long. We were constantly working on it. We started RVing and really loved it. We wanted more time to travel. We were also worried about our ability to maintain the property as we got older.It was a hard decision, but we sold the house. We purchased a one story home on a small lot. We purposely did not plant anything. Our landscaping is rocks and artificial (metal) plants and other decorations. We can now leave whenever we want and go for as long as we want. We have great neighbors that keep an eye on the place.We are very happy with the decision. Yes, the move was painful but once it was done, we are very happy we did it. There are no regrets. We travel a lot and are enjoying our trips and freedom.

Did you ever love your home...but sold it to fulltime

19 Replies

JonesKid
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
Thanks everyone for your comments. Sounds like whatever choices you made...it has turned out "ok". I'm going to keep on marking projects off my "to do" list...and keep my eye on late 2018...to put the house on the market.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2017
Yup. Same here. Beautiful custom built home on 5 ac. My ultimate dream home. Thought I'd live and die there.

Then the RV bug hit. First weekend trips then snowbird and then the longing for more....'especially' the part of being in the South for winter and no snow shoveling or freezing to death! :B

It's not just the 'physical' chores of keeping up a large home and acreage, there is also the 'cost per month' just to own it. Utilities, taxes, insurance, mortgage payments if you still have them, etc., etc.

I will admit I sometimes do miss my dream home. BUT I now most certainly do NOT miss that huge nut to crack every month that was required to live in that house!

I live now by the standards of my signature. :C
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2017
No, although we come close to being half timers...3 months Snowbirding and usually 3 out West. No exit plan needed and kids live next door and nothing needs watering.

What about auto drip irrigation for the orchard and not go cold turkey into FT. One three month trip should help decide if FT will work for both of you. Twice the husband, on half the money, in 1/10th the space is not for everyone.
rav
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
we sold our home last June (2016). -we really enjoyed our home- we remodeled it and added 600 sq ft. walk in shower, new kitchen, lots of storage, huge deck. the house was perfect for us.
we talk about it and really don't miss it at all- it was a trade for the freedom of full time living.

it was very liberating getting rid of all our "stuff" family antiques went to the niece and the rest sold or donated.

I don't miss mowing the grass or doing the little projects that tie you to the house- we now enjoy morning and evening walks around the campground and meeting new neighbors.
it is hard to believe that it has been over a year since we did this, we have no regrets.
ncrowley
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2017
We are not full time but had a similar situation with our previous home. We loved the home. We had two houses on 4 acres. We had an orchard and pasture. It was beautifully landscaped. We had solar power and had no utility bills.

But we were a slave to the property. As you, we could not be away for very long. We were constantly working on it. We started RVing and really loved it. We wanted more time to travel. We were also worried about our ability to maintain the property as we got older.

It was a hard decision, but we sold the house. We purchased a one story home on a small lot. We purposely did not plant anything. Our landscaping is rocks and artificial (metal) plants and other decorations. We can now leave whenever we want and go for as long as we want. We have great neighbors that keep an eye on the place.

We are very happy with the decision. Yes, the move was painful but once it was done, we are very happy we did it. There are no regrets. We travel a lot and are enjoying our trips and freedom.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
I had a bathroom to die for - in fact we bought the house because I loved the master bath, but we really never enjoyed it because when we got home from work, there was still more work to do. And in order to enjoy some of our 'off' hours, we began to hire things done - like heavy yard work, painting, etc. At that point it was obvious that we were not going to want to spend our retirement working FOR the house rather than enjoying ourselves. That's the point you have to come to - - do you control what happens or are you controlled by your house and your 'stuff'?
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2017
I would guess nearly every full-timer has left a home they loved in some way. However, once retired it's difficult to keep them up if they have big yards to mow, snow to shovel, homes to paint, etc. How about asking your wife to help you with your jobs and you'll help with the cooking, cleaning, etc.? Then you'll both be ready to hit the road and have some fun!!
JonesKid
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
Thanks Old-Biscuit. I've been lurking on this forum and others for about 10 years. Always enjoy your posts and words of wisdom.

I know what you mean about both spouses fully on-board. I haven't pressed the issue for years..just hoping DW will finally get tired of the home being a huge weight on her.
UPDATE: the DW just got off a 2 hour phone call with her best friend from Chicago. I overheard my DW tell her friend that "We have a lot of projects to get done over the next year..so we can sell and travel in an RV for a few years!!! Maybe...just maybe..she's ready.
.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2017
Had a great home, great neighbors, rural area BUT we wanted to TRAVEL.

Had Estate Sale, sold house and hit the road for 7 wonderful, glorious years.

We KNEW we didn't want to come back to that area and if/when it was time to come off the road it wold be somewhere else all together

Letting go of our stuff at auction was at first a bit disconcerting then it become fun/exciting as those fools gt into biding wars over our stuff :B

Hardest part was letting go of my John Deer tractor and my Reloading equipment...hers was all of her Lenox Holiday Ware.

But BOTH of us where FULLY on-board with the idea of FTng....downsizing/traveling. No what ifs/hesitation from either of us.

Hard to FT if ONE party is hesitant/holding back.

Good Luck!

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Did you ever love your home...but sold it to fulltime

19 Replies

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