Forum Discussion

DallasSteve's avatar
DallasSteve
Nomad
Sep 26, 2019

Downsizing Complete

My wife and I have completed downsizing in preparation for a future transition to full-time RVing. Our initial plan is to spend this Winter in Latin America (I'm retired now) and then return to start the RV adventure next Spring. However, if we like life down South a lot we may stay longer and put full-time RVing on hold.

All of our possessions are now in a 5 X 5 storage unit and 4 suitcases. I used Facebook Marketplace to sell all of our furniture. We didn't get a lot, but it was old furniture and mostly cheap to begin with so I was satisfied that we got something and didn't have to pay someone to haul it away. If we return to sticks and bricks someday I want to get new, better furniture. Facebook Marketplace seems to be a more effective website for selling things than Craigslist now. Craigslist has never tried to improve its website and I predict it won't last much longer.

I finished the final step in my downsizing about 2 hours ago. I sold my Subaru Crosstrek to CarMax. We will Uber our way to the airport. I was surprised that CarMax gave me what I thought was a reasonable offer. It was probably a thousand or two less that I could get selling it to an individual, but I don't want that process and I can afford to eat the difference. My plan is to get a motorhome when we return and I can't flat tow a Crosstrek (with automatic) so it was not in my future plans.

I'm feeling a lot more relaxed now, but still a little nervous about these big changes.

Steve
  • DallasSteve's avatar
    DallasSteve
    Nomad
    Sep 29, 2019
    Ro n Joe

    Thanks for the tip. I picked a company that would give us a Texas address, because I'm not ready to give up my Texas "citizenship" yet. It seems to be a pretty good state for retirement domicile, but I like Florida, too. One of the nice things about Texas, besides no income tax, is that your retirement accounts have more protection from creditors than some states, and annuities, too, I think, although I don't have one. Florida may have similar protections.

    I have arrived in my wife's home country and we are giving that a try for now, but wherever I go I will always be Dallas Steve because after all, that's where I was born.

    Regards, Steve
  • Ro_n_Joe's avatar
    Ro_n_Joe
    Explorer II
    Sep 29, 2019
    We just went through the sale of the house, etc, etc. It's a pain in the A$$ for sure! Should consider setting up your mail service 3 months or so in advance so you can set up your domicile with bank statements, etc showing the new address. Because we're both under 65, we picked Florida and specifically MyRvmail.com in Crestview, FL. Okaloosa Co was very easy to set up our domicile (drivers licence and voting). Good luck.
  • arhayes's avatar
    arhayes
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2019
    Congrats on retirement from a fellow Texan. We retired 5 years ago and have been on the road ever since. Don’t miss the house or the “stuff” and we love traveling. There is lots of good info on the forum about the full-time lifestyle. As you have questions in the future, let us know. Enjoy your Latin American winter!
  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2019
    DutchmenSport wrote:
    Think of it this way, when you die, the kids will get along just fine. They'll not have anything to fight over!


    Nor will they probably want it. I watched my dad go thru his Mom's stuff, my sister go through my Mom's stuff, and my father-in-law go thru his mom's stuff. A vast majority of it needed to be sold cheap/auctioned.

    A few mementos and family heirloom pieces were spared, but a vast majority was junked or sold for pennies.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2019
    Enjoy your new freedom! Only once in my life was I completely 100% free of ALL material items in the world. And that was after a fire burned the house I was living in and I lost everything, except my car, my motorcycle, the underwear I had on, and a blanket wrapped around me. Yea... really. No keys to the vehicles, no bill fold, no cash, no nothing. It all went up in smoke. The house I lived in was rented.

    A friend let me "live" in his 18 foot Scotty travel trailer for a couple months while I closed up shop with my employer. I then returned home to my mother's house where I stayed a month, unemployed (and now had a lock smith make me new keys for my motorcycle and car), and then I whisked away to the Army for the next 6 years. What freedom! Even though I was in the military, materialistically, I owned absolutely nothing. I did get rid of the car and the motorcycle before I left for the Army.

    "Stuff" can sure weigh you down. But, it's only "stuff". Think of it this way, when you die, the kids will get along just fine. They'll not have anything to fight over!

    Good luck on your new adventures. We'll be following soon as my day is June 17, 2021.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Sep 26, 2019
    "I was surprised that CarMax gave me what I thought was a reasonable offer."

    At least in Southern California used cars/trucks are hot. When I purchased my new truck the dealer gave me just short of the Tahoe's ful retail value much to my surprise.

About Full Time RVers

1,587 PostsLatest Activity: Dec 28, 2024