Questions for "half-timers"

.....and has an exit plan!!!!!!!

Very interesting thread to read. I love all of the different viewpoints. Worst thing is I can fully understand all of them even though they contradict each other :h

For us we downsized the "big" house to a small lake cabin for the summer months. This is in an area that our kids/grand kids are. We leave during the cold months (Nov-May) for warmer climates. During that time I can get pretty homesick for the kids. Who knew that would have ever happened. Sure wasn't the case when we first started all of this I couldn't get away fast enough.

Now if I was too have the ability to do what I want (no family ties,) I would buy a nice small place in an area that gets both a chilly winter and muggy summer (i.e. Gulfport, Hill Country, Panhandle, etc..) Use it in the spring and fall (best times for that area) and travel during the summer north, and winter south. I could then see all of North America and still be in "vacation" mode during those 2-3 road months. Come back to my small place, rest up 3-4 months, and do the S&B things I've come to realize now that I enjoy. When I got too old to travel, I would still have a nice place in an area that given an AC and furnace was very livable.

Different strokes for different folks.

2inAlabama wrote:
We want to start out half-timing because we don't know if we want to go full-time or not.

How many of you started as full-timers but are now half-timers?

What type of sticks & bricks house do you have? Full size house?

What is your situation when you are not traveling? Seems like a difficult situation to have a house that you only use half of the time. Do you have house sitters?

I guess we are 3/4 timers and have been for the last 7 years. The longest we have been gone is 11 months and the shortest 7 months. We have the same small house that we built in 1980, it's in a small town next to a COE lake. It's winterized when we leave in the fall and the heat is set at 45', it's winterized in case the heat goes out. Our friend and neighbor looks in on it for us and cuts the grass when needed. We have no land line phone and the only utility bills we have are water and electric. It's not for everyone but it works for use.

Denny

2gypsies wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:

Some of you full-timers in all likelihood couldn't afford the S&B house you sold to go full-timing. Not a putdown, just the way it is.

You may be incorect on this one.... a successful full-timer goes into it with little or no debt.

You both may be incorrect. Having debit doesn't mean either the lack of sufficient funds or being unable to get a S&B later. Could be a way to maximize tax defered investments, etc.

Second incorrect assumption is that we will all return to a S&B - wrong!

I have never been able to figure out why people who dislike the idea of fulltiming post in the section.

Barb

My wife and I just finished a three month trip through the southern states and looped up thru Ind, Ill, Mo, and back to the Northwest (SW WA). Our small home is perfect to come back to and regenerate and rest and save up for our next outing.We did a three month trip 2 1/2 yrs ago across the northern state to Maine and back. Wouldn't trade the NW for anything and like to take a break. Haven't seen every state yet and will be out to visit more places and revisit places we really liked. So full timing is not in the cards yet. We'll see what the future holds, health plays a big part.

We sold the house & everything in it, thinking we'd be full-timing for many years. 6 months later we missed the kids, went home & ended up buying a house. We now travel for up to 6 months at a time during the summer months & still have a Florida home for the winters. We love traveling & we love going home. We now have the best of both worlds.

BarbaraOK wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:

Some of you full-timers in all likelihood couldn't afford the S&B house you sold to go full-timing. Not a putdown, just the way it is.

You may be incorect on this one.... a successful full-timer goes into it with little or no debt.

You both may be incorrect. Having debit doesn't mean either the lack of sufficient funds or being unable to get a S&B later. Could be a way to maximize tax defered investments, etc.

Second incorrect assumption is that we will all return to a S&B - wrong!

I have never been able to figure out why people who dislike the idea of fulltiming post in the section.

Barb

I think maybe I wasn't clear in my post and I was misunderstood. In the event a Fulltimer wants to go back to a S&B house, are they allocationg the appreciation that will/has taken place? For example-many parts of the U.S. have seen a 12%plus appreciation in real estate prices in the last 12 months or so. That was my point. Could you afford the house you sold?

CKNSLS wrote:

I think maybe I wasn't clear in my post and I was misunderstood. In the event a Fulltimer wants to go back to a S&B house, are they allocationg the appreciation that will/has taken place? For example-many parts of the U.S. have seen a 12%plus appreciation in real estate prices in the last 12 months or so. That was my point. Could you afford the house you sold?

Why would I want the 3000+ sq ft house again! Never, ever do I want that many bedrooms and baths to clean, that much lawns/gardens to mow and tend, etc.

I believe that most that purchase S&B purchase a much smaller one than they had before fulltiming. A lot of people go into either Park Models or Condos, some into an apartment as part of a complex where they can move from apartment to assisted living to nursing home.

Barb

Being new to this business I spent a lot of research and planning. Could retire and live in our modest home in rural NE. Instead we spent last winter in the gulf coast of TX and loved it. In my second year of a seasonal job in WY in a great location and campground. Making good money instead of "workcamping". We are finding we love the camping lifestyle. But our house is paid for and taxes and costs to maintain are very low. Our neighbors mow the lawn and they get the big garden spot. So the house will be a backup plan. Our plan is to always pay cash and NEVER borrow for any thing.