What does it REALLY feel like to full-time?
As I consider full-timing, I think of so many things that I would miss about a house. Having my own plot of ground that I can call my own...having residential size rooms and kitchens....having a plac...
Forum Discussion
2gypsies wrote:
We were 'downsized' from our jobs when we were in our early 50's. We were always very frugal with our finances so we knew we didn't have to look for jobs again. We always enjoyed tent and pop-up camping with the kids. Now they were out of the house. We bought a 27' travel trailer and took off that first winter. We met so many happy full-timers. On the drive home we discussed it and said "we haven't missed or needed anything in that 3,000 sq. house all winter. Let's go full-timing". Sold everything that summer - 16+ years ago. We kept nothing in storage. We had no deadline or exit plans. We never looked back.
Everyone is different in their thinking but for us, we've always been very active so that just carried to our travels. We also began volunteering for national and state parks and giving lighthouse tours was our speciality. We've had many great experiences that we had never dreamed could happen. We also volunteered in the communities we stayed - helping with reading programs in schools. We enjoy moving around and exploring new areas. The best thing we've done was to join the Escapees RV Club and participate in their rallies in our early years of full-timing, and staying in their owned-parks is like homecoming to us - especially around the holidays. We have met life-long friends through the Club.
Our kids were 100% for our new lifestyle and they, too, moved from our former hometown - not because of us leaving but because of jobs. Our grandchildren know no other way than our lifestyle. As they're teens now they think it's awesome of the things we've seen and done. We visited with them for big chunks of time - not just for a few hours for dinner. They have vacationed with us and there are so many ways nowdays to stay in touch. When we began full-timing we didn't even have a cell phone or computer. Things are much easier now.
As someone mentioned that one of their hobbies is winemaking which is one of the reasons for not full-timing. We were winemakers, too. However, now we're able to tour any winery in the U.S and relax in beautiful vineyards. Winemaking and our other hobbies was not our life. We created new things to do.
We've had multiple surgeries, including cancer. However, now we're able to go to the best hospitals in the country.
We can choose where we live summer or winter. It's a fantastic lifestyle....no regrets here!
I'm a winemaker and I do it on the road, you just have to use different sources and work in smaller batches.
