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Getting ready to full time and DW is getting nervous

DennisG9
Explorer
Explorer
We both retired as of 12/01/2013 and have been working to get every thing ready to hit the road. DW is now not wanting to go because she will have to find new doctor, dentist, nail person, ect. She is worried she won't be able to find where to shop or how to get around. We have been in the San Jose area for 14 years and she is afraid of change.

How have some of the ladies here made the transition and what can I say do to ease her fears?
23 REPLIES 23

FlatBroke
Explorer II
Explorer II
Real interested in full timing and bookmarked tons of blogs and other stuff. Came to the conclusion most of the folks looked to have a pretty good financial port folio to fall back on. On SS and a very modest savings and IRA we would have to sell the house and all my stuff that has be acquired over the years. End up not liking FT or grow to old to enjoy it and not having a house is a pretty scary thought. Thinking of alternatives. Having two places and splitting time doesn't seem to cost effective.

Hitch Hiker
"08" 29.5 FKTG LS

gmw_photos
Explorer
Explorer
I met and talked at length to a fellow where I stayed in AZ for the winter that was in a similar situation. Their solution was that his wife pretty much stayed back at their permanent home, to be close to their kids and grandkids and he spent most of the year on the road. Worked for them.

jnharley
Explorer
Explorer
We have been fulltimers for almost 6 years and we have no desire to stop. You have to be best friends and want to spend most of your time together. We have a place that we go to annually for medical and dental visits. If we need seen between those times, we just look for a doctor that takes our insurance and have had no issues at all with that. The stress for us comes from going to a new campground in an area we have not been before. You can read all the reviews in the world and look at satellite maps but it still does not help much. Over the years, our stress level has backed off a bit about that. Basically, you are just living life. There are ups and downs wherever or however you live. Just enjoy!
2015 Dodge Dually
2012 NuWa Discover America 355CK

Dog_Folks
Explorer
Explorer
Keep the house for a year or two to give the DW the security of having a home.

After one year sit down an reevaluate. She may or may not be ready to go full time and "house-less."

If yes,sell the house. If no return home.
Our Rig:
2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins
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We also have with us two rescue dogs. A Chihuahua mix & a Catahoula mix.

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Full time since June 2006

Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Explorer
Tell here to ask the people in the CG offices where you stay for referrals for hair & nail salons. Or if she sees someone's nails or haircut she likes , ask them where they go. I got over being shy a long time ago and if you give someone a compliment I find they're pretty free to share info!
2003 Holiday Rambler Alumascape 34RLT

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
Funny, =I'm= the one that wants to keep a home base, though the DW wouldn't want to full-time, she =would= like to take some months-long trips. I guess having a family rooted in the same town for 118 years and living 2.5 miles from your great-grandfather's homestead might have something to do with it. 🙂 DW grew up in a USAF family, so is used to moving around, but she's come to realize, too, that having a "core" of support to come back to is essential, especially if illness or a major accident strikes.

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
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missourijan
Explorer
Explorer
Excellent answers from other posters. We have been fulltime for over 8 years. We both wanted to hit the road and love it. However, the suggestion to start out with 1 month or so trips is a good one. The funny thing is that now all cities really look alike. With so many chain stores and restaurants you can find the same things in every decent size city. You can look on the internet for the local grocery stores and see what's on sale that week. We kept our same Dr in Reno and return every year for our physicals and have her write prescriptions for a year. Wal Marts, Walgreens, CVS & Target all have nationwide pharmacies. If we need a Dr in between we go to an urgent care. Hopefully, your DW will love the travel, we have seen so much and there's so much more to see. We found out it was more expensive than we thought and volunteer as park hosts 6 months then travel for 6 months. Good luck

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Explorer
.

You might consider asking on the Full Time forum (here), as well as checking on the two forums dedicated to full timing on the Escapees forums for more info.

Good luck.

~

We_Cant_Wait
Explorer
Explorer
While not there yet DW still works, out plan is to go full time for 1 year, and then if 1 of us doesn't kill the other living in the MH we'll probably sell the S&B and keep going. My DW is looking forward to full timing, but I'm a bit skeptical that she'll be able to not be around Family all the time.

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Biggest mistake I see people make is to never be in a RV more then just weekends then sell EVERYTHING and hit the road full time.

Some make it some don't!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

loulou57
Explorer
Explorer
dahkota wrote:
Nails? Honestly, I have much better things to spend my time and money on but she could learn to do them herself.



Going on the road full time doesn't mean that one cannot continue with some of the routine things we do at home. I do my nails, not great but if I was one who had them done professionally, I would like to continue.


Dennis.....have your wife check around at places like Walmart. I know that some do hair and nails and you do not necessarily need an appointment, which is great when on the road. Some other chain type stores may offer the same. I can understand your DW reluctance, even though I would be all packed before you had the oil levels checked. It may just be last minute jitters. I hope it all works out and you can "both" enjoy life on the road.

joe_b_
Explorer
Explorer
There is a lot of distance between weekend and maybe a two week summer vacation RV trip and full timing it. The OP needs to consider their past RVing experiences and how did they work out. Has the OP and spouse taken trips of several months duration in the past? I have met folks that have gone from zero RV experience to full timing. For some it worked, others it was a disaster of the greatest magnitude. I would recommend, as others have mentioned, take it somewhat slower. Jointly plan a trip of one, two, or three months and after that, discuss full timing again to see if there have been any changes in thinking, of either of you.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
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MinnCamper
Explorer
Explorer
After reading the reply's it sounds like the theme going through all of them is to be flexible and if something doesn't work, try something else. But make sure both you and your DW are on the same page. I cannot wait for the day we can take off for weeks/months at a time and not have to return to a 9-5 job. I'd sell the house tomorrow and go, but DH wants to keep the home base.

dahkota
Explorer
Explorer
DH needs a 'home base' of sorts so during the holidays (thanksgiving through new years) we will return to DC to visit with family and friends and to take care of our Dr. and dentist appointments. If we have an emergency, we'll take care of it on the road, the same as we would do on vacation. Nails? Honestly, I have much better things to spend my time and money on but she could learn to do them herself.
2015 Jeep Willys Wrangler
2014 Fleetwood Bounder 33C
States camped: all but Hawaii
more than 1700 days on the road