beginner full-time

I get it...there does need to be a plan for WHEN we no longer do this. Since hubby has been dealing with 5 hour drives to rescue his parents when help doesn't show up (along with his siblings taking turns), he is adement that we be near our children (which is ny state but one is in AZ/off grid...too hot). So we have decided that we will eventually settle there and build a small house.
We are 65 and 66 and in fairly good shape...although his knees have been a problem for many years (like age 30!) and I suspect we will be okay until at least age 75 but that gives us a number to go buy...thank you. I asked him, what about living in our kids driveway forever...he's like a nope.

And yes, if one of us drops dead, things will change dramatically and no one wants to have "OH ****" moments and to scurry around.

The good part for our kids is that we can be of help now (babysitting and help with diy stuff) and we are getting rid of our stuff NOW so they don't have to do it. One son is receiving a lot of it toolwise.

Thank you for this perspective...which I probably needed more than hubby.

2g's wrote:

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Have you decided on a landing spot when your done travelling? After selling down on possessions, you will have some items to store, where you do that can simplify things later if you already know roughly where.

There's absolutely no reason to select a 'landing spot' before starting to full-time. How can you do that? You haven't seen the country yet. We sold everything and had no idea how long we'd be full-timing or what we'd do when we were ready to quit.

I will recommend though if you sell a house that you invest that money and not use it to buy your RV. That money will be your exit strategy. Go into full-time debt-free.

Putting things in storage can be very expensive and you could buy again for what you'd pay over the years. Then your stuff is outdated.

As it turned out we continued for 16 years and it was only in the last year where we decided to set roots again. It was in an altogether different part of the country from where we lived last.

I’ve been “RV’ng” 56-years. So this comment is about what was to be seen and heard from my grandparents and parents in re “full timing” (and of their peers), not just my own much more recent experiences.

There will come a day it becomes more work than is reasonable. Age 75 (my Dad and Grandads choices 25-years apart as to “times up”) is a fair calendar choice. Not fast in concrete. It may be 12-15/years out. So where and with whom nearby will you cease & desist from these travels.

What church and what community ties? The kindness of pure-D strangers, or a mix of family & friends? This is why it’s called a strategy. Saving pennies (choice of domicile) doesn’t mean much at second retirement (from the road). That change WILL be composed of those people with whom you wish to share the evenings more than $$.

Many say (don’t think) they’ll choose a cheap place for now (tax & registration) versus building the warmth of friendship over the years of travel. “Home”.

They’ll change everything on that next turn of the wheel.

I’ll tell you it leaves more to chance than makes good sense. Sudden debilitating illness, an accident with ENORMOUS out-of-pocket expenses, etc, can be life-changing in ways we don’t want.

Get some things done early. Not AFTER your spouse drops dead unexpectedly.

Doesn’t maybe mean buy a house or land (your own particulars apply as to specifics), BUT UNLESS your family is prepared to take you in after Alzheimer’s, etc, you’d be best off looking at EVERYTHING.

During the first year out will suffice for time. Make the clean break. Get that weight off your back. And don’t be afraid to start over on what you TODAY think you’ll do.

But don’t put it off too long.

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Have you decided on a landing spot when your done travelling? After selling down on possessions, you will have some items to store, where you do that can simplify things later if you already know roughly where.

There's absolutely no reason to select a 'landing spot' before starting to full-time. How can you do that? You haven't seen the country yet. We sold everything and had no idea how long we'd be full-timing or what we'd do when we were ready to quit.

I will recommend though if you sell a house that you invest that money and not use it to buy your RV. That money will be your exit strategy. Go into full-time debt-free.

Putting things in storage can be very expensive and you could buy again for what you'd pay over the years. Then your stuff is outdated.

As it turned out we continued for 16 years and it was only in the last year where we decided to set roots again. It was in an altogether different part of the country from where we lived last.

delete 2nd post

Escapees used to have an excellent guide on how to set up a domicile and suggest checking that out. For us, selling the stuff in the home was the most difficult part of going full time.
I've backpack camped prior to kids and took them tent camping every year. Below is our 1st RV and it's not been a problem for us switching to it. We've read, read and read blogs and forums for 10+yrs prior to going full time. Lot's of great info on line now to help you along.

shannon62,

We were in the process of setting up retirement "homestead" with a park model in a campground, when covid hit. A neighbor at our house approached us in November with a friend that has had their eye on our house for years. That deal fell through, but we kind of looked at each other and said, maybe it's time. In a matter of days, we started prepping the house for sale, which included hiring a crew to start literally taking everything out of the house and putting it in TWO roll off dumpsters. This stage was hard, with both of us wanting to cry, but in the end, it was almost a relief. It didn't help that in a couple of short weeks, we had already planned to be on the road to FL, where I would continue working from home. We actually closed on the house in FL, it literally sold the day it was listed.

AND thanks for the guy that recommended the COE campground book...never knew there was one...had a map once and we have stayed at a couple in florida. Going to spring for that one! We also are charter members of boondockers welcome, had a year of harvest hosts, and use the BLM lands and national forest service lands well!

We have spent the last 10+ years partially retired (doing art shows in NY area and florida part of the time). We are selling the house in NY and taking off end of August. Rving is NOT new to us and we boondock most of the time (southwest, newfoundland/labrador), have solar to keep us stocked with power, added truckfridge and extra water tank. All in a 2005 24 foot class c. It IS possible we may upgrade while on the road but for now we will stick with the C. Currently selling all furniture, worldly goods, giving tools to sons/daughter and anything else they want. Facebook marketplace has done well for us in moving things out (not asking top dollar just want it out). We will have an 8x12 shed at sons house to store some tools and some house stuff...not getting into the storage unit trap. Pretty sure we will not be one of the ones that say this is not for us". We have been spending 3 months in florida volunteering/state parks and fall is out west. For now domicile is in NY because we will park at kids in the summer and christmas. We look forward to the adventure at 65 and 66. See ya on the road.

piano is right on regarding solar. Most days...90% at least...recharging your batteries is off your to do list. I’m at 60 nights of camping with no required generation or plugins.

Well we had a 25ft. travel trailer a couple years ago but covid came & we sold it, we have been searching & reading all kind of articles about full-timing, we both will be 62 next year when we retire, it is kind of scary to sale everything even your house that you lived in for more than 20 years & live in a class a motor home, but we think we will be o.k. So anyway we want to thank everyone for all the great info & tips we really appreciate all of it & we will talk again some day. so to all Happy Travels.