Ever get bored?

[dd992emo]

Plan is to go FT next May. My lovely wife is concerned about getting bored. She maintains a pretty hectic lifestyle, runs her own business and goes at warp speed most days. I think she worries about filling the hours every day. Anyone have boredom issues?

[John_Joey]

quoyfab wrote:
...You mention concerns of a couple, and I would simply add that you should always be concerned about the needs of each other and do your best to accommodate one another.

X2

DW and I are what I think the worlds shortest FT'ers - 9 days. At that point she told me that she needed a home base (i.e. house) and her stuff (i.e pictures, and crafts.)

Now I have an acre of land to maintain, and a 4 stall garage full of guy things while she has her house. It's all good.

[quoyfab]

dd992emo wrote:
Plan is to go FT next May. My lovely wife is concerned about getting bored. She maintains a pretty hectic lifestyle, runs her own business and goes at warp speed most days. I think she worries about filling the hours every day. Anyone have boredom issues?

Just lurking, as I often do as a non F-Timer. My only experience close to F-T, which I thoroughly enjoyed was 7 months in 2005. I didn't find it boring, as we hit 3 corners of the US from Lubec, ME to Key West, FL and Homer, AK., so we were on the move, and I did ALL the driving. The DW wasn't what I would call bored so much as missing the life left behind at home. In that 7 month period she flew home a few times for 7-10 days at a time.

You mention concerns of a couple, and I would simply add that you should always be concerned about the needs of each other and do your best to accommodate one another.

[JiminDenver]

I decided o stay in this morning when it was well below freezing and snowing. I got bored after breakfast so I cleaned the kitchen and bath. Tried to watch TV but the furnace kept drowning it out. I had a roll of 1/2 inch foam and cut a piece to fit each window and the door. Now the furnace comes on much less and runs for a shorter time too.

Boredom can be good.

[42lena]

My husband gets bored. He enjoys work with its problem solving, team effort, and feeling of accomplishment. He can be away from work for about two weeks, max., if I keep him busy sightseeing. Parking someplace for a few months wouldn't suit him.

[2gypsies1]

4Kellys wrote:
I'm anxious to do some workamping after we see all the national parks and we want to take the grandkids on trips as well.
I think for us it will be maybe 4 or 5 months at a time and then back to our current area to see friends, family, doctors etc.

If you'll only be traveling 4-5 months you won't be seeing all the national parks. 🙂 Consider volunteering in one of the national parks and you'll be able to explore that park in-depth. It's an awesome thing to do! Good luck with your plans.

[4Kellys]

Lots of great posts. It's what you make it. We have traveled a lot the last few years and are considering full timing soon. Will sell the house since it doesn't work for us anymore and upgrade to a fifth wheel because our current trailer is too small for fulltime living. We've upgraded the TV to a dually so that part is done. DW quilts and needle points and does beading(kumihimo) and knitting so her hobbies are covered. I golf and ride my bicycle and love to read. I'm anxious to do some workamping after we see all the national parks and we want to take the grandkids on trips as well.
I think for us it will be maybe 4 or 5 months at a time and then back to our current area to see friends, family, doctors etc.

[rkortes]

Great post with lots of insight for the lurker (like me). I really enjoy reading the various sides of the coin on this topic. Even though we're still 6 years out from full retirement, I really enjoy reading various opinions on the topic of full-timing.

Seems pretty logical that it's NOT for everyone. We're still on the fence. We'll keep up the RV travels and continue looking in from the outside for awhile. 🙂

[RoadXYZ]

dd992emo wrote:
Plan is to go FT next May. My lovely wife is concerned about getting bored. She maintains a pretty hectic lifestyle, runs her own business and goes at warp speed most days. I think she worries about filling the hours every day. Anyone have boredom issues?

In May we will have completed 14 years of Full-time RV'ng .. but we were both ready to "get out of Dodge" and be free of obligations, etc. and just wanted to try it for five years .. researched the Life for a yr or yr & 1/2 before buy, and going full-time. Started out Workamping/Volunteering .. we both desired to see all of US on the Continent .. Alaska and Hawaii are exceptions. Have done it ! Have enjoyed it! yes, have been bored on occasions usually caused by Weather problems ..

So doing some research, setting times, goals, desires, etc. is the key really, really think - at least was for us - thus the 1 to 1.5 yrs of research. And yes, we had rv'd before while the children were growing up.

Good luck ...

[lakeside013104]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Your wife will have 'issues' changing her lifestyle.

Prior to fully jumping in have you considered going away for 3-4 months and letting her dip her toes in the pool before you commit to a lifestyle that she ends up not enjoying???

Even if she thinks it will be OK..........have Plan B (EXIT PLAN)

Full Timing is NOT for everyone.

The above is excellent advice.

We too had visions of FTing after retirement, but decided to try it for two long winters first, before selling our home.

Long story short, sold the 40' 5er and replaced it with a TC. We like CAMPING, not so much RVing.

Tried expensive RV resorts. Found the folks mostly stand offish and snobbish. We come from the country where everyone is at ease and friendly, and not in a rush.

Crime was horrible in central Florida, not so bad in parts of Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming.

Car crashes and aggressive driving was a daily event while roaming the rat races of Florida. Common courtesy is non existent.

Try FT RVing for a while before selling everything and make your own decision. Good for some, not so much for others.

Good luck.

Lakeside

[Cummins12V98]

Corky12 wrote:
We lasted 7 weeks! My husband was bored out of his mind by week 3. He had a fully equipped woodshop and a half-acre garden at home (which we had not sold). Not very portable for full timing. He is not especially social so wasn't interested in that aspect of RVing. The travel and sight seeing were great but those can be done from a home base. As suggested above try an extended trip before committing to anything.

It's NOT for everyone!!! I have seen people sell everything having never RV'd much at all. Then they buy a huge MH and take out a loan. Next thing you know they are D-VORCED!

We travelled to SoCal 1-3 mo every winter leading up to calling it quits. That way we knew FT would be good for us.

[colliehauler]

3oaks wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Your wife will have 'issues' changing her lifestyle.

Prior to fully jumping in have you considered going away for 3-4 months and letting her dip her toes in the pool before you commit to a lifestyle that she ends up not enjoying???

Even if she thinks it will be OK..........have Plan B (EXIT PLAN)

Full Timing is NOT for everyone.

I believe that is the best advice you could receive. 😉

((Full Timing is Not for everyone)). Lot of new 5th wheels have been bought and sold because RV'ING wasn't right for them.

I also know people whose whole life revolves around work and there lost when they retire.

[TenOC]

What do you do on Vacation??? Or have you ever taken a vacation? Some people like to sit under a tree and read a book. Other must be partying with 100's of other people on vacation.

Set a goal to see every national park or state park or museum or attend every music concert in the country.

I like to simply be alone with a good view or good book.

No mater how small the town you are camped near by, there is always lots of local culture to enjoy for a few days -- like view the world largest ball of string or volunteer at the local ?????

One couple I know travel the country working with Homes for Humanity. He and his wife had worked all their life in an office and wanted to work with their hands not their mind. Now he and his wife are very skilled carpenters -- every few months they learn a new building skill. They are now working to become electricians.

[doxiemom11]

We were bored at times during the first year and had to learn to slow down, enjoy having nothing to do and learn to relax. It's also a new life style, so you have to "learn" what things interest you, how do you want to spend your time. You may have to try different activities such as hiking, geocacheing, kayaking, etc to find what you like. You can always volunteer at a local animal shelter or rescue , volunteer at a hospital etc when you sit somewhere for more than a week or so. ( If you do) There's also jigsaw puzzles, computer games, reading, word puzzles etc. Crafts. She may have to find out what her interests are - sounds like she's been so busy she probably hasn't had time to think about hobbies.

[DJB66]

Boredom is a state of mind. I'm a traveling welder and was always on the road. My wife of 26 years was at our home and she was working a high stress job. We never had kids and all the family left the area. So I came home one day and said" Hey quit your job, lets sell everything we own and get a RV and hit the road with me and make my lunches." So that's what we did and have never looked back. I was asked by many people OMG whats your wife going to do when you working 60 to 90 hours a week months at a time. I was worried about that for a short time but she makes friends and gets involved with churches everywhere we go. I'v had that poor woman in some remote places in this country but she is a trooper. We have crossed this country many time east to west north and south, between jobs we hit everything we want to see. Her bucket list is empty, she doesn't have to work but does when she finds some work that she likes, but I never force her. When people ask what does your wife do when your at work I usually say I'm not her entertainment director. As far as me I like what I do and when I can spend 2 months in the Florida Keys, Elk hunting in Montana, or fly fishing a river in Yellowstone OR Colorado. Fishing San Clemente Islands off Long Beach CA. or Red Fish in South Carolina. The list goes on and on. Whats important in life we under stand that life is a journey not a destination. I'm not waiting to retire and say I'M going to travel the country we are seeing it know......