I think we are done

Effy wrote:
DW and I decided over the weekend to sell our MH and exit the Rv world. We've considered this in the past year and frankly I thought I would be more upset about it. But I am not. I'm pretty over it actually. I really loved Rv'ing and then something changed. Nothing major, just continued little problems that a 4 year old RV should not have. The depreciation has me scratching my head why I made such a poor financial move in the first place, but we created a lot of memories and I knew that going in. We live at the beach now which is where most of our RV trips used to take us. I used to be able to keep it in my driveway and now with an HOA I have to pay for storage a few miles away. We used to take at least monthly trips, now they are further apart. And the prepping, loading, packing for a trip and the undoing of it all afterwards have grown laborious and frankly rather stressful. Anymore the whole process feels like work and a financial strain and I can't ignore how much money I am throwing at it monthly and not using it as often as we should. Minor issues cost a ton of money even if you are handy. I am sure some part of me will be sad when it's gone but the MH has started to feel more of a burden than the keys to freedom it used to. I am looking for a freedom now of this thing I have to pay for, take care of, store, load, clean, maintenance, and all out worry about the next little thing. Our son wasn't happy when we told him but he gets it. It tells me we created memories that he enjoyed although he got all the upside and none of the headaches that come along. That really was most of our intent. We have a few more trips planned until it sells, and will continue to use it until it does, but when it goes I think we'll be happier for it.

Effy,
I have read most of your posts over the years. It is almost ironic that most of what you say in the OP are the reasons we decided to sell our RV and move on. The motorhome was our second RV, the first being a 2010 Crossroads Cruiser 35' 5th wheel. We kept that RV for over three years until, coming home from an 8 month workcamping stint, three of the four tires blew out. The blowouts resulted in over $7,000 damage that was covered by our insurance, We went with the new 2013 Itasca 35' MH because it just seemed easier. To sum it up, after our final volunteer stint at a national historic monument this past summer we decided that we had enough of both volunteering and RVing. It seemed as though someone made the final decision for us when on the next to last day on the road coming home: 1) the toad was hit while we were parked eating lunch inside the RV at a Flying J; 2) later that same day and 10 minutes from our final stop for the night a truck pitched up a rock and broke the MH windshield. These two events sealed our decision. Being that we own a home and can only use the MH during the summer because we watch our grandkids after school several days each week our travel was very limited. An RV payment, storage fee and insurance severely cut into our funds. We did not want to tap into our savings so we tried to make due with traveling on our combine pensions. Each time we would travel something would need a repair, it never failed to happen. The RV was almost four years old and very close to five in model years. I advertised it on rvt.com and got a whole bunch of inquiries with several lookie loos. Within about six weeks a buyer came along and bought both the MH and toad. Since we were upside down on the RV loan we had to put up a large amount of cash but at least we got it sold. It was sold in excellent condition and I know the buyers got a very good deal. Had it taken another four months I believe we would have had to drop the price as soon as the 2018 models were advertised.
We have not looked back nor are we missing going over to the storage place only to look forlornly and the MH just sitting in its storage spot.
We made a HUGE mistake buying the RV after the 5th wheel fiasco. Since we never intended to full time it became just a money pit.

Most people have hard decisions to make at different times of their lives. You seem to be comfortable with yours. There is no rule that says you can't change your mind in the future. I got my first tent camper in 1976, I have always loved camping but never had enough time for it. Our kids got into sports at a young age and every weekend was spent at the ball field. It wasn't until our youngest got a scholarship to play football that my wife and I really got to use our motor home every weekend going all over the south east going to football games. We are less than 2 weeks from retiring and plan on spending June through October on the road. To make this happen I felt I needed to sell my sports car and I was more than willing to do so. At this part of our life, there is nothing like the thought of being on the road. We are going to see how it goes the first two years and are considering going full time. But we also realize the opposite might happen. We may get out there and realize that it is not what we thought. You just have to make the best decision you can at any given moment and remember, nothing is etched in stone. If the new path is not what you think, you can always go back.

Hi Effy,

You will be missed! I always enjoyed your posts! But as they say, "A man has to do what a man has to do"!

Sorry to see you go but it seems as if you put a lot of quality thought into it and have made a wise decision. You never know what tomorrow may bring.

Fair winds and following seas in your next adventure!

This has been a thoughtful thread. The only thing I would add is that I have found I can only do one hobby at a time. When I bought the MH 12 years ago my boat sat in my garage for 10 years unused because the MH took so much of my effort to fix and maintain it. I finally gave it to my daughter and son in law 10 years ago. They sold it I bought them another one and it stays over their house and I use it when I want. We used to go on a dive vacation every year and have not gone since buying the MH. Now my wife says we are too old to go. What I have learned is "every thing you own owns you" you have to maintain it, it water, it feed it etc. As I get older health and family issues are more of a problem than money lost to depreciation or maintenance. As others have said things that were easy in your 40's get harder in your 70's. Having said that my GS is living with us now and wants to go to Alaska this summer so that will add a new motivation for us. So I am not ready to throw in the towel yet. Seeing him enjoy the trip will make us happy.

It's a positive to re-evaluate from time to time to insure that you are doing those things you really enjoy and not just continuing by rote. We purchased a vacation home 18 years ago and our current motor home 10 years ago. 15 years of Thanksgivings with large groups of family and friends at the vacation home. Family members and friends have passed away. Younger family members have moves and started their own traditions. Motor home stayed in storage due family health problems. Last holiday was celebrated at the city home with a handful of folks. Time to change. Vacation home just listed with local realtor and coach is in the shop for some mods before a long outing. Times change and we need to change with them while doing what feels right to us at this point in our lives. Not a problem or cause for sadness, just a different path now.

Effy,
You are not done.....You are just moving on to the next chapter in your book of life.
The older I get the more I realize that there are a lot of things I can no longer accomplish. My brain says I can, but my body says not anymore.
Like many others have posted, I gave up the boat a few years ago, just too hard to load and unload. My convertible is in the garage ready to go, but I find myself thinking "I'll take the convertible on this errand"; then I look away and get in the Avalanche for the trip. Just easier to get in and out of. I'm thinking it will go this year.
But does that mean I'm done? Nope! I'm moving on to new adventures. I've bought three condos in Branson the past three years. They back up to Tablerock Lake and face Silver Dollar City. They are nightly rentals, so it's nice additional retirement income, but my new adventure is getting away for a week or two and enjoy everything Branson has to offer.
So, Effy, keep us updated on your "Next Adventure"!
Maybe this forum needs a section for our next adventures. Good Luck, you will do well.

Funny, I've been thinking about the same thing the last few days. I've been at my current job for quite some time with 4 plus weeks of vacation. Made it easy to enjoy RVing.

But, I'm seriously looking at a new job opportunity to finish my time left (10 years). The vacation would be much less over these last years. Not giving much time to use the RV as much. I can't bring myself to do it as I enjoy it too much.

But .... Keeping up all the maintenance doesn't sound smart for the time used.



Good luck to you!

It's a tough decision - so far I haven't had the strength to admit it, but we have a boat that rarely sees the water anymore. We bought it new 22 years ago and it seemed every vacation was wrapped around it, but now with a MH I think we are looking at bigger adventures.

This winter we left our traveling 5'ver behind, and only used the truck and the old disposable 5'ver (which is stored south) during this winter's snowbird season.

FWIW;

I can fix an RV better then most techs. I just don't want to do it anymore. It's a PITA.

Buying an expensive RV's is a good way of losing money, and should only be done if you can afford the lost.

Right now I'm in a casino hotel room costing $40/night with free breakfast buffet overlooking 30-50 RV's that are dry camping. It was 95f and very sunny here. I would hate to be in one of those tin cans. DW and I sat by the hotel pool, soaked in the hot tub, then returned to our air conditioned room for our soon to start happy hour.

I went from deep south Texas to the boarder of California mostly along I10. A lot of 90 degree hot days, and mile after mile of "no" and "where". Glad I was in the truck and not putting up with the stress of having a RV along that route.

Got 2,000 miles left to go to get back home through desert and mountains. We both want to be back now, and will be driving hard. I would hate to have to be driving an RV right now. It's one thing to drive one handed, and another to have two hands on the wheel with white knuckles. Maybe that very expensive MH that you want might be the ticket (doubt it.)

Forums are great places for people to forget their everyday woes and dream about a carefree lifestyle. Once you have true RV miles under your belt you learn RV reality is not so carefree or glamorous as the blogs would make it appear. Who would blog about the **** that goes with the lifestyle. The whole purpose of a blog is to make others think you got it all going on.

Enjoy your beach house. Try not to look back. Have fun on the cruise, your rig would have depreciated almost that much in a couple of years or less so think of it as being a free going away present.