new life

[beachjumper1]

lastday at work feb 28 or sooner,start summer job april or snowmelt. we saw the signs,, friends passing too soon ,busness closing cat dieing. the time was right and we got the exect host job we wanted. everyone says "go now" we are.

[JAXFL]

I wish you luck and also wish I could be you. I through P-Poor-Planning and poor luck in investing, and a wife that does not want to live the full-time lifestyle will not be able to do your dream/plan. It looks like even at 66 I will still be in the rat race for another 4-5 years. I see no real retirement and can only hope that after the race is over, I am still kicking and can at least get a month or two of use out of the RV each year. Will enough whining, again good luck and may the end be what you dreamed it would be.

[fullmoonoversal]

I met a guy last fall who "hosted"at WalMart all over the country. They would stay 2 nights. Got a bucket and cleaned the parking lot for each one. Got carts and put them in the Corral, and other things. Not that he didn't camp elsewhere, but he once worked for WM and decided to do this. He hot to meet a lot of people that way. The management of WalMart wrote him up for some kind of newsletter. Now if I recruit him for State Parks.

[campigloo]

I am in the never tried it camp mentioned above. The difference is, since we retired this fall, is after rattin' the road a while we can't wait to try it. A golf cart, a litter stick and a 5 gal bucket. Sounds good to me. I am even working on plans to personalize my bucket! I say go for, it's not like you're signing a long term contract

[cowboy66]

Don't let some people thinking hold you back. We have hosted many times and are still
doing it. Just love the chance to get to know many nice people.
Go for it.

[fullmoonoversal]

Congratulations!!

We have been "hosting" for about 8 years. This is our lifestyle now. We lucked out and got a wonderful position and host all year long. During this time we have become active in the local community and have had time off to enjoy seeing other places too.

Go into this with an open mind. And if it doesn't work out in one position, try another.

Good Luck

[Gjac]

I retired at 58 and enjoyed the first several years of travel. One thing not mentioned is the reality of older life. Taking care of aging parents or older family members, kid problems, health issues as we age that require Dr. visits, grand kids that wife does not want to leave for long all may restrict your travel plans. Depending on you situation some of these may interfere.

[dakonthemountai]

Yay for you!!! If life had not turned my path in the direction it had I had planned on hosting also, but just for the fun of it! Instead I'll just be traveling and enjoying life, but nothing is to say that could not change and I'd host in a minute at a campground!

Best of luck in your new venture!!! Kudos for taking the next step!

Dak

[magnusfide]

Welcome to the freedom of RVING!

[2gypsies1]

Congratulations. You made a good choice. We retired early and never regretted it. We volunteered for national and state parks off and on for our 16 years of full-timing. It's an awesome experience. There are many wonderful opportunities out there and you get to choose what you want to do. We've given lighthouse tours, lived on an island, played with the fish at a Fish & Wildlife gig, toured Lake Powell on a houseboat, pulling a speedboat for siteseeing those fascinating coves (yes, while volunteering), walked trails and just chatting with other hikers, and many more wonderful 'jobs'. It gives you a worthwhile feeling to help others to enjoy the parks. You'll love volunteering. It sure beats sitting and watching t.v. all day.

I can't believe the two comments made about how awful hosting 'must be'. They didn't even do it. How do they know? It is nothing like they 'imagined'. Volunteers have choices as to the jobs they perform. If they don't like a particular one then don't apply for those kinds of job. There will be others who don't mind doing them. The purpose of volunteering isn't a free campsite. It's helping.

Best of luck and have fun in your new lifestyle!

[Veebyes]

You have to get out & go while you can. There are thousands in graveyards who wished they had a few days before they got to the graveyard.

I have a memorial service to go to tomorrow. A good friend & former business competitor. Same age. He enjoyed a year or so of retirement. Had a vacation home in NH. Last I saw him he was in the 'thinking about it' stage of getting an RV.

As long as finances & health allow, keep going.

[cpd520]

CONGRATS!!!

I retired a few years ago, wife wasn't ready. She is now, HOORAY!

House is in escrow and should close on the 22nd. Wife will give notice the same day. We thought the house would show better if it was staged. so we are currently hosting at Dead Horse State Park in Cottonwood, AZ.

I had real reservations about volunteering/hosting. I have worked pretty much nonstop since 7th grade and often worked more than one job. It takes a lot to support 5 kids and a wife.

Turns out, it's a blast. I do many of the menial tasks others are pooh-poohing. All I can say is that as soon as my but hits the golf cart seat I am smiling. I spend a short day interacting with great fellow volunteers, friendly rangers and people from all over, who are here to have a good time.

Follow your dream. We will include volunteering as part of our lifestyle. It will free up money for other pursuits.

[8ntw8tn]

Go for it! We don't full time, but we split our time between living in the 5er in the Texas Hill Country and the sticks & bricks back home. My user name is also the license plate on our 5er and displays our attitude and philosophy: we "ain't waitin'". There's never a budget large enough to do everything we want, but it covers everything we need.

[Golden_HVAC]

My neighbor died from brain cancer, and that sort of pushed me into buying my motorhome. It was sort of a 'reality' moment, where one realizes that your life is short, enjoy what you can of it!

Good luck on your next adventure! Enjoy it while you are young enough to still get out there and see everything! I took 2 years off, and enjoyed every minute of it! Now it is back to the grindstone for me, and I wish I could retire again! (I was only 42, and had sold a wonderful investment, so I had the money to travel). . .

Good luck!

Fred.

[Nutinelse2do]

Congrats!

Life is too short and can change in the blink of an eye. Do it now while you still can.
We are about a month behind you, so maybe we will see you on the road.

Travel safe and have a blast!
Cheryl