Instead of boondocking, I slept later than normal today in my house and then started washing my car soon after getting up, with no other plans. Car washing was NOT on any list of things to do today. With the temps in the 60's, a slight breeze and some sun ... washing the car led to waxing the car, which led to cleaning the inside of the car which was already clean. Go figure.
The car looks great ... still, I could have spent the day, kicking back in the silence of BLM land out west with no one around except the 3 hounds, clear blue skies and nice sunshine. Maybe hiking the local area. Then with enough solar power stored to run my TV satellite dish I could watch a baseball game tonight if I wanted or I could just spend more time sitting outside with a fire enjoying the evening.
As it stands now, that is all wishful thinking because I have a house to "unclutter" tomorrow, a corner of my gutter to clean to keep the rain going down the spout instead of over the side of the gutter and a refrigerator to defrost in hopes of fixing the current minor problem it has.
A day of house related maintenance. Not my favorite thing to spend time on.
As I read all the blogs on my list, people I keep up with and their travels, my mind wanders even more than normal today. All had great pictures of places they are, most are finished with any RV maintenance I have read about the past few months. The ONE thought that keeps me thinking .... ALL of them that are RVing full or part-time, can wake up in the morning, change their scenery and by sundown have a different view entirely when they are looking outside their window or sitting by a fire.
Where I will wake up Monday morning like all my Monday mornings dragging myself back to work.
My spreadsheet analysis of my monthly revenue and expenditures tell the real story. It looks like I really only work to earn income just to preform house maintenance, yard maintenance, pay for my house and car insurance, buy dog food, some clothes and a very little entertainment. My biggest expense? Gas going to and from work, only a 25 mile round trip commute.
On the road I know I would end up doing something online to generate income, or maybe workcamp if I found a job in a great location because that is just the way I am "wired'. I have to be doing something. Maybe not all 12 months but at least part of the year. I have worked full-time online before but the niche I was in changed drastically after 4 years, so I went back to work instead of finding something else to do online to generate income. So online income is always a possibility if needed.
I guess what I am trying to say is, my spreadsheet of monthly expenses shows me that I have enough monthly pension right now to live on full-time RVing ... without a job...without this house.
I read something tonight on someone else blog, where it was stated on a forum something to the effect ... even if your house is paid for there is always money spent for upkeep, maintenance, unexpected repairs, insurance, yard maintenance.
So is that what I am really working for right now? Just to pay my house off (I'm very close) ... just so I can put more money into it in the future to keep it in good shape ... instead of waking up tomorrow and changing my scenery because I feel the need to move somewhere else or see the next great mountain or canyon while I am boondocking out west on BLM land "enjoying the good life" as John says.
It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race of day to day and to get the mind set that is just the way it has to be. Some of us have broken the chains and decided to live outside the box. Not for everyone, but a lot of us wouldn't change it for anything.
ReplyDeleteI still think back to that summer many years ago when I took a solo bicycle trip from Bloomington to Calif, then up the coast highway to Seattle and returning by train to Indiana. The daily freedom was awesome and the scenery was even better.
DeleteYou're asking some good questions. For us, keeping the house seems to be the best answer for now but that is certainly not for everyone. You are right; there is ALWAYS maintenance on the house and no end of things to keep up with. Sure seems there are lots of work-kamping jobs or volunteer opportunities out there for those that want to be full time. Sure hope you find a way to make it happen for you.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're getting closer to being out here with the rest of us, but---you're still on the fence!! I think I'm going to have to come over there and give you a shove!! Its funny you mention you "could be" setting in your RV watching a game on the tv via solar power.....because last night I did exactly that!! Am parked in Shakamak State Park here in Hoosierland, and watched the Reds and the Astros duke it out via solar power, while it rained ever so softly on the roof, while I was tucked away safe and dry inside my 6 x 14 STEALTH camper!!
ReplyDeleteBut am giving serious thought to leaving here today and heading for Turkey Run State Park just for a change of my view.......
It sounds like you're getting closer to being out here with the rest of us, but---you're still on the fence!! I think I'm going to have to come over there and give you a shove!! Its funny you mention you "could be" setting in your RV watching a game on the tv via solar power.....because last night I did exactly that!! Am parked in Shakamak State Park here in Hoosierland, and watched the Reds and the Astros duke it out via solar power, while it rained ever so softly on the roof, while I was tucked away safe and dry inside my 6 x 14 STEALTH camper!!
ReplyDeleteBut am giving serious thought to leaving here today and heading for Turkey Run State Park just for a change of my view.......
It feels like I am getting closer. Stayed up late into the early morning looking at RVs for sale. I still have a lot of stuff I need to get rid of but little by little the list of things to do is getting checked off.
ReplyDelete