I have spent most of my night....all of it really around my 2 hour nap....of looking at RVs for sale. I think I have ruled out a trailer and pulling that with my 4Runner. For a Class C, I have it narrowed down to a Jayco Melbourne 28'-30'. I found a couple on eBay that I have been watching for a few weeks and each of them have dropped in price. I am pretty sure that is the type of Class C I want if I choose a C. It is also the same model as a fellow reader of this blog.
I continue to think and look at Class A's, 28'-32', at least 1 slide, in the $50K range. Sometimes I feel that with the hounds that will be traveling with me, that a Class A space would be beneficial. I've bookmarked a few of those as well as "watching" them on eBay.
How easy is it to remove the bed in back and the storage underneath? Is it possible to make the bedroom floor flat and open if I remove the bed in a Class A or Class C? I am thinking I could make that bedroom into a room like I have in my house, were I have my computers, a kennel for the bloodhound and my road bicycle on a stationary trainer for working out. I would not need a lot of room to convert that. With most RVs having sleeping for 4-6 people, I could find somewhere else to sleep and use that back bedroom as I described.
I will check the forums in the meantime to see if I can find some ideas there.
I need to "throttle back" on this process, take my time, get my "to do" list finished and let time take care of itself...the RV will show up at the right time. Enjoy the search and the downsizing process at home and keep marking things off my list that will get me closer to a departure date. I now have the departure date written in large font on my whiteboard on my office wall. It's doable and a good time to leave.
Well I'm going back to research and looking at RVs, maybe a movie.
Happy Thanksgiving to all that stop by to read this blog and are on the road RVing full-time.
November 23, 2011
November 22, 2011
Today Work Was an Eye Opener ... I'm Motivated More Than Ever!
I know I left you last night with my thoughts of having a lot of questions and justifications on why I could't go full-time right now....or at least I was thinking that way. I use to be very adventurous, where location was more of a priority than a job. For some reason in the past few years I have changed to conservative, and playing things safe. I would have the chance to move but would come up with excuses not to.
Unbelievable really. My family has stated more than a few times, they are surprised I have lived in a small midwest town, instead of on the beach somewhere, or traveling somewhere.
I have a job that pays well, I guess I like my job...I don't love my job. It's almost a daily thought when I wake up "I wish I were not going in today". So I guess I am staying for the cash. I have great managers to work for, still most of my job is out of my control. I track large amounts of funding, track expenditures, develop financial plans, and provide monthly reports....on data that is out of my control. The majority of the time I am looking forward to the weekends off and the next paid holiday.
Those are HUGE signs, aren't they?
It's not that I live in a bad area, or a bad house or with bad neighbors.....I don't. I live in a small house, a few miles outside a small rural town and I have 3 neighbors in sight and none of them close. Yet when I think of some of the places I have lived in the past, I realize that even when I am debt free (very close), this is not where I want to spend the rest of my life.
I want to sit on the beach again, like I did when I lived in Carlsbad California for 10 years. Or hike the Cascade Mountains and could get back home within an hour drive back home, looking across the water from Whidbey Island to Victoria. Or the winter I spent in Breckenridge Colorado, living in a small cabin and skiing every day.
I want to wake up in the morning and have the chance of dumping my tanks, filling up with fresh water, fuel and moving my hounds and I to a new location. If that means workcamping for a while, great!! At least I am living where I really want to, meeting great people along the way and having control of what I want to do.
That sounds a lot better than waking up 5 days a week, dreading going to a job that I no longer like and really only do it for that paycheck every two weeks. Then paying off a house that will only need more maintenance in the future to keep it in good condition. Mowing the yard 1 per week, paying taxes annually, and having "a market" decide just how much my house is worth. The market doesn't know my house, so how stupid is that process?? That will take time and money. I'd rather put that money into RV maintenance while I am boondocking somewhere out in Arizona for the winter, rather than sitting here in the midwest waiting for the winter predictions to hit..."worse than normal"!! That means a lot of snow, going to a job I can't say I really like anymore.
So, I looked at my spreadsheet that I made last month showing all of my options, financially, depending on what I decided.
My eyes, my focus and my thoughts all went back to the same option on that spreadsheet. The same thing I posted here a few weeks ago. The only change to to the list is #1. I'm going to sell my house instead of renting it...with an option. That option being, when I get to the point that I am ready to leave and it has not sold, then I will rent the property. My house will NOT decide when I leave.
I have a lot of things to do between now and the time I leave. I am going to be scanning full-time and shredding the rest of my paper files, photographs etc. I am going to all electronic filing. I've been electronic for years in my banking, taxes, basic expenses, etc. I just have a lot more "stuff" to get rid of than I thought I did. Living solo I am shocked how much I have laying around that is never used.
This Friday I am heading to 3 different RV dealers within a 70 mile radius to look at A's and C's. By Monday I plan to have a For Sale sign in my front yard for my house and will sell it below market value if it means I get to RV full-time sooner.
It's sad and very disappointing when I look at myself and realize that the ONLY reason I continue to work and wait 2 years 7 months to retire, is just for a paycheck. Honestly, that is the only reason I can come up with on why I still work. I understand in today's economy, millions of people would die for a paycheck, so what I say may sound quite strange or rude?
For me, there are a lot more ways of making money using my financial and online sales experience, rather than sitting at a desk all day, spending my free time reading RV blogs, forums and looking at RV's for sale....WISHING I was on the road!
Today at work was an "eye-opener"!!
Unbelievable really. My family has stated more than a few times, they are surprised I have lived in a small midwest town, instead of on the beach somewhere, or traveling somewhere.
I have a job that pays well, I guess I like my job...I don't love my job. It's almost a daily thought when I wake up "I wish I were not going in today". So I guess I am staying for the cash. I have great managers to work for, still most of my job is out of my control. I track large amounts of funding, track expenditures, develop financial plans, and provide monthly reports....on data that is out of my control. The majority of the time I am looking forward to the weekends off and the next paid holiday.
Those are HUGE signs, aren't they?
It's not that I live in a bad area, or a bad house or with bad neighbors.....I don't. I live in a small house, a few miles outside a small rural town and I have 3 neighbors in sight and none of them close. Yet when I think of some of the places I have lived in the past, I realize that even when I am debt free (very close), this is not where I want to spend the rest of my life.
I want to sit on the beach again, like I did when I lived in Carlsbad California for 10 years. Or hike the Cascade Mountains and could get back home within an hour drive back home, looking across the water from Whidbey Island to Victoria. Or the winter I spent in Breckenridge Colorado, living in a small cabin and skiing every day.
I want to wake up in the morning and have the chance of dumping my tanks, filling up with fresh water, fuel and moving my hounds and I to a new location. If that means workcamping for a while, great!! At least I am living where I really want to, meeting great people along the way and having control of what I want to do.
That sounds a lot better than waking up 5 days a week, dreading going to a job that I no longer like and really only do it for that paycheck every two weeks. Then paying off a house that will only need more maintenance in the future to keep it in good condition. Mowing the yard 1 per week, paying taxes annually, and having "a market" decide just how much my house is worth. The market doesn't know my house, so how stupid is that process?? That will take time and money. I'd rather put that money into RV maintenance while I am boondocking somewhere out in Arizona for the winter, rather than sitting here in the midwest waiting for the winter predictions to hit..."worse than normal"!! That means a lot of snow, going to a job I can't say I really like anymore.
So, I looked at my spreadsheet that I made last month showing all of my options, financially, depending on what I decided.
My eyes, my focus and my thoughts all went back to the same option on that spreadsheet. The same thing I posted here a few weeks ago. The only change to to the list is #1. I'm going to sell my house instead of renting it...with an option. That option being, when I get to the point that I am ready to leave and it has not sold, then I will rent the property. My house will NOT decide when I leave.
I have a lot of things to do between now and the time I leave. I am going to be scanning full-time and shredding the rest of my paper files, photographs etc. I am going to all electronic filing. I've been electronic for years in my banking, taxes, basic expenses, etc. I just have a lot more "stuff" to get rid of than I thought I did. Living solo I am shocked how much I have laying around that is never used.
This Friday I am heading to 3 different RV dealers within a 70 mile radius to look at A's and C's. By Monday I plan to have a For Sale sign in my front yard for my house and will sell it below market value if it means I get to RV full-time sooner.
It's sad and very disappointing when I look at myself and realize that the ONLY reason I continue to work and wait 2 years 7 months to retire, is just for a paycheck. Honestly, that is the only reason I can come up with on why I still work. I understand in today's economy, millions of people would die for a paycheck, so what I say may sound quite strange or rude?
For me, there are a lot more ways of making money using my financial and online sales experience, rather than sitting at a desk all day, spending my free time reading RV blogs, forums and looking at RV's for sale....WISHING I was on the road!
Today at work was an "eye-opener"!!
November 21, 2011
Too Much Analysis?
I knocked off a few more items from my list that needed to get done. That's a good thing. A bad thing is I am starting to go back over all of my notes and spreadsheets and re-analyzing. Also looking at a different angle. I wasn't having doubt but I was thinking over my finances, how much of my savings do I want to dip into either for a rv purchase or perhaps to live on.
I have read budgets on other blogs, I have looked at my budget and also my expenses that I have kept track of the past 10 years on an Excel spreadsheet. I have a feeling that I will spend more than I plan while on the road. Sure, I can live like a hermit and keep all my expenses RVing as low as possible but I know there will always be something around the corner that will have to be fixed that is unexpected. Just like owning a house.
Would I be willing to workcamp a lot just to get myself on the road? I don't think so. When I leave for fulltime, I will not be wanting to work. Volunteer...yes! But not a job. I have one of those now that pays quite well and a house that is close to being paid for. So I can't really justify leaving a job and a house to get on the road, only to go back to a job (workcamping) to be financially fit while traveling. I cannot decide just how much of my savings I want to spend.
The ideal situation would be to sell my house, my sports car and all my furniture. Anything else give to goodwill. Then RV full-time. I might like keeping my house as a home base and RV part time, but I am really the type that I go all the way or not at all....not 1/2 time.
I had an older relative tell me this past week, to rv full-time now, because by the time I am 70 (in 10.5 yrs) I may not have the good health to travel. Her sister and brother in-law have been RVing fulltime and this winter is their last time. Due to health issues they will be selling their 40' motorhome and moving into a family owned condo.
I have heard something to that effect from more than a few people.
My weakness is "over analyzation" and when that happens, I stand still without moving in either direction.
I am starting to think my preparation may be longer than I had planned a few weeks ago and my departure date not until May 2014.
Still, no matter what the departure date turns out to be, I think this bloodhound could sleep about anywhere.
I have read budgets on other blogs, I have looked at my budget and also my expenses that I have kept track of the past 10 years on an Excel spreadsheet. I have a feeling that I will spend more than I plan while on the road. Sure, I can live like a hermit and keep all my expenses RVing as low as possible but I know there will always be something around the corner that will have to be fixed that is unexpected. Just like owning a house.
Would I be willing to workcamp a lot just to get myself on the road? I don't think so. When I leave for fulltime, I will not be wanting to work. Volunteer...yes! But not a job. I have one of those now that pays quite well and a house that is close to being paid for. So I can't really justify leaving a job and a house to get on the road, only to go back to a job (workcamping) to be financially fit while traveling. I cannot decide just how much of my savings I want to spend.
The ideal situation would be to sell my house, my sports car and all my furniture. Anything else give to goodwill. Then RV full-time. I might like keeping my house as a home base and RV part time, but I am really the type that I go all the way or not at all....not 1/2 time.
I had an older relative tell me this past week, to rv full-time now, because by the time I am 70 (in 10.5 yrs) I may not have the good health to travel. Her sister and brother in-law have been RVing fulltime and this winter is their last time. Due to health issues they will be selling their 40' motorhome and moving into a family owned condo.
I have heard something to that effect from more than a few people.
My weakness is "over analyzation" and when that happens, I stand still without moving in either direction.
I am starting to think my preparation may be longer than I had planned a few weeks ago and my departure date not until May 2014.
Still, no matter what the departure date turns out to be, I think this bloodhound could sleep about anywhere.
November 18, 2011
Still Sorting Through Types of RV's
I haven't posted much this week. I've been spending most of my time sorting through my stuff for Goodwill runs or throwing away. For some reason, even with experience, I don't have the urge at this time to sell on eBay or Craig's List. I have also been spending time taking care of things on my list before I depart.
I just wish I could make up my mind on what type of RV to buy when the time comes. I know from past comments, emails received and general discussions on different RV forums, that the right RV will "hit" me either when I see it, drive it, like the floor plan, etc. Still that process is frustrating at times.
I spend a lot of time reading my blog list and then from that list finding blogs they are reading. So I have a "million' sites bookmarked with information and files of RV's for sale that I like. Lots to look at and study.
It is not if I am going to do this but when. No doubts. The only questions now, are what to buy and when to buy. How long will the RV market be a buyers market? Best to buy new or a few years old and should I consider a model over 12 years old that was top of the line when new and is still in good shape? Those are just some of the questions that go through my head while I look at RV's for sale.
I do know that the hounds and I need to get out on the road. I don't really want to be a long distance landlord if my house doesn't sell but I also don't want the status of my house determine my departure date. I know I will have an "end plan" when I leave and I also know that I have no idea how long I will full-time. I do know I want to boondock the majority of the time.
Some of the things I want:
I want solar panels, I want tanks large enough where I can boondock for a few weeks if not a month at a time. I will have my big screen HD tv for my sports addiction and I plan to either take out the dinette set and install a desk for my computers, and to eat on....basically like I do now at home. I want an outdoor shower for not only me after a day at the beach but also to keep my dogs clean. I can say I want a Class A most of the time, yet at times a Class C feels like it would be the right type to have.
I am still not convinced that a trailer pulled by my V-8 Toyota 4Runner is the way to go for me. Maybe my 4Runner can be my toad. Anyone out on the road seen a 4Runner as a toad? I know that Jeeps seem to be popular.
So I leave you on this Friday night (Saturday Morning really) at 12:11am, with my mind made up that I am definitely going to do this and I know what I want but still no clue on what type of RV to buy. Tomorrow will be a day of digging into my LIST and hopefully marking them off my list to make my departure closer.
How long did it take you to buy an RV after you made the decision to RV full-time?
I just wish I could make up my mind on what type of RV to buy when the time comes. I know from past comments, emails received and general discussions on different RV forums, that the right RV will "hit" me either when I see it, drive it, like the floor plan, etc. Still that process is frustrating at times.
I spend a lot of time reading my blog list and then from that list finding blogs they are reading. So I have a "million' sites bookmarked with information and files of RV's for sale that I like. Lots to look at and study.
It is not if I am going to do this but when. No doubts. The only questions now, are what to buy and when to buy. How long will the RV market be a buyers market? Best to buy new or a few years old and should I consider a model over 12 years old that was top of the line when new and is still in good shape? Those are just some of the questions that go through my head while I look at RV's for sale.
I do know that the hounds and I need to get out on the road. I don't really want to be a long distance landlord if my house doesn't sell but I also don't want the status of my house determine my departure date. I know I will have an "end plan" when I leave and I also know that I have no idea how long I will full-time. I do know I want to boondock the majority of the time.
Some of the things I want:
I want solar panels, I want tanks large enough where I can boondock for a few weeks if not a month at a time. I will have my big screen HD tv for my sports addiction and I plan to either take out the dinette set and install a desk for my computers, and to eat on....basically like I do now at home. I want an outdoor shower for not only me after a day at the beach but also to keep my dogs clean. I can say I want a Class A most of the time, yet at times a Class C feels like it would be the right type to have.
I am still not convinced that a trailer pulled by my V-8 Toyota 4Runner is the way to go for me. Maybe my 4Runner can be my toad. Anyone out on the road seen a 4Runner as a toad? I know that Jeeps seem to be popular.
So I leave you on this Friday night (Saturday Morning really) at 12:11am, with my mind made up that I am definitely going to do this and I know what I want but still no clue on what type of RV to buy. Tomorrow will be a day of digging into my LIST and hopefully marking them off my list to make my departure closer.
How long did it take you to buy an RV after you made the decision to RV full-time?
November 16, 2011
More Changes
I started thinking last week of trading my Camry for a different car just because there are a lot of them for sale on the car lots and on different web auto sites. I thought it might be easier to trade that car than sell it. They are a popular car, yet many available. I also wanted a better car for the winter weather. In the past I have had Toyota 4Runners and always liked them, but the used ones with low miles are hard to find.
Last Friday I had a salesman at the Toyota Dealership I have dealt with in the past, call me about a 4Runner that had been traded into his lot, 1 owner, bought new at that dealership and all the service was at the dealership. I told him when I bought the Camry to let me know if he ever had a 4Runner traded in and gave him specs on what I was looking for. So I did some research on the 4Runner and made the trade on Monday. It's a great trade. Camry's are great cars but I love 4Runners. If I eventually trade or sell all cars before I leave, the 4Runner will sell much easier than the Camry.
So, with that trade, it brought up a different option. With the V-8, same engine that is in the Tundra and Land Cruiser, it will tow up to 6,500 lbs. Just out of curiosity I started looking at different trailers. The Casita, Jayco and one very interesting... TrailManor. Could these be used for full-timing?? Some do.
So I have gone the full spectrum of looking and trying to decide on RV's. From the Class A's, the C's and now trailers.
Anyone out there have experience in trailers? I noticed on some blogs of couples with dogs full-timing in a trailer pulled by a small SUV or small truck. I will study those in the meantime to read about their experiences, but if anyone has any experience in the Truck/Trailer combo, let me know.
I had another couple of things checked off the list Monday and Tuesday. My new Larsen storm door was installed, more things were sorted to go to recycling this Saturday and a lot goes in the trash pickup tomorrow morning.
My "to do" list is decreasing on things I HAVE to do before departing.
Last Friday I had a salesman at the Toyota Dealership I have dealt with in the past, call me about a 4Runner that had been traded into his lot, 1 owner, bought new at that dealership and all the service was at the dealership. I told him when I bought the Camry to let me know if he ever had a 4Runner traded in and gave him specs on what I was looking for. So I did some research on the 4Runner and made the trade on Monday. It's a great trade. Camry's are great cars but I love 4Runners. If I eventually trade or sell all cars before I leave, the 4Runner will sell much easier than the Camry.
So, with that trade, it brought up a different option. With the V-8, same engine that is in the Tundra and Land Cruiser, it will tow up to 6,500 lbs. Just out of curiosity I started looking at different trailers. The Casita, Jayco and one very interesting... TrailManor. Could these be used for full-timing?? Some do.
So I have gone the full spectrum of looking and trying to decide on RV's. From the Class A's, the C's and now trailers.
Anyone out there have experience in trailers? I noticed on some blogs of couples with dogs full-timing in a trailer pulled by a small SUV or small truck. I will study those in the meantime to read about their experiences, but if anyone has any experience in the Truck/Trailer combo, let me know.
I had another couple of things checked off the list Monday and Tuesday. My new Larsen storm door was installed, more things were sorted to go to recycling this Saturday and a lot goes in the trash pickup tomorrow morning.
My "to do" list is decreasing on things I HAVE to do before departing.
November 13, 2011
Major Things Off List & Questions
Yesterday turned out to be a great day to knock off a couple of things off of my list that needs to be done before I depart. First, had a friend come over with a "man eater" machine. We cleared out some wild overgrown brush on the back of my property line, to the point of being at the level to where I can use a lawn mower in the future.
The big thing that was knocked off the list was selling my old '94 Chevy Truck, within an hour after putting the for sale sign on the window. I was wanting to clean it before selling and that was going to happen after I finished the yard work of clearing that brush. Just out of curiosity I went ahead and put the sign on the truck anyway while we worked. The buyer test drove it and paid in cash, the price I was asking for.
There is no surprise I have a lot of interest in people wanting to buy my 2003 BMW Z4, with a different color than what you see most of them painted. I will drive my other car until I am finally ready to leave.
With the high winds today 25-40mph from the SW, I will be working inside, doing more things on my "list before departure"....sorting what goes to goodwill, what is sold or thrown out. Based on responses I think the things I am selling will be sold locally before I even have to put it on Craig's List.
I get comments for both ideas of selling my house. Put the sign up immediately and sell as is....or wait until I do some improvements I had planned on doing when I was planning on living here, then put the for sale sign out.A few friends locally think based on what I want to do here before I leave and what I need to do once I find an RV, that I will be gone within 5 months.
Even though I have feedback on these questions, I would like to throw out a few of them to get some ideas from you.
1. Best TV satellite service - plus what kind of dish?
2. Best cell phone / internet service
3. If I remodel by taking a chair out and putting in a desk for my computer, what do you normally do with the chairs / tables you take out when remodeling a RV?
Friends of mine are becoming excited about the RVing full-time idea, even a couple of them that were somewhat negative when I first mentioned what I wanted to do.
The big thing that was knocked off the list was selling my old '94 Chevy Truck, within an hour after putting the for sale sign on the window. I was wanting to clean it before selling and that was going to happen after I finished the yard work of clearing that brush. Just out of curiosity I went ahead and put the sign on the truck anyway while we worked. The buyer test drove it and paid in cash, the price I was asking for.
There is no surprise I have a lot of interest in people wanting to buy my 2003 BMW Z4, with a different color than what you see most of them painted. I will drive my other car until I am finally ready to leave.
With the high winds today 25-40mph from the SW, I will be working inside, doing more things on my "list before departure"....sorting what goes to goodwill, what is sold or thrown out. Based on responses I think the things I am selling will be sold locally before I even have to put it on Craig's List.
I get comments for both ideas of selling my house. Put the sign up immediately and sell as is....or wait until I do some improvements I had planned on doing when I was planning on living here, then put the for sale sign out.A few friends locally think based on what I want to do here before I leave and what I need to do once I find an RV, that I will be gone within 5 months.
Even though I have feedback on these questions, I would like to throw out a few of them to get some ideas from you.
1. Best TV satellite service - plus what kind of dish?
2. Best cell phone / internet service
3. If I remodel by taking a chair out and putting in a desk for my computer, what do you normally do with the chairs / tables you take out when remodeling a RV?
Friends of mine are becoming excited about the RVing full-time idea, even a couple of them that were somewhat negative when I first mentioned what I wanted to do.
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