My husband Terry and I are “fulltimers”. What is that, you ask? I will try to explain: Fulltiming is when someone with a few screws loose decides to up-and-sell-everything, move into andRV of some sort, and hit the road, Jack…
Well, maybe it’s not quite like that, but close! Because we are confirmed believers of honesty, I will attempt to give the real reasons we decided to fulltime. They may help some of you who are trying to decide whether it is right for you too.
Many moons ago in the land of that four letter word “WORK” we lived in relative bliss on a farm in the desert of southern California. Terry was a resident traffic officer with the CHP and I was a farmer and business owner. Retirement was creeping closer and we realized that we did not want to stay in the area we had lived in for 22 years. We had 25-hour-a-day, 8-days-a-week jobs, had never had a “real” vacation, and the whole world was beckoning to us! We needed to “get out of town” at least part of the year.
We had considered getting a cabin somewhere, but where? The mountains? We loved the trees and all, but we also loved the beach, and the plains, and… well… What a decision! What if we did not like it? What if the plumbing decides to take a… well you get the idea. So, the solution for us was to get an RV. That way we could explore, experience, and find just the right, perfect place. Besides, we had no idea where we wanted to retire to, other than we knew it would not be in the desert.
Four years before the projected retirement date, we got our first RV. We had tent camped for many years, rented trailers, borrowed a motorhome, but never had our own RV. We jumped in with both feet and bought a 34′ fifth wheel trailer. This was a real jump… tent to fiver, but what the heck. We had a one ton dually, so we were set! Wrong… the fiver we chose to fulltime in needed a bigger truck, so that would be next. Meanwhile we could set it up on the farm, play with it and get out for short trips.
We took delivery of that fiver in Dec of ’98 and played with it all the next year. We were able to figure out what we needed to get rid of and what to keep when the time came. Plenty of time to decide, right? Wrong… summer of ’99 and the governor was talking “early retirement” for CHP officers. We really had to think now… could we up and sell everything and hit the road by June, 2000? That was the new date.
The “wise” ones always say never change things drastically when both retire at the same time. Never sell the homestead and just go do something you have never done before, ad infinitum. Well, we did it all wrong, as we ended up both retiring, selling the farm and everything we owned and hitting the road all in 3 months time. “You’ll be sorry,” they said, “you must be nuts”.
Yes, that was us, over eight years ago. We are still fulltiming, workamping, volunteering, still nuts, and still loving it! From acreage, big house, four vehicles, and abundant toys to 400 square feet, one vehicle and some toys. This was the best decision we ever made.
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LEL2
Fulltiming is what many dream of but for one reason or another never do. Either their screws are a little too tight, or they just aren’t nuts enough. As said its not for everyone. But Ive yet to hear a fulltimer say ” It wasen’t for me” There are all sorts of people on God’s green earth that have all sorts of varied interests and lifestyles. Some of those interests and lifestyles seem quite strange to those of a different variety of nut. But if we were all cashews life would be an awfully dull adventure; would it not. Just because I condone parking my harley in the living room, doesn’t mean Im an unacceptabe nut, it just means I don’t have a wife*&^^%$%*() !!! I love hearing stories of successful fulltimers because “Im on my way.” Its like the call of the sea, some hear it and respond, and some don’t. I noticed I heard no complaints of youre fulltiming either. My only regrets of my future fulltiming is; The HARLEYS have to be put in a trailer. This is one big continent, and I plan on seeing some of it. The silver lining to it all is; there are always nuts of youre same variety out there everywhere you go. You know what they say about Birds of a feather. I bet now, 8 yrs later you laugh at the comments ” you got to be nuts” from those who live a more mundane lifestyle than you. Don’t ever forget the jingle ” sometimes I feel like a nut” GOD Bless and Chow Chow LEL2
Bert & Odette Therrien
This is the second article I’ve read (It Pays To Be Handy…Part 2
February 23rd, 2008 by Dianne O’Keeffe) where the author states their truck wasn’t big enough. I’m wondering how much their Fiver weighed for it to require them to purchase a heavier duty truck. I had a 35′ 9″, 2003 Newmar Kountry Star Fiver which grossed @ 16,200 pounds loaded, and I pulled it 1st with a Chevy Dually 1 Ton Heavy Duty, 454 CI, then with a Ford F350 Dually 6.0 Turbo Diesel Heavy Duty. I never had any problems towing with either one. Both trucks had plenty of power for hills, but the Diesel more so than gas of course. Although I never weighed our unit, I estimated I pulled it at approximately 14,500 to 15,000 pounds.
Chuck & Val Masselli
We are in our fourth year of fulltiming. We have the same story as most. The house was sold and the ‘stuff” was given away or sold. The real sentimental family stuff, of which there is little, is stored in a shed at my youngest son’s house. We have been renting a site in Florida annually, but spend only the winter months there. We are in a 35’ class A and love it!
Richard Pollard
:::: ATTENTION ::::
RETIRED RV OWNERS
HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEND THE SUMMER ON A LAKE IN MAINE WITH FREE HOOKUPS
BEACH HOST NEEDED
FOR
MOY MO DA YO BEACH
PEQUAWKET LAKE (AKA HORNE POND)
LIMINGTON, MAINE
Limington is located in southern Maine and can be found on a map by looking for the road intersection of routes 25 and 11.
The town is looking for a qualified retired person or couple with good people skills and an RV to manage the area. It will provide to the caretakers a campsite with well water, electricity, and septic.
The season runs from May 15 to September 15. A slight variance to the start and stop dates could be tolerated. You may want to stay longer and see the trees change color!
Beach usage is approximately 10 people during weekdays and as many as 100 during weekends. This is heavily dependent on weather conditions. Boat launches are estimated at about 2 on weekdays and 10 on the weekends.
Pequawket Lake has crystal clear water and is spring fed. MOY MO DA YO is a public beach area with approximately 1,500 feet of sandy shoreline. It is located in a forested area at the end of a one-mile-long dirt road and provides a picturesque view of the lake with a mountain nestled in the background.
You may view pictures of the area and receive additional information, including a job description, application form, and details of the area by visiting our website at http://www.pequawket.com or by contacting [email protected]
Michael Keenan
Good, short summary, Dianne.
Thanks for spreading the word on this blog. I’ll visit frequently.