Hello from the Northeast!

[catzmom7]

Thanks for the add!

I currently live in Massachusetts, but in about a year, I will go to full-timing in an RV. I am always one to plan and research ahead, so I joined in here now!

I am actually a great candidate for the lifestyle. Almost all of my close family has either passed on or lives far away. I have one child, but she is already in the early steps to join the Air Force. I have no ties whatsoever to where I am currently living. I have moved quite a lot, and I love to be "on the go". Also, I am not concerned about the reduced space, as I lived on a 40 foot boat from 2008 - 2011 and I was fine with it. So it will be just my dog (I hope he lives that long) and my cats and I on our next adventure! Right now, I am weekend and summer camping, as I have done for years.

Dee

[WickedLady]

Welcome to the forum, Dee, from WA state

[mitch5252]

..
Welcome to the Forum, Dee.
We're glad you joined us.
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[avalen]

Welcome

[cpatinjones]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

[gingerK]

Welcome Dee! Glad you joined us! Pull up a chair and make yourself ta home!

[catzmom7]

Thank you for the welcomes! I am glad I found this group.

[IrishIroamed]

Hi Dee - hope you have fun on your future travels.

[Bethers]

Welcome Dee - glad to have you with us. What are you camping in currently and will it remain your full-time home in a year? (Inquiring minds, you know!)

[catzmom7]

Right now, I am camping in the mountains near where I live, Boston, which of course is seasonal. It's still only in the 40's in the daytime here right now. Our little van-camper is mighty, but lacking in insulation, I think!

I will move out of here and back home, to Southern CA area, as soon as my daughter gets out of high school and finished with her Air Force enlistment. She is lined up to graduate a bit early, due to Honors classes and AP classes and extra credit. Probably December 2015. I will hate to lose her as a daily companion, but I am proud of her choice to serve.

The van ('94 Ford Ecoline) had a bed that electrically unfolds out, a little kitchen, a tiny "loo", and the driver's captain-style chairs turn around to face the back. It's actually pretty darn comfy. I don't think I want to full time in it, not with all the animals (all rescues, some very hard-luck-case rescues), but I do like it!

I was born and raised in Southern CA and southern Arizona. That's my home base, and where I will end up. There is a ton of boondocking area around there, and very affordable parks. When it gets hot, northern Arizona and Coastal CA are much better temps. (I have cousins in Flagstaff). I also have 2 friends who own land in San Diego, who will let me park on their property as needed.

I loved living on my boat, the only reason I sold it was because I moved to the east coast for a while, and the estimate to move it with me was 26K. Um... no. But I am already very familiar with water tanks, black water tanks, 12v power, generators, etc. Very similar systems. I am looking forward to this!

[cnq50b]

Welcome, Dee.

Sounds like you've got a great plan & attitude.

The first thing my brother said to me when he stepped into my van was '"You'd do great living on a boat!" He lived on one for many years near Bellingham, WA. I don't live in mine - but love traveling in it to visit my 2 youngest who are in LA & San Diego. Can't wait until I can spend more time on the road (still working fulltime right now).

Your van sounds cozy. And just think, you won't need so much weather-proofing in SoCal & Arizona.

This group is great, so, as the others have said, pull up a chair & join in. Glad you're onboard.
Catherine

[MelissaD]

Hoosier Welcome

[catzmom7]

Thanks!

Boats are a lot of fun. Expensive, but fun. I had a 40 foot Roughwater Pilothouse. You get used to being rocked to sleep at night. Our first night, we kept hearing this sound, like microwave popcorn popping... "what IS that??" Turns out it was tiny shrimp eating the sea greens off of our hull. After a while, you don't notice it anymore! There is really nothing more relaxing, after a day at work, then coming home, crawling up in your flybridge ,and collapsing to enjoy your ocean view and breeze with a glass of ice tea, knowing your living room is right downstairs!

They do have their downsides, though. In any massive rainstorm, you sleep in your clothes, knowing that you will be up at least once or more that night outside, in the flooding rain, tightening your lines and re securing the boat. You learn to notice, in your sleep, whether the bilge pump is going off, and if it doesn't, you are up checking to see what's going on with that. Also, you have to plastic bag or wrap *everything*, or it will mold in a heartbeat. Everything is just slightly damp, all the time. And of course, if you are working on the outside of it (a constant, as sea air breaks down the wood and the metal) and drop a tool - goodbye forever, as it bounces off the deck and sinks out of sight! Also an effective way to lose sunglasses. it cost 400 dollars to fill my gas tank, and boats get lousy milage!

I'm ready to try something similar, but drier!

[Phoenix]

Hello welcome o the board.

[BirdbyBird]

Your short recounting of features of boat living does take some of the romance out of the ideal vision of endless sunsets....