WINTER OF DECISIONS

[Colliemom]

Now that my camping season is over for this year and the TT is all winterized and covered up under it's new cover, it's time for me to settle in for winter pretty soon and do some serious thinking here.
I loved camping with the rig this summer and can't wait to get it out and going next spring. My heart is on the open road and it seems like all I want to do is go, go, go. Even now, with it wrapped up, I get in the truck and take rides around northern Michigan and then spent those few days up in Michigamme (which I posted about).
Next summer I can start SS if I want. It won't be great but it's money. I still plan to work at the park one more summer and maybe only 4 days a week. Then after that I can do what I please. So I have many thoughts going through my head these days.
Biggest of them is whether or not to sell this big 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch I have. There's about 4 acres of land here as well. It's bigger than i need for one person, now that I am alone. But it's paid for too. The housing market is so down around here, that even my neighbors can't sell despite dropping their prices to the point where I know they are selling at a loss. Course as a RE friend of mine said, even if you sell at a loss, there are a lot of homes out there that you can afford cause they are down cheap too. But what I neeed to decide is whether or not to sell, downsize to maybe just a small cottage and part time RV it, with a home base behind me. Or sell it all, and hit the road for awhile and see what happens from there. I want to do something while I am able and have my health, and who knows how long the housing market will stay depressed.
Then theere are the other questions. What about Dr./Dentist/prescriptions etc. while on the road. Some require you to have to see the doc at least once a year in order to renew them. Do you come back to your original doc for that? What about those of you wearing hearing aids like me. What do you do if you hve a problem with them? All kinds of things to think about here.
In a way I thought about maybe spending a bit of time out seeing some of the states I haven't been too and just let the house sit here. But then that requires somebody to have to check on it, plow the snow or cut the grass etc., and that's added sxpnses I need to pay out. Might make th budget too tight.
Then there is the decision as to the rig. Right now I have my little TT. Fine for short camping trips, but would I want to stay in it for any length of time. Maybe go to a MH or 5er? So you can see, my winter is gong to be very "thoughtful".
A lot of you have gone through this and I would be interested in hearing some of your feedback and how and why you did what you did. Any little advice helps. Thanks for listening.

[BirdbyBird]

What a wonderful thinker you are! Very good questions and I know that there are women here than have sorted through similar ones and found solid answers......just remember that at some point it is a leap of faith and a commitment to exploring your dream.....not other peoples. Most individuals "design" their safety nets that give them the security that they need. Some head out with smaller "nets" that others. There is no right or wrong. But you are definitely on the right track....living in smaller spaces and downsizing things...is a theme around here. There are memories to keep forever and there is "stuff"....... Learning to indentify what you need is a journey in itself.

[Excel]

Being conservative & knowing for me anyway, that I will always need a home base, I would suggest that you speak to your R.E. friend. Perhaps, renting your present home while you travel would be an answer for you. That would give you time to see how you feel about being on the road, meeting up with others who have similar decisions, getting input on how to handle the medical needs while traveling...Only you can figure out how to spend the rest of your life...The thing is, if you don't 'sell' in this terrible market at least you have a paid for place to return should you find that full timing isn't for you. On the other hand, you haven't lost anything if you decide it is for you & selling is the right way to go. You can then tell your agent to put that For Sale sign out there...Just my 2 cents...whichever way you go, wish you the best...............

[Liz]

Those are still questions I agonize about too. I still have a house in FL where I definitely don't want to be in summer any more, and would like other options for winter too. Right now I pay for yard work and pool service, and have a neighbor/friend take care of mail when I am gone. I have to be here twice a year for drs. appts., hearing aid checks, etc. and try to set them all up for late April & late Oct. So, I can sympathize with your thoughts, but can't offer you solutions. Every time I'm traveling, I wish I didn't have to go home, but when I get home, another routine sets in and the decision about selling gets harder.

[Colliemom]

Thank you ladies. Tina, I love the way you worded you post. That is so true. And Liz, I always thought you just have your little Roadtrek to tool around in. For some reason I didn't realize you had a home base down in FL in terms of a house. Guess it's cause I'm still new to the site and am trying to sort everybody out. So many posts, introductions etc., just in these past few months alone.
I just got back from visiting with some friends who are doing a late season camping trip in a State Park about 40 miles north of here. Nice day, but a bit breezy. Good day to stay by a fire. But we talked about it too, and my one friend said that going someplace for awhile, like traveling around a bit, might tell me just how much I really want to do. But she also agreed that selling my house and downsizing would not be a bad thing in a way. Course w talked abou the lousy housing market etc. There will be a point down the line here when this place will be physically a bit too much to keep after too, so that's another point for me.
But just being able to bring it out in the open helps. It's nice to have some feedback from others. Like Tina says, everybody is going to be different in their decisions and it's up to you in the end. But talking with others also brings out the "if I had to do it again" stuff which makes me aware of certain things to keep in mind. Many times you think about something and think you have it figured out, then somebody comes along and says, "yes, but did you think about...." and then you realize you forgot about that or didn't think about it. Kind of I didn't realize I needed to do that type of thing.
Hope this isn't getting confusing.
So keep those comments coming, I'm enjoying them. Such a great bunch you all are.

[Bethers]

Sue, I was very lucky- sold my house when the market was better. I also was able to price it right, and sold in within a few weeks, closed a few weeks later. I'm visiting the city it was in right now - and it's only my 2nd time here since I went out 5+ years ago. I went out planning to travel a YEAR. Hahaha - I left myself lots of outs and options - but I just love it. I do stay places longer periods of time, especially with the workamping I do. I love staying long enough to make friends, then it hurst to leave, but, at the same time, my hitch itch is kicking in, so the hurt isn't bad. I'm always thrilled when I get behind the wheel and start going again - no matter where the destination.

I understand all your concerns. One of my thoughts these 5 years has been to find a place I'll want to settle (eventually) for part or 1/2 a year. So far there have been several areas I've liked, but none that call me to "home". I guess, like you, being without children or living parents, that makes a big difference also. I've seen many decide those things based on their parents or children. And I totally understand that. I always am looking at areas I have friends - and they are so widely scattered, it gives me most of the country. Especially the way we keep making more friends in this lifestyle (and on THIS forum!).

Don't rush your decision. Just keep weighing your options. If you do see an upswing in the housing market in your area, that's when you might want to think hard about it, as you know that house is bigger than what you probably want, even if you stay with something there. Meantime, you have options - and those are great.

[retiredhappy]

I really understand your dilemma. I bought an 19' Class B and took some short trips. Loved RVing but needed something bigger cause at that time I had two dogs - Labs. Traded the B for a 30' class C and took several longer trips. Then workamped for 3 months to see how I would like being "on the road". Came back to a yard needing mowing badly and wasn't really ready to come off the road. Turned house over to a realtor to rent; put my stuff in storage and moved to an RV park in town till my Spring workamping job came up. That was in 2008 and I haven't regretted it at all. I my "stuff" to my daughter's and got rid of a lot of it. Now I'm absolutely ready to sell the house but will hold out as long as my rentors stay put because the market is down. If I owned the house outright I think I'd sell it and just put the money in the bank/CD's in case I wanted off the road in the future. The longer I'm a fulltime RVer the more I love the freedom and not having the responsibility of a house. That's my story.

You have to decide for yourself but there are ways to ease into it. Good luck.

As for doctor appointments I come back to town once a year (my daughter/gd live here) and do all my appointments then. I have a PMB at a UPS store that gives me a "real" address rather than just a PO box. I set up auto payments on things and do all my other bill paying and banking on line. Have a Verizon cell phone (better coverage than others) and a Verizon aircard for my computer.

[rvgrammy1953]

We had about 5 years to think out our decision to go full-time....cause we sold our house in the late 90s when Ernie got a promotion and we had to move....Both of us worked those years and did alot of research....When his surgeon declared that the "old war wound" in his left leg would heal better after surgery if he was not on it 8 or more hours a day, we bit the bullet, gave the kids stuff they wanted and stuff we wanted to keep....(very little really....did the down-sizing when we moved.) Bought a small hybrid and hit the road....and are still living the life we love on the road and into our 6th year....We set up all our Dr. appts. for the spring when we get back to PA.....visit family, grandkids, and friends there for a few months....living in our 5er all this time.....then we hit the road again.....some years we travel, staying at 1 place for a month, then moving on....other years, we workamp/camp host....then we stay as long as 6 months...Like others, we pay bills online or by auto pay at the bank, have mail forwarded by friends or family via general delivery, and have meds. scripts at major drug store or Walmart....maybe, when we're ready, some day way in the future, we'll buy a little trailer and stay put, but don't see that for a long, long time.... Besides, I love being the "crazy Grandma/Mom/Sister" who lives in a camper.....

[snowball]

We full time in a 5th wheel ....I'll be honest this was my husbands dream however I can't imagine doing anything else...
we seem to have fallen into a rut though we've been workcamping In ID near West Yellowstone for the past two summers hoping that we will be there next year but don't know for sure...the contract is up and we won't know for sure till Dec if it has been renewed...coming and going to ID we spend a month in UT as we have children and grandchildren that live there...
and then we go down to Quartzsite AZ for the winter and at least once a year we go out to IA to see my husbands family....
we sold our house we were lucky and able to sell it quickly gave our kids what they wanted with the plans that if we want them back we can have them back...and moved into our 5er...we enjoy the life style. Is it best for everyone? no it's not.
What I would suggest is that you take your self down to the southern states and enjoy a winter and while there think of what you want to do...
you can think in the sun and no shoveling of that icky white stuff as well as you can in the north
what it boils down to is what is best for you!
sheila

[Getupngo]

I understand where you are right now. I struggled with whether to sell my home last summer. The realtor made the case that the HUGE loss I would take would be offset by what I would NOT be paying in mortgage, taxes & insurance. She didn't convince me. She also told me that seller financing is the way lots of people now NEED to go. That would provide an additional income, but still ....

You have the advantage of owning your property outright and may be able to use it as an income source in one form or another.

I already have one trusted roommate and decided to get a second (roommate, that is) to cover my mortgage. I'm going to put a little bed in the smallest bedroom as a way station for when I'm in town to visit family and friends. That way my options remain open.

[Birdie]

Sue,
Decisions are based on a collection of various bits of data and then sifting it for what's applicable to your situation. Some things I think to death, others I impulse and then others I do it right (what I thought was right at that time). So here is more fodder for sifting through - my situation.

Background:
I made a trip from my work place, New Mexico, to my 'farm place' in Oklahoma in a July for a week. I was there for one week and had to mow the lawn 3 times as it had been a week and the grass was doing just great. However, in thinking at that time for my upcoming retirement, I don't want to do this the rest of my life or even part of the rest of my life.

I talked with my siblings about my desire to sell my house and 1/2 the land and no mineral rights. Ends up my sister was really interested and we made a deal. She will buy my place in another 2 years. Meanwhile she lives there and caretakes the house and property. She is also the primary caretaker for my mother who is in a nearby nursing home. This is working for us right now and I expect it will continue unless something happens to her or she gets really, really mad at me.

How I got here:
I have sorted thru my 'stuff' and put some of it in storage. If I were sorting today I would dispose of a lot that I kept. I tried living full-time in my 17' Casita driving a Toyota 4Runner and that didn't work as it was way too small for what I wanted to have with me. Last November I bought Bunkie and in December got around to selling my Egg. So now I live full-time in my RV, a 30' Class C, with 4 bunk beds, queen over cab, jackknife sofa and a dinette. I have storage space underneath across the back, and a small spot in the front near the rig door, and one for the water hose on the driver side near the city water spout. I use one of the bunks for storage of my printer, laptops, CD/DVD's, drugs, and things I don't want in uncontrolled environment like underneath. I have storage boxes with my clothes in the wardrobe and behind those storage boxes I keep my plastic file boxes for papers that I need on the road. I use the shower to hold my drinking water, battery distilled water, wine in bottles, and anything else that would rock and roll if left out - these are things I normally would leave out when at a place of abode.

I use my brother's address (in Texas) as my address of record and he forwards my mail or holds it for me to pick up. I use Texas for the tax advantages and his address for the medical breaks. I made commitments and summered in Arizona to fulfill those this past summer and last winter. I have one last commitment which should be through the mid part of November. So, this winter is the beginning of the rest of my life and the one commitment that I made for 3 months this winter was changed by the other individual, so I will do my thing starting this winter. I am glad that has happened, because now I can go to the Florida GTG and visit other friends while I am down there.

I have medical conditions that require twice a year visits to my doctors. Since I live on the road, they can be anywhere. I started having three in New Mexico, one in Texas and one in Oklahoma City. However, I recently fired the Texas Cardiologist and am moving back to the one New Mexico. So I have my appointments set up for two days, one appointment in the mornings and one in the afternoons. They shouldn't run into each other.....probably will some day because you know how that runs. I currently do my drugs by way of Wal-Mart, but I am thinking about doing the mail drugs and have emergency drug scrip that I carry with me. Just thinking at this point on the mail drugs.

I have all of my retirement money, except one, done by direct deposit. That one is a PITA, but they keep saying no, they must mail me the check. I pay nearly all of my bills on line. There are a couple 2 or 3 I have to write checks for.

When asked what I do to Winterize my rig, my response is "That's real easy. I drive South!" Now I know that I probably won't be doing this in 10 or 12 years, but then that can be the beginning of a new part of my life. Never know when God is going to issue you a one-way ticket home. Need to take this one day at a time, but he gave you brains to use and you never know where he will take you. So you should use what he gave you to do what he guides you to. Never underestimate what you can do.

So use what helps you and throw all the rest out. As you can see I overdid this response.

[mitch5252]

As you can see I overdid this response.

Nope, you didn't overdo a thing.
I read, digested, and enjoyed every word.
Thanks for taking the time to post!

[Colliemom]

Nope, you certainly didn't over do it. I really enjoyed reading through it. And I am enjoyng reading through everybody else's too. I realize that most of you put this on your introduction page when you joined the site, but for some that was maybe a couple of years or so ago, and there are so many introductions to read through. Plus things change as we go along.
Reading all that you have said has given me the confidence to keep thinking my thoughts and also how you are handling different situations. I can see that there are a number of us with "housing problems" due to the market decline and some of you have found ways around them. So too shall I seek out ways.
My thoughts keep telling me that the best way to start this journey is to stay put here and take the TT on a trip somewhere for awhile and see how it goes. Even if it's just over to WI or MN or someplace south like TN or Kentucky in spring. I think this current TT will be too small to stay in for an extended perod, cause like Birdie said, you want to take stuff you like and want to keep with you along. Maybe if even your favorite chair.
So I will continue to think and follow my heart, cause there is where God is pointing me and telling me which way to go.

[WickedLady]

I bought a small piece of desert in AZ where I can spend the winters boondocking (thanks to a solar panel) with an occasional trip to an RV park for a night to empty tanks, fill up on water, do laundry, shower, etc. Then during the summer I will travel to cooler climes.
All this is in the future after I can sell my mobilehome and get out from under the space rent.

[AlmostThere]

Marda, I own an acre of land in Deming, NM. It's in a sub'd. but way out in the boonies. I guess if/when I get adventurous, I know I have a free boon-docking place, too.