Still Waiting

[kdmac]

Hi All! I've been checking the forum often but haven't written since I am still in the "wait" mode for everything to conclude. My husband and I still share the same house and it's been a very sweet time of friendship...we are more friends than husband and wife. But, we are doing fine with our decision. Lately we have had unseasonably warm, sunny days of near 70 degs. Our house is on a bluff above Skagit Bay overlooking the Skagit Valley with the Cascade mountain peaks straight up from the valley. There are migrations of thousands of snowgeese and trumpeter swans passing up and down the valley daily as they feed at both ends of the valley (they will stay here through the winter)...it is the most amazingly beautiful place and I am sad to be leaving it. BUT, I know I will have ever changing vistas in my travels. I do have moments where I wonder if I am doing the right thing, especially since I've had so long to wait for the purchase of my RV (should be done by end of month). But, then I remember that I only have ten or fifteen years to travel (God willing) before I am too old and I just don't want to spend my life in front of the TV with dear husband.

I've been reading online about issues of "home addresses"for full-timers. Homeland Security is clamping down, no longer accepting PO boxes, or mail services. They want to know where we all are. I read they are demanding six months of proven rental receipts of your home state. I was going to use my current address but then figured my husband won't want to be receiving my mail for years to come, so need to figure this out. What seems to work best, any advice is welcome?

[Bethers]

Moved this to the General Talk area - so it won't get lost in our mishmash of things in the Morning area.

You can still you services, and you do NOT need months and months of receipts - you just need a real address - and many of the services provide them. I use a service in SD called America's Mailbox. The address they give is not a po box. Same with people who use the Escapees service in TX. Lots of options there. And my address in SD is a legal address.

I just visited where I used to live on the Mississippi River in WI - and could still see what I loved about it and why I lived there. But after the years traveling as I am - have seen so very many other beautiful places I would have missed without doing this. I have no regrets - except maybe that we are so ingrained with having to do things a certain way - that I thought I had to wait till I retired to do this. So glad I didn't! And hope you love it as much.

Can't wait to hear about your new-to-you rig - and hopefully see pictures.

Don't be afraid to post just because you don't have the rig yet - you are part of the family now, whether you have it or not.

[kdmac]

Thank you, Bethers, for your reply. I find I have a number of questions and concerns as the weeks go by; such as:
Do you need to reside annually for a specific time in your home address state in order to maintain your "stateship/residency" as it were?
I am somewhat of a loner and wonder if my inclination to stay to myself will cause me to suffer too much lonliness. Does a pet really help in that regard?
I am a "boondocking" type and I do worry that I won't find "boondocking" spaces as often as I would want therefore spending more money than I want to in parks, etc
I know that boondocking locations are called out by some folks via latitude/longitude gps, but I am too stupid to figure out how that is read; spose I'd better learn to to
I've been reading horror stories about rv problems and I can't imagine getting as many "fixes" as some people seem to require. In my, and my families, experiences with rv's in years past they seemed to hold up so much better back then. Have you had inumerable problems?
I've read that Forest River products have major troubles and am considering a Komfort Trailblazer TT, have you any knowledge of their track-record?

sorry bout the long post I will try to keep them less in the future. You have been so faithful to reply with good help for me that I want to ask tons of stuff. K

[Bethers]

I've found that the "worst" manufacturers can make rv's that are almost troublefree and the "best" can make some that are in and out of the shops all the time. Just like a house or a car. I do not believe in the extended warranties that cost a fortune (especially for an older rv) so I try to put aside an amount every month to cover any types of rv repairs. Just like a house, there are always some cropping up. Most are not expensive, and even I can fix many (I'm not a handy-person!) But I did have to replace my fridge at about 9 years old, and I replaced my microwave which I could have continued using - but the numbers had quit lighting up - so I was using a timer to make sure I didn't overheat, etc. And I've had lots of other things done, but not of those cali. Remeber, your home on wheels will have issues, just like a car/house will. I have a Gulf Stream and have heard many horror stories about them. I love mine - and would purchase this one again, knowing everything I now know. (New next to nothing when I started )

I'm doing this on a shoestring - so boondocking is very important to me. Sometimes I stay in visitor centers and truck stops (flying J's, for example) - but if in the west, I try to find some nice blm or other land where it's more isolated. You can be as isolated or as much of a joiner as you want in this lifestyle. I do workamp part of most years and that's when I become more of a joiner of people. It's a good balance for me. And I go to gtg's of this group and the single's group I belong to when I can - but even they can tell you I'm not a big joiner. Last women's gtg, many of us had kayaks. I never got mine out - as I don't like doing it in groups. One other person, ok, maybe occasionally a 2nd person - but for me - it's being out there with no one around but me and nature (how I liked boating when I had a pontoon on the Mississippi, also).

We're all different and accept each other's differences. I do recommend that you join in sometimes (like I do) as it's good to have a family to help when necessary. And family doesn't have to be by blood.

I do use a gps now and can find things on it by latitude/longitude, but I've discovered, as time has passed, how to find my own boondocking locations, and which books to use to help, etc. It will be slightly different now that I'm towing a car - as I no longer will be able to get into lots of the places my little Class C could go without worries. Whatever we drive, we have to consider it. And there are plusses and negatives to all of them - and some are right for one but not another.

I'm sure others will chime in and give you their experiences. There are those who never want to boondock, then those of us who would prefer it to a cg most of the time. I'm working right now and elected to stay at a state park with once-a-week honey wagon service over a place I hated with sewer. Others would say having sewer was a necessity. We all have different needs and wants - and as you start out and do - you'll get more comfortable with what yours are.

(By the way - the one thing I say to NOT listen to - is what other people say should be YOUR choice of type of rv - whether tt, 5th wheel, Class C, or A - we all like what we have for different reasons. I do say to listen to why people like them - as I learned a lot that way. But the final choice, including make, or layout, or length, is very personal.)

[BirdbyBird]

What Beth says.....and keep posting and bouncing your questions off us..... You will find most of us as independent as you......enjoying each others company when the opportunities arise at gtg's but well balanced out with our appreciation of our own independence.....

[pattyk]

I travel alone and I don't know what I would do without Sammie. She is a ShihTzu. She gets me laughing so hard sometimes. She is great company. Also, gets me out walking alot, which I never did before I got her. She also loves to travel and get all the new smells in an area.

[retiredhappy]

I, too, am pretty much of a loner but also enjoy meeting other solo women. I use a UPS store that has mail boxes for an address cause it does give me a "street" address (*** Quinlan St., #999, kerrville, TX) so it looks like an apartment. I do use my daughter's address for my driver's license but there are a lot of people out there who only use the Escapees Park in Livingston TX. I do have to come back once a year (I do anyway cause my family is here) to register my vehicles and do my annul doctor appointments.

We all have cell phones and many of us use aircards to access the internet. I have Verizon. I have set up most of my bills (cell phone, Dish TV, rv payment, etc) to pay automatically from my checking account. Other bills such as credit cards I pay on line on their websites. I've done this for years and never had a problem. I have set up as much as possible to get statements on line so I don't have piles of paper stacking up in my mail box.

I belong to Good Sam and Passport America for campground discounts (PA is half price but a lot of restrictions). Most of us have Emergency Road Service on our rigs in case of problems on the road (flats, etc). Some use Good Sam and some of us use Coach Net.

As for repairs, you're gonna have them sooner or later but you would also have them in a house. I try to put some money in an emergency fund and also keep a credit card just for any emergencies.

As for pets, I couldn't imagine NOT having a pet BUT they do limit what you can do sometimes. You can't take off to sightsee for more than a few hours and you will be outside in the rain walking the dog. As you can see from my signature, I ended up with three = I had only planned on one but things happen. They're all rescues and I'd miss each of them. I NEVER get cold at night but also only have about 10 inches of bed. Cats are less trouble but require a litter box somewhere in the rig.

OK, I've gone on long enough. Keep reading and asking questions.

[Colliemom]

My TT is a Rockwood made by Forest River and it's a good solid TT. Like Beth said, a good manufactuer can make a bad RV and a bad manufactuer can make a great RV. It all boils down to what you like and what appeals to you. You find as you look at different ones, the qualit of the workmanship is different, floor plans of course are different, some ride higher than others. Lots of things. But you have your RV so you should be all set there. As to being out on the road, I can't help there, but your questions are helping me cause I have been wondering about those same issues. So you keep asking and I'll keep reading and learnng from the responses and maybe insert something that I might know about.

[AlmostThere]

For me it was a matter of 'what I wanted was few and far between' here in the NW as I had my heart set on a Pleasure Way Class B for over a year. There were only a few new ones at one or two dealers in my area and I couldn't see going into debt for that much as they are extremely pricey. Late last summer I finally decided I'd try looking for a small class C or a B+. Still hard to come by, but with the economy falling apart I found a few that people were trying to sell. I did have a few things I wouldn't bend on, like I didn't want a rear kitchen, nor a corner bed. I generally do not have a problem with sleeping on a sleeper sofa. (Well I do now as the rig I bought has a very uncomfortable jackknife sofa-bed so need to get some memory foam).
Next I had to wrap my mind around driving a bigger rig (a B+ motorhome at 23 ft., not much longer than a B, but much heavier, wider and higher), and driving without using a rear view mirror. The first couple times I took the rig out I found it somewhat scary, and at the same time I found I had a steering issue. VERY VERY long story, and nearly $5000.00 later Little Missy is in tip top shape and I find I'm truly enjoying her more each time I take her out. It's just a matter getting more experience behind the wheel, and setting up camp. So far planning to attend the GTG on the Oregon coast next summer will be my longest trip. I'm really looking forward to it!
Until I found my rig I spent allot of hours going to Rv shows, Rv dealers, surfing online and checking newspaper ads.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
AND yes I have a dog to travel with. He's an American Lo Sze Pugg. Love him to death. Not a barker, doesn't get up on the counters YET, just doesn't travel well. We're working on that.

[WickedLady]

I can't imagine not having a dog as a traveling companion. Not only for the company but also for security.
There are many sources for finding boondocking places. If you know where you want to go then Google BLM lands for that state.

[Getupngo]

KD, I can relate to where you are right now. All the stuff to learn seems overwhelming. But you'll learn. It's a wonderful lifestyle. You'll pick it all up and after the first (for me VERY nervous!) trip in your RV, it'll all start to become second nature.

There are groups (already mentioned) that cater to full-timers and offer solutions to the logistics of life on the road. I still have my stick & bricks, and when I travel I stay for a few months at a time. So I use the good ol' postal office forwarding service. I can set it up on line -- and change it as I move around. The might get a bit uppity if I did that on a permanent basis, but it works for me.

I use Good Sam Emergency Service -- an ERS is a must. The cost of towing an RV ONCE more than makes up for the premiums. It also works with my other vehicles.

[kdmac]

Thanks for all the good replies! I am really looking forward to actually getting on the road, shouldn't be too much longer. Should be ready in the first part of December. Lucky thing that winters on the pacific northwest coast are generally mild and just wet, with only an occasional snowy patch at sea level but not very often...so the weather will be good enough to get me to the Oregon coast to sit out the winter in the storms and wild surf...I am looking forward to it. I have always driven large trailer combinations over my lifetime and feel confident with that aspect of being a full-timer, I just worry a bit about vehicles staying in working order, I am headed out with dodge ram truck that has been extremely well-maintained, but has 95000 miles on it at this point, husband says not to worry, it will be a great truck for you.

Also vacillating over whether to get a dog, a cat or even a bird, for company..just kidding, imagine a bird bouncing down the road with feathers going every which-way. Actually, the dog seems to be the best idea...I just worry about those evening potty walks in the dark, all alone in the remote boondocking, no one around to hear me scream, with the bears, and the maurading buffaloes, and the wolf packs, and the ever-present fear of the BOOGIE-MAN!!! then it occurred to me that if it was really late and poochie needed to go out, I could have a cable on the step so she/he could go out 15 ft, or so, far enough to take care of business and come back...next morning I could clean up the business in the light of day. I have taken our trailer out a number of times by myself and had the generator running for the evening and when it was time to go out and turn it off it gave me the willy-willy-creepers sometimes...out there with the Boogie man... lurking. Ahh, geez, I sound like a woos.

[Redetotry]

KD You can always get a little dog and use papers. I actually use Underpads and they work well. My little Havanese will use the paper if the weather isn't to their liking (or mine) or if I'm not here. And as for protection, all you need is a dog that will bark if they hear something. Most have a stranger danger bark that is quite different than the one that means that stupid squirrel is back.

[retiredhappy]

As for the boogie men - you're safer in a place in the boonies than in the City. The bad guys generally don't hang out in dark, deserted areas - they're usually in the cities. When I walk my guys anytime I will tell people who ask if they're friendly, that "No, not really." Yeah right, they're Labs - they'll lick you to death. I've always felt safer in the middle of no where than in any city at night. Carry pepper spray or better yet, wasp spray at night. Wasp spray in they eyes from 20' away really stops anyone with bad vibes, cold.

[Bethers]

I walk my dog where ever I am. Wouldn't be without one. Started with two dogs who are both now at Rainbow Bridge - but got my current little girl before losing the last of those 2. Have never felt uncomfortable walking any of them - and I DO walk - lots. That said, I totally agree with Karen, and there have been times in my life I wouldn't have wanted to walk the streets too far from where I lived late at night. LOL Now, I don't have to stay someplace if I don't feel safe. Not saying that nothing could ever happen - but I don't worry too much about it - as long as I keep my eyes open and am aware of what's happening around me.

That said - a dog does require time and care. So make sure you're up for that if you get one. They are for forever!