Considering RVing when I retire - Just not sure

[flick4411]

Welcome Mary! You are officially no longer a lurker! Welcome to this fabulous group of ladies! You will have all the insight, advice, and friendship. Have you camped before? Are you East Coaster, West Coaster, Midwestern, or other? As you will find out, we ask a lot of questions, but we also answer a lot of questions. You are obviously on my same track...I retire 31 Dec of this year, and in spring of 2012, I will leave VA and head back to my roots on the West Coast. I plan on living in the RV (with three cats ) for up to six months. Not sure what will happen thereafter, but I do know having the RV at my beck and call means I will be able to take off and travel when I feel like it...and for as long as I want! The only way to buy that kind of freedom is to have your own rig... motor home, truck camper, travel trailer, or ???? Whatever it is, having it be your very own is awfully cool!

[VickieP]

Welcome to the forum, Mary. Let us know a little more about you, like what area you are in, what are some of the things you're contemplating, etc.

[Liz]

Welcome to the forum, Mary. Tina did indeed point you in the right direction to learn all about the ins and outs of Women Rvers. We share our respective dreams, adventures, and mishaps here, so you should get a good picture. Although reading about it is fun, it's just a teaser....you really have to experience it to know for sure if it is for you. If you are anywhere near a GTG, try to visit one and meet the sistahs. We have other members who enjoy doing that while they are still dreaming about their first RV.

[Colliemom]

Hi Mary,

Welcome to this lovely group of ladies who I have come to love over this past year. I was like you to in that I wasnt sure I wanted to get into the RVing thing. But they kept answering my questins, calming my fears, giving advice and encjouragement and I finally took the plunge. And I think I have met more wonderful friends through this forum than I have had in my life. I have yet to meet any of them personally, but it will happen. You picked a good time to join up as spring is coming and many of us are making plans to go to GTG's, travel and whatever, so you will be able to follow us and as Liz said, enjoy all our ups and downs, experiences etc. And if you can, rent an RV for a weekend or somethng and see what it's like. But most of all enjoy.

[avalen]

Hi Mary, Welcome to our little world, although its really a BIG world and in 3 years when I
retire, I'm going to see more of it. Glad you found us. This is the right place to be for the
research and making your decision. Glad to help you.

[Irmi]

Welcome Mary! Go to some of the RV shows, visit RV dealers in your area and see what is out there. There is so much to choose from and once you have that figured out, so many places to go. I'm looking forward in hearing what you have decided to do.

[sunshinecruiserTN]

I began when I retired 18 months or so ago and I'm so happy. I've never looked back and always look forward. This forum is a great place to laugh, cry, and share. Questions are answered and there are a multitude of opinions. Join in and sort through it. You've got a great mentor in Tina!

[BirdbyBird]

Mary...if they spoke the truth...it is the Herschel dog that they include....I am usually referred to as his driver! Welcome aboard. Hope that the information and stories and dreams shared will give you some of the facts and inspiration that feeds your imagination and dreams of possibilities. Join us around the campfire anytime!

[retiredhappy]

Let me add my welcome to you. Please, tell us more about yourself = pets, where are you, etc. Before getting any type of rig you need to decide what type of RVing you want to do: short nearby trips; travel six months then home six months; fulltime with no house. When you decide then start looking at rigs. Go online, go to RV shows and dealers. Its always fun to look. I always suggest buying used cause of the depreciation of new rigs when you drive them off the lot. When you look, get rid of the salesman and look by yourself. Sit at the dinette, sit on the toilet, climb in the shower. check out the counter space in the kitchen, lay on the bed etc, etc. For instance, I didn't lay on the bed and it was only when I bought my rig I noticed there was no place to put a glass of water which I always take to bed, my cell phone, my glasses or a book. I added a shelf but now when I look at rigs, that's one thing I look for.

[Travelinana]

Mary, I'm new since last August. You have picked a great place to learn about RV'ing 'female style'. I am older than many of the girls but I have been far more sheltered than many of them...not believing in my 50's that I could have done such a thing by myself. I remember the first thought I had of doing this and I must have been about 58. Since I hadn't learned of forums or chat rooms it seemed as foreign to strike out on my own as to walk on to the NFL and that's pretty darn foreign but the first time I really believed this was being done, I knew I wanted some part of it. I think with a little encouragement I could have been a full timer but at this stage of the game I will parttime until the old body says 'Enough' and a sad day it will be but I will have very few regrets...so what I'm saying.."Go For It" Oh yes, there will be problems but remember there are problems at home or wherever you are and you will find solutions...Many of them will be found right here because we've been there and you'll laugh later and we'll laugh with you

[cpatinjones]

Hi Mary,

Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of info here now and being added all the time. I will retire in 2 yrs and 9 months and can't wait. I look forward to hearing all about your search for an RV that is right for you. We are here to answer questions and give our opinions.

[Birdie]

Welcome Mary. i hope that you can read some of the back posts and see where we each came from to get to this place. Before I retired I decided I wanted to travel the country and see the good old USA. I have been in many, many states, but that was either vacation (hurry up 1 week or 2 week) or WORK. So I bought a travel trailer and a 4Runner to pull it with. That was the start in 2008. So here I am now! Sold the house, sold the 4Runner, sold the TT, bought the motor home. Still not sure that I'll have enough time to see everything that I want to see, but it won't be because I didn't try. Scary? You bet! But you know what, I am a woman. I am a single woman. I have had to do things for myself all of my adult life. So if I want to go and see, I guess "I'll just do it" !

So woman, research, think, ask questions, and then do it all over again. You will figure out what you want to do. We are here to give you a bunch of different answers to all of your questions. As someone else has said on here, take what you want from the information and leave the rest. It all depends on what you want to do. Again Welcome!

[WickedLady]

Welcome to this forum. If you have even a drop of gypsy blood you will love RVing and being able to travel this beautiful country in your own little home on wheels.

[Carolinagal]

Welcome Mary !! You have come to the right place if you are wondering if r.v.ing is for you or not. The group of women here are in all types of rigs, r.v. in all ways and some are still wondering if they should, or looking for a rig, but not sure yet, which kind. You will find all stages of the r.v.ing life on this forum. Ask away, when you have a question, visit a GTG if you have one nearby, and just in general join the fun we have on here. This forum is fun, but we also offer support for the trials in life we all face from time to time, whatever the problem might be, we're all here for each other.

So welcome to this wonderful group, in time I believe you will find your own answers, among all the different responses you will get from all of us here.

CArol

[Rufflesgurl]

Hi Mary - welcome to the forum. Good luck with your search, etc. I live near the ocean so there are lots of RV parks. Every morning we walked thru the RV parks, admiring coaches, talking to lots of prople, etc. It was a great way to see what RVing is like. One of my sisters and I rented a 27' class C and caravaned with another sister and her husband in their MH to So. CA. We had so much fun. Wasn't too long after that I bought my 2007 Class A 35' MH - the rest is history. I do not travel as much as I should but I sure can if I want!!

Enjoy,
Linda