When I was younger I traveled all over the USA and even several places throughout the world. Why not? I have always loved to travel but one form of travel I never considered until later in life. That unique way of travel is to travel by Recreational Vehicle. When my wife and I were contemplating retirement we considered several options. We could stay where we were living in Texas or we could buy a retirement home in some other location such as Florida or we could rent or purchase a nice motorhome and set off to explore the USA in search of our future retirement hot spot!
Since we had never traveled in an RV before we had some anxiety about driving such a big rig. After much soul searching and plenty of looking at RV’s on lots and online we found a motorhome just for us… so we sold all of our “STUFF” that wasn’t going to fit into our RV and put the rest inside and hit the road!
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They say ignorance is bliss and it must be true as we happily took off knowing we were about to learn a lot about RV’ing in a learn-as-we-go fashion! As we quickly found out, there is a whole community of us out there and with the world wide web we have appreciatively received tips, support and advice from many seasoned full-timer RV'ers.
In looking back, as newbies to the RV world there was a steep learning curve but we managed to travel from Texas to the Florida Keys in about four months without destroying the RV or our marriage. We have been traveling by RV now for about three and one half years and have only one regret! Our only regret is that we didn’t RV sooner!
After traveling along the east coast the first year the second year we traveled along the west coast from California to Washington. Last year we went north to Niagara Falls and visited Canada before traveling around all the Great Lakes. This past year we went to Louisiana to experience Mardis Gras, spent a month in Texas in the scenic hill country and then explored the mountain states including Arches, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks!
![Pictured-Rocks-National-Lakeshore-in[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiAQ_MVEotRMwRDVSIOe8BXp_YLbrD-_EmrYe0ea0fhwvNM907b35Jxz2deXCtyulPj0e1RVNYgkjTom_UKu3cvy3B07WXda9Q-PpwjVZgEgLhzLv729NXo-4BGOGwLuLF3ZMcYij5HR6/?imgmax=800 "Pictured-Rocks-National-Lakeshore-in[2]")
Now you don’t have to get crazy and sell everything and do what we did but I will tell you don’t put off your travel plans too long. We have met many RV’ers and guess what the most common answer was to the question: “Do you have any regrets?” Nearly everyone we ask this question says their only regret was that they didn’t start RV’ing earlier!!!
For those of you that are considering Rv’ing… we highly recommend you stop procrastinating and delve into it! If you aren’t sure about RV’ing the best way to go in one for your first time is to go out and rent one to check out what this lifestyle is all about! We feel you will happily realize that checking items off your bucket list as we have is fulfilling, invigorating and exciting. The road with its many superb adventures is awaiting you!
![Springtime-in-the-Texas-Hill-Country[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcWwZa9Leqsn7hw-1ptoBHWo2HX7iJGZ2dV03z14j_mzkvGpIQJLPKoI2wyMvDz6m62uHl_mYS12AL1ivkvDw-gEKyrfXcMxBuXH8aJjr7bTVhOPfFEhcYfA46qN2IHRXPPwReuHIaErC/s1600-h/Springtime-in-the-Texas-Hill-Country%25255B2%25255D.jpg "Springtime-in-the-Texas-Hill-Country[2]")
![Pictured-Rocks-National-Lakeshore-in[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNJ_r77-b5MOQgZoKQCeRmqFH6PaS8FFMNcp4NegktwAgM64e4FrKjC60XFJxAZEDEWdG5LuCMz2rMt9hnURAvJMTl5O9DzKCY_VkGWy7Ljuzi25X-7yHwRq2XFyN8gvK4DF4fg7aIXb2/s1600-h/Pictured-Rocks-National-Lakeshore-in%25255B1%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg "Pictured-Rocks-National-Lakeshore-in[2]")
I really enjoyed reading your synopsis of your RVing life. What Fun! Full timing is wonderful as so many people say, and I love reading about it. I used to think I wanted to do it as well, but for me, half timing is also good. It isn't my "stuff' that keeps me attached as much as it is my need to be rooted somewhere that isn't rolling. Love rolling but also love anchoring. Thanks for some great encouragement to wanna be full timers!
ReplyDeleteUm ya, some days I miss our Class A, but I've got other irons in the fire at the present time. We'll see what we'd like to do in a year or two.
ReplyDeleteYup, I agree 100% I tried very hard to get on the road earlier as you know, but for now we are just glad we made it and are looking forward to many adventures in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest part for me will be hanging up the keys.
ReplyDeleteI dithered off and on for 6 years and then just before my 50th birthday (9 years ago!) plunked down my cash for my Winnebago. I did some overnights, a 10 day trip close to home, then a month trip to northern AZ and THEN a 7 month trip. I've since done 3-6 week trips. Thanks to the internet and my work, I can go and work along the way.
ReplyDeleteI have said I regretted not doing it sooner, however...the internet, Wi-Fi and all the gadgets that make it very easy for me to work on the road matched the timing of my buy so the reality is, it was the right time for me!
The surprise was, I really didn't expect to enjoy RV travel as much as I do. I do like a home base and even with the ability and the experience, I have not been tempted to fulltime, but some of that is due to my reclusive nature. I could be wrong, but I don't envision myself travelling any other way again.
It is a great life and getting rid of "stuff" has been very liberating for us! :)
ReplyDeleteBeginning 9 years on the road and cannot think of a better way to travel and inexpensive way to live. Sold our house and invested the money, the returns are much more than we spend every year.
ReplyDeleteLike you said the sooner you start the more you will enjoy it.
Wouldn't change this lifestyle for anything.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great way to see the country- part time works better for us because it allows us to pursue some separate interests.
ReplyDeleteI agree! It is the best way to travel and see our country. We are currently in Superior, WI and loving this beautiful area. If you head over to Newport, Oregon Stay at Pacific Shores Lot 49! The view is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteWe are about 6 months behind you and we love it. Drifting along blowing with the wind with just a general direction is a great way to live life.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good advice of renting one first before diving in. For that was exactly what we did. We even had family in tow, camp in a upscale resort in Indio, CA, then boon docked at the Anzo Borrego desert. We liked it and the rest is history three years later.
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