Posted by Bike Potato on April 05, 1999 at 19:33:09:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         My wife (35) and myself (40) are also looking into fulltiming it. But having
         part-time jobs along the way. Found a lot of information on this site about
         finding jobs. We are going to sell everything except our motorcycles, get a
         trailer and pull it with a motorhome. Spending time in warmer states in the
         winter really interests us both. Then coming north in the summer. Done a lot of
         traveling on the motorcycle two weeks a year. But can only go so far and see
         and do so much. Staying in one place for six months, working 3 to 5 days a
         week and being able to do some riding on the bikes to check out the different
         states sounds very interesting. Thinking of getting a 17 foot enclosed
         motorcycle trailer. Anyone have any ideas on the length of a Motorhome we
         could go and still get into campgrounds? I know State/national parks might be
         out.
 

Posted by Nancy on March 23, 1999 at 23:23:08:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         We will soon be full-timers. Retiring young and traveling has always been our
         dream.  It sounds crazy but we are going to try it. It will be an adventure for
         us. Since I do not have a lap top, I plan to keep a journal. I want to document
         our travels., especially our first trip which will be to Las Vegas. I have my
         camera, camcorder and journal book ready. Is anyone else keeping a journal ?
         nancybronx@aol.com
 

Posted by Snookie Quinn on March 16, 1999 at 15:26:08:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
          Pam, I could have written the letter you wrote. I would like to email you but
          there was no address available. Please contact me. SnookieQ@aol.com
 

Posted by Donna Yeaw on March 10, 1999 at 10:56:37:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         It's been a little over a year since my husband and I quit our $120k+ year
         management jobs and hit the road full-timing. We sold our home & our stuff,
         bought a used 35' motorhome and we now travel while we work. We lucked
         into job following fiber optic construction around the country. The downside is
         the fact that the projects prevent us from traveling very much. The upside is that
         Mike got a permanent position (I'm still a contract employee). We have never
         looked back. It is the best feeling to be in a great camp site on a Sunday night,
         watch everyone packing up and heading home and realize that WE ARE
         HOME!  http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/rv_lifestyle
         

Posted by Mrs P on March 03, 1999 at 21:54:24:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         I hear more and more about couples wanting to retire (young) and go RVing
         full-time. We will be doing just that this year. Friends & family think we are
         crazy. But we are going to give it a shot and make 2-3 long trips to see if it is
         what we always dreamed of. Our children are grown and we always planned to
         enjoy early retirement. We will keep our home for now just in case we change
         our mind. But we want to go out there and enjoy the freedom and travel all
         over the states and see this beautiful country. Friends kid us about our traveling
         in a "chuck wagon" even though we upgraded our trailer to a '98 TT - 30ft -
         slideout **garden tub, satellite dish . . . . etc. We are going to go for it. I don't
         want to be old and say " I wish we would have gone ahead with our crazy idea.
         There's alot of couples with the same crazy idea :) So I guess it can't be that
         bad. Good Luck 
 

Posted by Cyndie on March 03, 1999 at 00:39:21:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         I am a single 44 year old female about to embark on this adventure. I have two
         dogs that will travel with me...right now, I am planning to take a year to decide
         what and where is my next adventure...I have over 20 years with my company
         and retiring scared me but I prayed and everything is falling into place. I feel I
         have stepped off the cliff but trust I won't go "splatt" at the bottom...I plan to
         enjoy the ride and be open to what my possibilities are...good luck. 
 

Posted by Linda on February 18, 1999 at 05:04:30:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         Pam, Everyone assumes that you have to retire or be on the road all the time to
         be a fulltimer. My husband and I have lived in our fifth-wheel since 1988...we
         both work (I'm customer service at a large retail store and he's a letter-carrier)
         and won't be retiring for a few years. We take one long vacation every
         year, usually to visit family out of state or to see something new. We
         decided to start enjoying the RV lifestyle NOW rather than someday....who
         knows what our health/circumstances will be in our golden years? It is a
         decision we've never regretted.(We have a 27" tv w/satellite-feed with
         surround sound, computer...all the goodies.)When we travel, the scenery
         outside changes, but we still sleep in our own bed. Anyway, I hope this has
         helped you out a little. Read, ask questions, and find out all aspects so you can
         make an intelligent decision for yourself. Best fo luck, and feel free to E mail me
         if you want. Linda Handie 

Posted by Kevin Bertoni on February 15, 1999 at 14:13:29:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         Hey Pam, I thought you would like to know that you are not alone with your
         "heavy thoughts." My wife (Pamela) and I actually "full-timed" for the first time
         in 1994. I was 31 and she was 35. We took a 2 year leave of absence from
         our jobs, put almost everything in storage (mistake) and took the rest with us
         (another mistake) What was NOT a mistake was doing it! We actually livd in
         the coach for about a year and traveled mostly the West coast and southern
         US. At times we would park the rig and stay with family and friends (YEP, you
         guessed it, MISTAKE) I say that with some humor but also with some
         wisdom. That is, Do what is in your heart. We really enjoyed the time we had
         as full timers, at 31 & 35 no less! What we learned was we didn't have a plan.
         We brought to much stuff. We kept to much stuff and we really didn't know
         where to go to "get away from it all" so we ended up taking it all with us and
         going from one families house to another. Dot get me wrong, we really enjoyed
         the opportunity to do what we did, we would just make better plans next time.
         We have been out of the coach for 4 years now and bought a BIG house and
         have 5 cars and we still have the Motorhome! Believe it or not we are
         considering doing "it" again. This time with passion. SELL SELL SELL we are
         going to get rid of everything that we can and just keep the personal stuff
         (pictures, heirlooms etc..) We don't have the option of a leave of absence this
         time so we are going to quit or jobs and work along the way! Yes, its scary but
         I know in my heart its what we need to do. And hey if it doesn't work out
         forever (and what is forever) we can always sell the rig buy a house and get a
         "real" job! (Naaaa!) Good Luck! and Take Care! PS I have lots of stories
         about our experience, feel free to email me if you would like. 
 

Posted by Bonnie Rick on February 14, 1999 at 07:42:06:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         Jim, we know exactly what you are going through. We are both 52, but we
         have been planning this for almost 5 years. We have read every book on the
         subject and that's how we got to reading the Hofmeister's web page. My
         husband and I are too young to actually retire and will have to work on the
         road. We took the big step last fall and sold our house in the mountains of
         Colorado and sold everything in it. We do have a small storage room for things
         that we can't sell right now (family heirlooms, etc.) We still have our jobs in
         Golden, Co. and are living in our camper close by, but plan to leave in 3
         months for Alaska. After that we will be looking for work -- probably
         somewhere warmer in the winter. I used to ask myself "if I were to die
         tomorrow (sounds dramatic!!!), what would I regret?" It definitely would be
         trying this lifestyle. We love RVing and are looking forward to time on the road.
         We have a plaque on our wall in our camper that is a quote from Mark Twain
         -- "20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't
         do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the
         safe harbor, catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
         

Posted by Lily on March 07, 1999 at 10:29:12:
        In Reply to: Re: Heavy Thoughts posted by Bonnie Rick on February 14, 1999
         Thanks for the quote - I think I'll needlepoint it on a pillow and keep it around
         to always remind me to take the life-enriching risks that I sometimes get afraid
         to take. You gave a lift to me today and helped me put a final stamp of
         approval on rving full-time. The kids are grown, the house is for sale, all I've
         got to find is the perfect motorhome (and maybe the perfect man to travel with).
         Thanks again - we need this kind of support. 
 

Posted by Paul Hosek on April 06, 1999 at 06:16:20:
        In Reply to: Re: Heavy Thoughts posted by Lily on March 07, 1999 at 10:29:12:
         I know how Cyndie and Lily feel. I am being laid off from work the last of this month.
         I just turned 61 last Saturday and was divorced Feb 4th so I'm going to try the open
         road and see what I can find. I have a 35 foot Snowbird with a slide and a 1 ton Dodge
        dually so I'll be looking for you on the open road. 

 Posted by Jim on February 11, 1999 at 23:02:16:
        In Reply to: Heavy Thoughts posted by Pam Sadler on February 10, 1999
         Pam: I'm 47 and my wife is 52. We have talked about the same thing you are.
         I'm self employed as a forester. I thought you had to be retired to do this, but
         I'm finding that this just isn't true. We have a beautiful home and a 5th wheel. I
         too would like to sell and go on the road. My wife is not as excited as I am.
         Her family is here and so are our kids 18-19-23. We are going to try it for a
         month this summer. This will take a lot of planning with 5 employees, I'll have to
         teach my kids to take care of payroll and such while we are gone. It will be a
         lot of work but we want to see if this is really what we want to do.I hope my
         wife is excited about it when it is over. We live in the pacific northwest
        (Washington coast area)and I would like some drier weather. Keep
         us in touch with your decisions and experiences with your full timeing.
         Thanks-Jim