Adapting to a life on the road

psytechguy · Jul 28, 2012

For the past 10 years I've lived in my own home. I'd been planning on selling the place and becoming a full time RV dweller Spring of 2014 when I retired, but things have been pushed up.

I just unexpectedly got laid off from the job I loved and have worked at for the past 17 years. Out of the clear blue, my supposedly secure "recession proof" job was gone! LOL! (if I don't laugh, I'll cry!)

Since I was planning on hitting the road at some point in the near future anyway, I'm looking at this as simply having my plans moved forward a bit. Maybe they're actually doing me a favor! I'm seriously burned out on living in this city and have been feeling trapped for years now, watching as my neighborhood deteriorates and the noise, traffic, and crowding just get worse and worse.

Anyway, as I make plans and try to get all this together, I realize more and more what a complete change this will be from the life I'm used to. Sure, there are lot's of positives, but I guess I have a certain fear of the unknown that floats up every now and then.

I've thought about doing this for years, but wonder sometimes about how difficult adapting to it will be. I guess I'm mainly concerned about staying busy, going stir crazy, getting burned out on the road, not having a home base anymore, loneliness, etc. etc.

So, making the complete break from a "secure" city mouse existence and becoming a "gypsy road warrior!" What has your process been like? Ups? Downs? Moments of insight? Please share!

thanks!

Nemo · Jul 28, 2012

when I first went mobile, it took a couple weeks for me to be able to settle into the total 'no expectations' lifestyle.. I was used to having a schedule and having to fulfill others expectations all day long.. it was unsettling to just let myself be.. that was a few years ago, and I backslid for a while and have been stationary on a piece of land in Northern Az.  I find that I miss the road and am in the process of getting mobile again <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">   but will have the land as a backup if I wanna park sometimes. I enjoy seeing new areas, I'm primarily a boondocker and after a few weeks I like new areas to hike everyday.  The days are sometimes boring for me lately, but I think thats because I've hiked this area out!

psytechguy · Jul 28, 2012

I can relate to being used to a schedule.

The first month after I got laid off I was seriously stressed out,
and a lot of it was just that I'd been in this work-a-day groove for so long that I was totally off balance and lost without getting up and going in to work every morning.

Funny that having free time takes so much getting used to!

I think the phase I'm currently in is called "decompressing" and "de-programming."

;-)

Seraphim · Jul 28, 2012

Need to find something to occupy the time, else you'll fall into a mental slump. Get rid of that free time. Im coming up on retirement as well, and the fear's there on the edge; and we've been preparing for it.

rvwandering · Jul 28, 2012

Since you've been laid off for awhile it'll be easier for you to go into fulltiming. You'll be past the"decompressing "phase into the " I'm free do anything or nothing " phase - it really doesn't matter any more! You're free to decide how and where you want to spend your time. If you don't feel comfortable about jumping right in use this time that you've been given to get your house ready to sell , research all styles of fulltiming to find a good fit for you , make travel plans for all of the places that you want to see and contact old friends and relatives about stopping in for a visit. Once you tell people you'll have to go.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">  It is scary to give up a secure, safe,comfortably familiar life but once you get over the fear you'll find the rewards are definitely worth it!

Gump · Aug 1, 2012

I've been fulltime for 31 days now. The first week was really hard. It was just blindingly hot during the day time, and I didn't have any way to shower, so I felt awful and miserable. No electricity. I also lost my phone, so I had no way to contact anyone. It was pretty scary. But I was determined to make it better, and I made improvements every day.

Here I am, 31 days later, browsing a forum and chatting on mumble with my laptop, running off a 300 ah battery bank that's hooked to 240 watts of PV, using internet over a 4g network from my new phone, with a cool breeze being sucked through my window by a vent fan, and I know all the good parking spots for 50 miles around. I've got tons of books, lots of food, and I'm content. Still a lot of work to do though. If you stick it out, this life can be really comfortable.