Discouraged.

[Canine]

Hello Everyone,
Thank you for your kind and generous posts!!! The more I get into all of this the more I think full timing isn't gonna work for me. Sigh. Maybe part time because I cannot be without adequate temperature regulation means and AC seems to be a great issue when boondocking-which would be the only way I could afford full time if I boon-dock at least half the time. I just don't think solar technology is there yet to allow off-grid mobile AC 24/7.

I was going to rent an RV for week but it is very expensive and the non refundable fees are outrageous. There is no way I was going to fork out that kind of money for a few days of RV rental. Are they out of their minds?

I camped a lot as a kid and RVd with the ex for a few years as an adult but that was almost 25 years ago when I was in good health but I do miss being out in nature and free.

I joined WIN last night in hopes of finding singles and a group of people I may be able to travel with occasionally.

As far as what type of rig. All of them have their pros and cons for me so I continue to go back and forth. Class A is def out as I don't want or need to drag so much around. Can I unhitch a rig with my health problems?Probably yes but with great pain and reservation. Can I learn how to tow a longer r ig? Yes of course. Do I want to buy a class B or C and not have a car to drive around in after I make camp? Class B and Cs are widely expensive too and most Class C are ridiculously and oddly long. So many questions and concerns! Yesterday while I was hunting for a parking spot at the grocery store I spotted a small older class C which was 19 feet long and looked perfect for me so I thought! The owner was super nice and gave me a tour but there would be no way I could sleep in the over cab area nor put down the tiny dinette bed. So yup, back to square one with the "which rig" debate. I've watched many Van dwelling videos and while that way does look quite appealing to me, I'm back to square one with AC and I wouldn't/physically couldn't use a van unless I could stand up in it and those types of vans are expensive. Then there are mechanical breakdowns of older vehicles. I know nothing more about engines other than checking the oil. If I buy a new vehicle it is still under warranty BUT there is a huge cost in buying new. If I buy a older vehicle not under warranty I'm stuck with having to find a mechanic in the middle of the desert. Lots and lots to think about.

I think I'm gonna remove my house from the market and sit for a while as my solid plan isn't as solid as I thought, given the pros and cons of so many RV issues. Just paid yet another large house insurance bill for it and that really hocked me off. LOL THey got ya by the balls don't they? Yikes. Not to mention the 300-500/month electric bill (Florida sucks), along with expensive car and home owners insurance here in Florida. It's killing me financially so I'm not happy with having to wait any longer to dump this money pit. Between monthly car and home owners insurance and utilities, I'm paying in excess of 800-925 month. What ****! I'm so sick of paying so much.

Again, I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who responded. I'm in a terrible funk right now as I'm sitting here in an expensive state trying to figure all my first world problems out.

 

[OutdoorFT]

Dont sweat it. Im just like you. Im normally good with numbers and learning new stuff, I just cant.

I have a nice big 1 ton truck. But unsure how Id want to get fulltime. With a wife and furbabies, I cant just climb into a van, unfortunately. I know how youre feeling, but its only temporary. I dont have the physical limitations, but others stated it doesnt need to be a lifestyle that requires heavy lifting.

Hope the best for you. Dont give up, unless your hearts not in it.

 

[DrJean]

You are right about the high rental fees... and if you look at handicap accessible vans/rvs they are through the roof! I can't do that either.

You are also right that solar can't do ac yet... and any battery you get charged up might only last a couple of hours for it. I'm stuck there to, needing to plan to use shore power until I can get a generator that can be serviced up under the carriage. Still, it's less money than keeping a house. The insurance and real estate taxes a year average $5000! I'm in south Florida and run my home ac all the time and often have the door open a bit when the dog is in the back yard, yet my bills have been under $60 a month now since last summer. They might go to $90 in summer. I also keep it cold at night--around 72 degrees. Maybe your ac coils need cleaning? Or the outside unit has bushes blocking the venting air flow? I hope it's that simple. Take an online survey from power company (mine's FPL Florida Plunder and Loot).

As you said, there is so much to think about and do. I used composition books to do planning... different colors because I need less confusion.. HOW WHAT WHERE WHEN... on my 2nd WHAT book.... it helped.. many plans were changed but making something that worked for me at the time helped me move on to plan other things.

If I had known it would take me 3 years to get to this point...IDK... how depressing it would have been. It's still going to take me a few more months...but I keep moving the house listing on... Now I hope by Jun 1 (hurricane season) just for the psychological aspect.

Where there's a will... there IS a way. Keep your eyes and ears open... watch the youtube DIY videos and ads too! You become inspired again.

 

[Canine]

$500 electric bill!!! I would look into getting that down as a start on improving your financial situation.
https://www.google.com/webhp?ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=tips+lower+electric+bill&*

Guy

There is nothing more I can do to get it down.  We've done everything. +

 

[Canine]

The lord works in mysterious ways. I"m in Walmart looking at phones and next to me is a guy looking at the same phone. It turns out he's a solar specialist. LOL So we were able to talk for a while and I'm gonna talk to his company this week.

 

[Alcatraz]

Keep it as simple as you want. No wrong way or right way to do it. I was living in and traveling in vans before solar was invented.
Ever thought about hitching on with someone else and pooling resources?
Bet there are a lot of lonely people on the road.
You just got to find one, motherly type person. I traveled with kids in diapers before and showers were no problems. I just sprayed them off with a water hose every chance I got, and washed them off in anything bigger then a puddle. .
So quit feeling sorry for yourself, live your dreams!

Edit: I was responding to your first post, before I read on.
So I apologize if I sounded uncaring.
Still I wouldn't give up!
You can always stick to the cold climates like the polar bears do.

 

[GotSmart]

I was living in and traveling in vans before solar was invented.

WOW!  

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]The [/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]history[/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif] of photovoltaic energy (aka. [/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]solar[/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif] cells) started way back in 1876. William Grylls Adams along with a student of his, Richard Day, discovered that when selenium was exposed to light, it produced electricity.[/font]

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif][size=medium][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]Russell Ohl was the first inventor, who created the silicon solar cell in [/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]1941[/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]. in [/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]1954[/font][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif], the three American researchers Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller and Daryl Chapin were able to create a solar panel that had the efficiency level of 6% with direct sunlight.[/font][/font][/size]

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif][size=medium][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]Hopefull;   Before you buy any system from any company, PLEASE run it by the members here.  We will give you an honest assesment on the price of the system.  There are some real scammers out there. [/font][/font][/size]

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif][size=medium][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]If it sounds like a honest price, perhaps others will want contact information. [/font][/font][/size]

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif][size=medium][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]I have spent more than one night in a seat with a blanket as my equipment.  Not even a jug to piss in  [/font][/font][/size]

[font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif][size=medium][font=Roboto, arial, sans-serif]I prefer a little more than that.  [/font][/font][/size]

 

[Canine]

"So quit feeling sorry for yourself, live your dreams!

Edit: I was responding to your first post, before I read on.
So I apologize if I sounded uncaring.
Still I wouldn't give up!
You can always stick to the cold climates like the polar bears do."


Feeling sorry for myself? Hardly ...not the type and you have absolutely no idea who I am. I'm fully aware of the hell around the world and that I'm lucky to live as I do.   I'm certainly NOT a wuss, never have been. I'm quite the hard *** and a retired Los Angeles Paramedic so I've seen and done more than most here.  But it's normal  to get discouraged in life and I'm having that time. I'll get over it but you have to admit that learning all of this and all the different opinions is quite overwhelming.  Until you've experienced a mother come screaming out of her house with her dead baby in her arms-give it to you, and expect a miracle...... anyway ... nuff said. 
[/quote]

 

[GotSmart]

Paramedic in LA?   :s

Almost as bad as wearing bacon pants in a room filled with blind NASCAR fans and hungry chihuahua's.

 

[Txjaybird]

I know what it's like to realize "Hey, what's the deal? I ought to be able to do this!"  I've had several "moments of truth" over the past 6mos that have brought home to me the fact that I'm weaker than I thought I was.  Some were comical, like scooting on my butt to stick my feet out the Aliner door so I could use the door frame as grab bars and get up off of the floor.  Then that became the way I got up from the floor on a regular basis.  I needed to do a lot of work that was below counter top height and it's less painful to sit on the floor and reach up than sit on a stool and bend over.  I was lucky that I could adapt to the task.

Of all the videos I watched there are 2 that really  encouraged me in thinking that maybe I could live in van.  I hope someone reading this will know the ones I'm thinking of and post a link.  One is Bob Wells visiting with a lady that has a big desk right behind the drivers seat that she bought in a thrift store and uses it for many tasks from cooking to crafting.  I thought it was an ingenious way to get storage without having to build it.

The other is by someone, a lady that visits with people in all types of rigs.  In the video I'm thinking of the woman has a converted van with it wired for regular 110 and 12v & she also has a generator.  She has a small sofa with custom cushions that becomes her bed at night.  It's built to fit right where she needed it and if I remember correctly she commented on not being very tall.  Since I'm 5ft 5in I can relate to that   I believe she stays mainly in places where she has hookups and uses her generator to top up her batteries. 

I don't believe either of these ladies had solar however I hope to add that to my T.T. soon.

I'm going to try and find these if only to watch again as I could use some encouragement my own self.

I hope you are able to find what you need if you want to live a nomadic lifestyle.  I've had a few reality checks since I joined here 16mo ago.  I'm still adjusting to what I want is not necessarily what I'm physically able to do without help.  As I live in a  apt. if I do try to full time I can always store things in case I need to live in an apt. again.  It's a lot easier for me  to let go of an apt. than a home.

I wish you well

Jewellann