Gipsyweaver intro

[gipsyweaver]

<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Hi! I’m 50 and happily divorced, considering the fulltime life in about two years. I’ve been thinking about it for 7 or 8 years, but I’m starting to research it more seriously at this point (most of what I saw previously was aimed at affluent retirees). I’ve got things in my favor---I’ve done a lot of tent camping, up to 3 weeks at a shot, including a lot of backpacking when I was young. I could easily turn a tent into a full time comfortable home, but I won’t tent camp alone as a woman. I’m something of a minimalist, and I’m great at finding creative solutions and adapting things. A van camper or truck camper sounds perfect to me (I don’t want at least half the&nbsp;stuff included in commercial campers).&nbsp;I&nbsp;already live comfortably on very little, and&nbsp;I have the potential for my own traveling craft business (if the economy picks up enough that people start spending a little again) and I’m interested in Workamping as well.</FONT></FONT></P><P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">BUT I’m not mechanical. At all. I don’t cope even with changing a tire. That’s probably my single biggest concern. Safety as a woman camping alone also concerns me.</FONT></FONT></P><P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0px" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Other than that, I’m trying to come up with something inexpensive&nbsp;that will let me almost stand up, at least 5', preferably&nbsp;5’6” to 6', reasonably secure, and not so small it’ll make me claustrophic if I’m stuck inside for a couple of days. I’m planning to carry a popup canopy and do all my cooking and washing up outside.</FONT></FONT></P><P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0px" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">I look forward to hearing from all of you and learning enough to make a good decision on this.</FONT></P>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<b><FONT size=3>Welcome to the tribe Gipseyweaver</FONT></b><br><b><FONT size=3>Diane</FONT></b><br>

 

[sl1966]

Hi and Welcome to ya!<div><br></div>

 

[Guest]

<P>Welcome!</P>

 

[Khaosinc]

welcome<br><br><br>

 

[Butternut]

Hi!<br>

 

[vonu]

Welcome to the group, Gipsyweaver.<div>Your concerns over being a single woman will find resonance here.</div><div>I'd appreciate your assistance in getting&nbsp;http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vandwellers_Singles back on topic</div><div><br></div><div>Bill</div>

 

[gipsyweaver]

Wow, thanks, all of you! I hope to get lots of ideas from all of you, the articles I've read already are a great start. And I als hope you'll be patient with some of my questions about vehicles.<br>

 

[Butternut]

Wow, thanks, all of you! I hope to get lots of ideas from all of you, the articles I've read already are a great start. And I als hope you'll be patient with some of my questions about vehicles.<br>

<br><br><font face="Georgia" size="3">That's what we're here for, patience in a given! Don't be afraid to ask tons of questions, guaranteed at least a few people will have answers for you.</font><br>

 

[Guest]

Hi gipsyweaver, Welcome and glad to have you in the tribe....lots of good info, good people and good energy. If there is any way you can make the Rubber Tramp Rondy that Bob puts on in Quartzsite, AZ , You will meet face to face, in a friendly open environment a lot of us and we will meet you. Lots of questions get answered there due to workshops, seminars and individual help. Work often gets done on folks rigs and this year several people bought solar systems in Q and were helped with installation....<br>We had a couple of tents there last time...one of them a woman looking for her first rig.<br>Anyway, what ever your involvement, you will enjoy...or your money back..<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">...yep it's free.....<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>Bri<br><br>

 

[stude53]

Welcome, gypsyweaver<br><br>I'm headed for the beach. More later.<br><br>Bob (aka stude53)<br>

 

[Stillwater]

Welcome! You are not alone in this endeavor. Lots of folks here with great advice and, likely, similar scenarios.<br><br>Ask away.<br><br>

 

[gipsyweaver]

Thanks! Wow, what a welcome!<br><br>Bri, I'd love to make it to Rubber Tramp Rondy (I particularly want to make it to Quartzite sometime), but there's no way I can get away for the next two winters. I've got a commitment to be here until about May 2013. But I'm a planner, and I'm currently driving an old car that I'll probably have to replace before then, so I'm trying to get a clear idea of what I want now so I know what I'm looking for when the time comes. No point in getting being in a rush and getting a vehicle I can't use.<br><br>

 

[Guest]

Ok well whenever you can and sometimes folks will have a gathering like they did in North Georgia a while ago...Keep an ear open for one....and if you can, try to make it....<br><br>Hope to see you on the road one day....<br>Bri<br><br>