Gloria, another newbie!

[natureglo]

Hello, everyone! I just traded my 2007 Chevrolet Malibu for a 2001 E350 Ford extended van that was advertised on here! I traveled all the way down from Northeast, WV to Waynesville, NC to have a look at the van and trade. Wow! It's a whole new world! In these 4 days I've been in NC, I've experience boondocking in my car in Asheville (what a horrible night's rest that was...ug), and in a friend's driveway. I'll spend one more night in my van in NC before heading back home to take care of the license plate and insurance. But, I'm curious if and how could get around having to register the van twice. I'm sure that will be hundreds of dollars. Once to hurry up and "be legal" in WV while I get my affairs in order and then wherever is the best state (I think I read one of the Dakota's and Nevada are the best) to do the licensing and mail forwarding service.&nbsp;<br><br>I know I stumbled over that information somewhere in my reading and on Cheaper RV Living and Green RV Living, but can't seem to find it. If anyone knows of a link about that info, that would be terrific. I want to be fulltiming in about a month and migrate first, probably to Asheville (yeah, I fell in love with the area) and then probably head out west where there's more free camping opportunities.&nbsp;<br><br>I teach live online classes to homeschoolers, so, I've got the perfect "full timer's" job. So much to do and think about as I transition. I've bought Bob's book and I've read lots of great info on many different sites.&nbsp;<br><br>Nice to meet you all! I hope to meet many of you in the future. Wished I could have made it to the gathering in Quartize, AZ, but, that's not logistically possible with all the newbie details I need to attend to. <br><br>Gloria&nbsp;<br><br><br><br><br>

 

[Lostinspace]

Welcome to the group Gloria. I remember just reading about south Dakota forl registering. Do a search on south Dakota should foindl it.

Good luck, Wade

 

[Reno]

Welcome! You may have just bought your van, but you've already spent more time sleeping in yours than I have in mine.<br><br>So much buy and decide upon (GPS, storage, bedding, heater, etc).<br><br>Plan on leaving MA for FL in a week or 10 days... But who's counting?<br><br>Good luck, stay safe, have fun, and see ya next year (maybe) at RTR.

 

[Lostinspace]

Gloria, here is a recent thread that discusses what you want to know... https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Still-undecided-about-home-base-state-6032544?highlight=south+dakota

Good luck, Wade

 

[peacetara]

Gloria!!! YAY! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> You made it to the forum AND made it out on your own!! SOOO Exciting!! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>I'm Tara, Caera's Sister.. Same Tara, we have been chatting on FB for a while <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Anyways WELCOME! <br><br>Wishing you lots and lots and lots of success and no setbacks and failures!<br><br>Welcome!!<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara

 

[natureglo]

Thank you all so much for welcoming me! Thanks for the info about the best states for vehicle registration. The info was right under my nose! It's looking like I'm going to stick around the Asheville, NC area for a while after packing up in WV. I really want to get out west though, hopefully by spring or summer to take advantage of the FREE CAMPING and see this country's natural wonders!! Would love to meet some of ya'll if possible.<br>&nbsp;

 

[akrvbob]

Hi Gloria, welcome!! Your best bet for residency and registering the new van is in South Dakota. Do your research and choose a mail forwarder and sign up. Then have them get your registration and plates for you. You don;t have to go there to do that. You can do it from home right now!&nbsp; I have a freind here who did it from Costa Rica and then when she got back to the states went and got her drivers license. <br><br>Your car insurance will be less and you only have to register the van once.&nbsp; Then when you get on the road you can go to SD and get your actual drivers license. <br><br>When you finally get on the road heading West, drop by camp! There are usually several of us together and we love to help newcomers get started. I always have a map to my current location on my blog. <br><br>Good luck, don't give up on your dreams!<br>Bob

 

[natureglo]

Oh, thank you, Bob! It's nice to meet you on the forum. I greatly appreciate the tip. I was leaning more toward Nevada since it's closer to what you mention about great free camping. But, I have parents out in MN, so, it could be a good excuse to swing by to show them my new home. Not sure they'll be too excited about the van and my traveling, but, we'll see. LOL

 

[natureglo]

So, I think the beauty of choosing SD is because you can register remotely. Hopefully I can take my time though to get out west or might there be a "time limit" of a few weeks, would you know? Otherwise, I may need to register in WV and wait until my driver's license expires. It may be a few months before I can financially afford to begin the journey out west.<br><br>Thanks!<br><br>Gloria

 

[SirJoey]

<br><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Welcome aboard, Gloria!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"></strong></span><br><br><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>U couldn't have picked a better time to do this in this part of the country, cuz right now we're in a <br>warm spell, which is also expected to last at least another week! Well, that's the forecast, anyway.&nbsp;</strong></span><br><br><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Good luck, &amp; safe travels on your journey home!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br></strong></span>

 

[natureglo]

Yes, Sir Joey,<br><br>When I looked on the Weather Channel, I was blown away when I saw the weather reports. I had to look twice to believe my eyes! He he!<br><br>Gloria

 

[SirJoey]

Yes, Sir Joey,<br>When I looked on the Weather Channel, I was blown away when I saw the weather reports. I had to look twice to believe my eyes! He he!<br>Gloria

<br><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I know, right? I keep up with the forecasts on their website.</strong></span><br><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Oh, if U hadn't noticed, I'm right "next door", here in SC!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br></strong></span>

 

[bobbert]

&nbsp;<br>I teach live online classes to homeschoolers, so, I've got the perfect "full timer's" job. So much to do and think about as I transition. <br>Gloria&nbsp;

<br><br>Hey, a little off topic, but, how does one obtain employment teaching online classes?<br>Do you have to be a state-department-of-education-<span style="text-decoration: underline;">certified</span> teacher???<br><br>I've been employed as a naturalist for a park district here in Ohio &amp; conducted live distance-learning nature &amp; living history teaching sessions... Would that make me qualified?<br><br>What city in WVA were you from? I have family near Snowshoe (particularly&nbsp;Valley Head/Mingo).<br><br>Thanks in advance...<br><br>Oh, &amp; welcome to the forum <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[blkjak]

welcome .... blkjak

 

[natureglo]

Robert,<br><br>I live in Mount Storm...for now. Check out Udemy and WiZiQ. They don't ask for state certification, but it's good to at least have a degree and or experience, which it sounds like you have.<br><br><br>

&nbsp;<br>I teach live online classes to homeschoolers, so, I've got the perfect "full timer's" job. So much to do and think about as I transition. <br>Gloria&nbsp;

<br><br>Hey, a little off topic, but, how does one obtain employment teaching online classes?<br>Do you have to be a state-department-of-education-<span style="text-decoration: underline;">certified</span> teacher???<br><br>I've been employed as a naturalist for a park district here in Ohio &amp; conducted live distance-learning nature &amp; living history teaching sessions... Would that make me qualified?<br><br>What city in WVA were you from? I have family near Snowshoe (particularly&nbsp;Valley Head/Mingo).<br><br>Thanks in advance...<br><br>Oh, &amp; welcome to the forum <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="bbc_img">

 

[bobbert]

Robert,<br><br>I live in Mount Storm...for now. Check out Udemy and WiZiQ. They don't ask for state certification, but it's good to at least have a degree and or experience, which it sounds like you have.<br>

<br><br>Excellent!!!<br>I appreciate the reply &amp; your furnishing the info!!!!

 

[akrvbob]

Actually Nevada works better for than SD, but in your&nbsp; case you need to get the van re-registered right away from out of state and SD works really well for that.&nbsp; I have heard really wonderful things about Terry at:<br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://mydakotaaddress.com/</span><br><br>She treats you like family and will take care of everything to get your new van registered. Stopping by there on your way out West shouldn't be too far out of your way to get your drivers License.<br>Bob

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Good to know I'm not the only person in west virginia wanting to escape <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Im gonna be here until i can save up a little money and figure out a way to make more on the road. &nbsp; Good luck!<br><br>Which van did you buy?&nbsp; Got pics?

 

[natureglo]

Good to know I'm not the only person in west virginia wanting to escape <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img"> Im gonna be here until i can save up a little money and figure out a way to make more on the road. &nbsp; Good luck!<br><br>Which van did you buy?&nbsp; Got pics?

<br><br>Good luck with your endeavors. Where are you in WV? Heres the van I bought:<br><br>https://vanlivingforum.com/post/2001-E350-extended.-camper-van-6081598<br><br>Gloria

 

[natureglo]

Actually Nevada works better for than SD, but in your&nbsp; case you need to get the van re-registered right away from out of state and SD works really well for that.&nbsp; I have heard really wonderful things about Terry at:<br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://mydakotaaddress.com/</span><br><br>She treats you like family and will take care of everything to get your new van registered. Stopping by there on your way out West shouldn't be too far out of your way to get your drivers License.<br>Bob

<br><br>Okay, but what if it's a few months before I can get out to SD to collect my license? Will they mail to me? Should I stick with my WV license and license plate until I can pick it up in SD? Also, what do I do about insurance. I'm using Erie. I suppose I could ask that lady you mentioned. <br><br>Also, I'm a VERY new van driver, so, I'm not so sure I want to risk traveling out west to SD (the most direct route anyway) in these winter months! I'd prefer to travel down south and then over through Texas for optimum travel weather. I don't have 4-wheel drive though the van does have spectacular tires. <br><br>I just made my first long distance jaunt with my new van from Asheville, NC to Mount Storm, WV. Whew! It was a real learning curve with the wandering steering and dealing with tractor trailers. But, I know I learned how to be a better and more confident driver having gone through the experience. I"m not comfortable yet driving her faster than 60 mph and most of the highway speed limit was 70 mph. Boy, am I glad to be home. I was sweating bullets when one tractor trailer decided he didn't want to pass around me while I had my emergencies blinkers on. I just COULD NOT travel down the darn mountain at 70 mph!! He rode my tail through a tunnel. I Got off the road after that incident and decided I had had enough for the day (I had traveled about halfway) and boondocked near a Sheetz gas station to get a good nights sleep and to take a breather. I'm REALLY, REALLY scared driving the van on the road with fleets of tractor trailors. I found myself nervous everytime one came up behind me. Most all of them were good to pass me accept that one turkey. I'm going to need to get a good map or figure out highways with less tractor trailors. Guess I should look around the forum for that next question. LOL.Thanks for your support, everyone!!!<br><br><br><br><br>