Hello from a 'newbie'!

[karmadi]

Well to start off - I'm 32, female and I've always dreamed of just packing up my car and leaving. To anywhere. For YEARS I've thought about doing this and I just happened to come&nbsp;across&nbsp;this site tonight when I was curious about community living. Over the last few months I've changed a lot. My relationship of 5 years ended 6 months ago and ever since I feel so much more free and just happy with myself. I've adopted the saying "live simply" and that's exactly what I want to do. I believe everything happens for a reason - so it's really quite a sign for me that when my car died a couple months ago for some reason I was dead set on buying a minivan. I drive a 93 Dodge Caravan right now, and I'm in love with it. I don't have much money, and my unemployment just ended. I have a small sewing business that I think I could figure out how to take on the road with me. I've been reading a lot of posts on here and with each one I get more excited.<br>I'm thinking I would take the plunge in about 4-5 months when I've got a little money saved up and I actually make plans to do this. I will be taking my 12 years old daughter with me and homeschooling her. Is that a crazy idea? Does anyone else travel in such a small space with a child? I want to teach her you can be happy just being free and living the simple life..that&nbsp;possessions&nbsp;don't matter.<br>Anyway, nice to meet you all!

 

[Lostinspace]

Homeschool definitely. We, or rather mostly my dealy departed wife, homeschooled our daughter who really turned out great. Choose a state that is homeschool friendly, such as Florida as your base for residency. There are others, Texas maybe.

Don't see why doin it in a van woud be any different than a sticks and bricks. Just think of the great field trips the two of you could take.

Good luck and welcome to the group.

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<STRONG>Welcome to the tribe Karmadi. It seems a lot of us are poor on this site, you are not alone. You are lucky, you are only 32 and are figuring out what you want in life and you are young enough to persue new dreams. You are also fortunate that you do not have aging family members to take care of.&nbsp; Of course I don't know your situation but when you are in your 50s or 60s you may have to come home to do so.</STRONG><BR><STRONG>I just had my 59th birthday last week. I was close to taking to the road, as in months away but my situation changed quickly and I have legal custody of my niece, who will be 12 years old in a few weeks. We may meet up sometime, I will have Lindsay in tow and hope to leave for the summer.<BR>I was just given the timely advice by a member here who is having health problems, "do it while you still can."<BR><SPAN style="COLOR: #ff00ff">Dragonfly</SPAN></STRONG>

 

[sl1966]

Welcome to the tribe. There are quite a few familes out there doing this so you wouldn't be alone.&nbsp;<br><br><br>Here's a link to an aggregate site listing families (large and small) living on the road.<br><a href="http://www.familiesontheroad.com/fotr6.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.familiesontheroad.com/fotr6.html<br></a>

 

[Kimbopolo]

karmadi,<br><br>Welcome to the group.&nbsp; I'm new here myself!<br><br>I have no kids but ..... I used to be one.&nbsp; <img class="bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" rel="lightbox">&nbsp; I think I would have thrived learning on the road.<br><br>Last month I was at a campground and my neighbors had just started full-timing in their 5th wheel with 3 kids and 1 dog.&nbsp; The wife is a schoolteacher and intends to do the home-schooling thing.&nbsp; Over the next few days, I would see the kids sitting at their picnic table, doing their lessons.&nbsp; They were so quiet and well-disciplined about it.&nbsp; I had just been to Kennedy Space Center and suggested that would be an educational field trip.&nbsp; Turns out they had tickets for the next day.&nbsp; <br><br>What better way to learn about the US space program and pick up some astronomical knowledge?&nbsp; I envy them their big adventure.&nbsp; What an education traveling around the US would be.

 

[WanderingRain]

Welcome, Karmadi!<br>There's plenty of folks on here who will give you good advice.&nbsp;<br>Yep, most of us do struggle with money too.&nbsp;<br>I may have to give up my van living for a bit and be with my aging parents to help them out in their home. But hopefully, I can get back on it later on next year.<br><br>Have a safe journey and may you meet the tribe on the road.&nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">

 

[blkjak]

welcome .... blkjak

 

[Pikachu711]

Welcome to the group karmadi!