Hello Wisconsin! Or, rather, hello from Wisconsin.

Staying Put · Apr 26, 2013

Hi, I'm Wemble from Wisconsin.  I'm a 60 year old single male who is looking to retire in a few years from now, likely at 65 but maybe earlier. The last couple of years I've looked at fulltiming using a vehicle rather being tied to a house.  The trouble is that before I had considered this I bought new Scion xA in 2006 and although it is a nice little car it is not rated to tow anything.  Despite that I had been looking at a small teardrop camper or a small Aliner, and I was still thinking that way until recently when I considered what the price of one of those units would cost and decided to look at that price added to what I could get for my Scion in the way of a van.  So I'm very early in the vandwelling consideration mode. I like the idea of a van being all inclusive (not towing a camper of any sort behind a car) yet it can still look ordinary enough so that those who see it don't think right away, "somebody must be living in that".  Stealth is not really that important to me, but I would like to have that option available if I want it.  My real desire is to be off on my own as much as possible.  I enjoy my own company over that of others, I enjoy being alone but I am not lonely.  I am not a people person although nobody who meets me would guess that because although I am not shy I am introverted (the two are not the same thing).  What I'm trying to impart is that in my retirement years I am looking forward to solitude which means that I have no intention of going to museums or Vegas or anything like that where I would be among lots of people. I've read Jason Odom's book, "Vanabode" and although it has a lot of good points there is also a lot that I don't agree with or that would not apply to my personal situation.  Also I seem to detect an attitude of knowing all there is to be known about vandwelling and you need to do things his way to be successful.  But I'll glean what I believe is good for me and that I agree with from the book. I've got a few years on my horizon to prepare for all of this before I would really cut the cord, but I want to work my way to that position.  I hope to learn a lot by reading lots of posts here and I'm sure it will be a big help.

Scott_1776 · Apr 27, 2013

Welcome!

dragonflyinthesky · Apr 27, 2013

Welcome to the tribe Wemble

blkjak · Apr 27, 2013

welcome .... blkjak

squirbel · Apr 27, 2013

Welcome!

my_vantasy · Apr 27, 2013

Hi Wemble,

You and I have gone through the same thought processes and both ended up deciding a van is the vehicle of choice. My plans are going to be on hold for awhile, but I pick up great advice, information, and tips everyday on this forum. Welcome!

Staying Put · Apr 27, 2013

Thanks for the welcome and all the welcomes.  I have a couple to a few years until retirement and I will use that time to become debt free and to obtain my van or vehicle of choice with the advantage of being able to be patient about the process and to get it as right as possible. Having lived in the same place for nearly 22 years I have accumulated a lot of "stuff" and I will be spending the next few years divesting myself of a lot of it.  I must be honest, the ultimate and most hard part of leaving my home when it comes time for that are the memories in the place.  It is the only house my now grown-up daughter has known her entire life and in the room where I am typing this I can envision her as a toddler like it was yesterday and that remembrance brings tears to my eyes. But I will be leaving one day, one way or another and I would prefer it to be of my own time and choosing.  I'll try and be like Bilbo when he left the Shire with his backpack and walking stick and told Gandalf that he knew the ending to his book..."and he lived happily ever after to the end of his days", and then he turned and was off on his way singing "The Road Goes Ever On".  Closing the door that last time here is going to be tough though.