Hi all!

[LaughingWolf]

Hi everyone, I'm Melissa and I'm from Colorado.<br>First, I want to thank you for the great websites! There's so much great info. I just spent several hours reading cheaprvliving, which I actually linked to from the green site, but I haven't read any of the green site yet. Maybe tomorrow <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>I don't know what took me so long to put it all together, but it seems like I've been meant to have a nomadic lifestyle for a long time. Growing up, my family moved out of the mountains and into the "country" so we could have horses. I had to ride the bus to school everyday, and the morning route took us past 2 campgrounds with quite a few "permanent" citizens. I'd already had the need to travel borne of visiting grandparents every summer in Indiana, which we drove to, and tent-camped at state campgrounds in a tent while traveling, and at a private CG during our visit.<br>Anyway, typical middle-class American life progressed, braces, high school, college, marriage, divorce... and then I found my courage and did something "crazy". I moved to Alaska. Though I dearly love the state, I didn't love it enough to stay. I was there for 3 years, had a grand time exploring, and then I got homesick. I returned to Colorado. I grew discontent again, noticing all the things I'd always hated about Colorado, and it was generally a very negative time for me. I started thinking of all the things I loved about Alaska, and how I missed her so much. And then I moved back to Alaska, silly me. Two years, that I really did not enjoy, and I'm back in Colorado. <br>And this spring I put it all together. Somewhere deep within me, is a nomad. And she wants to come out and play. Of course I always knew there were people on the road, but I didn't think there were SO MANY of us (by us, I mean nomads; I don't quite fit the "people on the road" bit just yet). <br>I've given it quite a bit of thought and I've questioned myself if I should do this, and all I get is a resound YES!<br>I'm very excited about it, and I've been doing tons of research and the idea keeps evolving. Unfortunately, because of finances, I'm tied down for the next 18 months. But that's really not that long, I can survive it, especially since I have this better life to look forward to!<br>Anyhow, it's great to find a forum of folks I can talk to and get ideas from, and maybe even meet up sometime! <br>So thanks for being here!<br>Melissa<br>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hey Melissa...There are many of us wearing those same shoes...waiting patiently for chores to be done before heading out on the road...My life was much luck yours except I stayed in Alaska and am still here.&nbsp; It will be hard to leave but itchy feet is itchy feet...gotta scratch it!&nbsp; Welcome aboard.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[judycmomx6]

Welcome to you Melissa! Everyone here is always ready and willing to help a newbie! It's very exciting to even think we can get out of our rut's that society has put us in and enjoy this life a little more. I know your dreams will eventually come true!

 

[SirJoey]

<div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">Hi Melissa!&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">Yep, based on the number of times U hopped back &amp; forth between Alaska &amp; Colorado,&nbsp;</font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">it sure sounds like you've got some wandering nomad blood in U!</font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">Hope this works out for ya, &amp; welcome aboard!&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></font></b></div><div><br></div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#00ff00" size="4" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Welcome to the forum, Melissa! <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></b></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#00ff00" size="4" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b></b></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#00ff00" size="4" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Bob</b></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[Gravediggerjason]

Welcome!!&nbsp;

 

[Becky&Thea]

<p>Hope to see you on the road in 18 months!&nbsp; I had the same thing growing up.&nbsp; My Dad says my mom has a travel addiction, so we grew up like gypsies!&nbsp; I always said i felt more at home in the car.&nbsp; thanks for the support you offered.&nbsp; peace becky</p>

 

[Les H]

Hi Melissa, welcome to the forum. Just because you are tied to one place doesn't mean you can't be a vandweller! Weekends, holidays, vacations etc are all perfect times to get out and explore, meet people, check out vans or other vehicles, start downsizing.... Anything really. There are tons of us middle avers that are tied to one spot or another for any number of reasons. I can live anywhere in the country I want, but must maintain a verifiable physical adress for the next two years at least due to a messy divorce and child support. But I still love my bus and use it as often as I can, and have met about 2 dozzen other vandwellers in the last 2 years. You might want to look at
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VanDwellers/messages
And
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VanDwellers_Construction/
For even more ideas and great people. Many times topics are cross posted, and quite a few are members of both or all three ( me, for example) someone is usually talking about or planning some kind of get to gether ( gtg) and the photos sections are awesome for getting ideas.
Glad your here!

 

[LaughingWolf]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!<br><br>LesH - 18 months is the soonest I can financially afford to begin my home buying process. Until then I'm doing TONS of research (why I'm here) on everything related. I'm also letting all of my 'things' go that I don't actually need. There's not that much since I've already moved 3000 miles four times, and I've done an AMAZING job this past year in not acquiring new stuff. Although I have yet to get friends and family members to quit trying to give me things lol. I suppose eventually they will catch on&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>The 18 months I have left here, I'll also hopefully be "rubbing-off" on everyone and getting them to, if not vandwell, at least be more conscious about their lives and how much STUFF everyone has...<br><br>Easy-peasy&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/sneaky.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>