Just saying hi ...

[RV-Hopeful]

Been perusing many RV blogs, forums, what-to-do/not-do sites, etc.  This is the first one where I actually feel that I don't have to have a gazillion dollars to start rving. 

I'm female, 63, have some health "issues", but don't see why I still can't live this dream I've had for ages. I'm on SSD getting rid of the collection of "stuff" and striving to get out of debt so I can hit the road in 2017.  Have a son that passed 3 years ago this week, one living in Florida I hardly ever see (tho we talk/text) and family/friends spread from coast to coast.  I'm thinking doing the RV thing is the ticket and ... I'm thinking if I can afford rent, utilities, bills, car payment/ins (altho tight) ... I can afford to live in an RVish vehicle (type undecided), taking my time ... moseying on down the road. 

Anyway, I just thought I'd stop lurking on this forum and join in ...

 

[ahh_me2]

Welcome aboard! and may your hope be realized in time!

 

[BradKW]

Hello!

Be sure to check out this site's companion youtube channel, lots of good stuff there! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_W_E5SFCxwpSOaqMjOOBTg/videos

 

[Lj Unlimited]

Welcome Rv Hopeful, and a big hello from snowy Michigan.

 

[Belinda2]

Hello! Welcome!
You will learn a lot here! We are glad to have you!
No snow here in Maryland. Very warm..mid 50's days, and at night in the 20's

 

[my_vantasy]

Welcome from Ohio! This is a great place to learn all you need to know to make your dream come true.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums RV-Hopeful! You have definitely found the right place! If you were here at the RTR (our annual gathering in the desert occurring right now) you would meet many women very similar to you who are traveling in their vans and RVs and having a wonderful time. Hope your dreams come true!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[rvpopeye]

Hi right back atcha.
Welcome aboard RV-Hopeful
Plenty of helpful folks here in the tribe .
You'll find answers to all your questions !

 

[Snowbunny]

Welcome RV-Hopeful
Right with you on the getting rid of "stuff" and paying down debt. In the mean time there is a wealth of knowledge here and what I like is that most on here seem so willing to help by sharing information and offering up suggestions.
I am turning sixty in a few weeks and am really feeling the pull of the open road. Not sure where it's coming from, but I have heard similiar sentiments from more than a few women our age.
Being the mother of three sons, I can only imagine the pain of your loss. {{Hugs}}
Snowbunny

 

[cyndi]

There are p!enty of women out here living our dream, with all kinds of issues. Me included. Do it while you can!

 

[RV-Hopeful]

Yes, Cyndi, while I can.  That's the trick.  My aunt moved in in 2005 (after my mom passed) and somewhere along the way after my disability in 2008 I just "stuck" ... like a boot in mud.  Going through the motions of living with my new reality, shutting down slowly, mind numbed by SSRI for pain ... been off the SSRI for about 3 months now and it's like a fog has lifted.  My aunt has a fella in her life and I think she's gona be okay without me around (altho, she probably would have been anyway, but a false sense of obligation had me thinking otherwise) ... anyway, now that the fog is lifted ... I'm dissatisfied with this life, I miss my son in Florida, neither of us can afford to travel for visits and he has his own issues he's dealing with and coming out the other side rather well.

My aunt and I signed a 2 year lease on this house we've been renting (prior to my "awakening"), so I have 1.5 years to get it together.  Looking for a financially viable manner in which to travel I started researching my dream of traveling around.  Back in 1974ish my now ex and I (me 3 months preggers) and our 3 year old son hit the road with 2 other young families to find work in Big Springs, Tx (from Florida) ... it was an adventure!  We had 19 ft TT, we lived in it almost 6 months, made it work ... it's a great lifestyle from what I can remember.

I married again later down the road and we did a lot of primitive camping, in fact that was the only way we camped. Canoe, dog and water in the woods. We decided to camp for two week honeymoon and I had reserved a camping spot at Yosemite. My gosh, it was in a "park" ... downtown Yosemite, semi's cruising thru, lines like Disney World ... we soon found the more primitive sites.

After that divorce and down the road I took a month off of work, drove from NM to Port Angeles, WA via Pocatello ID stopping here and there but never boondocked ... didn't know about it, it never crossed my mind really. Anyway, a month was too long with hotels, food, etc but in 1999 I started looking at RV's and have almost every year since.

My SSD is sufficient, I think, to live this lifestyle once I get my bills paid off.  I am selling stuff, slowly and will continue to go through stuff to disperse to family members as I can.  I have my limitations on how much I can do at one time, but it's an adventure!

I've read Bob Wells book and The Intrepid Woman's Guide, watched the YouTube documentary ... I'm thinking I can do this.

Anyway, thanks for listening ... rambling rambling ... chuckle. I'll continue to research and go through my stuff ... one foot in front of the other 8+)

 

[eDJ_]

Hello, and welcome to CRVL    

It sounds like a good mechanically solid Van would be just right for you.  Something like a Ford with a 351M V8
and auto transmission (there are some with overdrive).   High tops are more comfortable to live in but may cut down on gas mileage.  There are mid height tops too depending on how tall you are.  (if you are around 5 1/2 ft tall the mid top may be fine. 

Awnings like the Fiamma windout fit in an aluminum box that would fix to a mid top or high top roof and provide an awning covered area outside the Van.  One of the greatest comforts to have when staying in a Van as it doubles the living area.  Otherwise fixing up the interior of a former Service Van retired from a fleet isn't difficult to do in order to have a weekender or to camp at a State Park where Sunday afternoon to Thursday is often a special rate time for Seniors. 

You might get together with some friends and find a discarded kitchen cabinet where you could install a top on it with two burner stove and a sink.  This could be a quick solution for a kitchenette and pantry. 5 gallon plastic water "jerry" jugs could provide drinking and cooking water. There are small submersible 12vdc pumps which could
provide on demand running water to the sink.


My websites below may be helpful for making the transition back into the lifestyle at very low cost.

All the best !

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

Hello and welcome!