I really feel for you here. A lot of things you are going through I have went through, as well. In my 40's, I had this crazy idea, my family all balked at the idea. Complete with sisters (3) all talking behind your back.
From my perspective, things are rough out there. Houses and jobs... argh! Houses are a HUGE responsibility, and just way too much freaking stuff!! Jobs are never secure anymore. You get a decent job, get used to the income and the lifestyle that goes with it, and if anything happens in life, which it always will, and what you thought you had don't mean crap anymore. It's all just.... stuff! I'm so over it. I wanted out. Big time! Out of the mentality of having the requisite house in the right neighborhood with the right landscaping and the right furniture, blah blah blah... Out of the mentality that your job defines your whole existence. People are NOT their jobs!
My own experiences came to a head with my husbands passing. Nothing was secure, nothing was certain. Life went on, sure, but the rose colored glasses came off. All the stuff after that just weighed me down. I was drowning in the "stuff". Have no idea what turned me on to the idea in the first place, maybe it was the simplicity of having your house on wheels that was tiny, no lawn to take care of, and move it around with you. Simplicity at it's finest. And cheaper!
Yet, my family was all so very against it. Who was I if they had to explain me to anyone, without a house and a titled j-o-b. The person that should have mattered to was ME, not them. Looking back, it was certainly them projecting their feelings, their fears, their want to conform me into their thinking. It was like if they couldn't get that freedom themselves, then they refused to understand and didn't accept the idea.
This all culminated to me selling a house, selling all the household stuff, getting an RV, downsizing to a van, housesitting and living in parents driveway.. it was still met with resistance, to everyone but me. This led to having a sister find me a seriously cheap mobile home, they just couldn't stand the fact I didn't have a "house". Yeah, I admit it, I conformed. What can I say, it was CHEAP.
Situation being what it is, I thought it was right for me at the time.
As of right now, I'm in a sticks, yes. I have an older van converted to camper that is a daily driver and wanna be weekender. I went back to school to aim for eventual job I can work online. And, I'll have this house to appease the people who think not having a house is homeless, even if you home has wheels and you aren't "homeless" but just mindfully houseless. In my thinking, this place is paid for and cheap, and I can keep it for my eventual traveling, a home base between trips. See, I haven't given up on what it is that I want to do, this different way is just me being able to bide my time, get things set up the way I want, and to keep the naysayers off my back. Passive aggressive, yes, haha.
May I suggest letting them think on it for a while, get used to the idea. Then, with research, all of their fears will be met with your educated responses to whatever it is they throw at you. Do what makes YOU happy. Answer their questions, for sure, but do not let their fears sway you. Only you can make you happy.
