Things I can do now to transition easier

[CplDevilDog]

Since I have two options for becoming a "fulltimer" (Option 1: Going out in style in 3-5 years with my Bread Winner wife on a semi-retirement tour OR Option 2: Going out with my tail between my legs, as a divorcee) I'm looking for tips I can put into practice now to make the transition easier. (ie. I realized last night that it makes no sense to leave the bathroom light on while I'm "thinking" if all I'm doing is reading my backlit phone. Conservation of Electricity)


Figure I'll start getting back into the habit of the "Navy Shower" and a few other things. Even if we stay together and don't do the touring thing it makes sense from a Green Standpoint.

Thanks

 

[blars]

Get rid of excess stuff.&nbsp; Think about what you want to take, what needs to be stored, and what to get rid of.&nbsp; Start looking at vehicles and research into what you want, what it will cost, and what will work for&nbsp; you.<br>

 

[akrvbob]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Blars had great advice, follow it!! Explain to your wife you want to adopt a green, simple life and start getting rid of all your excess stuff. If she freaks out to see the stuff go you can be pretty sure vandwelling isn't for her. You may find it isn't for you as well.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I'd add start going car camping. Vandwelling is essentially camping except instead of a tent you sleep in the van. If you don't like camping, you probably won't like vandwelling. Plus &nbsp;most of the things you use/do camping are the things you will be doing vandelling (cooler, Coleman stove, sleeping bags, sleeping pad, etc). Bob </p>

 

[Guest]

excellent advice on all counts. for those who aren't convinced yet, it could be culture shock and require alot of patience for the adjustments. has she ever been camping before? you can always maybe detail a little of the money you would save, which could be spent on other things to enjoy. like travel and so on. and agree on a timeline, say 6 months, and if it just isn't working out, perhaps enough money would be saved to go back to the stix an brix. if she is fair minded, an agreement between the 2 of you would go along way to feeling like you both had a choice, vs ultimatums. <br>i've had friends and family come visit my homestead and suffer from "wheres the mall".."can we get pizza out here delivered"..and on and on..they were unable to adjust to the peace and quiet and slower pace, but they were only visiting. they usually enjoyed sleeping till noon and staying up on cell phones till 1 am. didn't work out too well in this situation.<br><br>

 

[CplDevilDog]

Well, we currently break our tent out about twice a year. &nbsp;We have a nice time but its all fair-weather stuff. &nbsp;I spent 6 weeks in a dome tent in the Sierra Nevadas in February and it was no picnic :-D &nbsp;But you couldn't beat the view.<div><br></div><div>We have no children and her Fortune 500, corporate, &nbsp;salt-pit style job has allowed us to put together a start to a nice nest egg. But she grew up poorer than dirt and I don't think she's going to be comfortable turning the money faucet down.</div><div><br></div><div>My feeling is this, decide what we need to live on, and that's what we need to earn + a percentage for unexpected events. &nbsp;If our income from my Handyman work and her tutoring is equal to our expenses, why make ourselves miserable slaving to accumulate a chunk of change with no-one to pass it on to. &nbsp;If we work til we're 60 then we can sit back and "retire" and never work another day in our lives. &nbsp;To bad we'll be to old to climb any mountains or enjoy ourselves. &nbsp;If we semi-retire now, we'll have 20 years of work we enjoy. &nbsp;We might have to work longer but we'll at least have enjoyed the time.</div><div><br></div><div>The sticking point is what to do when we can no longer physically work. &nbsp;We need to look into Long Term Care Insurance LTC but I've heard horror stories about those&nbsp;arrangements. &nbsp;I'll take the gas but I think she'll want to hang on as long as possible.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

 

[ped]

<P>To hell with it, you'll be dead soon enough. So don't worry&nbsp;too much. You already know the outcome. Have you ever thought if you're too old to physically work, you're probablly too old to do much of anything else? </P>

 

[Guest]

*chuckle* <br>unfortunetly there are a few of us here in similar straits. tough decisions but i'm with ped.<br><br>have some experience with LTD, if there is any way to avoid it, i would. they will make you get SSD anyway and the you get taxed on LTD. and they make it as hard as they can. <br><br>you will have to make your own choices, but wasting ones life working as a slave to the system is not desirable. each to their own. but i'll not be one of them..no way no how. hugs just the same brother.. <br><br>

 

[Guest]

Its cheaper to keep her. lol. That's what they say, but seriously its cheaper to keep each other. The best route is usually to find the middle ground. You could be trying to work a plan and NOT have any money so it should be easy to work something out with money. It also means that you have 3 to 5 years to work on her. Start out slow and easy by introducing her to RV travel/camping etc. The tent thing wont work for us anymore and it may be a problem for her. We want a bed that's just as comfortable as the one we have now. Take your time to think things through and work your plan. It doesn't have to be an all or nothing situation.&nbsp; Ok so lets say you cant move her into a class B but would a class A or fifth wheel be real bad? Beat me some more.<br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[Guest]

I would also add that if you are TRULY&nbsp; able to work you should. I don't consider sucking off the system an option just because one is tired of working for the man. Where does the government get all that money to support the liars. Oh damn that's right its US. Do the right thing, Murphy is watching.<br>

 

[Seraphim]

<p style="margin: 0px;">I'm with dirtcheap, here. If one can work,&nbsp;one shouldn't schlep off a program designed to help those who CAN'T work. I don't mind paying into a system to help those who can't help themselves, but I don't want to pay for those who are just too lazy to work. There's a difference.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">As for your dilemna, it comes down to what - or who - is most important to you. And to her. Sounds like you're saying she won't compromise. If not, then you have to choose.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">We can't answer that question for you.</p>

 

[CplDevilDog]

Hi all and thanks for the input.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Just to clarify, my wife and I were looking at Long Term Care Insurance as opposed to LTD or SSD. &nbsp;We would pay into a private company now, like State Farm or similar, and when we're to old to eat solid food, they agree to be our friend.<div><br></div><div>Since we have no children and few nieces and nephews (who, I'm sure, don't want to be burdened with Aunt Tammy and Uncle 'just messed his drawers'), &nbsp;its something we need to consider.</div><div><br></div><div>Only thing is I've heard if your not careful your LTC company might not do their best when it comes time to uphold their end of the deal (Raided Pension Funds).</div></div><div><br></div><div>Anyhow, back on topic. &nbsp; Spatulas that double as spoons?</div>

 

[CplDevilDog]

I know when I got out of the Marines in 98 everything I owned fit in the back of an S10 pick-up (with a cap no less!). Now I would be lucky if I could get the contents of my closet in there SMH

 

[Seraphim]

Lol we have about 34 years of accumulated junk to get rid of. Every day, a bit at a time...

We just got thought with Genworth as an LTC for DWs mother, who was in an Alzheimer's unit until she passed away last month. Good company, good experience with them.

 

[CplDevilDog]

Sporks! &nbsp;Its a spoon, its a fork.<div><br></div><div>

<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; ">We just got thought with Genworth as an LTC for DWs mother, who was in an Alzheimer's unit until she passed away last month. Good company, good experience with them.

</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; "><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; ">Sorry to hear. &nbsp;Thanks for the info</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; "><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; "><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; ">A tip from my wife who travels to the UK frequently. &nbsp;Roll your clothes instead of folding them. &nbsp;She goes for almost a week with a carry-on!</span></div><div><br></div>

 

[Guest]

wasn't saying being a sponge. what i meant is that if one scales down their lifestyle to what they truly need, and a few wants, and sets themselves up as self sufficient as possible, they won't need to earn so much to live comfortable, thus perhaps can work PT or in an endeavor they truly enjoy, is all. <br>

 

[judycmomx6]

Life has VERY hard decisions sometimes. Just take your time to figure out what you REALLY want out of your life, but keep in the back of your head, life doesn't last forever. Ya'll just need to decide what is more important in your life, having tons of money or being happy. I agree with you about just working for what you need and enjoying your life. Things are so crazy in this world today, we should all be living like there will not be a tomorrow, cause the possibility of that is very high. Whatever you decide, I wish you both all the best.

 

[maritimecamper]

I know what you mean, 11 months ago I was lying in a toronto hospital waiting to have surgery for bone cancer. I was wondering why I have it, I never smoked, very light drinker, ate properly, not overweight. Why me?
then the doctor said, after the operation... you know your lucky... if you never noticed that small lump on your hip, it would have entered your lymph system, and most likely entered your lungs...but because your proper weight, you notified it. We got it all, no radiation, no chemo.. come back every 4 months for a test. Enjoy your life. I 'm still smiling. Its good to be alive

 

[stude53]

<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Way to go ,&nbsp; Maritime Camper </font></font></span></p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif"></font></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">I found this site when another friend had cancer surgery, and he said it helped. It starts with:</font></font></span></p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">"You now have the chance to look at how you want to live in the future. You may want to do things you’ve often thought about but never done, perhaps visit places you’ve always dreamed about, or enrich personal relationships. This can be exciting, but we understand that you may not feel quite so confident. This section explores some of the concerns, both practical and emotional, which often arise."</font></font></span></p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><font size="3" face="Calibri">&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3" face="Calibri"><a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Canceri...ercancer/Lifeaftercancer/Lifeaftercancer.aspx" target="_blank" target=_blank>http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Canceri...ercancer/Lifeaftercancer/Lifeaftercancer.aspx</a></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Bob</font></p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p>

 

[WanderingRonin]

A good middle ground would be to take off part of the year but retain a small home somewhere cheap you can run to (something to keep her anchored safely). So that whatever happens... whether you spend majority of your time in the small home or the small RV, you have those options and they're not that heavy on the pocket. Neither should the small home be a burden to you if you buy in a real cheap area. Look for places that don't charge homeowner's association fees and all the mello roos (school district taxes, city development fees, etc.). It'll be out in the boonies for sure, but at least your cabin should be free and clear of all those financial drains.<div><br></div><div>My stick and brick has its own deep well for water (so its free). The only thing I pay for is electricity and gas. It's fully paid for and the annual tax is cheap.</div>

 

[CplDevilDog]

I swear, I need the equivalent of a "swear jar" (pun intended). These are some hard habits to break after 40 years!

Running, the kitchen/bathroom sink at full blast for anything other than filling the sink or a pot. Why?

If its yellow, let it mellow. If its brown, flush it down. Although, I imagine, depending on your location and how bashful you are, you won't be putting anything yellow down the drains.

Still terrible about turning off lights when I leave a room but I am getting better. Now my problem is I automatically slap at the switch on the way by and find myself turning lights on that were off!

Oh, well.Trying to improve