To Go or Not to Go, That is The Question.

[Gunny]

Probably doesn't help you, Gunny, but I'm pretty well on my way to freaking the heck out!!! My daughter started taking some stuff out of my house today... I was so glad that the process was starting... then a few minutes later I cried my eyes out! From fear... Oh my God... what if I get out there and I have no money and I can't buy gas to go anywhere or groceries to eat... what if the van breaks down... what if... what if... ugh!!

You doing what you are doing is much more difficult than me. I'm just resisting change of lifestyle. I admire you for your courage. I do know the feeling of stepping out into the unknown, it is both exhilarating and scary. When I read about you or others who are taking a huge leap of faith I feel silly. 

When you get out there and something happens that you may need help with, post on here. There is a whole group of people who will help with whatever it is you need. I can guarantee that.  

Rob

 

[Txjaybird]

:-/ JEEZ Gunny....If you can crawl in and out of a truckbed topper you are in waaaaaay better shape than I am!     I have to tell myself that things don't have to be all one way with no "wiggle room" to get a situation that fits me.  I want solar to be free to live where ever I want too.  Maybe I don't have to have it first thing no matter how much I want it.  My Access Pass will get me all the hookups I need if I camp/stay where they are available. And at a resonable rate too.   So I can use the AC when I need to, and my frig is 3way so I will not have to worry about $1k to 3k of insulin going bad on me.  While I want to travel I think it's knowing that I can just get up and go that is the big lure for me........kinda like those shiny silver spoon lures with the treble hooks on 'em.  Being away from a lot of people is another one,  I'm just not sure how far away I want to be.

  When you described your "cozy" place and sitting arangement it reminded me of a neighbor....he sez he only has one living room chair so if a lady comes to see him she can either stand up or sit in his lap....her choice.   At least he's not the one that roped his car to a tree when the tornado was coming    Life is so much fun 

Jewellann

 

[Mizmozy]

Sending you a PM.

 

[Preach]

Go Gunny GO..SEMPER FI MY BROTHER

 

[DuneElliot]

I'd rather regret the things I tried and failed at than the things I didn't I never even tried. What do you want to be saying to the nurse on your death bed? Morbid? Maybe...but honest!

 

[Gunny]

Sometimes morbid fits.

Rob

 

[waldenbound]

Gunny, I know what you mean by resisting change. When you're familiar with something, you don't want to change.

I know I'm just sitting around waiting, and the fear hasn't kicked in yet, but it will. OMG, what if this happens and that and this and that, ect. I do know that I want to go! When I'm sitting here in this rain-soaked hell hole, I think back when I lived in S California, memories come back, and I get such a clear vision in my head. I'll be dead and in the ground before I give this up. If I have to go sit in Slab City in a pallet-scrap shanty, by God I will.

 

[Gunny]

The woman that is helping me sort things just left with an armload of things with more waiting for another trip.

I've ordered a tent of sorts for the cat, so with each little thing I get closer.

And as Ms. Elliot so aptly put it, one needs to at least try.

Rob

 

[hepcat]

 If I decide that I can't do the day in and day out of living on the road...

Rob

Rob, this is an interesting train of thought.  I read that and thought about what I do differently when I'm on the road than I do when I'm home.  The answer is...  nothing.  My space is different.  The 'stuff' I have around me is in a smaller quantity, and I'm more thoughtful about what I take simply because there isn't room for a lot.  I travel with my two Cavalier King Charles spaniels...  

The bottom line is that I don't really live any differently "on the road" as I do "at home."  My daily tasks are different, of course, simply because I'm in a van (or trailer when I did that) but there really isn't any other "day in and day out" that's different from being at home other than the change of scenery through the windows when I decide it should change.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I'd rather regret the things I tried and failed at than the things I didn't I never even tried. What do you want to be saying to the nurse on your death bed? Morbid? Maybe...but honest!

I love this mode of thinking,  even though i've failed at a few ventures in my lifetime, I have zero regrets about trying them,  however, there are a few things i've not done when I should and could have and I do regret those decisions.  Success is nothing more than getting up one more time than the number of times you fell..

 

[jimindenver]

It's hard to deal with what if's because there are so many in life. What would you do if you didn't like anything else you did, you would do something else. What would you do if they closed your building, move somewhere else.

I think the above suggestion of take some trips are good ones. That will let you experience the lifestyle without giving up your safety net. I did the boondocking/ camping thing for 30 years. I have done it in this trailer for 6 years. I didn't just one day decide to up end my life and hit the road unprepared. Some have had it forced on them but you have the luxury of giving it a go before you take the plunge. I would really suggest it before you lay out anymore cash on stuff you may not end up using. It wouldn't take long to find out that you were not comfortable, couldn't use the shower, couldn't hitch/ unhitch, dump the tanks, etc.

Personally I feel that if you camp long enough that you have to dump and restock up that it isn't much different than going full time in some respects. We took many two week trips where the tanks were full and the cupboards, fridge and fresh water were just about empty on the way home. The difference for me now is I take care of those thing and head back out instead of heading home. Get a taste before you buy the buffet and you may feel a lot better about it or not feel like doing it at all.

 

[Txjaybird]

 what Jim said x2

Jewellann

 

[Gunny]

I've been thinking about getting a room mate. Strictly platonic (drugs guarantee that) and buying a sleeper sofa. This place will allow me to do that.

It's not going to be someone off of Craigslist and it may not happen but it would solve several problems. I am not in a hurry so I'll just take it as it comes.

Might see if some members want to meet up around Lake Murray State Park or somewhere close.

Rob

 

[TrainChaser]

Maybe you need to start looking for another apartment. In all of the western states. Especially the warmer ones. If you don't find what you're looking for, move on. Take advice from the FurrPurrson -- tell her to stick a claw in the map, and that's where you'll go next.

One step at a time, but I think you should keep moving. Some change in your life may look scary now, but it will probably look better down the road. You can do this.

Like Mary Shelley said in Frankenstein: "“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”

 

[rvpopeye]

Every place you go will be very much like where you are.
There will be traffic lights and gas stations , grocery and hardware stores , Walmarts and lumber yards , fast food and convenience stops , churches and libraries , beaches , lakes and deserts , highways and back roads , rest areas , etc etc etc .

The only real difference is you haven't been there before.

It's much easier than your imagination lets you believe.

The tribe is almost everywhere for back up too.

 

[Queen]

^^^ What popeye said.

I know you need to be near the VA, but I wonder if going someplace new and making trips to the VA might be a nice change. I looked all over NM for rentals when our condo was on the market, found some amazingly inexpensive places in out of the way areas. Also found some long term places in NM to park an RV that were cheap as hell (like under $300 a month with full hookups), that would let us transition to to fulltiming and still give us access to a shower house and electric service.

 

[rvpopeye]

Oh yeah , I forgot to add campgrounds , boondocking spots and more campgrounds and boondocking spots to that list !

And sunsets , sunrises and the view out your window.
The sun is still the same and the window is too but these will always be different and frequently better than ever!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Of course, one of the big things for you will be access to GOOD VA hospitals.  The VA has their new site up with hospital rankings.  I see that Houston gets 4 stars, whereas Dallas only gets 1 star.  A lot of the southwestern hospitals - Phoenix, Albequerque, El Paso - only get 1 star while a lot of the 5 star hopitals are way up in the northeast.

https://www.va.gov/qualityofcare/measure-up/End_of_Year_Hospital_Star_Rating.asp

 

[Gunny]

The Dallas VA has many issues, many of the 'Specialty Clinics' are there, the Ft Worth is an Outpatient Clinic, not a hospital.

It may sound self-serving, it does as I try to phrase it, but since my lawsuit with the VA, the administrators and a few others in authority know me. I don't ask for special treatment but I am a bit confrontational when I am ignored. It works.

I am in the last phase of my life, I don't want to have to break in a new doctor.

Rob

 

[Mizmozy]

Rob, I talked to Howard's RV.  Sent you a PM.