Pros and Cons of Fulltiming

[mariesnowgoose]

The van doesn't really need any work doing NZ, it is what it is - a 30 year old Autosleeper Legend, battered but comfy.

It runs fine and we had some serious welding done in 2013 to the underside by a lovely member of WC (Old Arthur).

See old thread about that here: https://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forum...em-camper-sad-news-help.html?highlight=legend

Also swopped the petrol engine for a diesel about 3 or so years ago, paid for with an insurance payout. T'other half pranged it - told you a big rig would be even more dangerous if he drove it! TBH the engine hash't made much difference to the performance, but it runs fine.

I definitely don't think it's a big enough van for 2 people to live in full time.

However, a decision on a full time van is not the most urgent thing right now. An estate agent is coming out next week to give me a house valuation for both selling & renting. There's a lot of work involved in getting it ready for either of the 2 options so I've started on a massive sort out of junk etc. Made a start on re-decorating too. It's a major job whichever way you do it and will take time, but I'm chipping away bit by bit, mostly on my own hence my grumbling and whingeing about t'other half.

Next 3 days I will be gardening for folks, weather permitting, to earn a bit of much-needed dosh to keep wolf from door. This is also quite knackering. Just don't have the energy to do the things I used to do for as long as I used to do them! Grr!

 

[Nesting Zombie]

So SELL UP EVERYTHING & Buy a Livaboard Motorhome, (WITH MASSIVE BUMPER S) Cut Out the worry of it all ,,,
I know you may consider renting out, But that won’t unlock any capital IN the Property for you to live & Enjoy Life To the Full & Worry Free as no doubt you both deserve !.
If you rent out, Then Yes you will get a Monthly payment in, but you will also STILL have Monthly Expences & Worry (To a Degree), PLUS Yearly Expenses & Licences / Certification / Checks & Insurances & Decorations & Repairs & Replacements to go along with it !. Then there’s the Garden / Grounds/ Fencing !.

Stick with it Girl, & Good Luck with your Decisions !.

Don’t forget to Let us know)

 

[mariesnowgoose]

I have to agree. I spent years with this barrier or that barrier stopping me doing what i said i really wanted to do. One day I realised that they were just barriers of my own creation. There you stop me having to take the brave step and follow my dream.

Projecting barriers was something I did and now I don't, well not as such and they are not as big

I have met some fantastic peopple and a great number of them in this group. I am enjoying this chapter, if I am honest I enjoy all the chapters, well so far and I am sure there are other chapters and adventures ahead.

The waters really nice once you get in.

Whichever way you look at it there's always a certain amount of 'readies', or income, involved in what anyone wants to do, whether it's a big or small dream - unless you're happy being a homeless tramp!

Yes, there are probably many ways of getting what you want, but that old cliche 'no such thing as a free ride'? Means that we all have to have some sort of finance to help us along, however meagre, or large, that might be.

For us, just getting away to a WC meet is a 'big thing' in terms of finance for the fuel to get us there & back etc. and is the reason why we don't get to as many meets as I would like to. It's often the only break/holiday we will manage in a year. Asset rich and cash poor is definitely our position! We last had a so-called 'proper' holiday in 2001 a week in Portugal on a cheap last minute break, that's 17 years ago.....

NZ, your views on owning property are so spot on. It's scary to think about offloading everything, which is why I'm considering the rental route. I'm not sentimental about bricks & mortar, or even most possessions - apart from my concertina cos that's irreplaceable! - so I wouldn't be crying if someone didn't look after the property we're in now as well as they ought to. As long as they don't burn it down or totally smash it to pieces!! Stuff is just stuff. It wears out or breaks down eventually.

I'm also well versed in the pros & cons of renting. Got an inherited one bedroom property rented out for the last 8-9 years or so to the 'tenant in a million' (!) who has added conservatories (plural!) to it, installed a brand new bathroom, does all his own property repairs and (I think?) might have also put a new kitchen in. He's told me he wants them to carry him out in a box and hopes I never sell it. How good is that ?? !! I get a reasonable rent (I'm not greedy) which he has never failed to pay on time and have no intention of raising it because a tenant like that is worth their weight in gold - nay, diamonds!! Also had 2 or 3 tenants in before him, no real problems with any of them (just lucky?), but he is by far the greatest tenant in the universe. I'm counting blessings now and feeling better already

 

[mariesnowgoose]

So SELL UP EVERYTHING & Buy a Livaboard Motorhome, (WITH MASSIVE BUMPER S) Cut Out the worry of it all ,,,
I know you may consider renting out, But that won’t unlock any capital IN the Property for you to live & Enjoy Life To the Full & Worry Free as no doubt you both deserve !.
If you rent out, Then Yes you will get a Monthly payment in, but you will also STILL have Monthly Expences & Worry (To a Degree), PLUS Yearly Expenses & Licences / Certification / Checks & Insurances & Decorations & Repairs & Replacements to go along with it !. Then there’s the Garden / Grounds/ Fencing !.

Stick with it Girl, & Good Luck with your Decisions !.

Don’t forget to Let us know)

Thank you, I will ... and if you read my reply to Ed on Toast you'll realise we actually have 2 properties, both mortgage free, not worth huge sums but worth more than enough! - that's also very jammy, I know - apologies - sounds like I'm bragging (but I'd never say no to cheap plonk from Morrisons - or Aldi, or Lidl! heh heh )

 

[Nesting Zombie]

There you go then, All isn’t that bad, just remember to Smile now & again..

I’m a Cider & White wine Bloke myself, But give JJ Whitley Rhubarb Vodka a Try from Tesco with a Kebab or a Burger !

OMG !!!

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Reading back on your notes about how much it's cost you to FT for the last 34 months, NZ, I am working out that my dream is well do-able. I already knew that, but the other half has taken some serious convincing - 6 years in fact!

What I also failed to mention is that I have a pension pot (£50k) which I was looking to dip into to get me a FT camper van - not for the whole £50k mind! Was musing on a budget perhaps up to max £20k?, but obviously less would be much better! After all, how long am I going to live?! Not like don't have other assets either, i.e. the 2 mortgage free properties !!

Don't want a new(ish) fancy rig, I like something that is comfortable and homely and not just a bland replica of what the interior of most people's modern houses are like. One of the best rigs I've seen - well for me at any rate - was Banjo Billy's (aka Bill Lloyd) from Cumbria. He'd put an old swedish caravan on the back of a Mercedes truck, the whole lot painted dark green. He got it to make it cheaper when he was doing gigs with friends/other musicians any distance away from home. Solid fuel stove, warm, cosy, comfy seats, just bloomin' gorgeous. One of the only vans I've seen over the last few years I'm truly envious of, plus you'd be able to drive it most anywhere, including rough terrain. To me the rest (i.e. most modern coachbuilds) are just overpriced posh 'little boxes' on wheels.

Here's Bill playing & singing in his rig so you get an idea. Doesn't show much of the interior, but you'll get the idea

[video=youtube;LzbzlGWh0II]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzbzlGWh0II[/video]

 

[Nesting Zombie]

That sounds a BRILLIANT vehicle!,
With the Budget you have of say 20k There is a MASSIVE choice available to you. It really does come down to what YOU BOTH can Cope with from a Van, Remembering that the Where & How you are going to use it is AS important a Decision to the Type of Vehicle it is,,,

& yes I agree that some coach built Motorhomes Can concentrate on Posh as apposed to Practical. & I wouldn’t be without ‘Nesty’ My Multi Fuel Stove,,,oh it’s SOOO GOOD !!!.

I actually wanted an older style Coachbuilt when I was looking, as I knew that I was going to set about it with various Sharp Tools & Blunt Language to make it MY Full time Travelling HOME, as apposed to a shiny Holiday Status symbol !.
When I sell it will hope it will be for around the 17-15k mark (I’ve been offerd 17k NOW)

 

[Channa]

for what it is worth I would agree with Zombies figures. you pick up bits of work as you go along to put bread on the table, and the figure of £500 per month sounds about right albeit a few years ago now,

Would I fulltime again? answer to that is a simple YES.

You are right there does need to be savings and/ or income and some months at a time over winter income is non existent,

The biggest worry for me was always MOT time hate the bloody things despite motor trade contacts ,,,if you are off road 3 or 4 days where do you go ? and if you have a dog etc and all your worldy chattels in the van it is quite stressful or is to me ...the weekend brigade don't have that pressure.

It is definitely a lifestyles choice, and you realise that the big gin palaces don't bring happiness albeit nice and enjoyable, The simple things of watching a sunset taking the dog a walk meeting new folk is really in my mind the true wealth.

My time motorhoming met some true genuine and kind people, its hard to describe.

For a lot of people fulltiming is like learning to swim when you are a child water wings removed and have to swim a bredth, fear intrepidation anxiety ,,set off what have I done ? get to the other side and the duck on water

incidentally and happy to be corrected I don't know of anyone that has regretted it ....had tough times that's part of the journey and mistakes made but don't regret

Only other thing to add is ditch the idea of storage for household stuff possibly cost 12 k over the years complete waste of money but ther was a plan that didn't come to fruition as I anticipated

Channa

 

[vwalan]

for what it is worth I would agree with Zombies figures. you pick up bits of work as you go along to put bread on the table, and the figure of £500 per month sounds about right albeit a few years ago now,

Would I fulltime again? answer to that is a simple YES.

You are right there does need to be savings and/ or income and some months at a time over winter income is non existent,

The biggest worry for me was always MOT time hate the bloody things despite motor trade contacts ,,,if you are off road 3 or 4 days where do you go ? and if you have a dog etc and all your worldy chattels in the van it is quite stressful or is to me ...the weekend brigade don't have that pressure.

It is definitely a lifestyles choice, and you realise that the big gin palaces don't bring happiness albeit nice and enjoyable, The simple things of watching a sunset taking the dog a walk meeting new folk is really in my mind the true wealth.

My time motorhoming met some true genuine and kind people, its hard to describe.

For a lot of people fulltiming is like learning to swim when you are a child water wings removed and have to swim a bredth, fear intrepidation anxiety ,,set off what have I done ? get to the other side and the duck on water

incidentally and happy to be corrected I don't know of anyone that has regretted it ....had tough times that's part of the journey and mistakes made but don't regret

Only other thing to add is ditch the idea of storage for household stuff possibly cost 12 k over the years complete waste of money but ther was a plan that didn't come to fruition as I anticipated

Channa

get an mot exempt vehicle .... that cures that one ...

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Channa !
Why don’t you do a bit of a ‘Hugh Furnly Whittingstall’ & Travel about as a Livaboard in a Motorhome BUT do Cooking from what you Forrage while on your travels,
As you may know i have little problems with getting Fresh Meat / Game / Occasionally Fish off the Beach (Although I’ve kinda given that fishing malarkey up recently), Always looking in Hedgerows for Tasty bits but it’s rare that I see any women about at that time in the morning.

 

[Channa]

A general con of fulltiming and an opinion more than a fact

We have some fantastic encounters you couldn't buy in a travel agents whether it be a sunset, storm all cosy, or sat on a cliftop in Gairloch when dolphins make an appearance

All beautiful things that make you grateful you are alive, but for singletons there can be a tremendous guilt that the experience is not shared with someone

Don't mistake that for loneliness which is a reasonable assumption sometimes it probably is but on occasion there does seem a dimension missing other singles probably understand

Channa

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I’ve said in the past that I was single through choice, & was Alone but NOT Lonely...

Now I have Cider in the Fridge !.

 

[Hen on the Nest]

I’ve said in the past that I was single through choice, & was Alone but NOT Lonely...

Now I have Cider in the Fridge !.

Reached Level 2 in my Liveaboard training, can cook up a storm, one pot stylie, am at himselfs disposable every second I’m on the Nest.... and all he thinks he’s got is cider in the fridge?? MEN!! LOL!

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Reached Level 2 in my Liveaboard training, can cook up a storm, one pot stylie, am at himselfs disposable every second I’m on the Nest.... and all he thinks he’s got is cider in the fridge?? MEN!! LOL!

Yes, ‘Possibly’ some truth in that, BUT you have only ‘Reached’ level 2,,,NOT Passed it !,

I have to Shuffle ALL THE WAY from my seat to the Fridge to get a Cider when you’re NOT on board the Nest,,,,Most would have the Foresight to at least Pack a Cool Box & Put At arms reach before they Leave me to fend for myself for any lengh of time !

 

[Hen on the Nest]

Yes, ‘Possibly’ some truth in that, BUT you have only ‘Reached’ level 2,,,NOT Passed it !,

I have to Shuffle ALL THE WAY from my seat to the Fridge to get a Cider when you’re NOT on board the Nest,,,,Most would have the Foresight to at least Pack a Cool Box & Put At arms reach before they Leave me to fend for myself for any lengh of time !

I have just one word in response to that.... MANWICH! (and guys, that’s not an insult lol!!)

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I have just one word in response to that.... MANWICH! (and guys, that’s not an insult lol!!)

Ok,,,ok,,,Mutter, Mumble, Mumble,
Cough Cough ,,,!!!

Oh you just HAD to bring THE BEST SANDWICH IVE EVER HAD into this didn’t you !!,

Oh that’s a Low Blow,,,

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Oh well the Triles & Tribulations of being a Full Time Livaboard means you have to get on with the Everyday ‘Stuff’ wherever & Whenever you can, Sooo as I am currently at a little ‘Private’ Park up that I can occasionally use & the weather is FANTASTIC it’s time to do a bit more -
As I said a bit back, The Whole Exterior including the Cab has been Flattend down -

4 Locks have been Fitted (Permanently Stuck with Puraflex 40 Adesive Metal To Metal & With Temporary Screws Fitted until I Finnish the Painting Then The Bolts & Backing Pads can Bought & Fitted) 2 to the Habitation Doors -

& 2 to the Main Cab Doors in the same manner - (Expand the Next couple of pictures to see them on the Cab)
The Rubber Strip has been Glued & Puraflex 40 On the Entire Length of the Coachworks (Shopping Trolley Handles Hight) -

This will be Painted Grey
Also had enough for fitting on the Bumper & The Bonnet -

This will also be Painted Grey (Cab will be Black, & The White bit above will be Painted Grey With the Skirts & Rubber as Mentioned)

Now I can just Wipe all the Exterior down with White Spirit & 2nd Coat the Black Coachworks

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Ok, Beggars can’t be Choosers & leading this lifestyle means making do with what & Where you can to do Jobs & Maintenance.
But it’s SODs LAW That Having got a BEAUTIFUL day to Apply the 2nd Coat of Black to the Previously Prepared Coachworks AND Having removed All the Stickers from the Cab & Applying the 1st coat of Black to that & then sitting back to look at the achievement for the Morning-



& Having done all the above, The Farmer THEN Decided to Muck Spread, Till & then Plow the Field that Starts 20mt Or so away from The Nests current park up !. So Have now got an Earthy Brown & Very Fertile Dust covered Finnish, Still it May disguise MY smell & give me something to now blame it on in the future, Soooo Result Really!.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Oh it must be my end, as it let me post a Screenshot of the upload failure!.

Oh,,,Oh it just let me do it !.




Lucky no one reads this rubbish I post.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

In my Best Victor Meldrew voice -
‘I Just DONT BELIEVE it !’

Not only was the Nest Wet n Fresh Final Coat of Black Lovelyness COVERED in Pollen, Flies, Dust & Manure Stench thanks to the Neighbouring Farmer within 30 min of Finnishing yesterday afternoon, BUT The Gods obviously wanted to have a bit of a Laugh @ our efforts so sent a REALLY heavy, Abrupt, & Unforgiving Rain Storm at Midnight to wreak it’s wrath just before the paint was fully Dry of course !