Asterix
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Shirley says that she will have the dog ☺
And she can have him!
On all the rainy days
Shirley says that she will have the dog ☺
Jump in your Van, Meet up and spend a few weeks Actually Traveling around Following a Full time Livaboard, or Frequent experienced Motor homer in your vehicle Both in Winter then again in Summer. You will pick up LOADS of tips and see how everyday life is or can be, Both GOOD & the NOT so good. Kinda 'Try before you Buy' into the life sort of deal.
Don't get me wrong, Going to meets can be GREAT, But can be limited in showing what the real everyday lifestyle is like.
trixie88, even on a day like today (overcast, grey and raining) the views can be stunning, as long as you're warm and cosy. I think it's only when your in an exposed position and blowing a force 9 gale it can take the gloss off. (but even a gale can be invigorating) given the choice I know where I would rather be, and it's not bricks and mortar.. It depends a lot on your health of course.
Thats one of the problems the big H ..../// agree with you regarding rain etc, can be very comforting when your tucked upsnug and warm hearing the rain on the van roof...... not a fan of the gale force winds tho, seen that damage it can cause.....Once in a building when it ripped the roof back. would have to find a safe haven....lets hope all you fulltimers dont encounter too many storms this winter. enjoy your freedom and life style
hiCan I just say how helpful and informative this thread is.
I am retired and possibly considering full timing.
Having lived for a number of years in Spain, albeit bricks and mortar whilst just having a static caravan (no post permitted) in the UK, I am aware of some of the problems. Having a postal address for Doctors or Dentist on NHS in the UK being one.
I have only had a motorhome for a few months and gather a lot of help is available via these forums just for the asking.
Thanks again for all on this subject. I may or may not ever take up full timing but it sounds worth a try from what some of you are saying, if my situation changes and I need an escape!!
Sorry, I should have mentioned one other very important thing that inspired us. This forum! I've had so much advice, help, assistance and inspiration from folk on here since I joined and without it I don't know if we would have half as much fun or even known what we were doing on occasions.
I still consider myself a newbie but folk on here helped to give us the confidence to do what we are doing in so many ways. I'm not going to mention folk by name but you know who you are and I can't thank you enough. At the same time I'll take this opportunity to apologise to the folk I've been a bit rude to over the last couple of years. My New Years resolution is not to post when I've had a drink!
Pat
This is a really good thread. I'll add our current lifestyle and experiences too......
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Its not for everyone I'm sure and personal finances dictate what you can and can't do and I appreciate that. But whilst we are still fit and healthy (fingers crossed eh?) it suits us and I'd recommend the lifestyle to anyone.
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I should have mentioned one other very important thing that inspired us. This forum! I've had so much advice, help, assistance and inspiration from folk on here since I joined and without it I don't know if we would have half as much fun or even known what we were doing on occasions.
I still consider myself a newbie but folk on here helped to give us the confidence to do what we are doing in so many ways. I'm not going to mention folk by name but you know who you are and I can't thank you enough. ......
Pat
spot on its not about moving all over the place in a mad rush it's having the freedom to choose when and where you move, Problems only occur because your not prepared for them i don't use a solar panel not found the need yet it use candle light most of the time I limit the use of the TV now I have one at this moment i live within a 25 radius of Bude this cuts your fuel costs down greatly mine has gone from £350 to £30 a month. To quote from the above ((Awareness, Routine & Discipline.)) This is spot on Ps love to answer this in more detail but on my sixth pint of Doom Bar and my English isn't very good anyway.Hi Gang,
Well, I think there seems to be differing views on what 'Full Timing' actually is, & of course all of them could be right !.
I have 'The Nest' this is my ONLY Home & Transport. I DONT have alternative Vehicles, House or Accommodations. I move to a different location or Park up on average every other day, sometimes its only say a kilometre or so, Sometimes its a few miles, On occasions Much more it really does depend on the Geographical area that I find myself exploring at the time, & the Park ups that are available to me.
I am not going to even think about listing the Pro s, as I could HONESTLY fill pages, Most days bring brings new Knowledge, People, Places & Life experience's that I simply wouldn't of had if it wasn't for my lifestyle choice. So the PROs almost have expediential Growth, Incomparable in my limited experience to a few 'Important Priority's & General Inconvenience's' rather than Con s so will outline a few I have come across.
'The Nests' Maintenance & wellbeing.
I treat this as a Symbiotic relationship. I Do what I can for the Nest, The Nest takes Care of me. This can cost TIME & MONEY. & last year I Chose to book into a B&B for a week or so in order for The Nest to have Cam Belt & Aux Belts changed, a FULL Engine Service with Full Running Gear Check, All Fluid & Grease levels topped up, 7 New tyers, & MOT done. Yep cost me approx £2000 including the B&B. Worth every penny. & thankfully NO problems or issues since.
Park ups.
I often make do in park ups that Lorries use, sometimes Good, Sometimes not so good. But as I Move regularly Easy to put up with if needs be.
Rubbish N Toilet empting.
Never had a Problem with the Disposal of either, But Very conscious of BOTH, & the semi frequent 15-20 day Pit stops at a site Often dictate my route. More and more recently though I just POP in to use the facility's for a few quid (Cash) rather than actually stay for the night.
Water.
Have Never Run Dry, But Obviously its Always on my mind, I carry approx. 100lts that I top up at the Pit Stops, & my Portable Containers have a Permanent Home in my Ruck Sack that goes with me when out n about.
Washing.
I've got a washing machine that I use little & Often as my Water supply allows, it makes the Drying SO much easier & Often just takes overnight for the everyday things.
As for my bedding & Towels I try & do this at one of the Pit Stop overnight stays because of the massive amount of water required, I Have 3 sets of Bedding, & change them at approx 10 days ish intervals. so I find every other Pit stop is a BIG wash day. My Washing machine only takes 1 Duvet cover & 1 Pillow case at a time But only takes approx 30 mins to do per cycle. so no issue, its just a discipline.
Power.
Both 230v & 12v have never been an issue for me, as,,,,Well I Move !. & maybe Once In-between my OVERNIGHT Pit Stops I find a suitable place to run my genny for an hr while I do my washing. So Easy.
So I think the key to making the 'Cons' more easily handled is, Awareness, Routine & Discipline.
Enjoy
let's talk about houses,and the hold they have on people. you're expected to go into debt for most of your life to get one. as soon as you get one you take on the massive responsibility of keeping it in good nick,constantly maintaining,repairing and worrying about it.
living in a van, your overheads are massively reduced, cleaning,maintaining and generally looking after your tin home takes a fraction of the time, and if the worst comes to the worst, replacing it is comparatively affordable
let's talk about houses,and the hold they have on people. you're expected to go into debt for most of your life to get one. as soon as you get one you take on the massive responsibility of keeping it in good nick,constantly maintaining,repairing and worrying about it. ...