My wife and I decided to sell everything, buy a new caravan and travel this country. A spanner was put in the works when I needed a total knee replacement last February, we now live full time in our van and will get moving again very soon.
Some people (and family) we meet are highly supportive of our decision and others think we are nuts. We are comfortable, warm and safe (same as bricks and mortar). I keep telling these detractors that we have no electricity, water, council rates, gas, or other bills. If the neighbours piss us off we can hitch up and move on.
I am curious as to how many others live in their vans and would appreciate some feedback as to how it has affected your daily life and routines. To us its a great life and we have never looked back.
Safe travels
jules47 said
10:03 AM Jul 19, 2014
It's a great life - you won't look back - never live in a house again!!!!
As for detractors - they always say, but what if you get sick???? Well - you go to the doctor, do what's necessary, park up in a (dreaded) caravan park if you have to for a while - not much different than if you got sick at home.
I agree with you 100%, as soon as this knee starts working better we are off. and yes if we get sick we go to the doctor or call the flying one. Great life especially now that we live in a winery backyard (350,000 liters of plonk within slow alcoholic crawling distance) which is free parking with power and water (ya cant get any better than that).
Safe travels
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 19th of July 2014 10:20:52 AM
Glenelg said
10:29 AM Jul 19, 2014
i'm about to retire at end of month, sell house & go 24/7 as a solo
oldboar said
10:30 AM Jul 19, 2014
Been full time on the road for the last 16 months after selling up. Great life, we're loving it more now than when we started. Love free camping but advise anyone contemplating doing the same to set their rig up so that a generator is only for emergency, rather than daily use. Not unusual for us to camp up for extended periods in good free camps ( have frequently been advised by caretakers/council rangers, etc that posted time limits are to enable legal eviction of trouble makers. Perhaps they know more about the camps under their care than some self styled experts on this forum). Really can't see us returning to the sedentary homebody lifestyle while ever at least one of us can still pilot the rig across this wonderful land.
Darrell & Sandra
jules47 said
10:30 AM Jul 19, 2014
It is a great life - follow the sun!!! Haven't had a winter for three years!!!
oldboar said
10:36 AM Jul 19, 2014
You'll never regret it, Dave
Darrell
ParamountCruiser said
12:24 PM Jul 19, 2014
oldboar wrote:
Not unusual for us to camp up for extended periods in good free camps ( have frequently been advised by caretakers/council rangers, etc that posted time limits are to enable legal eviction of trouble makers. Perhaps they know more about the camps under their care than some self styled experts on this forum).
Well, there you go
I always thought that time restrictions were put in place so that everyone had the opportunity to utilise these camp sites around the country.
kandagal said
12:29 PM Jul 19, 2014
We have been "full time" on the road for 20 years now. Haven't regretted a minute of it. Couldn't get Keith back into a house now. He says a house is just a place to store all the things you don't need. And yes we have often stayed long than time specified in free camp but only after discussing the matter with who ever is looking after said camp site.
Bryan said
12:42 PM Jul 19, 2014
What worries me is what do you when you are too old or too sick to drive around anymore.
Jonathan said
12:43 PM Jul 19, 2014
Go for it Dave ..
Like Darrell, I'm fulltime also and no regrets whatever .. won't take you long to find your own niche on the road ..
enjoy !
Jonathan said
12:57 PM Jul 19, 2014
Bryan wrote:
What worries me is what do you when you are too old or too sick to drive around anymore.
Hi Bryan .. here's where you have to make your own decision .. I've happily taken the step to suit me ..
If "it" worries you, then you alone need to decide .. we all have different priorities in life ..
Either way, be proud of what you decide .. then go that way with a positive attitude ..
There is no right or wrong way .. just whatever you decide will be right for you ..
deverall11 said
01:46 PM Jul 19, 2014
Yep, been on the road for 3 yrs now. Don't feel like moving back into a house any time soon.
Larry
spice said
02:29 PM Jul 19, 2014
In the process of selling my mothers house then will be on the road full time, Rod
Lesley F said
03:05 PM Jul 19, 2014
I did the big lap for 2 years during 07 and 08, and I'm seriously considering my options again.
My adult child is somewhat fixated on what she perceives will be her inheritance $$, and discourages me, a few of my family think I'm crazy and have irrational thoughts regarding my potential lifestyle.
Many here think like me, to quote a few, your house is sometimes just for storage, if we don't like our neighbors we can leave them.
Others have mentioned, what if you get sick, well, go to the Doctor. I can't recall any ruling that states: We can only live and die in a bricks and mortar house!!
(sorry about the bluntness).
So take your time, there's no right or wrong answer, you may enjoy your travels part-time, occasionally or full time, but most of all, HAVE FUN.
Good luck.
aussie_paul said
03:27 PM Jul 19, 2014
Lesley F wrote:
I did the big lap for 2 years during 07 and 08, and I'm seriously considering my options again.
My adult child is somewhat fixated on what she perceives will be her inheritance $$, and discourages me, a few of my family think I'm crazy and have irrational thoughts regarding my potential lifestyle.
Many here think like me, to quote a few, your house is sometimes just for storage, if we don't like our neighbors we can leave them.
Others have mentioned, what if you get sick, well, go to the Doctor. I can't recall any ruling that states: We can only live and die in a bricks and mortar house!!
(sorry about the bluntness).
So take your time, there's no right or wrong answer, you may enjoy your travels part-time, occasionally or full time, but most of all, HAVE FUN.
Good luck.
Bugger her... You have probably set her up with education etc, so go and enjoy the rest of your life. If there is anything left after you have gone then that is all she is entitled to.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of July 2014 03:27:28 PM
Oz Gypsy said
04:25 PM Jul 19, 2014
Bryan wrote:
What worries me is what do you when you are too old or too sick to drive around anymore.
It is something to be considered, preferably while you are fit and healthy and can make informed and rational decisions. We have been on the road full time for close to 8 years and will go in to a house at some point in the next couple of years - a "lock up and leave" place so we can still travel some of the year.
We have met a few couples in our travels who have been faced with sudden illness/accident and have had to make alternative arrangements immediately. This can be difficult at a very stressful time especially if it is the husband who is incapacitated and the wife suddenly has to handle everything including driving and handling the rig if she is not used to doing this.
In one case the couple had been moving between various showgrounds and low cost camps every few weeks for a year while he had treatment for multiple cancers. In the end he died and she was left devastated with nowhere to go and no means of getting there anyway as she could not handle the towing.
I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from selling up and driving off on the great tour. We have loved it and hope to do many more years on the road. However, at some stage it has to come to an end and preferably in a planned way. It's just another stage of life to be enjoyed
Phil C said
05:07 PM Jul 19, 2014
Oz Gypsy wrote:
Bryan wrote:
What worries me is what do you when you are too old or too sick to drive around anymore.
It is something to be considered, preferably while you are fit and healthy and can make informed and rational decisions. We have been on the road full time for close to 8 years and will go in to a house at some point in the next couple of years - a "lock up and leave" place so we can still travel some of the year.
We have met a few couples in our travels who have been faced with sudden illness/accident and have had to make alternative arrangements immediately. This can be difficult at a very stressful time especially if it is the husband who is incapacitated and the wife suddenly has to handle everything including driving and handling the rig if she is not used to doing this.
In one case the couple had been moving between various showgrounds and low cost camps every few weeks for a year while he had treatment for multiple cancers. In the end he died and she was left devastated with nowhere to go and no means of getting there anyway as she could not handle the towing.
I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from selling up and driving off on the great tour. We have loved it and hope to do many more years on the road. However, at some stage it has to come to an end and preferably in a planned way. It's just another stage of life to be enjoyed
That is a significant point to take on board and Im sorry to hear of the cancer (I have just been informed a dear friend of mine has terminal cancer). Being a baby boomer, I live for now and plan for the future.
I think the guts of this is its high time we started to get our butts out of a "home" and shove some wheels on it (at least thats my philosophy). The grey nomads I have met have just about every exigency covered as we have. If we are sick, off to the doc, if we get too crook to continue, we rent or put the van on bricks and call it a granny flat, that just about covers it all.
I dont think there is much more to say about this lifestyle, probably not everyone's cup of tea, as I am reminded often, however its what we are doing and we will enjoy the fun, endure the hardships, and keep moving forward.
Safe travels
Kendo said
05:26 PM Jul 19, 2014
Looking at all the comments above this has turned out to be a very thought provoking thread.
Like many things in life there is no wrong answers, and how to go about this "nomad thing" is just another one of them.
Kudos to those who "Live the life" of a true Grey Nomad (if there is such a thing) and sell up all and take to the road. I reckon that there is more and more reasons to just do it.
The cost of living in your bricks & mortar is getting out of hand. Utility prices are going through the roof. Council Rates just seem to increase for less services. There's even talk about charging to use rain water you have collected in your own tanks !! . If you have a Doctor you like it's not uncommon to take 3-4 weeks to see him. So you end up going to see who ever is available. So you might as well be on the road and go see who ever is available anyway.
Yes the more I think about it............................ "What was that dear?, Yes OK.............lets go see the grandkids".............Hmmmmmmmmmm....maybe another day
Jeff
GaryKelly said
05:41 PM Jul 19, 2014
Second go at posting this. Modem keeps dropping out. If you're a smart traveller like Jules, and stay away from winter, then it's more a case of living out of your van rather than in it. A van to me is a mobile form of shelter, a place to sleep, and sometimes cook, and storage for all the things you DO need.
RosieW said
05:43 PM Jul 19, 2014
Bryan wrote:
What worries me is what do you when you are too old or too sick to drive around anymore.
We face this reality, and we just hit the road! In fact, we all do - the trick is to deal with it when it happens. There are residential parks available, and some CPs take permanents. Yes, you would have rent/power to pay, but a lot less maintenance/storage to worry about.
For the time being, just enjoy life!
Dougwe said
05:48 PM Jul 19, 2014
Hi Phil,
I am not yet full time but will be in the very near future. I have had all the thoughts about, what if? But decided it is time to put all that aside and just get out there and enjoy the playground and only worry about what if, if what if ever happens.
I have only just in the last month up dated the Tug in readiness and will be selling home base and all in it unless I take it with me in the next few months, then I will update the Den. If it doesn't fit in the tug or den it's out. Nothing going in storage, waste of money, IMO.
I'm just gunna get out there and enjoy whatever is left of my time on this planet.
JUST DO IT MATE.
colnden said
05:55 PM Jul 19, 2014
Yep, we live in the van full time and 10 years ago we met an old couple who had been on the road 17 years. Found it hard to believe that you could want to roam the country side for that long.
Coming up to 13 years for us at Christmas and yes we do have one worry. Have the money put aside to get into a house/unit /retirement village, but if we can no longer travel, what will we do after the third or fourth week of settling down.
Yes we have had serious illnesses and have been grounded for 4 months at one stage, and yes there are serious health problems on the horizon but that is a part of life and you deal with it.
The memories we have from those 13 years bring a smile to us and no , there are no regrets. We now travel out of season, that is north and summer and south in winter and all those camp sites that we would have liked to stay at but were too cramped are now vacant. Yes it does get cool down south and hot up north but think about it. Stay where you like and no neighbours. Paradise found.
Den and Col
Crackles said
06:05 PM Jul 19, 2014
Hi all,
We have been on the road 24/7 for just on 5 years and would not have it any other way.
We have had the extreme pleasure in that time meeting and getting to know numerous people and forming several life long friends.
Unfortunately we have also met and lost 3 similar like minded blokes. They were doing what they loved doing right up to the end.
Only one (Bobby ) knew his time was coming with Cancer. The other two (Old Al and Pommy Al) Heart. All missed
One never knows when our time will be up, so for us we are going to continue doing the what we love doing following the white line wherever it takes us.
So be safe and travel safe while you can
Craig n Bev
Lesley F said
06:09 PM Jul 19, 2014
You've both made interesting points to consider.
My experience, I've been a widow since 2000, I feel I've done the "hard yards", so packing up and going outback alone is relatively easy.
I'm still at odds if I should sell my house or not.
I come from a dysfunctional family, when I kick the bucket, the last thing I would want is to be surrounded by family, P.O. and let me die in peace lol lol.
barrie said
07:46 PM Jul 19, 2014
Been full time for the nearly 5 years and it's a great life .
Phil C said
08:36 PM Jul 19, 2014
WOW!!
Some very interesting (and sad) stories. My kids are very successful at what they do, I have told them that the inheritance will be our stiff and dead bodies in the caravan, they can haggle over that and the Ranger. IN THE MEANTIME..
We are going to have a bloody ball..
ROCK ON NOMADS!!!! love ya all...
Safe travels
Baz421 said
08:51 PM Jul 19, 2014
ParamountCruiser wrote:
oldboar wrote:
Not unusual for us to camp up for extended periods in good free camps ( have frequently been advised by caretakers/council rangers, etc that posted time limits are to enable legal eviction of trouble makers. Perhaps they know more about the camps under their care than some self styled experts on this forum).
Well, there you go
I always thought that time restrictions were put in place so that everyone had the opportunity to utilise these camp sites around the country.
Apparently not so Neil,, someone also commented on another thread that this behaviour doesn't do anyone any favours,,, I've NEVER met a ranger with this opinion.
oldboar said
08:53 PM Jul 19, 2014
Haven't met many then.
Darrell
pauline said
09:02 PM Jul 19, 2014
We have been living full time in our old 1990 Roadstar van for two and a half years now, hubby still working as we had no house to sell but gee it's been great, better then sitting in front of the tv and bored to death in the one place, my Mum does not understand why we are doing it but our 3 kids are happy we are happy, sometimes we do wonder about the what ifs but they can happen wherever you are................for now we will keep doing this and when we can't we will do what we think is best.
Hi all
My wife and I decided to sell everything, buy a new caravan and travel this country. A spanner was put in the works when I needed a total knee replacement last February, we now live full time in our van and will get moving again very soon.
Some people (and family) we meet are highly supportive of our decision and others think we are nuts. We are comfortable, warm and safe (same as bricks and mortar). I keep telling these detractors that we have no electricity, water, council rates, gas, or other bills. If the neighbours piss us off we can hitch up and move on.
I am curious as to how many others live in their vans and would appreciate some feedback as to how it has affected your daily life and routines. To us its a great life and we have never looked back.
Safe travels
It's a great life - you won't look back - never live in a house again!!!!
As for detractors - they always say, but what if you get sick???? Well - you go to the doctor, do what's necessary, park up in a (dreaded) caravan park if you have to for a while - not much different than if you got sick at home.
Enjoy the life!!!!
Thanks Jules,
) which is free parking with power and water (ya cant get any better than that).
I agree with you 100%, as soon as this knee starts working better we are off. and yes if we get sick we go to the doctor or call the flying one. Great life especially now that we live in a winery backyard (350,000 liters of plonk within slow alcoholic crawling distance
Safe travels
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 19th of July 2014 10:20:52 AM
i'm about to retire at end of month, sell house & go 24/7 as a solo
Darrell & Sandra
Darrell
Well, there you go
I always thought that time restrictions were put in place so that everyone had the opportunity to utilise these camp sites around the country.
Go for it Dave ..
Like Darrell, I'm fulltime also and no regrets whatever .. won't take you long to find your own niche on the road ..
enjoy !
Hi Bryan .. here's where you have to make your own decision .. I've happily taken the step to suit me ..
If "it" worries you, then you alone need to decide .. we all have different priorities in life ..
Either way, be proud of what you decide .. then go that way with a positive attitude ..
There is no right or wrong way .. just whatever you decide will be right for you ..
Larry
I did the big lap for 2 years during 07 and 08, and I'm seriously considering my options again.
My adult child is somewhat fixated on what she perceives will be her inheritance $$, and discourages me, a few of my family think I'm crazy and have irrational thoughts regarding my potential lifestyle.
Many here think like me, to quote a few, your house is sometimes just for storage, if we don't like our neighbors we can leave them.
Others have mentioned, what if you get sick, well, go to the Doctor. I can't recall any ruling that states: We can only live and die in a bricks and mortar house!!
(sorry about the bluntness).
So take your time, there's no right or wrong answer, you may enjoy your travels part-time, occasionally or full time, but most of all, HAVE FUN.
Good luck.
Bugger her... You have probably set her up with education etc, so go and enjoy the rest of your life. If there is anything left after you have gone then that is all she is entitled to.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of July 2014 03:27:28 PM
It is something to be considered, preferably while you are fit and healthy and can make informed and rational decisions. We have been on the road full time for close to 8 years and will go in to a house at some point in the next couple of years - a "lock up and leave" place so we can still travel some of the year.
We have met a few couples in our travels who have been faced with sudden illness/accident and have had to make alternative arrangements immediately. This can be difficult at a very stressful time especially if it is the husband who is incapacitated and the wife suddenly has to handle everything including driving and handling the rig if she is not used to doing this.
In one case the couple had been moving between various showgrounds and low cost camps every few weeks for a year while he had treatment for multiple cancers. In the end he died and she was left devastated with nowhere to go and no means of getting there anyway as she could not handle the towing.
I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from selling up and driving off on the great tour. We have loved it and hope to do many more years on the road. However, at some stage it has to come to an end and preferably in a planned way. It's just another stage of life to be enjoyed
That is a significant point to take on board and Im sorry to hear of the cancer (I have just been informed a dear friend of mine has terminal cancer). Being a baby boomer, I live for now and plan for the future.
I think the guts of this is its high time we started to get our butts out of a "home" and shove some wheels on it (at least thats my philosophy). The grey nomads I have met have just about every exigency covered as we have. If we are sick, off to the doc, if we get too crook to continue, we rent or put the van on bricks and call it a granny flat, that just about covers it all.
I dont think there is much more to say about this lifestyle, probably not everyone's cup of tea, as I am reminded often, however its what we are doing and we will enjoy the fun, endure the hardships, and keep moving forward.
Safe travels
Looking at all the comments above this has turned out to be a very thought provoking thread.
Like many things in life there is no wrong answers, and how to go about this "nomad thing" is just another one of them.
Kudos to those who "Live the life" of a true Grey Nomad (if there is such a thing) and sell up all and take to the road. I reckon that there is more and more reasons to just do it.
The cost of living in your bricks & mortar is getting out of hand. Utility prices are going through the roof. Council Rates just seem to increase for less services. There's even talk about charging to use rain water you have collected in your own tanks !!
. If you have a Doctor you like it's not uncommon to take 3-4 weeks to see him. So you end up going to see who ever is available. So you might as well be on the road and go see who ever is available anyway.
Yes the more I think about it............................ "What was that dear?, Yes OK.............lets go see the grandkids".............Hmmmmmmmmmm....maybe another day
Jeff
We face this reality, and we just hit the road! In fact, we all do - the trick is to deal with it when it happens. There are residential parks available, and some CPs take permanents. Yes, you would have rent/power to pay, but a lot less maintenance/storage to worry about.
For the time being, just enjoy life!
I am not yet full time but will be in the very near future. I have had all the thoughts about, what if? But decided it is time to put all that aside and just get out there and enjoy the playground and only worry about what if, if what if ever happens.
I have only just in the last month up dated the Tug in readiness and will be selling home base and all in it unless I take it with me in the next few months, then I will update the Den. If it doesn't fit in the tug or den it's out. Nothing going in storage, waste of money, IMO.
I'm just gunna get out there and enjoy whatever is left of my time on this planet.
JUST DO IT MATE.
Coming up to 13 years for us at Christmas and yes we do have one worry. Have the money put aside to get into a house/unit /retirement village, but if we can no longer travel, what will we do after the third or fourth week of settling down.
Yes we have had serious illnesses and have been grounded for 4 months at one stage, and yes there are serious health problems on the horizon but that is a part of life and you deal with it.
The memories we have from those 13 years bring a smile to us and no , there are no regrets. We now travel out of season, that is north and summer and south in winter and all those camp sites that we would have liked to stay at but were too cramped are now vacant. Yes it does get cool down south and hot up north but think about it. Stay where you like and no neighbours. Paradise found.
Den and Col
Hi all,
We have been on the road 24/7 for just on 5 years and would not have it any other way.
We have had the extreme pleasure in that time meeting and getting to know numerous people and forming several life long friends.
Unfortunately we have also met and lost 3 similar like minded blokes. They were doing what they loved doing right up to the end.
Only one (Bobby ) knew his time was coming with Cancer. The other two (Old Al and Pommy Al) Heart. All missed
One never knows when our time will be up, so for us we are going to continue doing the what we love doing following the white line wherever it takes us.
So be safe and travel safe while you can
Craig n Bev
You've both made interesting points to consider.
My experience, I've been a widow since 2000, I feel I've done the "hard yards", so packing up and going outback alone is relatively easy.
I'm still at odds if I should sell my house or not.
I come from a dysfunctional family, when I kick the bucket, the last thing I would want is to be surrounded by family, P.O. and let me die in peace lol lol.
WOW!!
Some very interesting (and sad) stories. My kids are very successful at what they do, I have told them that the inheritance will be our stiff and dead bodies in the caravan, they can haggle over that and the Ranger. IN THE MEANTIME..
We are going to have a bloody ball..
ROCK ON NOMADS!!!! love ya all...
Safe travels
Apparently not so Neil,, someone also commented on another thread that this behaviour doesn't do anyone any favours,,, I've NEVER met a ranger with this opinion.
Darrell