Have sold the house, the boat, the 2nd car, and bought the van , the 4x4 and will be travelling with two dogs and a cat. Never gonna look back. The jobs are out there as I have looked at the internet and found 71 pages of work for all times of the year. Try this site for a start. www.Seek.com.au All will be revealed.

-- Edited by Ablett on Monday 7th of September 2009 09:37:24 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum, I hope you get to live the dream.

Welcome to both of you - she who wants to, and he who's not sure. It seems you all, you, him and the dog, need to do a bit more discussing and planning. People get emotionally attached to their real estate. I choose to live and travel in my caravan, but I've always been a bit detached and a gypsy. If you lease out the house you may not return to the property you left. That could cost you more than a new place. If you sell and take care of the proceeds you can buy again when you're sick of it. After travelling around for a while in a caravan you may not need a big house ever again. You may not even want to return to your former place of abode. You may find a better place in your travels. Oh, so many decisions. It won't work if you don't agree and work out what's best for both of you. I only have myself to consider, and advise the kids of my decision. It can be a really huge decision affecting your lifestyle for the rest of your lives. If you move out and store your stuff will you need it all when stop travelling? Just a few thoughts on your dilemma, but it's your decision together. Cheers Chris

Hi Louise and welcome to the forum. My hubby & I travelled for one year in 2003-2004 and we sold the house but stored all our furniture etc in a container we purchased and friends who owned property stored it at no cost. This worked out fine. When we returned we decided to rent at first but then decided that was a waste of money so bought again and went back to work fulltime! Well that was now five years ago.
We are now going to sell in August 2010- But everything this time, furniture and all and stay travelling until we can no longer travel- hope that never happens but possibly will.
We simply loved it so much the first time but didn't have enough funds to continue as we wanted to.
We are going to work only very casually but will keep us from going rusty as they say. We will both be 63 so won't qualify for pension for couple of years- but without hesitation we say - "Have A Go" Plenty to see and do, go live the dream most only ever dream about!
Good luck with you decision- maybe we will catch up with you on the road one day. Cheers Dawn
ps we are taking our little fox terrier with us also

-- Edited by Dawn on Wednesday 9th of September 2009 02:44:27 PM

what about renting your house out, ie through a real estate agent, at least you get the option of stll having the house and some extra money coming in

I'd sooner sell than rent Milo. Too many bad tenants around, and you might end up with a house worth almost nothing, and a huge repair bill. Cheers, xina.

xina wrote:

---

 Too many bad tenants around, and you might end up with a house worth almost nothing, and a huge repair bill.
Cheers,
xina.

---

I'm with you on that one Xina.

Had a couple of rentable houses way back in another lifetime and NEVER AGAIN!!

The owner has very little rights when it comes to getting bad tenants out of the house and the damage repair costs  are mostly unrecoverable.

Sell the house, invest the money, come back, IF YOU MUST, buy something smaller or be like Guru and I, we have our own home in an Over 55's Village.  We can go away for as long as we want and not have to worry as you have the best neighbourhood watch system that ever was.

Not only that your gardens are watered and your mail collected.  Recommend the lifestyle as well.

Can't say as all these types of villages are the same but ours is great.  Best move I made in selling up and coming into the village.

Ma

 

yeah i forgot about bad tennants

Hi Louise, Hubby and I have had the discussion many times. [when he retires]. Ijust know that I'm one who does need my bricks and mortar waiting for me, when I,m a little weary of the road. We have travelled many k's in our van over the years ....just love it.....however I love to go home. On the other hand.... friends of ours sold everything, invested all, then "did the lap". They fell in love with a place in the N.T, bought that for when they grew weary,[which they did] and now that their travelling days are over, they think buying that place was the best decision they ever made. Enjoy your decision, what ever way you go. Cheers Dellie. P.S plenty of work in the N.T

Hi Louse,
       I say do it guy,s .Still trying to convince wife to sell and put monies away till we finish travelling .Tried to travel the block years ago rented our house and flat attached to house,had to come back from Mount isa and sort things out .Agent would not resolve problemn still charged us commission .Endede up having to get good tenant out of flat and re-renting house section our selves and continue trip finally .Ready to go again,and may have finally convinced wife ,as now has to have her second major operation to remove cancer.We are both 68 ,and do it while you can .

See you out there Lance

P.S. Love the coupe

-- Edited by Lance and Vi on Friday 11th of September 2009 05:42:52 PM

Hi Lance and Vi,
Yes everyone keeps telling us to just go and do it because sometimes stuff happens in our lives and puts a whole new spin on things. We do wish Vi all the very best for the future.
Thank you --- we love our coupe too. It's sitting in the garage. That would have to go and we would miss it. We have had a lot of fun with our hotrods.
Take care.
Louise.

Hi Lance, Vi and Louise,

All the more reason when you think of Vi's situation (been there) to get out and do things now while you still can.  You never know what's round the corner.  All the best plans can come to nothing if you wait too long (been there too).

All the very best Vi.  Keep a positive attitude, it can work miracles sometimes.

Ma

Hi Ma,
Thank you for your thoughts. I was a volunteer with Look Good Feel Better a fantastic workshop that gives women with cancer a day to have their makeup done and play with wigs etc, then we would all have lunch together. I have met some totally amazing women that have humbled me with their courage, attitude and outlook on life.I know you are so right when you say just go and do it.
Take care.
Louise.

Hi Louise,
We have just began our adventure around Australia don't know how far we will get. Hubbie had a health scare and we just decided the time was right to go, (also lost a sister and she was only 50 life is just so short) We have a hotrod as well 38chev(which we bought with us) and we are living in our 48 bedford hotrod bus.Had the house on the market and it didnt sell in the time frame so we got some realiable house sitters and so far things are fine,Hopefully I am about to start work in Aged Care and another chapter in our lives is beginning,it is scary but we will see where it takes us. We also took our old lab with us She is nearly 14 and she too has a new lease on life(2 old people,one old dog and two old cars LOL) but we are so happy that we were given a chance to try something different. Go with your heart as everyones circumstances are different, There are some great people on this forum and they will offer heaps of advice and help to you
Chris and Robbie