Hi, we are looking at getting on the road in the next 18 months.  Wondering how long people have been on the road for and it is viable as a long term propersition.  We are looking at setting out for a couple of years.  Any feedback please.

Wow!

You'll get a mob of replies to that question!

There are some who have been "on the road" for the greater part of their lives.

You'll find that the more you do it, the more you adjust to it  and the more difficult it becomes to settle down to 'bricks and mortar' again.

Some never achieve 'conventional suburban living' ever again.

We are looking at spending the kids inheritence and using the 'bricks and mortar" to buy the rig so this will be a long term venture.

we travelled this great country for the first ten years of "going out" on the road, then we spent the first ten years of our married life "on the road" we then spent the next thirty trying to stay "out there" as much as we possibly can, home is only where the bills are, oh and to have the gatherings of the clan we had our chance to fulfill our dream but found we couldnt do it for reasons better known to our older members, if you have the oppurtunity then grab it and go, it's a great lifestyle with very few regrets from people whom we have talked to! we have about twenty of our freinds who have spent the last ten years plus on the wallaby and they would not come back for quids

Make sure you get a decent caravan and a very comfortable car Roddam. I will not travel in rubbish.!! Oh .......sorry.............did I forget to say...............I'm coming too.??

Hi Roddam and welcome to the Nomads site. Many of the members of this site are keen, regular travellers who go away for weeks at a time with caravan, campervan or trailer or motorhome. Others are on the road, or living in a caravan full time. I haven't missed bricks and mortar and furniture since I left Pt. Lincoln for the Kimberleys in '96. When I moved into Broome, a caravan became my home. I bought a more road worthy van and set out in June 06, returned to Broome. I took 12 months to set up the van and then headed off for the Daintree over the next 12 mths via SW WA, SA, Vic, NSW. I've been in Cairns for nearly 18mths, but I'll be hitching up again in the new year. There's no room for hoarding and life is more compact, but in other ways it's more open, with a certain freedom you don't have when you live in your own real estate in the 'burbs. If you don't like a neighbourhood, you just hitch up and move on. It doesn't mean being on the road all the time or every week or two, but it can. You can work as you go if you choose to. There are so many options for this lifestyle. I don't know if I'm a good example because I'm doing it alone. A couple sharing this lifestyle will have a different perspective. You'd have to be very compatible, no matter how long you've been together. You share this lifestyle, very closely most of the time. Most couples I have met in my travels seem to have a perpetual smile on their dial. Now I don't understand that --- yes I do! Safe and happy travels. Hope to see you on the road somewhere.

Welcome Roddam to the forum.
My husband and I re currently thinking of doing the same as you.  Sell the house and get the and and off we go.  No timefames and lots to see.
Good luck with your choices and enjoy the forum
Barb

We had 17 weeks long service leave touring WA with tent. Never could properly settle again after that. Managed to retire early in order to do long-term travel. Had to buy a van for that due to hip replacement for one of us (aged 56!!). We were on the road 3 years - just loved it. Used to go north in winter, come somewhere south in summer. Only came home after 3 years because the offspring living in our house moved out, and there were pets. In the 9 years since, have gone away most years - shortest trip was a month, longest was 10 months. Average would be 5 months. Our van is only 14foot inside, so it is possible to survive together without a monster van!