How did you do it? Did you sell up? What did you do with items you kept etc etc? What, if any, are the downsides?
We would like to go full time but my lovely better half has many things she would like to hold on to and we were discussing the ways and means to do it to keep us both happy. We don't have family that we can store items with. Renting the house is not an option for us either. My wife has health issues but we should be able to work around these OK.
Would really like like to hear your comments on the subject, warts and all.
GaryKelly said
04:39 PM May 6, 2014
For me, it's easy. I rent so there's nothing to sell up except a whole bunch of stuff I don't need. Whatever doesn't fit in the van doesn't come. It's taken a while to get used to the idea that being a full time GN is not about what you're leaving behind, but what you're about to embrace. From what I gather reading posts from experienced GNs, it's all about where you're going and not where you've been. Memories are portable ya know. They're not locked away in possessions.
Legendts said
04:42 PM May 6, 2014
If only my wife could understand that Gary. LOL!
MollyW said
05:17 PM May 6, 2014
We are where you are right now. Except it is him who is clinging to stuff like, tractors, balers, trotting harness, etc.
we have packed a lot of stuff in a container, but my thinking is if I haven't looked for it in the last six months, then I don't need it.
I have horses and carriages that I would like to keep but you know I could walk away.
We are trying to sell, and buy a cheaper place so stuff could go there.
I just want to get on with it.
BTSV_Berni said
05:37 PM May 6, 2014
I'm thinking the same way. What ever I didn't touch for 6 months will go. There is only one excemption.....tools. Would be stupid to throw away a 13mm spanner only because I didn't use it for 6 months.
Makes live that much easier.
Regards, Berni
-- Edited by BTSV_Berni on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 05:38:53 PM
Legendts said
05:48 PM May 6, 2014
Didn't realise there were so many of us....lol
Legendts said
06:33 PM May 6, 2014
We've thought of a cheaper home to store things but the issue then is how do you insure it? All insurance companies I have spoken to so far have a 90 day vacancy policy. That is if the house is vacant for 91 days you are uninsured.
chopit said
06:38 PM May 6, 2014
We are hoping to hit the road full time sooner than later.
Over the past year an awful lot of stuff has been sold,given away or dumped.
Keepsakes,photo albums etc. have gone into plastic storage boxes.
Those boxes and a minimum of furniture have gone into storage in a friends unused garage.
The plan is to go nomad for as long as it suits us.
The culling of chattles has been easy for me but a little tougher for "Madame".
We'll get there.
freehazzas said
06:51 PM May 6, 2014
We had a beef farm and horse stud. We sold everything, left with what ever we could fit in the van. Did it nearly 4 years ago and still going.
We have now upgraded to a fifth wheeler and truck so we have boat ect and all the room for those new hobbies to start up on travels.
We left nothing behind so have nothing to worry about.
Best thing we ever did.
exa41 said
07:25 PM May 6, 2014
It sounds good to be free from dept as far as a house is concerned and be on the road full time but for me i like the idea of somewhere to go in later life however long that may be. I have a 44 yr old son at home (yeeeaaaarrr I know , he wont go ) so i have someone to care for the house i think, but it cures the insurance problem and those bludgers that think your gear is there`s , bad enough when you can`t remember who you lent it too in the first place. There are places that have storage facilities but they probably sting through the roof too!Allways a delemer where to put stuff isn`t it.
Legendts said
07:34 PM May 6, 2014
Sounds like some of you have it all together. Good on you for being able to sort it out.
Dennis, my wife thinks your wifes name is great, so do I 'cause that's my wife's name too
Bevandy2 said
11:47 PM May 6, 2014
Hi Jeff,
This is our story, we lived in Perth for 36 years, (RAAF, and stayed on after discharge) we both had good jobs and stashed away the super as allowed, we raised our three kids there.
When we retired in 2001 we owned two houses, the second one bought and paid for, using equity we had in the family home and rented out. (Citibank revolving line of credit did the trick)
We sold both, money in the bank, along with super payouts, and my Wesfarmers shares cashed in, we made some investments with Fiducian to ensure income, we had already bought and paid for our little Jayco 16' pop top, and with the dear old Fairlane towing, one of the happiest days of our lives was to see Perth in the rear vision mirror, and no ties to anyone or anything. We had all of Oz ahead of us, oh what a feeling!
We were never rich, even though this may sound like it, but we truly weren't, those houses were cheapies, we made do with old stuff mostly, and gave away a lot of furniture etc when we left. Stuff we didn't want to keep. The stuff we did want to keep we put into storage with a removalist company, and told them we will probably eventually settle in QLD, and we will tell you where and when to send it.
After seven months on the road and visiting the kids, (Katherine, Capella, Melbourne, ) we found our Paradise in the Blackall Range of the Sunshine Coast, and bought a nice one acre property, settled in and again took off, and have been doing it ever since.
Our wonderful neighbours look after the place while we are away, as we do for them, a fabulous friendly community, a surely refreshing change from the crime ridden Perth we came from.
Yvonne and I believe you need a home base to travel from, it's great to go away, but there is nothing quite like having a home base to come back to. Insurances allow you to be away for two months and not have to let them know, you can get around that by having neighbours come in, or get a house sitter you can trust, but I think it is comforting to know there is always home to come back to.
Jeff, if you are happy to stay where you live and want to keep the house, but go away a lot, I would check with neighbours if they are good people, or search for reputable house sitters, there are people who do this, but you need to be assured they are trust worthy.
Best wishes,
Bevan
native pepper said
09:07 AM May 7, 2014
G'day jeff, Been on the road both full time and with bases since 14, found over the years a base is a good idea, especially if someone gets pretty sick. All you need is a small block of land in the bush or small town somewhere and shed to begin with. Every time we change bases, we throw everything out and start again with our next base.
Now we spend about 9-10 months on the road full time and the rest is at our base in Tas and travelling Tas. Every base we've had, when we sell it we always make a good profit because we buy cheap and develop it a bit. Our present place we bought very cheap and since, it's resale value has gone up over 300%, but we won't be selling it as it provides us with everything we need for cheap, safe and comfortable living.
The longest time we didn't have a base would have been about 5 years, as work on the road never stopped and as we had kids, it was a struggle. Now the kids live in Aus and we continue to cruise through life.
To my mind, if you want to travel and keep a base, downsize and move away from urban area's for safety, cheaper living and ease of access, without the hassles of urban wall to wall people, never ending crime and pollution. Small town people are friendly, helpful, will keep an eye on your property when away and care about their neighbours, unlike lots of urban folk who don't even know who lives 50m away.
deverall11 said
02:39 PM May 7, 2014
Jeff, the secret to us being on the road full time is using the rent from our house that is rented. Being too young for the pension and to old to be employed, this is the predicament we found ourselves in. Unfortunately for some out there it is too late as our plan pretty much started within a few years of starting work once all the schooling was done and dusted. In other words, whilst some of our friends were out there galavanting the globe, we knuckled down and saved. Now we are in a position to reap the benefits.
Good luck,
Larry
Legendts said
06:26 PM May 7, 2014
Thank you Bevan, Native Pepper and Larry for your valued input. We are lucky enough to live in a rural dairy area on a small acreage and distant neighbours and like where we are, apart for winters and the rain lol. My Yvonne also wants/needs to retain a home base. This bloke would lock what we want to keep in the shed, selectively rent the place out and do our trip leisurely around the block and parts in between for however long we enjoy it. When we get back just do up what needs to be done and do annual trips while we can to wherever.
Again, many thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.
Andrea said
09:13 PM May 7, 2014
Hi, Jeff & Yvonne -
When John & I decided to 'go feral', we had to sell our house - it was the only way we could afford the type of van we wanted: a 25'6" Southern Cross 5th-wheeler, with a Mazda BT-50 tug. We had little time to think after we ordered the van - the house sold within a week, giving us six weeks to get rid of 35 years of accumulated 'stuff'. From looking at different bits and saying 'Oh, we can't get rid of that!' and 'No, we must keep that!', we quickly reached the point where we agreed that it was OK to let go...and suddenly we felt a lot freer, liberated. And after 5-and-a-half years on the road we've not looked back. Even John no longer pines for his shed; if he really wants a 'shed fix' he can usually get it at one of our house-sits.
Life on the road is great. Downsides? Even after a few hiccups: John's mini-stroke in 2012, which left him with double vision (now corrected with a special lens), then a heart attack on the operating table just before the surgeon started on his hip replacement, followed by two sub-dural haematomas from the blood thinners after the stents were inserted...we are still both committed to our current lifestyle. We're still doing property-minding, and our van is just like a small unit...but on wheels!
Whatever you decide, part- or full-time travelling, I'm sure you'll enjoy the more mobile lifestyle.
Cheers -
Andrea & John (currently property-minding at Beechwood, NSW)
george57 said
09:24 AM May 8, 2014
Legendts wrote:
We've thought of a cheaper home to store things but the issue then is how do you insure it? All insurance companies I have spoken to so far have a 90 day vacancy policy. That is if the house is vacant for 91 days you are uninsured.
Does the 91 day policy also apply to holiday homes....
cheers
George
Legendts said
01:34 PM May 8, 2014
Good point George but as they are probably managed, "inspected" and under a different policy possibly. Some companies only do it for 30 or 60 I believe so I guess RACV is OK giving a longer timeframe. I am waiting for an answer, in writing, with regard to paying a slightly higher premium for any periods away that are longer.
Legendts said
07:31 PM May 10, 2014
Sorry Andrea, meant to respond earlier. Boy sounds like Johns been through the ringer but obviously didn't deter you at all. Thank you for sharing your experiences and to all others that replied, thank you very much. The good fight (kidding) continues so we will see after our trip over the West via Alice to see if that changes anything.
Safe travels to all.
Hi to all of you full time GNs.
How did you do it? Did you sell up? What did you do with items you kept etc etc? What, if any, are the downsides?
We would like to go full time but my lovely better half has many things she would like to hold on to and we were discussing the ways and means to do it to keep us both happy. We don't have family that we can store items with. Renting the house is not an option for us either. My wife has health issues but we should be able to work around these OK.
Would really like like to hear your comments on the subject, warts and all.
I'm thinking the same way. What ever I didn't touch for 6 months will go. There is only one excemption.....tools. Would be stupid to throw away a 13mm spanner only because I didn't use it for 6 months.
Makes live that much easier.
Regards, Berni
-- Edited by BTSV_Berni on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 05:38:53 PM
Over the past year an awful lot of stuff has been sold,given away or dumped.
Keepsakes,photo albums etc. have gone into plastic storage boxes.
Those boxes and a minimum of furniture have gone into storage in a friends unused garage.
The plan is to go nomad for as long as it suits us.
The culling of chattles has been easy for me but a little tougher for "Madame".
We'll get there.
We have now upgraded to a fifth wheeler and truck so we have boat ect and all the room for those new hobbies to start up on travels.
We left nothing behind so have nothing to worry about.
Best thing we ever did.
Dennis, my wife thinks your wifes name is great, so do I 'cause that's my wife's name too
This is our story, we lived in Perth for 36 years, (RAAF, and stayed on after discharge) we both had good jobs and stashed away the super as allowed, we raised our three kids there.
When we retired in 2001 we owned two houses, the second one bought and paid for, using equity we had in the family home and rented out. (Citibank revolving line of credit did the trick)
We sold both, money in the bank, along with super payouts, and my Wesfarmers shares cashed in, we made some investments with Fiducian to ensure income, we had already bought and paid for our little Jayco 16' pop top, and with the dear old Fairlane towing, one of the happiest days of our lives was to see Perth in the rear vision mirror, and no ties to anyone or anything. We had all of Oz ahead of us, oh what a feeling!
We were never rich, even though this may sound like it, but we truly weren't, those houses were cheapies, we made do with old stuff mostly, and gave away a lot of furniture etc when we left. Stuff we didn't want to keep. The stuff we did want to keep we put into storage with a removalist company, and told them we will probably eventually settle in QLD, and we will tell you where and when to send it.
After seven months on the road and visiting the kids, (Katherine, Capella, Melbourne, ) we found our Paradise in the Blackall Range of the Sunshine Coast, and bought a nice one acre property, settled in and again took off, and have been doing it ever since.
Our wonderful neighbours look after the place while we are away, as we do for them, a fabulous friendly community, a surely refreshing change from the crime ridden Perth we came from.
Yvonne and I believe you need a home base to travel from, it's great to go away, but there is nothing quite like having a home base to come back to. Insurances allow you to be away for two months and not have to let them know, you can get around that by having neighbours come in, or get a house sitter you can trust, but I think it is comforting to know there is always home to come back to.
Jeff, if you are happy to stay where you live and want to keep the house, but go away a lot, I would check with neighbours if they are good people, or search for reputable house sitters, there are people who do this, but you need to be assured they are trust worthy.
Best wishes,
Bevan
Now we spend about 9-10 months on the road full time and the rest is at our base in Tas and travelling Tas. Every base we've had, when we sell it we always make a good profit because we buy cheap and develop it a bit. Our present place we bought very cheap and since, it's resale value has gone up over 300%, but we won't be selling it as it provides us with everything we need for cheap, safe and comfortable living.
The longest time we didn't have a base would have been about 5 years, as work on the road never stopped and as we had kids, it was a struggle. Now the kids live in Aus and we continue to cruise through life.
To my mind, if you want to travel and keep a base, downsize and move away from urban area's for safety, cheaper living and ease of access, without the hassles of urban wall to wall people, never ending crime and pollution. Small town people are friendly, helpful, will keep an eye on your property when away and care about their neighbours, unlike lots of urban folk who don't even know who lives 50m away.
Good luck,
Larry
Again, many thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.
Hi, Jeff & Yvonne -
When John & I decided to 'go feral', we had to sell our house - it was the only way we could afford the type of van we wanted: a 25'6" Southern Cross 5th-wheeler, with a Mazda BT-50 tug. We had little time to think after we ordered the van - the house sold within a week, giving us six weeks to get rid of 35 years of accumulated 'stuff'. From looking at different bits and saying 'Oh, we can't get rid of that!' and 'No, we must keep that!', we quickly reached the point where we agreed that it was OK to let go...and suddenly we felt a lot freer, liberated. And after 5-and-a-half years on the road we've not looked back. Even John no longer pines for his shed; if he really wants a 'shed fix' he can usually get it at one of our house-sits.
Life on the road is great. Downsides? Even after a few hiccups: John's mini-stroke in 2012, which left him with double vision (now corrected with a special lens), then a heart attack on the operating table just before the surgeon started on his hip replacement, followed by two sub-dural haematomas from the blood thinners after the stents were inserted...we are still both committed to our current lifestyle. We're still doing property-minding, and our van is just like a small unit...but on wheels!
Whatever you decide, part- or full-time travelling, I'm sure you'll enjoy the more mobile lifestyle.
Cheers -
Andrea & John
(currently property-minding at Beechwood, NSW)
Does the 91 day policy also apply to holiday homes....
cheers
George
Safe travels to all.
Happy travelling, Jeff -