I've been building up to selling everything and going solo nomad for
a year or more but now it's becoming all too real.

Trying to divest myself of the possessions of a life time is very
hard and incurs much emotion.

What if I change my mind? Should I put stuff into storage? Which
stuff? What about the family photographs or Aunt Jane's china? What
tools do I need to keep? Which books? So many hard and sometimes
painful decisions.

The house went on the market a few days ago but a termite inspection,
at my expense in order to be honest with buyers, indicates about $40k
of work needed. Truth be told, I'm not surprised and I can absorb
that in the sale price without a major issue but it adds to the
stress, now I'm going to have to negotiate the repair costs.

I just want it all to end so I can get on the road and start the rest
and likely final chapter of my life.

I have just gone solo after selling most things, still have more I don't need, but now seem to be buying more for self-sufficiency camping. When does it end?? and the stress of it all. Then there is the learning of z new way of life

Possum3 wrote:

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Mike, would you have sufficient funds to buy a small cottage

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Hi P3 - yes I do but it's not what I want to do. I want to be free of the regular bills of rates, elec, gas et al. I'm sick of them and I'm sick of modern society and its demands on individuals to conform - maybe I always have been - indeed perhaps that is why many of us seek to go nomad?

Mike, you have a list of things that you need to get done. Before you know it, you will have them all ticked off and be on you way to your nirvana. Hope it is soon.

Joe.

We are a couple but downsizing from a 5 bedroom house to a 23 foot caravan has been challenging. We have purchased a Qpix scanner to digitise all of our photos and negatives as no one wants printed copies nowadays and the kids can take there pick of the copies they want. 2 large boxes of precious stuff stored at the sons house. Everything else is replaceable if we ever settle down again. Bring on the adventures!

Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement :)

I took a walk along the beach this morning; the sun was shining, the sea was crystal clear and a few small children were paddling in water too cold for me to dip my big toe in! The walk revitalised me somewhat and I feel strengthened to face the next challenge.

Grandad5: your comment is wise - I tend to see the whole issue and feel overwhelmed instead, as you suggest, I should focus on "one thing at a time".

One of the disadvantages of being single; no one to share the problems with and put issues into perspective when we are stressed by them.

It will all come good I know and I've dealt with much more difficult challenges in the past but I will be *damn* glad when it's all over :)

Thanks Doug :)

>you have made the hardest choice already

I'm sure that is correct. I think a mistake I have made is dragging it out too long. I mostly made this decision about three years ago but have spent a lot of that time just messing around going bush and generally enjoying myself. I think I should have got stuck in to the real issue once I made the decision.

>You will find you don't need a lot of 'stuff' living in a CV

You know... I am absolutely sure you are correct but, nevertheless, it is hard to junk the "stuff" of a lifetime. But then... it is only "stuff".

> I have never looked back. I love this new chapter in my life.

Indeed. And I have no doubt at all I'll have no regrets either.

>My late wife is still with me, only in my memory.

Doug: I don't think we could ask for more than that we live on in the memory of someone we loved and who loved us.

Hi mike, strop and i did this 3 years ago. I was overwhelmed  too at times. Decided to tackle one room at a time. Told kids to come get what u want then Sold the rest  on facebook buy sell swap groups. U will find them in your area too. Photos i scanned them all and put on a hard drive, then made 2 copies of that on 2 hard drives n gave to kids incase one  breaks one day. Offered kids photos but mostly went into the  bin. My wedding dress of round 40 years and precious heirlooms (strops first shoes with bunnies on the side, handmade tablecloths over 100 years old N more) that kids did not want, we donated to the local museum. will b used for exhibitions and have our name on them When displayed.  Kids can c them any time also. Sold house as soon as it went on the market N that was a real shock. one small box with kids.

what we have is with us in our van. Great to not have rates, electricity, gas, maintenance, mortgage. Free to do what we want, when we want and go where we want. Retirement is amazing.

just take one day at a time. You will be ok. Regards rocket n strop

I had a great plan but have hit a bit of a snag.

After consulting our son we decided to sell up, build a shed to store sentimental stuff and a granny flat on his property. We also paid off his mortgage and we took part ownership of the property, just in case. On the basis that we saved him some $600 per week he pays all the bills; rates, water, electricity, gas etc. That leaves us free to wander wherever and whenever we wished with no bills, a home base as well as a capital investment. Basically its a win win for both of us.

We moved in and ready to rock and roll when the first grandchild came along, that was 16 months ago. Granny said that's it I'm staying put and here we are, very happy in the granny flat, looking after our grand daughter. The chapter is not over, if Granny wants to stick around, I plan to do some solo traveling next year.

Bryan wrote:

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when the first grandchild came along, that was 16 months ago. Granny said that's it I'm staying put

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Oh Bryan!

Women and babies. What can you do? :)

Having been in your situation I really feel for you at this rough time.

For myself, I put all that I wanted to keep in my daughters double garage. Took up half of her space, but it is still there after 2 years.

But time changes your perspective about how you want to live.

My friends ask me "What do you want to do"?  the answer changes from time to time..  I was a couple nomad who became a solo nomad. So in reading your post I have been down memory land.

Sometimes I do housesitting , sometimes I go to RV Rallies, sometimes I visit my adult kids, sometimes I go on a cruise, and sometimes I just go bush until I am sick of my own company.

there are always options my friend, you have lots of good stuff to look forward to.  

All the best from this solo nomad.

Lanock: thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words :)

I am a very positive person but was a little down the night I wrote the original post, that's OK 'cause if you don't know down then you can't know up.

As always, I have bounced back and am now making things happen - I'll take up half of my son's garage with stuff too :)

I'm coming to terms with throwing "stuff" out and it's not as hard as I imagined, not that I'm a hoarder... well not much of one... but it does feel good to unburden myself of some of the stuff I have hung on to which probably I shouldn't.

I have become a little "stale" over the past few years, as many of us do, but I am now eager to start the next journey.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Hi Susan

It is reassuring to know others go through similar concerns and problems, I agree.

I checked the voting thing recently and, at a federal level, if you do not have a fixed address you do not have to register to vote. I'm not sure what the various states require for state elections. Distance voting is easy; you can vote in person in another location to your "home" but it's much easier to request a postal vote.

Insurance and driving licence wise: It will certainly be best (necessary?) to provide the insurance company/licence people with a fixed address and I think what most nomads do is use the address of a good friend/relative and state they are living there.

Exciting times :)

Chocoholic wrote:

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I heard if you don't vote they issue a fine and if they get no response you license can get cancelled.

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Don't believe everything you hear:

https://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/Special_Category/Enrolment_with_no_fixed_address.htm

G'day Mike   When we first set off over 4 years ago we put a lot of stuff in storage and came back after 12 months, went through everything and gave most away after paying storage fees for so long. A few things we left in our daughter's garage and we will  probably go through that soon and get rid of more.So much easier living in our little van. No bills other than rego and insurance.   We have no regrets, sometimes letting go takes time.  Good luck.   Bru

Bru wrote:

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sometimes letting go takes time.

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It does indeed. And I think it's a process we should allow to proceed at a rate with which we feel comfortable.

Hi There. HI All

I am a long time reader, now, early next year will be full time Nomad. After years of dreaming about it (the only thing that got me through some very sad nights on many occasion, Dammm black dog lol), and after being a full time carer for past 8 months (person now passed on) and two months later a recent diagnosis of a cancer (hopefully taken care of for now), I am finally "doing it". This past week I too have been dong the "cull", like you Mike, a lifetime of mementos, dreams, collections of a life lived now have to fit into a smallish van, hopefully 20 ft ish. I have come to realise that although the memories are great, my "stuff is nice" etc, but in the past three years most of it has remained in boxes and not been used. you know the saying if you have not used it in the past twelve months, do I really need it. This philosophy I am trying to apply to my culling. I have culled once, but i reckon I have another three culls to go. Like others above I have put photos onto computer, storing some special items at a friends, and so on. IT IS NOT AS EASY as people say/think. I am too old to share a house (been there done that), cannot afford to pay expensive rents of more than $300.00 per week especially if I am out of work, so the Road it is,

It has been extremely stressful as the dream now becomes reality. Maybe I got a little too settled in recent years, (as I got older) and took some shine off the dream, however I am now picking up on the original excitement of going - especially when it is freezing in Melbourne. I am looking forward to the better weather, the meeting new friends, in general - the feeling of space and freedom. I do not have a house to sell up and live off the savings, I will be on Centrelink (Newstart, much less money than a pension of which I am a long way from being on, and needing to jump through their hoops to keep a payment), however, as usual, I will manage (my mantra from now on). I will only be able to move on once per fortnight as that's all the budget will allow, but like many, I plan on picking up work, mostly childcare/babysitting, after all, parents on the road need some romantic time without the worry of the kids, and kids need a break from parents. lol!

So whilst the plan sounded good in my head, I am not immune to the harshness of life on the road, in truck stops, free camps ect. So before illness sets in, and whilst I am capable, I will start again just like so many times before in my life, and If it goes pair shaped, I will manage, as I always do. At least I will have a roof over my head when so many others - for whatever reason do not.

And for that I am truly grateful.

So keep going Mike, onward with fun and excitement, hope to meet some of you in the big backyard someday soon.

Sincerely

Polar Bear.

Hi PB

Thank you for your words of encouragement :)

It sounds like you have had a tough time of it these past few years, I sincerely hope things pick up for now.

In regard to your babysitting work, if you don't have one it would be well worth you applying for a Victorian "Working with Children" card - hint, they are free for volunteers:

http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/

I wish you all the best PB and hope we may meet on the road sometime.