Motor home remorse

fireheart · Senior Member

Motor home remorse

pauline · Guru

Can understand where you are coming from Sharon, even though we only rent, I really do love our little unit, but I guess it is the stuff that makes it a home and deciding what stuff to keep and what to get rid of is the dilemma........sometimes I just want to go today and then out of the blue I will look around and start to think, must stop doing that.........I guess it is the fear of the unknown but at least I do have a partner to share it with........agree with your son don't wish your life away, embrace it and get out there that is what we will be doing about May next year...........you should come on here more often and it won't take long for the dream to become reality as you will be so inspired, just BREATHE it will all be fine.

Cheers
Pauline

billeeeeeee · Guru

Howdyeeeee fireheart,sold my home in March, bought a Motor home, havent looked back , was a bit scared at first, have met heaps of Nomads, just came from a Nomad meeting in Vic, met 30 odd Nomads, have made heaps of friends, Australia is my play ground, sooooo get excited about the rest of your life, Billeeeeeee..

jonathan · Guru

I've been through exactly what you're feeling but as a male.. have sold the house .. and now permanently on the road and face each day as it comes ..

Its taken good friends and assorted experiences that see me not wanting to go back at all ..

You will have lots to consider, but I would suggest if possible that you maybe hire a motorhome for a week or so .. but still remembering that you still have an option to go either way.

I feel you must 'taste' the water first .. and dont be too concerned which way your decision moves as its all part of the experience ..

enjoy what you are happy doing !

Jon

-- Edited by jonathan on Thursday 8th of December 2011 10:59:19 AM

Vic · Guru

I agree with John, hire one first and try the lifestyle, it may be expensive to hire, but not anywhere near the expense of making the wrong decision.

Welcome to the forum and hope it all works out whatever you do. biggrin

-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 8th of December 2011 11:08:56 AM

Rip and Rosie · Guru

If you are not sure about burning your bridges, don't burn them.

As the boys above have advised, maybe hire something for a few months, or delay the sale of the house for a little while. That way you can hedge your bets a bit.

Selling your home is a huge thing for lots of women, and if you feel the need to be cautious, so be it.

Lots of us keep a home base and so shorter trips- there are no rules that require you to be on the road full time, so if you have to warm into your dream, do it. Start of slowly.

As for getting rid of your stuff, start with a good clean up of cupboards and wardrobes, and then take a break. Go away for a week or 2, and when you come home just have another look around. Things will emerge for you, and the picture will become clearer.

Firefly · Guru

Great advice from everyone here.

I would have to hire before the plunge as well I think.

I couldn't give up my home, I have to have somewhere to come back to.

Can you have the best of both worlds?

Maybe do a reverse mortgage and rent the house out as you travel to pay for it?

Don't know how they work but maybe you could work something out some how mate

Good luck and welcome to the forum. smile

jimricho · Guru

Firefly wrote:
Maybe do a reverse mortgage and rent the house out as you travel to pay for it?
Don't know how they work but maybe you could work something out some how mate

You'd really need to do you're homework on that one, talk to an accountant as there are quite a few considerations, get it wrong and it could be costly. I'm not knocking the idea out of hand however as it may worth investigating.

If selling the home you probably should consider how you can buy back in later. From a tax point of view it may be better to downsize by selling up and buying a unit that you could rent out and later in life you could move into. Again do your homework and get advice.

Firefly · Guru

I agree totally Jim, anything you do, run it by your accountant for sure. They seem to be able to wade through all the pros and cons in a level headed way, minus the romance of what we actually want. smile

Beth54 · Guru

Welcome Fireheart.

I tried to post a comment this morning but my laptop wasn't playing the game.

What I was going to say was exactly what Jonathan said, hire a small motorhome first before making the desicion.

Then follow your gut instinct. Do you have to sell up? Can you do it partime? What feels best for you?

Jim makes a good point. Maybe down size and have something to come back to in later years.

Happywanderer · The Master

Perhaps there is a way you can do both as the others have said.
I like my little unit to come back to, its not much but it is my home. Has all my bits in it.

Perhaps go for something smaller in the motorhome and go for shorter trips.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hi Fireheart

like the others I wonder if there is a way for you to test the waters first and do a few test runs. Renting motorhomes can be quite reasonable especially if you go in the off seasons and go for several weeks, you can always negotiate a better price. Also it's worth checking out with all the hire companies whether they need people to drive motorhomes back from drop off points - for example across the Nullabor. I know people do this with rental cars and they pick up caars for something like $50 per week. This could be a cheap option of getting some trial nomading happening.

From your earlier posts you were very passionate about the idea of hitting the road. More often than not, a decision to follow a particular course does not mean you have to totally give up another option, it is very often possible to do both and enjoy and may just involve some creative thinking. My cousins have been on the road fulltime for many years and have 2 of their kids living in their home which enables the kids to rent out their own places and benefit financially as well as leaving a home to go back to whenever they need to have a break from their travels.

A motorhome can be considered an investment because it can hold its value. It could be possible to borrow on the equity of your home without selling it to buy the motorhome, rent your home out and negative gear everything including the interest on the motorhome loan and the money you spend on maintaining the motorhome, particularly if you undertook particular activities with it - happy to go into more detail if you pm me. This could be an attractive option in this current climate of declining property values and economic uncertainity.

It's always a cold wake up when you consider a major life change which involves selling your home so you are definitely not alone.

Some travellers decide to keep a home base, others decide selling up everything is the best option and others have no choice because of their financial and personal circumstances.

As Jim said, it's worth having a chat to an accountant once you have thought through some of the options, and then have another think once you have seen the accountant. Remember though that accountants will have their own biases so you will need to choose one who values the travellers or nomads ethos.

Good luck in your decision making.

fireheart · Senior Member

Thank you everyone for your answers and suggestions. I really appreciate it. If this is just a snippet of the community out there on the road then I think that is where I belong. Time will tell.

peacewalker · Veteran Member

Hi sharon, I'm in the process of selling my home, and becoming a full time

nomad, excited and scared at the same time. But you will never know what

its like until you try it. I have had a heart scare so getting rid of all stress

and hitting the road, can't wait. The decision is all yours and theres plenty

of good advice here.

Robyn

beiffe · Guru

I agree a hire option gives you a little bit of an experience but I think if you could go to a gathering of like people and have a talk it might help.

Before I decided I spend lots of time at the local rest stop just talking to people. Offer them a ride to the shops etc and then have a cuppa and talk about your dreams and ask what they did and why and what they enjoy about the life.

I sold my house as I had two options.
1. keep working to pay the house and die an early death
2. sell up and enjoy the time I have left

After 4 years I feel great and doing what I want when I want. see doctors don't know it all

When you look at your STUFF look at each piece and ask your self what would happen if it broke etc. Would you life end or would you just shake your head and say "well that's that gone"

I had LOTS of stuff. Admitably man stuff like a full shed of wood working tools and welders and etc etc and mostly 2 off in case one stopped. Well I sold nearly all of it at bargain prices and gave the rest away. I had every nut ,bolt etc you could need (don't any one look in my trailer now will you).

When I was getting ready to hit the road I used the same thinking, bought everything I THOUGHT I might need. Well much of the STUFF I bought has now been left on rubbish bins or given away. Admitably I have bought some stuff I did not bring that I felt I needed.

Remember that all your stuff is nice but will not talk to you when you are lonely and will not show you some new scenery in the morning. Traveling will and every day is a new experience and you meet different people and see a different view.

You will never be bored or lonely.

I hope you find your answer and enjoy your self in either choice.

Regards
Brian

Andrea · Senior Member

Welcome, Fireheart!

Much advice above suggests caution - hiring a unit first, maybe not selling your house yet, etc. And it's all good common sense.

Now, what we did: OK, there are two of us, for a start, but we'd never even holidayed 'on the road' before we met a solo GN at our local (Adelaide Hills) Growers Market one Sunday. We knew that we'd have to give up the long-awaited house we'd built 10 years earlier - the constant mowing & brush-cutting and other maintenance was too much for John's damaged back. Jane gave us a glimpse of another lifestyle, having just decided to sell her own house in Narooma after six months on the road.

After 18 months of research we decided on our new home (an Australian 5th-wheeler), and on ordering realised that we had only two months to sell up and get to Brisbane. Like you, we thought 'have to keep THAT, can't get rid of THAT', etc. But once we started it got easier and easier, on top of which, when the house was tentatively put on the agent's web site, his first call the following morning was from a young couple from two local towns buying their first house. It was all done & dusted within a week!

And like Brian, John had to dispose of his workshop equipment and shed full of 'stuff' (all those nuts 'n' bolts, etc.!). Also like Brian, we've disposed of even more since going on the road three years ago. It's surprising just what you don't really need!

Jane is still a nomad, though she's teamed up with another solo since then. And we've never looked back - even felt uncomfortable sleeping in a 'real' house earlier this year! smile

So, whatever you decide, Fireheart, be assured that you will have plenty of support from our travelling community - they're a pretty fantastic lot!

Andrea

Cruising Granny · Guru

Purging a lifetime of collecting is a very hard thing to do. Letting go is a very hard thing to do.
If you take short trips and have a clean out every time you go home, you'll find you need less and less stuff, and the purging will come easier.
Keep photos, with dates and names on them. If you can't store them pass them to a reliable family member to keep.
The shed stuff is hard to purge because, "we may need that some day".
Review your stuff you think you may need some day, and if you haven't looked for it, looked at it or used it for a period of time, eg 12 months or 3 months, then you don't need it and you can pass it on to someone who might.
Clothes is easy. Summer, winter, mostly casual in this lifestyle, and a pair of dress up/dress down shorts, tops, shoes for each season, and you're done.
If that overcoat hasn't been worn for 5 years you won't miss it, but the Salvos could probably put it to good use.
You can't take plants from state to state so the pot plants will have to go.
Ornaments, vases, doylies, tablecloths, family treasures - keep a small selection of the MOST valuable to you and pass the rest to another reliable family member to keep.
Those cute garden gnomes can go next door or to the neighbour across the road who's been looking at them for years.
Do it with a family member or close friend so you can discuss the memory which goes with each piece, if there are memories.
If there are no memories, getting rid of it is easier.
There you go. Wasn't that easy?
Easy for me to say.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Firefly wrote:
I agree totally Jim, anything you do, run it by your accountant for sure. They seem to be able to wade through all the pros and cons in a level headed way, minus the romance of what we actually want.

Good advice as usual. I've actually missed your good advice FF.

Where have been? Missed ya.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Yes for me the shed stuff is the biggest issue. I have done lots of major shedding because I have had major relocations over the years but I love my tools and some of them have gone with me for nearly 20 years. The other issue is the art stuff. I want to package it up and send it to a friend interstate to store for me. It's not much, probably requires a box or package say 1.8m x 1.2m x 1m. Any ideas or suggestions?

Sorry Sharon - this is a typical example of thread hijacking. I will start a separate thread if people tell me off.

fireheart · Senior Member

Elle, no apology needed. All the advice on here has been wonderful. If we can all learn from somebody else, then life becomes that little easier. I have started to look around the house and have taken on the words of wisdom from all here. There are a few treasures that I would keep and put in storage for the "one day" then there is stuff that really as Beeffie said, this stuff will not talk to me or keep me company so guess what time to move it on.
I am still maintaining my dream of hitting the road, and I think I am nearly over this little hurdle too. I am sure that there will be others before I finally bid farewell to this place I call home for now. I look forward to sitting by the sea or a river somewhere drinking a wine or beer or maybe just a cuppa and drinking in life.
I don't have to do it today or even tomorrow but someday soon I will be out there. So Elle, keep hijacking as we all learn from others more experienced than ourselves.

Vic · Guru

Elle on Wheels wrote:
The other issue is the art stuff. I want to package it up and send it to a friend interstate to store for me. It's not much, probably requires a box or package say 1.8m x 1.2m x 1m. Any ideas or suggestions?

Hi Elle, Tezza had a thread on boxes, moving etc a little while back, they mentioned one they used, not sure if this is the one though;

http://www.packsend.com.au/

Firefly · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:

Good advice as usual. I've actually missed your good advice FF.
Where have been? Missed ya.

Not much mate, just work and babysitting the grandkids as the youngest daughter now works.

Just booking our trip in for July next year, wooo hoo, only a month though.

Basically life in general in the way. Not much time to play, especially not at this time of the year.

Almurta · Veteran Member

Trying to figure out whether to go or not is a major hurdle. I'm at exactly the same place tho I am in a rental unit. For getting rid of stuff there is a Feng Shui exercise that really helps to kickstart the process. Pick up an object, ask - Do I want it? Do I need it? Do I need it now? (Of course if it's something you only use seasonally or occassionally put it in storage). If you feel the answer is No to all three questions get rid of it. Put "I don't know" objects aside and keep going with ones that you feel you really can live without after all. Box them up and pass them on them to charity or have a garage sale. As you get rid of stuff the feeling of lightness can get quite euphoric and the process becomes much easier. After a few weeks go back to the things you weren't sure about and see if perhaps some them are ready to go. A good way of thinking about it is to think about the benefits of letting going of the old and the past so that the new can come in.

Working out what to do with the art supplies is a major issue. At present it's the thought of not being able to spread out and make art that is holding me back from travelling full time. I'm beginning to think that for me the answer lies in setting up a lifestyle where I can have both - a place to call home and the means to get out on the road when I need a change of scene.
All the best - I know exactly what you're going through. Cheers - Sue

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hey Sue there is an article on the home page about a travelling artist and his wife who have been on the road 20 years or so.

Almurta · Veteran Member

Thanks Elle, I'll take a look.

fireheart · Senior Member

Thanks Sue. That is a really good way of looking at things. I actually took a small step yesterday and threw out a whole heap of make up and things from the bathroom that I have not looked at or used for 2 years. It did feel really good. I have also phoned a local realestate agent to come and give an appraisal on my house so baby steps but all one step further to heading out on the road.
I am reminded from my life coaching days that it is about the journey, rather than the prize at the end so here goes. I am also reminded of what my beautiful late husband use to tell me, A plane uses the most fuel on leading up and upon take off, so after take off it is plain flying so to speak. So I guess I am about to take to the runway. Oh he was an airline pilot so the analogy was his way of giving me some coaching from time to time.
I am also looking at my quilting fabrics and the unfinished projects and thinking about giving all that away. My sister in law will be in 7th heaven I think. Like I said baby steps and one day I will be running.

pauline · Guru

Good for you Sharon, the first step is always the hardest and you have taken two in one day, I know what you mean about the makeup we just seem to accumulate it over the years and there it stays, that reminds me I must go through all of mine...........wear very little nowadays.

Cheers
Pauline

wendyv · Guru

Sharon,
you could hand piece quilts while travelling. Maybe cut out several projects before you go, to save having to cart that stuff with you.

Esmeralda · Guru

fireheart wrote:
Thanks Sue. That is a really good way of looking at things. I actually took a small step yesterday and threw out a whole heap of make up and things from the bathroom that I have not looked at or used for 2 years. It did feel really good. I have also phoned a local realestate agent to come and give an appraisal on my house so baby steps but all one step further to heading out on the road.
I am reminded from my life coaching days that it is about the journey, rather than the prize at the end so here goes. I am also reminded of what my beautiful late husband use to tell me, A plane uses the most fuel on leading up and upon take off, so after take off it is plain flying so to speak. So I guess I am about to take to the runway. Oh he was an airline pilot so the analogy was his way of giving me some coaching from time to time.
I am also looking at my quilting fabrics and the unfinished projects and thinking about giving all that away. My sister in law will be in 7th heaven I think. Like I said baby steps and one day I will be running.

Sharon - cut some hand piecing projects even if you leave some with a family member to send you when you finish each one. You need to have some sort of hobby when you are on the road. I have bought a small and very light weight sewing machine which I currently take to retreats and workshops - and later I can take it away when I travel if the mood takes me.

Helen

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hey Sharon

looks like you are moving again rather than being stuck which is great. Just trust in your inner processes and intuition and know that you will decide what is right for you in good time. I'm packing up all my books to take to the book exchange, a mega step for me. Like the others said find a practicel way to take some hobbies on the road, there's no need to give up everything. A light weigh sewing machine sounds like a great idea.