We have sold the house, bought a brand new van and tow vehicle cleaned out all our belongings and will be hitting the road for however long in about 10 months time, but now I am getting a little anxious, I am finding I am getting quite scared of the prospect actually, Is it the thought of leaving 3 grownup children, retiring, living in a confined van,, less money to live on, safety...etc etc.
Has anyone else felt like this. Do all these things iron themselves out once you hit the road. or am I just getting paranoid with the excitement of it all.....
It's just the excitement and anticipation. You're heading in the direction of a great lifestyle. Once you're underway the skills and experience quickly kick in, the nerves go away, but the excitement, enjoyment and camaraderie with fellow nomads perpetually remain.
And once you're underway you'll no longer be an "L Plate nomad!!"
Cheers
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There are three types of people: Those who can count, and those who can't.
The first hour is the hardest, or how long it takes to get "out of town"
Then you can relax and enjoy the sites of the our great land. Meet some terriffic people, and camp in some beautifull places. And then there is the wonder food cooked on an open fire.
Firstly welcome to the forum and I am sure you will enjoy your time on this very "active" Grey Nomad site.
Yes, it is very scary and you will be anxious and stressed for some time.The need to plan long term and have future arrangements in place is paramount. We have been on the road as to say for just 2 and a bit years and while we enjoy the life style we have long term plans in place. Our furniture is in storage, we have a base camp as to say and we spend 50% of our time house sitting. Despite our intentions to travel/caravan for 5 years full time we found very early in the journey that this is not our cup of tea. So we house sit and this has been the best decision and most rewarding part of our caravan journey. We are currently at Hervey Bay, just spent 2 months at Childers and will head North to Cairns in a couple of months.
It is daunting and you need to think all things through, as you are some ways down the path already there may be no turning back.However it is truly a great lifestyle with a lot to offer, places to see and very good people to meet with like wise interests.
Hi and welcome. You will get lots of help from folk who are in your situation and if you need more help see on the blue tool bar at the top it says search? I went in there and typed "selling up" lots of previous help is posted there. You can put combinations of words that match your situation and it will come up, I love the advanced search button it's more forgiving.
While I dont live on the road we've recently sold our family home of 38 yrs and moved to the beach house, the loneliness I felt was gut wrenching. My daughter and grandkids lived in the same town and I miss them dreadfully. I know many many members wouldn't live back at base camp but I need to be back home after 4 or 5 months. I'm sure you considered all the options before you made this decision. As the others have said it's probably a mixture of excitement and anticipation.
All the very best and talking on here will help I'm sure
Hi L plates. It is twelve months since I had similar thoughts and feelings however after six months I had begun to settle into the new life in a van and mobile. Now as I look back it seems a distant memory of a house, land and possessions as though it was another life lived many years ago. Move forward, think positive in all situations and smile and talk to others and you will enjoy a new stress less lifestyle. Go and do it and Goodluck in your new adventure.
Remember if we keep doing what we have always done we get the same result. Cheers Allen
Its a huge change of lifestyle, especially when we are "mature" and very settled in our ways.
We sold house, contents etc and gave some money to the kids for house/cars and so on and bought a new tow vehicle and caravan.
We toured first in our home State for about 5 months and not going off tar seal until we were confident of what we were doing and sure this was for us.
We then built a house in shares with a single son and used it as our base. We then toured from WA through SA, VIC and NSW. We had the towing confidence and skills as well as knowing what we needed and how to live "full-time" in a smallish box on wheels.
Our sons job changed from one end of Perth to the other and it was taking him almost 2 hours to drive each way to work. We sold that house and building again (we're tigers for punishment !!). It will hopefully be ready in August, but meantime we have been house sitting in Perth metro and will continue until we move into the house.
Once all is sorted out (the lawns, driveways, gardens and the list goes on), we cant wait to hit the road again for at least 6-12 months.
Some suggestions as newbies to nomading:
1. Both of you should be competent to drive and reverse your tow vehicle and 'van. If you are not, then go practice in a large shopping centre carpark when its quiet or pay for a training course (google it or contact your State motoring organization, like RAC). It is important you can both drive in case the main driver falls ill on the road and you need to drive the rig to a town for assistance
2. Do a few sessions of one week type camping sessions both in a caravan park (called CP on this site) and free camping (you need to know how to operate all the non-240volt appliances in your van in case you get stranded away from a CP. It is a good time to find out the faults in your caravan (if you don't have any - youre very lucky) and tow vehicle (less likely). Write all the faults down and get them fixed before you start your grand tour
3. Don't overplan. You need to take account of a change in the weather or your own circumstances. Know what parts of what State you want to go to and make general plans how to get there. Youre no longer working - so don't rush it. Plan to leave camp round 8-9am and arrive mid afternoon the same day. Try very hard to avoid driving more than, say, 5 hours a day. You wont see much of the country and will soon be chronically tired.
4. Get full sets of paper maps - Hema are the best. I carry maps of all Sates and Territories as well as the primary cities. You may need them if your GPS (which is essential) stops working
5. Get a Camps 8 book and/or download wikicamps (costs $8). This will tell you all the CPs and low cost and free camp areas. If youre not IT savvy, get one of your children or grandchildren to set it up for you. It is actually easy, but can be daunting to load and set up properly. Once set up, wikicamps will be your accommodation "bible"
6. Have a good camera or quality tablet with camera.
7. Sort out your mobile phones. Remember in remote areas you will either have no reception or only Telstra. We have a prepaid Telstra phone which we only use when in remote areas, otherwise in metro areas we use Optus because they are much cheaper (or Vodafone). Also sort out your WIFI for travelling - get your kids or grandkids to sort out your phones and internet connections.
8. Lastly, ENJOY - RELAX - SMELL OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND DONT HESITATE TO ASK HELP FROM OTHER NOMADS (99% will help you if you explain youre new to nomading)
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Thanks all, you have been so helpful in helping me to stress less, I think we are nearly ready, I know it is going to take time to adjust and I am so grateful for your comments and for this site, I think it will become my daily ritual on the road to be logging in here and maybe one day be a little bit of help to someone else....I still think our kids are horrified by what there wanna be wandering parents are about to do though....
My Twopence worth. All our lives we have nearly always travelled with somewhere to go. Be it visits, holidays, even just shopping.
Personally I found the biggest lesson learnt was to Stop and Smell the Roses. The journey is the important thing and I had to learn to stop hurrying from here to there and look at things in a different way. Lots to see and if you feel the need to stay an extra day or two or three go for it.
First welcome aboard. Any problem you have with even the most silly question , don't hesatate to ask the members for help with teething problems with your caravan and tow car (4x4 )??. I know that you will have a few questions..........so ask away, this is what these forums are for. A great bunch of people who are only to happy to help answer your questions.
OH and good luck with it all, we will look forward to your questions !!
This and like forums are the Colleges where we learn all about the Caravan Grey Nomad lifestyle.
Like most learning Instituations you will learn the basic and thus gain your degree, but then the fun part is going out there in this big wide brown / green land of our and putting it all into practice.
I do not think you will find one person who would not be willing to help and not only offer asdsvice, but assist you with many issues that you may encounter.
We'd be scared too if we'd sold our home, it's our anchor. It's great going away exploring different areas, even better getting home to familiarity. We spend a total of 6 months away & 6 months at home per year. The best of both worlds in our opinion. Each to their own though.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Tuesday 24th of May 2016 03:18:01 PM
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
We were excited and wondering what the future holds but that soon disappeared.
18mths. Ago we sold everything n bought van n car. Best thing we ever did. Material possessions weigh you down. Who would ever have thought we really did not need strops grade 1report card or my wedding dress or my old school bag or strops baby shoes. Never ending housework and yard maintenance really is a waste of time. Now we are free, no house, no kids to raise, no job to be a slave to everyday, no neighbours barking dogs and in their place peace, fishing, bush walking, walks along the beach, new people to talk to, different things to look at, the open road and if we don't like where we are we just move. Life is good. Enjoy. Rocket n strop
-- Edited by the rocket on Tuesday 24th of May 2016 03:38:49 PM
Welcome to the gang L plate Nomad, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Probably all what you say makes you feel that way but believe me it all goes very very quickly once you get out here and I tell you that for free.
There is so much to do and see, meeting new people that become friends and some of those are life long friends. I tend to just hang around the Eastern States for the time being to see my grandchildren while still young. I have some at the bottom and some at the top. I do that for my late wife.....oh ok then, and me. Alright already, just me.
I spend summer months down South then move gradually to the North for winter. All works for me and heaps of time later to head over to the "wild west". I love the grandchildren at the younger ages as I'm sure they wont want old poppy around much as they get older and into their teens.
Keep Safe on the roads.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I think anytime you decide to change your life it's normal to feel apprehensive. You lose the security of a house but gain the Freedom of not having one. Once I decide where I want to stop for a while, I travel there "very" slowly and enjoy the journey. I still have to catch myself when I start counting down my 4 weeks annual leave. Once I realise I don't have to go back to work...ever, the journey becomes even more Enjoyalble. Once I get to my new spot I enjoy getting settled and having a good look around, then I decide if I'd like to go back there sometime in the Future. Then I work out my next spot I'd like to stop for a while. I guess that sorts out the next hundred years or so... :)
Its a huge change of lifestyle, especially when we are "mature" and very settled in our ways.
We sold house, contents etc and gave some money to the kids for house/cars and so on and bought a new tow vehicle and caravan.
We toured first in our home State for about 5 months and not going off tar seal until we were confident of what we were doing and sure this was for us.
We then built a house in shares with a single son and used it as our base. We then toured from WA through SA, VIC and NSW. We had the towing confidence and skills as well as knowing what we needed and how to live "full-time" in a smallish box on wheels.
Our sons job changed from one end of Perth to the other and it was taking him almost 2 hours to drive each way to work. We sold that house and building again (we're tigers for punishment !!). It will hopefully be ready in August, but meantime we have been house sitting in Perth metro and will continue until we move into the house.
Once all is sorted out (the lawns, driveways, gardens and the list goes on), we cant wait to hit the road again for at least 6-12 months.
Some suggestions as newbies to nomading:
1. Both of you should be competent to drive and reverse your tow vehicle and 'van. If you are not, then go practice in a large shopping centre carpark when its quiet or pay for a training course (google it or contact your State motoring organization, like RAC). It is important you can both drive in case the main driver falls ill on the road and you need to drive the rig to a town for assistance
2. Do a few sessions of one week type camping sessions both in a caravan park (called CP on this site) and free camping (you need to know how to operate all the non-240volt appliances in your van in case you get stranded away from a CP. It is a good time to find out the faults in your caravan (if you don't have any - youre very lucky) and tow vehicle (less likely). Write all the faults down and get them fixed before you start your grand tour
3. Don't overplan. You need to take account of a change in the weather or your own circumstances. Know what parts of what State you want to go to and make general plans how to get there. Youre no longer working - so don't rush it. Plan to leave camp round 8-9am and arrive mid afternoon the same day. Try very hard to avoid driving more than, say, 5 hours a day. You wont see much of the country and will soon be chronically tired.
4. Get full sets of paper maps - Hema are the best. I carry maps of all Sates and Territories as well as the primary cities. You may need them if your GPS (which is essential) stops working
5. Get a Camps 8 book and/or download wikicamps (costs $8). This will tell you all the CPs and low cost and free camp areas. If youre not IT savvy, get one of your children or grandchildren to set it up for you. It is actually easy, but can be daunting to load and set up properly. Once set up, wikicamps will be your accommodation "bible"
6. Have a good camera or quality tablet with camera.
7. Sort out your mobile phones. Remember in remote areas you will either have no reception or only Telstra. We have a prepaid Telstra phone which we only use when in remote areas, otherwise in metro areas we use Optus because they are much cheaper (or Vodafone). Also sort out your WIFI for travelling - get your kids or grandkids to sort out your phones and internet connections.
8. Lastly, ENJOY - RELAX - SMELL OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND DONT HESITATE TO ASK HELP FROM OTHER NOMADS (99% will help you if you explain youre new to nomading)
The way you are feeling is normal. And it IS terrifying, making such a big change. But you have committed to it, so you have to at least try it out for 12 months or so. Anything less, you won't get a good idea of it it's right for you or not.
As others have said, having some idea of what you will do if it all goes toes-up is good. No need to hold onto everything, or even have it all planned out. Just an outline of what you would do if you decide you hate it, or something goes wonky.
Much of life on the road is, by necessity, played 'by ear'. It's half the fun! Enjoy the time with your family before heading out.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
As others have already said, welcome to the forum, and I can not really add to the excellent advice, which has already been given
I will just mention that the friendliness you see on your replies, is the same sort of friendliness you will find on the road, between mature travellers.
I can only endorse all the previous replies L-plate-nomad
However, I have found that mixing with the young backpackers at camps is a great way to keep a "young perspective".
I have found them more than welcoming and they enjoy talking with 'us locals'. I love finding out their backgrounds, 'home' lifestyle, and outlook.
Like the 'mature' travellers you will encounter, they also have good advice - often from a different perspective - of good camps around "our" country.
I do believe that the 'moving on' lifestyle, meeting an ever-changing mob of like-minded people - of all ages, backgrounds, outlooks, opinions, experience etc - will keep you mentally, emotionally and physically active.
Long live travelling and the bush camp.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
We did exactly the same. Sold the lot and got the van, ute and hit the road. BEST DECISION EVER!!!!
Its a bit scary at first but after a few moments the van sits nicely and tows well. Have a look at the tow-ed stuff on youtube, it gave me a few starters. Get ESC or DEXTER sway control, that makes your day a bit more comfortable.
We have just driven from Adelaide to Perth and back.. free camped and caravan parks.. had a ball, next trip is Canberra when the piggy bank gets a bit fatter.
Being anxious is not such a bad thing, I find it keeps me on my game.
Take care, get out there and have a blast
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Only natural to get butterflies with such a big change. Don't worry.
As parents we always worry but your children look at it like this:-
Home is not a house. People move houses all the time. Home is wherever Mum and Dad are. It doesn't matter if that home is somewhere different every week.
If you are traveling, there is nothing better than inviting your grown up children to fly in to somewhere and camp with you for a week. All they bring is clothes and a tent. Cheap holidays for newly marrieds with young kids. :)
