Hi all just joined GNA today - my partner & I have sold our house and are renting until we retire later next year and take off indefinitely in our lovely Sunland off road caravan. We have done a bit of travelling for a month at a time both in tent and then moved to our new Caravan this year. Our question is - as we move toward this goal - do we keep some basic furniture, personal things and rent a storage shed until we decide yes we like it or do we get rid of everything and take the full plunge then buy furniture etc when we stop travelling? Also what did you do with your very personal things - store them also or ask kids to store for you as payback for all the years you stored their gear? I know there are many of you out there that have been travelling for years - please advise what you found worked best and did you miss personal things like if you threw them?
Can't wait, welcome to our playground, hope you learn heaps as you start on your journey. Like you, we sold our home and all our contents. We kept nothing. Except for a couple of fily heirlooms now on storage. Have been on road now for 5 1/2 years now, and all I miss is the vegie patch. Good luck with your decisions and plans.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
Welcome Cantwait
Although I'm not on the road full time (yet!) I cant see the value in renting a storage shed. The rental over time will out weigh the value of the furniture stored. As for personal things, that's just what they are....things and you can do without them, truly, trust me! (Excluding photo's of course)
we sold up everything n no regrets. If our things were in storage 2 years That money paid in storage fees would buy us all we need new Again. There is a feeling of being free. Possessions tie u down. U will make the decision best for u. Some can let go, others cannot. Good luck.
We have been on the road for 3 plus years and initially we put a lot of stuff into storage then 2 years later we cleaned it out gave everything away to family and St Vinnies. Paying for storage for 2 years a waste of a considerable amount of cash we could have put to good use. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Got rid of most however after 6 months didn't miss anything and realised it should all go. I soon learned that material things are really worthless, what fits in the van is all you will ever need. As others have said the cost and hassles of storage etc. is simply not worth it. I have no regrets of discarding it all. Enjoy the new life.
We are preparing to hit the road early next year. We sold the family home and downsized to a house that we'll rent out while we're gone. We sold all our furniture intending to just buy new when we get back. However, we still found that we needed to hire a shipping container just for all our personal things and stuff we just couldn't part with. It is costing us $2k a year to store the container so if we're gone for 5 years that will be $10k, so be it. Most of it is either sentimental or things that have been handed down or just stuff we love. No dollar amount would replace it. Having said that, we may hit the road and then decide to get rid of it but chances are that a few years from now we'll come back, settle into either this house or another and be glad we hung onto our things. Each to their own. You'll find what's right for you.
we did what most others here did - sold it all. Renting storage space is expensive - sell it and put it to better use, or even put the money aside in case you decide you want to buy/rent a house in the future and have that money to help.
We gave most of our household furniture to our son to fill his house - what he didn't want we sold at car boot sales, garage sales and gave the rest to Vinnies.
After a few years full time on the road and loving it, we decided we wanted to both work part-time again (having retired) and took up totally new careers which we love. We have stuck some money into our sons new house and find us eating, sleeping and sitting on many pieces of our old furniture lol.
But we were merciless in getting rid of the piles of towels, clothes and other items like that and have no regrets. We all buy and hang onto too much "stuff".
At any time when we decide we are no longer enjoying work, we will load up the 'van and head off again.
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Got rid of most however after 6 months didn't miss anything and realised it should all go. I soon learned that material things are really worthless, what fits in the van is all you will ever need. As others have said the cost and hassles of storage etc. is simply not worth it. I have no regrets of discarding it all. Enjoy the new life.
Cheers Allen
Good to see Smokey again. How is he travelling. Glad you did not sell him.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
Got rid of most however after 6 months didn't miss anything and realised it should all go. I soon learned that material things are really worthless, what fits in the van is all you will ever need. As others have said the cost and hassles of storage etc. is simply not worth it. I have no regrets of discarding it all. Enjoy the new life.
Cheers Allen
Good to see Smokey again. How is he travelling. Glad you did not sell him.
Hi, John & Lorraine. I would never have sold Smokey however he passed away 3 months ago. Travelling completely solo now.
It's all a magic dream at the moment. But stop and think for a minuten.
5\10\15 yrs down the track. One of you could be dead. In wheelchair, unable to walk well etc..
If you can, financially. Either rent out. or sell BUT keep enough in a stash. That when it comes........
We ALL get too old or fed up with travelling (Maybe hurts too much. Which I relate to)....
It'd would be very nice to be able to buy a small unit. Old folks park home etc. and settle down into a more sedentary\comfortable life with your memories.
I started caravaning (for work originally) back in '63. round about 7 or so yrs ago. after 43yrs in this country. and retiring early '94. We got a bit tired travelling over the same roads to get to the few places left that WE wanted to see. So started going O\S for a coupla months or so every yr.
Nowadays. I've got a small van just for weekends and fishing the dams. We never sold our home. and very glad we didn't.
SMART WOMAN.......
No matter what you dream now. there are a very FEW people.. That can\could travel "Permanently" Forever. ONE OF YOU... Always says."enuff is enuff".
I could, I left home at 13 yrs. and still love doing it.
But the prev 75 yrs of a hard physical life are (Have) catching up. I raced Outrigger canoes till 68yrs then started tearing ligaments. racing with the 50\early 60 yr olds. plus other things. I'm now on Patches. Pills. and just going in for An internal pain management item.
It all slows you down.
I'm not trying to put you off. Just think about 10\15 plus yrs into the future Just maybe.........
Do it now. and enjoy it. we all do. Travelling is great. But try to keep your future options open.
OH. And regarding what to take. I've been doing it for a few yrs now. and still take things I never use. Just basically try to leave the heavier items behind. And BOTH of you have a good. long term hobby. Even if it only playing cards.
Have fun. It's a great life. But not forever........ Older age, DOES pop it's nasty little head up eventually.
You young retirees have it all in front of you. Enjoy
Footprint.
Replace "smokey" mate.
We all need company and pets are normally better than most humans.
Try a cat.
I had 40 odd yrs of dogs. last 20plus have been cats.
Travelling. they a no brainer.
Take it everywhere.
Nobody knows it's there. can live completely inside van forever almost.
Cheap to run. and keep the small of your back warm at night.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 3rd of December 2016 09:39:15 AM
We have been full time on the road for 23 years (in Feb). Now age/ill health has caught up with me so we have decided we will put the brakes on & stop in the one place - On a trial basis at first. Luckily our motorhome is large & has all mod cons so we will be quite comfortable living in it. Our life style won't change much & we have picked a place to stay that offers interesting things to do - eg. fishing, coast guard volunteering, lawn bowls etc. When we first started out we put all our photos on computer & got rid of all else. Haven't missed anything. So enjoy your travelling days & when it comes time to stop I'm sure you will workout what suits you. Regards Alice
Wow luving the GNF playground - you are all so very supportive and quick to answer - thanks so so very much for all your wonderful advice and the answers you gave. "Get rid of it all" were our thoughts also, but when it comes to doing that - you go through some interesting stages. I said to my partner - we never use/look at it - take photos that you can keep to look back on. I have conned my son & partner into storing a couple of Tea chests in a cellar type room he never uses (that is if we need to) but I imagine that once we move out of the rental, we are moving into this week, in 8 or more months time that will be easier to get rid of the balance we are currently keeping - which is more the bare essentials.
Agreed - we collect so much stuff and funny our children of the next generation aren't hoarders thank goodness - they are so funny "nope don't want that or that but thanks for offering".
Travel safe everyone, hopefully we will meet some of you on our travels - we just cantwait to get on the road and start the next wonderful phase of our journey in this wonderful life.
It's all a magic dream at the moment. But stop and think for a minute.
5\10\15 yrs down the track. One of you could be dead. In wheelchair, unable to walk well etc..
If you can, financially. Either rent out. or sell BUT keep enough in a stash. That when it comes........
We ALL get too old or fed up with travelling (Maybe hurts too much. Which I relate to)....
It'd would be very nice to be able to buy a small unit. Old folks park home etc. and settle down into a more sedentary\comfortable life with your memories. ~~~SNIP
Gday...
Macka's on the money ... so to speak.
I sold everything and have been on the road full time for seven years, starting the eighth.
I kept those very personal things that had some sentimentality attached to them - but not much, only the genuine sentimental stuff. Only what would fit in one cupboard in the van.
Photos - I had over 10 years of digital photos on my pooter and external HDD so they all came ... and I spent a while scanning the important, and sentimental life milestone, ones and they live on the pooter as well.
Music - love me music. I spent quite a time ripping all my favourite CDs to MP3s. I now carry about 15 CDs - each holding 11 to 15 hours of my favourite music. They take up no space.
Now back to Macka - if you sell it all then you really should (MUST?) keep much (all?) of it invested 'somewhere' so that when (not if) you decide, or are forced, to put the feet up and become a sedentary GN rather than a wandering GN you will have something to use to put a permanent roof over your head.
I sold it all back in 1988 and hit the road with a four year old and a two year old. Travelled for nearly three years. Had to stop when the youngest got cancer and needed to stay close to medical/oncology centre to give her the best chance.
Thankfully, we had kept the proceeds of selling it all tucked away. We simply turned the 'investment money' into an 'investment house'. Used stuff from the van initially to live in the house - mattresses on floor etc etc. We sold the van and with the proceeds of that we bought the furniture etc for the house.
By the time she was clear and healthy again both kids were in school and settled so we decided to become 'normal' again.
This time when I finally came to my senses and retired I again sold it all ... and put it away in a 'safe' but accessible investment to be there when (not if) I have to pull up the wheelchair on the verandah somewhere.
If you sell it all and put it into the rig and/or van, those will depreciate and when (not if) you decide to stop they will have little value to recreate a lifestyle.
So, apart from all that - DO IT ! ! ! I have met very few who have hit the road full-time who regret it.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 5th of December 2016 09:42:59 AM
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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 will sell / dispose of everything except what we need on the road. This blasted home base is a liability and we want to travel free of worry for as long as possible. We will of course leave enough cash to buy a unit if we have to. I'd prefer to roll up me toes beside a river one day.
We will sell / dispose of everything except what we need on the road. This blasted home base is a liability and we want to travel free of worry for as long as possible. We will of course leave enough cash to buy a unit if we have to. I'd prefer to roll up me toes beside a river one day.
Gday...
My sentiments entirely
But that damned conservative part of me whispers in me lug that I should keep a bitta cash tucked away 'jest in case'
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
I "lost" my home 18 months ago and put all my worldly goods into storage (free thanks to a good mate), whilst I rented a room in a share house.
Purchased my current house a few months ago and am still sorting through boxes of "stuff" I haven't seen for over 12 months (and obviously didn't need or miss).
Whilst I am now living in my house, my "home" is currently parked in the back yard.
When the time comes (1307 days) to up stumps and hit the road indefinitely, I will have no hesitation in only taking the minimum. I have learnt you can live without "stuff". I will sell or give away most of my possessions and I will rent the house out.
Home is where the heart is, or where I hang my hat.
