So, it's now been just over 2 months since we drove away from my work... literally. December 5th, 2011 will be forever etched in my mind... Paul not-so-patiently waiting while I did the final wrap up, and being cheered and sent off with tears, hugs and waves, as we drove off in our retirement home.
Since then, I have made a few notes, observations, thoughts....still being 'newbies' at this whole full-time bit.... I do have a different perspective than Paul on at least one thing: while we both love this lifestyle, he regularly says "Man, this FT bit makes me feel young!" My response? "Yeah, and it makes me feel like I am back at work!" No offense meant at any of our elder friends, just a quirky little note on perspectives! ;-) Of course, I feel right at home! LOL
So, some of my jotted notes include the following:
- This lifestyle is definitely NOT for those folks who don't like change! Contrarily, this lifestyle is ALL about change, flexibility, and you know "Semper Gumby" - Always Flexible!
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- I will know I have finally converted and become an official full-timer, when I routinely refer to the RV as ''home" (not there yet)
- I LOVE the fact that we now have a home (see? getting there) on the beach, in the desert, in the mountains, and near ALL the grandtreasures! Funny, we used to dream about one day having a little place in the mountains, near Disney..... who knew we would have one pretty much anywhere? We daily thank God for the blessing of this lifestyle...
- Getting creative with storage is a learning process - and a necessity
- Still learning that with the time zone changes, our sleep and eating patterns get waaay messed up, but it is OKAY to stay up late, sleep in late and have dinner at 9pm if we want.... still working on the nagging guilt, though. ;-)
- I am starting to realize that my life before retirement and full-timing, I was existing - THIS is living!
- We have come to realize that worshiping God is the same among strangers or friends, we are all God's family and 'the church' goes beyond the walls of your local church! (just one more blessing)
- It is sooo much easier to throw things out/recycle/give away things - you know the things that annoy, don't work just right, don't fit comfortably, don't get used. There can be no mind-set of: 'I might need that one day' - now it's 'get rid of it, if I need it one day, I will get it then!
- There is an instant bond with fellow RVers, that often grow into dear friendships! It is particularly amusing to meet folks that follow the blog, and already know so much about us! We get a real kick out of that.....
- I still enjoy manicure/pedicures (Laurie? You're on - when we meet up, the guys can go to the local museum, you and I will go for mani/pedis! ) - and not all manicurists are the same... :-(
- I am getting more and more picky about the campgrounds - I am not a huge fan of boon-docking, although, when we must, it is comforting to know we can!
- It is easier than I thought it would be, to stay busy. Most days, I run out of time before I get all done that I wanted to.
- I am enjoying crafting once again! And as I am an avid video gamer, I am enjoying that immensely, too!
- Lastly, I am finding that with the relaxed lifestyle I am ever so conscious of our blessings from God. Family - always important, now we feel so blessed with our families and their support and love. Friends - some friendships both new and old have become treasures! We both feel blessed more than we deserve, so grateful we have each other to share this with. It doesn't get any better than being able to share this life with your best friend, especially if he/she is your spouse. We are humbled, and ever so grateful. Well, that's all for now..... thanks for your support and encouragement during this time of our life. Blessings! That includes you, our readers and followers!
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ReplyDeleteFat Fingers!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I can identify with "I will know I have finally converted and become an official full-timer, when I routinely refer to the RV as ''home" (not there yet)". Today I said to Virginia "I am going home" and I was talking about going back to the RV. I guess I am there.
Mike and Dee
I even call Lucy "the house", as in "I'll meet you back at the house" :) It truly is home. It won't take you much longer.
ReplyDeleteGreat words...thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMarti - great post. I love reading how other people view their lives in an RV and the adjustments they make. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletea time of adjusting and a learning curve too!..enjoy the journey..soon you will be the ones that us 'newbies' will be turning to for advice!..and we can hardly wait until it is our turn for the time of adjusting!..seems like a long way off and many issues to resolve until we can get there!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love that you recognize the blessings that God has given you and that you find fellowship wherever you go. I enjoy reading your blog.
ReplyDeletedefinitely a learning curve and major adjustment...I'm loving the snowbird part of it for sure...and I also find I still don't have enough hours in the day to accomplish what I want...but what the heck...I love staying up late and NOT getting up early..no guilt here...my guilt stems from leaving behind all the kids..what if they need me..what if they can handle it without me??? I'm thankful and we are definitely blessed....love your blog
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely on the right track:)
ReplyDeleteYou're going thru the same thing we did. I'm still not calling it home, but when I think of it, I haven't done that in a long time. It's either going to the apt., condo, or house. So now it's the RV.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're not thinking of giving it up. We'll see you again soon.
Well Said!
ReplyDeleteNice post Marti, it took me back to the steps I went through and the adjustments I made adopting this life style.
ReplyDeleteVery nice post, Marti ... it's interesting to read the perspectives of others as we continue to prepare for the FT lifestyle ... looking forward to it, but there are times when I wonder how it will all work out ... knowing there's going to be an adjustment-curve is half the battle I think.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It gave me an idea of the adjustments that I have to look forward to in a few months. :)
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to a "hitch itch " blog about a blow up " Traveling " hot tub
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fulltime.hitchitch.com/nov2010-1.html
Marti..in our budget I'm making sure I leave a spot for pedicures at a minimum :)
ReplyDeleteFunny you talk about not calling it home quite yet. We've been living in ours for 4 months now, and it's still the 'RV' when I refer to it. I also don't talk about ourselves as 'fulltimers' even though we are living in it fulltime :) We'll all get there someday!
Nice blog ... interesting what we think about things before we start fulltiming and how it changes after we do. I used to totally dislike dry camping until we got stuck in some pretty small sites at RV parks. I guess I've come to appreciate more wide open spaces at times. Then, after that I certainly appreciate the things we used to take for granted ... electricity, water and sewer.
ReplyDeleteMarti,
ReplyDeleteYou are going through three major adjustments at once - retirement, moving to a different "home" and being location independent. I don't know about the other two, but the retirement adjustment takes 3-12 months to get rid of the guilt and the waking up in the middle of the night thinking about something you have to do tomorrow or dreaming about people at work. It will all come together - From other posts, it sounds like you worked for many years in a very stressful job with the layers of stress building from more and more responsibility - it will take a few months for the layers to melt off - and that only comes with the extra time with Paul, sleep, time, laughs, visits with grandkids, campfire sitting and long looks to mountains in the distance. YOU WILL GET THERE!
I enjoy your blog tremendously and thank you for sharing your feelings honestly. I too will soon be joining the full time ride as we are starting to downsize now.
Katy in NH
Very insightful and helpful to those of us in stage one (preparation)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your contemplative thoughts. God is in all of our hearts...all we have to do is look inside and then we will see God in everyone and everything.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I am in envy of your retirement. We anticipate another 5 years before we can become nomadic.
Be safe and be well.
(quote)"It is sooo much easier to throw things out/recycle/give away things - you know the things that annoy, don't work just right, don't fit comfortably, don't get used."
ReplyDeleteWow.. that sure is the truth! I am just getting into that now as we declutter. So much of things I hung onto just in case I wanted them are now being donated, tossed or given to the kids. It feels better and better each day that stuff is hauled outta here!
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Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/
Great post Marti! Paul's writing may be more on the witty side, but don't sell yourself short. Your writing style is equally as good -- just more on the contemplative side. You both complement each other, and we thoroughly enjoy reading both perspectives.
ReplyDeleteNice Marti! I hear your "adjusting" and "enjoying." It is a mixed bag of course but with the way you two are going about it, the enjoying will far outweigh the adjusting in no time. Take care and God bless you. Levonne
ReplyDelete