How Do I Get Started; The Power of a Dream

Dean  (the husband)
Shalane  (the wife  :O)

Sometimes it is hard just to get started thinking about full-timing in an RV.  We had the opportunity to go over to a friends house last night for a game of hand and foot.  (For those of you that have never heard of it, it is a card game)   They are a wonderful family that we just love to be around.  This family consists of a couple in their 30’s and 5 children.  Every time we go there we are greeted with warm smiles and laughter.  I think one of the reasons why they like my wife and I, is that we are somehow strangely different then most people.  After all, were fairly young, not retired, not poor and live in a 26 foot travel trailer.  I really think the husband really wants to be a full-timer as well….someday.  

The question for most people is, when is that day?  For us, that day came when our youngest child left the house to strike out on her own.  We became empty-nesters, and for us, it was the perfect time to start our new lifestyle.  For a young family with 5 children and a large ranch, now just does not seem like the right time.  I am not suggesting that a family with kids needs to wait.  I read a fascinating story in an RV magazine about a family with 10 children in Hawaii that lived in a small campervan.  They had enough money to live in a regular home but wanted their kids to have the beach as their living room.  I believe they only used the camper as a place to change, sleep, and eat if it was raining.  My wife and I agree that if a miracle  happened and we were blessed with another child, we would not move back into a “sticks and bricks” house.  There are far too many blessings that come from our “mobile” lifestyle, and we simply would not want to change that. 

So let me tell you HOW we actually decided what the right time was for us.  First of all, when our youngest was a freshman in high school, we moved into a home that was right across the street from an RV dealership.  I count this as a great blessing and a MAJOR influence in our current lifestyle.  Dean and I LOVED going across the street to window shop.  We talked over and over about how much we would love to live and travel in an RV when we retire.  That spurred Dean to start doing research on work camping.  We discovered a whole world of income opportunities for full-time RVers.  This led to conversations about what kind of RV would be best for us, what we wanted out of the lifestyle, how early could we actually start and how would we get our finances in order in such a way that we could make this happen.   We finally came to the conclusion that we should continue teaching in Nevada for a few a little while longer until we can get in our ten years.  At that point, Dean will be 56 and will be able to take early retirement.  We purchased some rental properties and invested in some stock as long term investments.  Now, even though we still have five years to teach, we decided to go ahead and make the jump to the RV for a couple of different reasons.  First, to try it out.  Maybe we would live in it for a few months and hate it.  NOT!  We are loving it, and we don’t find it too small for us.  We like each other a whole gobby ton, so we are happy in such a small space.  Second, if we are living in our RV, we are not burning cash on rent or investing in a failed housing market.  We have been able to put quite a bit of cash into savings in preparations for our early retirement and over the road adventures.  I have to stress that the MOST important thing in being able to live the way we way to live is that we dreamed about it!  We visualized it!  We discussed it as if it was preordained, or inevitable.  You have to dream of what you want!  You have to believe in what you dream and know that it will happen! Whether it‘s traveling in an RV or owning your dream house.  You have to BELIEVE and move forward, KNOWING that your decisions will lead you to YOUR destination.   Corny?  Only if you think so, but ask anyone that is living their dream, and they will tell you the same thing.  You MUST believe in the POWER of your thoughts.

As you can see, there really isn’t a specific best time.  It really just depends on your situation.  I will say this, if we didn’t at least start the dream and know that it was going to happen, it probably would NOT have happened.    Everything worthy of doing, demands a little attention and planning.  So, if your wandering around in a life that is not what you want, stop, rethink, make a plan and start visualizing yourself  living your ideal life.  Happy Dreams, and Happy Trails!