After a few days of solid discussion, we've decided to slooow down and change our approach towards getting on the road. We were so intent on jumping into this feet first, that we were ready to get the RV and start living in it immediately, while Jess is still tied to this current job.
What we've decided instead, is to wait and build up a 'mobile' income stream from a job or two, and then get an RV and hit the road, most likely with our tax return next year.
That gives us a year to check out RVs and find just the right one; to investigate financing options; and of course, to make sure we can actually manage the mobile income.
Of course, the vast majority of "work from home" businesses are just scams, or at the very least ways to get lots of work from people for pennies. This gives us the time to find what we need. We are absolutely certain this is what we want and are going to do it; just at a slightly slower pace to make sure we do it right.
We also went and looked at one of the local RV dealers on Saturday. I really think this will work for us. I do think we are more likely to get everything we want/need in a trailer, even though the motorhomes are more convenient. But, to get what we want in a trailer – the biggest on the list being 'king sized bed' – is just pushing our upper cost limit; whereas, to get it in a motorhome is two to three times our budget for the most part.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Setting Out: Play it Safe or Leap of Faith?
Hi, and welcome to My Gypsy Dreaming! My name is Jen, and my spouse, Jess, and I are beginning the process of becoming "tech nomads"; that is, becoming full-time RVers, living on the road. We have been trying to get moved cross-country (from the deep south to the pacific northwest) for some time, but the logistics (mainly, a job for my honey) was less than forthcoming. While we were talking last week, I made a comment (for the hundredth time at least) to the effect of, "Man, I wish we could just buy an RV and go." And we looked at each other and said, 'Well, why can't we?'
It has been a dream of mine for most, if not all, of my adult life. But it's always seemed far out of reach - there have always been reasons I couldn't. Financial, mostly, or not wanting to miss my grandmother's last few years. But she passed in November, and Jess should be able to find telecommute type work relatively easy - several leads were passed up because they couldn't fund or justify a move across the country to a more expensive area. However... they should be enough to fund us on the road, especially if we get a secondary income stream as well. We've done the math and know how much we should need (basic costs and park/camp fees and fuel and food and loan payment for the RV, etc. etc.), and how much would be nice.
So, we've spent the last week and some-odd reading like crazy, looking at options, flopping back and forth between truck+trailer or motorhome and the pros and cons of each, financing options and how much we can afford, options to make sure we have internet (oh, and you know, electricity), and on and on...
We've found at least one good local deal on a National Dolphin 5350 motorhome at a dealer, and we're going to check it out this weekend (along with, of course, the rest of their stock, and probably a second dealer's stock as well). It's older, but it has decent mileage, and seems to be a very popular "entry level" model. It seems to be the best compromise between cost and amenities we've been able to find.
Whether this one or another, we are planning to get and move into an RV as soon as we can - possibly even as soon as next week if the deal looks right and the financing works out. There is an RV park relatively nearby which for one low fee would provide water, electricity, and even wifi; we can stay there with Jess commuting to this current job until mobile income is secured, and then we can pull up the stakes and go. (Our current home is a month-to-month rental, and frankly aside from two extra rooms we never use, the 'facilities' look to be very comparable to most RVs XD )
Yeah, we're moving fast, jumping in with both feet... but I figure it's the best way to make sure it happens, ride the excitement before we have a chance to talk ourselves out of it.
It's certainly scary though! I have been having a lot of 'emotional wrestling' with myself over it. Should we really jump into something so fundamentally life-changing? Something so far outside the norm? The potential for problems with this is huge, especially since our budget is not exactly sky-high, and so our options are somewhat limited on the size and newness of RV we can get. But the payoff! The freedom, the experiences, getting to see more of this country than one little area!
It has been a dream of mine for most, if not all, of my adult life. But it's always seemed far out of reach - there have always been reasons I couldn't. Financial, mostly, or not wanting to miss my grandmother's last few years. But she passed in November, and Jess should be able to find telecommute type work relatively easy - several leads were passed up because they couldn't fund or justify a move across the country to a more expensive area. However... they should be enough to fund us on the road, especially if we get a secondary income stream as well. We've done the math and know how much we should need (basic costs and park/camp fees and fuel and food and loan payment for the RV, etc. etc.), and how much would be nice.
So, we've spent the last week and some-odd reading like crazy, looking at options, flopping back and forth between truck+trailer or motorhome and the pros and cons of each, financing options and how much we can afford, options to make sure we have internet (oh, and you know, electricity), and on and on...
We've found at least one good local deal on a National Dolphin 5350 motorhome at a dealer, and we're going to check it out this weekend (along with, of course, the rest of their stock, and probably a second dealer's stock as well). It's older, but it has decent mileage, and seems to be a very popular "entry level" model. It seems to be the best compromise between cost and amenities we've been able to find.
Whether this one or another, we are planning to get and move into an RV as soon as we can - possibly even as soon as next week if the deal looks right and the financing works out. There is an RV park relatively nearby which for one low fee would provide water, electricity, and even wifi; we can stay there with Jess commuting to this current job until mobile income is secured, and then we can pull up the stakes and go. (Our current home is a month-to-month rental, and frankly aside from two extra rooms we never use, the 'facilities' look to be very comparable to most RVs XD )
Yeah, we're moving fast, jumping in with both feet... but I figure it's the best way to make sure it happens, ride the excitement before we have a chance to talk ourselves out of it.
It's certainly scary though! I have been having a lot of 'emotional wrestling' with myself over it. Should we really jump into something so fundamentally life-changing? Something so far outside the norm? The potential for problems with this is huge, especially since our budget is not exactly sky-high, and so our options are somewhat limited on the size and newness of RV we can get. But the payoff! The freedom, the experiences, getting to see more of this country than one little area!
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