sitting here in sydney thinking about becoming a grey nomad ( but hair is white) trying to talk the better half into travelling really envious of you guys that have already
made that decision just to let you know that your lifestyle is very informative
Hi and welcome Chucky2 - have you done much travelling, with a caravan or motor home? Not that it matters, but one of the aspects of this life (especially for us who are on the road full time) is the fact that you have to BOTH really like to travel, within Australia, get on pretty well in confined spaces and have as little" baggage" as possible - by this I mean ties and commitments.
We are very lucky in that we both love this life style, and feel it is a privilege to be able to travel wherever and whenever we like. We have a motorhome, and love it. Since March last year we have done about 23,000k - currently in Tassy.
It takes time to get your act together, and we are always open to new ideas to make life on the road easier for us, there is a wealth of information on this site - and also the book put out by this site - (go to the home page) is a valuable asset, as well as the Camps Australia Wide books - listing of free and budget campsites all over the country - we all call it "the bible" -
Hope to see you out on the road sometime soon -
Dougwe said
02:51 AM Feb 14, 2013
Welcome from me Chucky 2, enjoy here and out in the playground when you convince the treasurer.
Don' wait too long though.
GaryKelly said
03:33 AM Feb 14, 2013
G'day Chucky. I'm in a similar boat. Got the camper, the truck and the desire, but I'm still recovering from an illness and the docs are keeping me on a leash. Like you, I read reports from GNs on the road and long to experience the vagabond lifestyle. There's a helluva lot to see out there! One important thing to keep in mind is this: one of these days, it'll be too late.
sandyr said
03:58 PM Feb 14, 2013
hi there gary i liked your ' one of these days it will be too late", we are off in about 6weeks hubby is still putting our van together, we have had a hi-ace camper for a few years and have spent a wonderful lot of time in it, but we have decided to do the big lap and thought we might need something a little big bigger so my husband bought a merc sprinter and is," as i said doing it up'.Well I hope you are better soon and get one the road soon, sandyr
aussietraveller said
06:39 PM Feb 14, 2013
Hi Chucky and welcome to the greatest forum on the net the members here are a friendly and helpful bunch, we hope its not too long before you realise your dream to explore our awesome country
the rocket said
06:48 PM Feb 14, 2013
Hello and welcome Chucky2. Get the better half going by calling it an "adventure holiday". Needn't be for longGives you both something to do, something new to look at  and maybe just maybe you will begin to holiday more often. it gets very drab, dull and boring staring at four walls inside a house day in day out, not seeing the neighbours because they are working but if you are out in the playground at a van park or free park you will both have someone new to talk to every day.  The expectation of an exciting day meeting new people, going new places is quite refreshing and exhilerating. Maybe meet up with some on us on this forum. Welcome. Rocket n Strop
Chucky2 said
08:50 PM Feb 14, 2013
many thanks for the welcome notes from all of you ane the sugestion of a adventure when talking to wife was duly noted no have not travelled in caravan before hope to see all of you some day
chucky
EllenajoeL said
02:36 AM Feb 15, 2013
@Chucky2
hello and now that you are here....have you got any plans for where you may wish to go OR is it all simply the nature/freedom of being a GN that attracts you?
I ask because, once our property is sold, we're heading pretty much 'everywhere' and basically when we like
...so I am VERY much yearning to (re)live the travelling lifestyle and wondered if you are too.
neilnruth said
03:10 AM Feb 15, 2013
Welcome from us too Chucky2 and to you and all those who are still dreaming - keep the dreams alive because it will happen one day.
werkin said
04:37 AM Feb 15, 2013
Hey it took a while for us to do it we have just sold everything and bought a van and off we go scary yes,exciting yes who knows where we will end uup good luck better doing it while young enough and wishing that you had of done it but we are all individual with different things going for us
DandS said
06:47 AM Feb 15, 2013
Welcome Chucky2,
Decisions, decisions. DO IT !!!!.
We have talked about doing it for years. Now we are, kept our home in Sydney and rented it. Have been homeless for about 5 months. Sure its had a few hiccups (bloody family),. But that would have happened if we were at home anyway. So what have lost, nothing. What do have, nothing. LOL. Has been a decision that we have no regrets about doing.
Um, dont know if I should mention this but I feel I must, Shhhh, Wombats, they are everywhere. Shhhhh. trust me. Regards Daryl & Syl
herbie said
07:03 AM Feb 15, 2013
Good to hear your on the road, have you got any destination you are heading to ? or are you just following your dreams .?
ken said
07:04 PM Feb 15, 2013
Gday Chucky2 We got ready to hit the road 4 years ago after seeing a friends van. My wife said on the way home, how about we get a van and see Aus. I had heard of grey nomads but being such a practical guy and a brilliant negotiator. (who by the way negotiated a raise in my allowance and lost $20 a week and my wife made me feel happy about it)???????? We had a 2 hour drive home from a Christmas party by the time we got home we had several appointments over the next month to look at Vans. 20 odd appointments. I went with glee to see what all the fuss was about (kicking and screaming like my grandson who had just dropped his I scream). After several weeks and a few questions on this web site (hundreds of questions) we ordered our van. (great people here and a lot of good advice). 7 months to wait as they built it so we waited.( I waited my wife rang every day to let them know we where still here just in case). After our first year on the road it was awesome. We have had a few medical problems so we have been off the road 16 months but we are now looking at getting a new car and hitting the road again and I can't wait. Funny how taking the first step is the hardest but once you jump in and find the waters fine then you don't want to get out of the pool. Tell your wife the waters fine in the pool. If you don't like it go home and what have you lost. But you may have gained something.
Chucky2 said
11:36 PM Feb 16, 2013
Cheryl and Ken
thanks for passing on your experiences at least you have wifee support i am working on mine to make things worse went to newcastle caravan show and now am totally confused about vans vs motor homes
thats why i thought all you fellow nomads could offer advice and the response from everyone has been really good
chucky2
herbie said
12:05 AM Feb 17, 2013
Hi , we never make plans as we have found it can spoil all the fun and adventure. We just go with the flow , we both work full time for 6 months of the year or if things are going at the place of work maybe we hang around for 9 months, but never any longer, as we find over that period of time it becomes too permenent. We have been asked to go back and work in the same place at times , some times we do and some times we don't, it all depends what the place was like.Most of our work is inside mining companies and oil and gas projects, so it gives us a wide scope to choose from. (work wise that is ).We are in QLD at the moment working , but have been asked to go over onto there project in Asia for a few month's ,so thinking about that offer at this time. We looked into storage for our van here and it is $100 per month pluss extra insurance pluss van cover and think do we really need to do that.So may i ask what are your plans ? or dreams for down the track.We sold our house and all the crap that goes with it, and have brought some land, one day we might get around to building on of those kit houses on it or just build a shed and park up in that. But at the moment just happy doing what we are doing.
Regards Herbie ...maybe that should be Herbies as there the other half as well not just one Herbie.
Boothie said
03:41 AM Feb 17, 2013
Chucky2
Welcome and if you can, do it. We are just starting, working out sick leave and all of that. The decision was made over health issues and the super scheme coming to fruition.
Have already done our maiden voyage and others without the van.
The way I am looking at it, we are not here for a long time, but by God, it is going to be a bloody good time!
sitting here in sydney thinking about becoming a grey nomad ( but hair is white) trying to talk the better half into travelling really envious of you guys that have already
made that decision just to let you know that your lifestyle is very informative
chucky2
We are very lucky in that we both love this life style, and feel it is a privilege to be able to travel wherever and whenever we like. We have a motorhome, and love it. Since March last year we have done about 23,000k - currently in Tassy.
It takes time to get your act together, and we are always open to new ideas to make life on the road easier for us, there is a wealth of information on this site - and also the book put out by this site - (go to the home page) is a valuable asset, as well as the Camps Australia Wide books - listing of free and budget campsites all over the country - we all call it "the bible" -
Hope to see you out on the road sometime soon -
Welcome from me Chucky 2, enjoy here and out in the playground when you convince the treasurer.
Don' wait too long though.
Hello and welcome Chucky2. Get the better half going by calling it an "adventure holiday". Needn't be for longGives you both something to do, something new to look at  and maybe just maybe you will begin to holiday more often. it gets very drab, dull and boring staring at four walls inside a house day in day out, not seeing the neighbours because they are working but if you are out in the playground at a van park or free park you will both have someone new to talk to every day.  The expectation of an exciting day meeting new people, going new places is quite refreshing and exhilerating. Maybe meet up with some on us on this forum. Welcome. Rocket n Strop
chucky
@Chucky2
hello and now that you are here....have you got any plans for where you may wish to go OR is it all simply the nature/freedom of being a GN that attracts you?
I ask because, once our property is sold, we're heading pretty much 'everywhere' and basically when we like
...so I am VERY much yearning to (re)live the travelling lifestyle and wondered if you are too.
Hey it took a while for us to do it we have just sold everything and bought a van and off we go scary yes,exciting yes who knows where we will end uup good luck better doing it while young enough and wishing that you had of done it but we are all individual with different things going for us
Decisions, decisions. DO IT !!!!.
We have talked about doing it for years. Now we are, kept our home in Sydney and rented it.
Have been homeless for about 5 months.
Sure its had a few hiccups (bloody family),. But that would have happened if we were at home anyway.
So what have lost, nothing. What do have, nothing. LOL.
Has been a decision that we have no regrets about doing.
Um, dont know if I should mention this but I feel I must, Shhhh, Wombats, they are everywhere. Shhhhh. trust me.
Regards
Daryl & Syl
Good to hear your on the road, have you got any destination you are heading to ? or are you just following your dreams .?
We got ready to hit the road 4 years ago after seeing a friends van.
My wife said on the way home, how about we get a van and see Aus.
I had heard of grey nomads but being such a practical guy and a brilliant negotiator.
(who by the way negotiated a raise in my allowance and lost $20 a week and my wife made me feel happy about it)????????
We had a 2 hour drive home from a Christmas party by the time we got home we had several appointments over the next month to look at Vans. 20 odd appointments.
I went with glee to see what all the fuss was about (kicking and screaming like my grandson who had just dropped his I scream).
After several weeks and a few questions on this web site (hundreds of questions) we ordered our van. (great people here and a lot of good advice).
7 months to wait as they built it so we waited.( I waited my wife rang every day to let them know we where still here just in case).
After our first year on the road it was awesome.
We have had a few medical problems so we have been off the road 16 months but we are now looking at getting a new car and hitting the road again and I can't wait.
Funny how taking the first step is the hardest but once you jump in and find the waters fine then you don't want to get out of the pool.
Tell your wife the waters fine in the pool.
If you don't like it go home and what have you lost.
But you may have gained something.
thanks for passing on your experiences at least you have wifee support i am working on mine to make things worse went to newcastle caravan show and now am totally
confused about vans vs motor homes
thats why i thought all you fellow nomads could offer advice and the response from everyone has been really good
chucky2
Hi , we never make plans as we have found it can spoil all the fun and adventure. We just go with the flow , we both work full time for 6 months of the year or if things are going at the place of work maybe we hang around for 9 months, but never any longer, as we find over that period of time it becomes too permenent. We have been asked to go back and work in the same place at times , some times we do and some times we don't, it all depends what the place was like.Most of our work is inside mining companies and oil and gas projects, so it gives us a wide scope to choose from. (work wise that is ).We are in QLD at the moment working , but have been asked to go over onto there project in Asia for a few month's ,so thinking about that offer at this time. We looked into storage for our van here and it is $100 per month pluss extra insurance pluss van cover and think do we really need to do that.So may i ask what are your plans ? or dreams for down the track.We sold our house and all the crap that goes with it, and have brought some land, one day we might get around to building on of those kit houses on it or just build a shed and park up in that. But at the moment just happy doing what we are doing.
Regards Herbie ...maybe that should be Herbies as there the other half as well not just one Herbie.
Chucky2
Welcome and if you can, do it. We are just starting, working out sick leave and all of that. The decision was made over health issues and the super scheme coming to fruition.
Have already done our maiden voyage and others without the van.
The way I am looking at it, we are not here for a long time, but by God, it is going to be a bloody good time!
Boothie