The Really Big Trip

valnrob · Guru

RE: The Really Big Trip

briche · Guru

Good day Jeffery, when I read your post I thought to my self "there's another one". That is what Cheryl and I are doing for at least the next 5 to 6 years but with the option of just keep going. We had the dream about 10 years ago and after sorting out careers we started Feb this year after selling our house. The very first thing I noticed how friendly and forth coming with advice and information when we were planning things like van/car etc. It was so great to receive it from people who did not know us and yet offered it freely. It has continued that way wherever we have found ourselves this year. We have been spending most time in Vic this year as kids /grandkids are here but next year we are heading for Qld. So our advice is just do it and live the journey and the destination will look after it's self. Brian & Cheryl

Vic · Guru

valnrob wrote:
Elle on Wheels wrote:
Hi Jeffrey I'm aiming to hit the road full time indefinitely at the end of March/April next year and will not have a home base. I doubt if I will ever own proprety again but who knows. Don't know what happens to nomads at the end of their journey but wouldn't it be great to have a big coaster fitted out as a mobile nomad nursing home, perpetually driving us around the big block, burying passengers as they expire at various camp spots complete with memorial plagues.
Hi Elle O. W. what a fantastic idea. Drop a couple off - pick up the next lot !! Great sense of humour!!

cheers

Can I add my name to the passenger booking list? Sounds good to me biggrin

shazartist · Senior Member

I think everyone has said it it all.

Although I will add a bit, I have found when travelling long term that some homes just are too difficult to leave vacant, insurance is an issue as some insurance companies will not insure a house if it is left vacant for a long time. My advice which I have taken my self..lol..is don't do any big changes till you have experience travel "full time" for at least 12 months.

I also think the type of van you have dictates to how comfortable you will feel living full time on the road. We lived on our boat 40ft for four years and a 32 ft motorhome in USA for 12 months with no house to go to, both worked out very well. When we moved back into a house and still having the boat we decided to sell the house we had rented for the four years and purchase something more suitable to leaving for extended periods.

I could not ever see my self living for years and years either floating or on wheels, because I have tried it. But, like Pauline said not everyone has the financial ability to have both.

BTW, we decided not to rent our house out for the 12 month trip, as unless it is for more than three or four years the damage that can be done seems to negate the rent value. Our place is low maintenance, very little garden and easy to leave. We had owned a home with lots of garden and a pool, not something you can leave happily vacant.

I am a fussy person and like my stuff, so that has to be taken into consideration. I have friends that are very easy going and if their place was wrecked they wouldn't even notice. I also paint and really need a studio space, unless I gave up my Art Traveling full time for me would really be an issue.

I hope I have given you another point of view, good luck and really, what ever you do will work out fine as long as you feel confident with your decision and you both want to do it, there is no success in an ending if the time between is unhappy.

Cheers Sharon

Vic · Guru

I think Shazza has put it very well (as have others). We have not lived full time on the road, our longest trip was 6 months and varying lengths of time in between on other trips.

From our perspective, although we enjoyed our time away and at times as we got closer to home have been reluctant to return, we have been grateful to get home again.

We have a one level street facing villa unit and have room for a small RV (campervan or caravan) in the front yard so having our RV there is not a problem.

As we own it, we do not have to rent it out to cover our mortgage etc and because of the small amount of time we are away it is not worth renting out which we would be reluctant to do anyway.

If you can afford it, I would do what others have suggested here, keep your home base if possible, don't buy the biggest and best RV until you have tried the lifestye and see if you can live with the lifestyle and without a home base, and then make your decision. Whatever you decide to do go for it. Choose whatever suits you best after taking on advice from others and further research of your own.

-- Edited by Vic on Monday 28th of November 2011 06:10:51 PM

Jeffrey · Member

Good stuff, Sharon, thanks. And you're right, I think everyone has covered the subject. A lot of very helpful people, thank you all.

Jeffrey · Member

Yeah, I think you're right. Marian and I have always been nomadic anyway. We've known each other for nearly 16 years, in which time we've lived in nine houses! Anyway, we'll give it a shot. I refuse to die wondering.

cannylass · Senior Member

Gerty Dancer wrote:
Heres a different experience.... we were going to sell up but decided to wait till we'd been away for our 6 month trip to be sure we were making the right decision. Well, after 5 months we were very glad to get home, and we realised we might move house to a smaller one, but we could never live permanently on the road.

Each to their own, and I wish you the best of luck which ever way you travel, or not!

I am with you on this one to Gerty.I love it while away but can't wait to get home after five months away and its a good plan to see if it suits you to try before you buy as the saying goes.I have meet so many folks who have sold up every thing and regreted it.and some will not admit they wish they had not sold I want a base to come back to.But each to there own.One size does not fit all biggrin