Well, that's about where I am at. Hi I'm Heeler, and I'm at that stage where the idea has entered the blood stream and causing havock. Sooner or later I am going to need to remove myself from this house and my decision is settled, it's van life for me. I can't say when this will be as someone else is involved, but to see myself through the grief of loosing them, I will be on a mission. I thought I may as well start now because it's becoming a successful strategy to avoiding that tube we can head down.
I'm looking at the smallest mobile with shower and toilet and enough solar power to run air con in the sticks. I'm reading everything I can and watching everything I can and just quietly absorbing the beauty of expectation. They say it's a great life out there and filled with many interesting and deeper quality of persons. I don't know about that yet, but I do know there are not many of them in the city of bricks and sticks life.
Love the site and super glad to be able to browse around and learn.
Chow for now...
"Give a Man a Fish and you Feed him for a Night - Teach a Man to Fish and you Feed him for life" - Chinese Proverb
-- Edited by Heeler on Sunday 15th of September 2019 04:08:59 PM
All depends on your budget and what you can do yourself? Imo dont go too small if your living in it full time. The weight Vs size never ends . When you say AC is that on 240v connection or free camping ? AC is pretty expensive with solar ..
Yep, 240v and all from solar if poss. I think I'd rather pay the extra and be totally self sufficient, but I have a long way to go and lots to learn.
Was going to go hiking first. Bought everything I need over the last two years but at 62yo, the old feet are already complaining. I shall speak to them serverelybut I don't hold out much hope.
Do you live full time or do you travel when you can ?
Hello Christine, welcome to the forum and it seems to me that you are certainly into the planning and looking forward. The idea of a smallish mobile with shower and toilet gives plenty of options however running an A/C from solar is not a feasible option at this stage. That is why you see so many grey nomads with a generator, quite simply because the amount of energy required to run an A/C would involve a massive battery bank and a heap more solar panels than would fit on your roof. For me, I for go the A/C because Im not partial to generators. I travel for the peace and quiet, the ability to reconnect with nature and feel very impacted when a generator is started up and run for hours on end. Its not my idea of being out there, but each to her own. Being self sufficient is certainly a truly great way to travel. I wish you well through the planning process and know you will step into the next phase of your life fully prepared, perhaps a little nervous but full of excitement. Good on you. Travel safe and keep smiling. Peta.
Caravanning is the only way to see this country in my opinion. Relaxing and you do meet some delightful people on your travels. All the best with your plans and maybe we will see you on the road somewhere.
I hear you Peta, but an Air Con is a priority for me. I'll be looking into this because the quiet is also a priority. There will be a way. I saw a Youtube man who talked about having an air con from solar. He had a house panel on the roof of his 4WD and a few other things. Total was about 1,185 I think. He showed how to set it all up and I've downloaded this for a little later. You've got me thinking about that noise factor though. Thanks for the welcome and as I've always said, every time the wheel turns we are closer to our destination.
There is a quote that says,
"Your real home is not the house you live in but the stillness and peace in your heart."
I was going to say that that doesn't cost anything but looking back, yes it did, but it was very worth it.
Appreciate your reply Christine. I will be very interested to see what eventuates with your system to run A/C from solar as the theory is always easy. Its out in the real world that things fall into place. Ill keep an eye on your progress. Travel safe. Peta
Welcome to the gang Christine, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I sold up base camp 7 years ago after losing my long time wife and got what is below in my signature. I have enjoyed the playground ever since and met some great people, in fact, the amount of people I wouldn't bother with again I can count on one hand with one or two fingers spare. I use freedom camps, low cost camps, road side stops, designated rest areas, show grounds and caravan parks. Probably equally over all. I can stay only one night or days, weeks and even months in one spot. I'm sure you will love out here as well so keep planning away.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I like the atmosphere around you Doug. You did what you needed to do in order to live and you chose the quality of life you wanted to experience. I had to laugh out loud at the 'One Feather at a Time' it was so good. Your expression is your own too.
I thought of a retirement village but the system is there too. One might say I am bucking the system but over the years I have watched as the system has deliberately and strategically set up shop to secretly use the frog in hot water process to dumb us down by installment and line their pockets at the same time. I suppose there are still enough who buy the lies and deception to keep them going. I was born with the empathyvirus so I can imagine 100% what it must be like for you out there. Whn I sit in the thought, I get only a sense of the freedom, but it is enough to magnetise me forever towards the move when the time comes. I'm downsizing right now and the liberation creeping in is quickly becoming my friend.
Enjoy your day because you've never seen this one before !
We have generally had holidays overseas India Asia Europe and US. Our internal travels have been by air and probably will be for most States, so have chosen a smaller campervan. We will not be selling up and doing the circuit as we need a base close to medical care we both need. It is not a case of Motor Home before Geriatric Home as we will import a family member into our place.
I hope that you find the vehicle you are looking for
I am a part time traveller, and use free camps about 95% of the time
My observations in the free camps, is that (when it is hot), people live outside their recreation vehicle, under their awning, to avoid using their air conditioners
They seem to have 12 volt fans, to help move the air around, when they retire at night
I have done about 90,000 kilometres of travelling, carry a gen set, (because it came with the vehicle), and never used the air conditioner, unless in a caravan park
Greetings Tony Bev, your rig is stunning and 90,000kl is fantastic. Must admit, I'm one who feel the heat. Hashimoto's Thyroid is responsible for that so I have to adjust to the conditions. I've thought recently about training myself to climatize to a higher temp and I'll probably give that a go, but right now in my head it's still a Ford Transit van with what ever it takes to have air concompletely off grid. As a writer I will be in the van a lot and working so would need to be comfortable. WA can get pretty hot in the summer even in the sticks and bricks sometimes. I've only got evap at home and often feel it badly.
Don't like being forced to be attached to something like an air con or anything else for that matter so will really be trying for the climate adjustment.
Love your ri. Would be too big for little old me but gosh it looks great. I think we people are just attracted to the site of these homes. I rode a motor bike all my life and was always attracted to the sight of one. Same sort of thing. It's built in us.
Thanks for the reply
-- Edited by Heeler on Tuesday 8th of October 2019 12:18:56 PM
Hi Peter Jill, Sounds like you have both had a wonderful time traveling around. Absorbing different cultures must be amazing I think. I haven't been outside Australia but the art of reading has been close to my heart for years and I have imagination to back it up. Being there though is the ultimate. I'm sorry to hear that you have health issues and need to be close to services. Hope this doesn't bring you down too much. I always think of how when riding a push bike as a kid I would see a stone on the path and if I looked at the stone I would find my bike heading towards it.
Now as an adult I realized to importance of that experience. I find the rest of me traved towards whatever I am looking at the most. Even the car veres to the right if I happen to look out the drivers window for too long. Keep looking at where you want to be going, that's what I've learned. Prayers for you both anyway and thanks for the reply.
-- Edited by Heeler on Tuesday 8th of October 2019 12:18:38 PM
-- Edited by Heeler on Tuesday 8th of October 2019 12:20:06 PM
