Wow! The family is full of very pushy advice.

[MOAK]

Merry Christmas Everyone! The time is fast approaching for us to order our 4WD camper, to sit atop our 350 soon to be, flatbed, sell our home and be on the road full time by around May with a 3-5 year run. If we really like it and our health stays good, maybe longer. Yikes, as this time draws nearer, we are, of course, getting excited as we get rid of stuff we have accumulated over the past 37 years. The entire exercise is a freedom neither of us have ever known. We knew this freedom existed, we just never implemented it until now. But the family? My Gawd— — we have decided the best way to deal with unsolicited, pushy advice, is to just smile and nod. Thoughts?

 

[grubworm]

very cool! there are quite a few times i've seriously considered ditching 99% of my crap and doing the same thing!

as far as unsolicited advice goes...i would guess that most folk that know you and would be talking to you on that subject are meaning well and are probably viewing what you are doing thru their own fears and uncertainties. they just dont have the same life experiences you have and just simply wont be able to relate, no matter how hard you try to explain your position.

smile and nod and just appreciate that people are being annoying out of love!
(that's what i'd tell myself right before i ghost their asses )

congrats on taking the plunge!

 

[El-Dracho]

Getting rid of stuff and crap is a wonderfully liberating thing. I did this before every one of my long-term trips. And for a few years now, I've been consciously paying attention to what I buy and prefer to think three times about whether I really need it or not. There are really nice things to own, but you have to take care of everything you own. Many people don't even realize how much stress they expose themselves to every day. Less is more. I'm happy for you that you've taken this path and are feeling the freedom. I would simply ignore unsolicited and unqualified advice from outsiders, even if it is difficult. Follow your heart, your inner instinct, your gut feeling and do what feels good for you, what is good for you and not what others think would be good for you.

All the best, good luck and enjoy your project!

 

[Kent R]

You might want to message @Firemom and @Magic Mike to get some feedback, they did just what you are planing and might have some insight.

 

[MidOH]

RV'ers get jealous when you find a better way to do things.

Don't take it personally. Many people are still a bit tribal. And breaking away from the tribes ways, can trigger a primitive response.

Or theyre trying to actually be helpful. Find something you agree on, and talk about that.

Nothing is sadder than a schmuck towing a giant camper trailer AND hauling a golf cart because they're lazy weaklings, that should have just stayed home.

Flip side of that coin. Nothing is sadder than a fully lightweight hardcore offroader rig............that sees nothing but off road. No animals, no water, no scenery, no fun, just obstacles.

This hobby sucks when the #1 goal is overlanding, for the sake of overlanding, and seeing/accomplishing nothing. Same for offroading, same for glamping, same for full timing.

 

[MOAK]

RV'ers get jealous when you find a better way to do things.

Don't take it personally. Many people are still a bit tribal. And breaking away from the tribes ways, can trigger a primitive response.

Or theyre trying to actually be helpful. Find something you agree on, and talk about that.

Nothing is sadder than a schmuck towing a giant camper trailer AND hauling a golf cart because they're lazy weaklings, that should have just stayed home.

Flip side of that coin. Nothing is sadder than a fully lightweight hardcore offroader rig............that sees nothing but off road. No animals, no water, no scenery, no fun, just obstacles.

This hobby sucks when the #1 goal is overlanding, for the sake of overlanding, and seeing/accomplishing nothing. Same for offroading, same for glamping, same for full timing.

truth, we don’t take it personally, mentally my wife broke away from her family nearly 4 decades ago, married me and began living her own life. Now it’s physical and we are once again, impinging upon their comfort level. We all have different definitions of freedom. There’s that and the basic fact that for the first time in over 37 years we have made a life choice without considering anyone but ourselves. Previously we always considered others, sometimes first & foremost. I’m 71, my darling is 68, it’s time to begin doing life for us!!

 

[John and Mandi]

Very few walk away from "normal", it's as foreign to them as aliens. They too are going through your leaving so expect some push back. Reassure your love for them and open an invitation for them to join you anywhere along the way. Have a going away party, dinner, etc. or several. You are excited as you are stepping into the unknown, they only see that you are excited to leave...them and all they know. It's a part of it, so is blasting off like your tails on fire, it all will pass. There will come a time where all you will want is to be with family and a break from the road, remind them that you will return to visit.

 

[MOAK]

We’ve reminded both daughters that we will more than likely be spending more time with them than ever before because we will have the freedom to do so, instead of being tied down to a house that we have to pay people to take care of while we are away from it. The parental units? The old boy is all for it. He’s been secretly angry with his wife for a very long time for not going out and living on his 40ft ketch full time. So he gets it!

 

[MidOH]

Trading away real-estate, for full timing, and burning the inheritance, is always going to ruffle the kids feathers a little.

I told my mom to spend it all. Have fun before she blinks out. She's had a harder life. None of us kids will likely have any real hardship in ours. We dont need the inheritance.

 

[MOAK]

Trading away real-estate, for full timing, and burning the inheritance, is always going to ruffle the kids feathers a little.

I told my mom to spend it all. Have fun before she blinks out. She's had a harder life. None of us kids will likely have any real hardship in ours. We dont need the inheritance.

Ya, there is a 50-50 split on that one- daughter and son in law, say spend it all, we're good. The other daughter had a revolving door well into her early 40s, that revolving door will be gone and I think she is uncomfortable with that. The rest of the inlaws fear their own farts, so there is that. Ha! Merry Christmas John. I'm familiar with mid ohio, have cousins in the greater Columbus area, Mansfield and Zanesville.

 

[K12]

Deciding to go full time and sellung my house was probably the besta nd most freeing feeling I have ever felt. I am not staring year 3 and would not trade it for anything. There was a lot of unsolicted advice, even family members telling me we need to sit down and have a family meeting to discuss my plan. I simply ignored it all, its all about the decision you make and what is best for you.

I hope that you and the wife find it as freeing, liberating and relaxing as I have.

 

[reaver]

Deciding to go full time and sellung my house was probably the besta nd most freeing feeling I have ever felt. I am not staring year 3 and would not trade it for anything. There was a lot of unsolicted advice, even family members telling me we need to sit down and have a family meeting to discuss my plan. I simply ignored it all, its all about the decision you make and what is best for you.

I hope that you and the wife find it as freeing, liberating and relaxing as I have.

And bonus, when you come into the area, it gives the wife and I a good reason to hook up the trailer!

 

[MidOH]

Depends on your area/lifestyle too.

In OH, PA, WV, you don't trade decent real-estate for anything. I'll mothball and winterize my house, before full timing. Not sell.

If I want to move to a cabin by a lake, I buy a cabin by the lake. But keep my current house. Then again, my mortgage is less than my grocery bill. Midwest life.

 

[IslaFox]

Thanks for the info.

 

[wigsajumper]

Hell Best of luck to you. Hoping to do something along the same lines when my wife retires. I will transfer over to travel work.

Tell the family members to take a hike. We spend our whole lives living for other people. You can live for yourself.

If my mom did this pretty much my response would be. Ok have fun! Make sure you have an inReach.

 

[MazeVX]

I lived most of my life after the advice of people who "only want the best" or don't want me to make a "bad mistake" or whatever.
Turns out, my own responses and ways would, mostly, have been the better decision and I wasted 44 years.

Breaking the cage that other people put you in will always p*** people, don't waste time on them, they apparently know nothing about you.

And "family" is just the short form of "friends I didn't choose"

 

[MOAK]

Hell Best of luck to you. Hoping to do something along the same lines when my wife retires. I will transfer over to travel work.

Tell the family members to take a hike. We spend our whole lives living for other people. You can live for yourself.

If my mom did this pretty much my response would be. Ok have fun! Make sure you have an inReach.

that’s exactly what I said to our daughter- for the first time in our lives we are doing something for ourselves.

 

[Firemom]

Merry Christmas Everyone! The time is fast approaching for us to order our 4WD camper, to sit atop our 350 soon to be, flatbed, sell our home and be on the road full time by around May with a 3-5 year run. If we really like it and our health stays good, maybe longer. Yikes, as this time draws nearer, we are, of course, getting excited as we get rid of stuff we have accumulated over the past 37 years. The entire exercise is a freedom neither of us have ever known. We knew this freedom existed, we just never implemented it until now. But the family? My Gawd— — we have decided the best way to deal with unsolicited, pushy advice, is to just smile and nod. Thoughts?

In 2021 we retired, sold everything and started our full time adventure. Some were exited for us, some thought we were crazy. After a year on the road people would ask “sooo how’s it going” in a tone of voice indicating they expected our response to be sad and regretful. They were shocked when our response was “Best Decision Ever”
Selling the house and getting rid of most of our “worldly good” was unbelievably liberating. Now everyday is a new adventure and our family and friends are coming to understand how this lifestyle works for us. We found that for many, the advice came from a place of love and fear. They love us and want us to be happy but we’re very fearful of the unknown. It’s a scary thing for them to see you getting rid of everything that mainstream society considers safe and normal. We did a lot of smiling and nodding. For some, we pointed out that we were following in the path of many many full time RV, Overland, Van Life, Schooly folks. That gave them comfort as they were able to sit back and realize thousands and thousands of people live the full time traveler life and Love it.
My Mom was Very anxious for us so we sat down with her and my Dad and laid out all the logistics travel, mail, health care, our plan for horrible weather, breakdowns, etc etc etc. that eased her anxiety and now after 3+ years and all our travels she is able to see how happy we are. You’re on your path to adventure. Those who really care will eventually figure out that the path less traveled isn’t bad/scary it’s just a long adventure.
Have fun and if ya have any question about full time life, feel free to message.

 

[ZombieCat]

Congratulations on your impending adventure! It certainly freaks some people out when you deviate from the “life script” and do something they see as risky. You’ve given this decision plenty of thought, so ignore the naysayers. Reassure those with whom you are close that you’re happy with your decision and are willing to entertain constructive advice. For the others, nod politely and then redirect the conversation (“Tell me about your plans for 2025…”). I look forward to hearing about your travels on OB.
From the words of Edward Abbey: “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets towers into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone, and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you -- beyond that next turning of the canyon walls.”