Wow! The family is full of very pushy advice.

[MOAK]

Last evening after all the festivities were consumed and things began to get normal, our daughter began taking us to task. We sat quietly, reminded here that this is a conversation and not a lecture, and had a conversation that was getting a bit heated. After a few more words, when things calmed down a bit I followed some very good advice from this conversation on OB. I said, dear, we know that your concerns are because you love us and care about us and do not want any harm to befall us. I understand that, and that’s what matters. That comment hit the right spot and a great “ goodbye, see you later “ was the result. I don’t remember who advised me, but it worked & worked well. Thanks!

 

[MOAK]

Heh. Been there. In 2010 we decided to begin a 1-year RV trip. With our 12 and 13 year olds. We were homeschoolers, I worked online, so it was a relatively simple lift. We bought a used truck & fifth wheel, put a friend in our house, and took off. MIL wasn't happy. FIL was reserved but supportive. My parents - also longtime RVers - didn't really say much one way or the other. Extended family were quietly judgmental, but we were already homeschoolers which put us outside their boxes labeled "normal."

One year turned to eight. In-laws ended up buying an RV and have now been OTR for nine years. The extended family ended up also homeschooling and buying a Class B to travel in with a child.

Our time on the was awesome and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The experiences and photos became the basis for a book.

But it did, ultimately, come at the cost of relationships with some of those extended family members. After realizing we didn't enjoy always having to defend our choices, we just stopped spending the time with them.

Now, some years later, it's looking like a death in the family is going to prompt us to reconnect and I have mixed feelings about that....

Good luck on your adventure!

We are definitely the “ outsiders “ in our families. My parents deaths only made us more outside. Except one brother, our relationship has flourished! My wife’s family? Deaths will only make that dysfunction worse. Good luck !

 

[MazeVX]

We are definitely the “ outsiders “ in our families. My parents deaths only made us more outside. Except one brother, our relationship has flourished! My wife’s family? Deaths will only make that dysfunction worse. Good luck !

Many of us are outsiders or maybe even outcasts. Maybe sleepers, "dangerous" individuals trying to act normal when we're around normal people.
We are family, across borders and oceans. That's what we are.

 

[MidOH]

I'm a sleeper cell. But I have model trains and imitation crab meat.

Let's pahrty.

 

[MOAK]

I'm a sleeper cell. But I have model trains and imitation crab meat.

Let's pahrty.

You mean like this? Yup- tearem down and box them up- free yourself of the addiction !

 

[MidOH]

Freeeeedom!

[Toot toot]

 

[Magic Mike]

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?

First thing is congratulations for making the decision to get after your freedom!

We’ve been on the road for about four years, and we absolutely love it. Living this way does have some challenges but in my opinion the Pro’s far outweighs the cons.

We have traveled all of North America including up to the Artic Ocean. We have also done all of Central America down to the Darien Gap in Panama and like you guys our family thought we were crazy! We got a lot of silly comments and we merely ignored them.

You have to do what is going to make you happy and don’t listen to the Naysayers!