Jump to content

Class of 2017


Tumbleweed

Recommended Posts

Welcome to the class of 2017.

 

It recently occurred to me that the graduating class of 2017 is currently in its freshman year. During our freshman (2013), sophmore (2014), junior (2015), and senior (2016) years we will have new members join, transfer in, transfer out, and drop out. Those starting fulltiming in January 2017 have less than four years; those starting in December 2017 have slightly more than four years. If you look back to your high school or college years you will remember how fast they passed. That will also be the case for our preparation for fulltiming. As we get closer to 2017 the more urgent and intense will be our preparation activity.

 

Although we will not be blazing new ground as there have been many fulltimers before us (and we will learn from their wisdom and experience), it will be new to us. We in the class of 2017 will be having similar experiences within the same general time frame. Thus the class of 2017 can have a camaraderie through our shared experiences. (This does not take away from also being part of the classless class.)

 

I have been reading fulltimer forums and blogs for the last twelve years. Book knowledge is good and essential but cannot compare to actually having the experience. I compare it to using Google Earth for researching an area and then physically driving through the area. The reserch is good but I don't get a real feel for the area until I am physically there.

 

My wife and I have chosen 2017 because it is the point in time that works best for us from a financial standpoint. I realize that a regret of many fulltimers is that they didn't start earlier; but it also has to work financially. Each persons situation is different.

 

We are Escapee Lifetime members and have attended the 2007 and 2009 Escapades as well as boot camp twice. Since we live in norhtern Illinois we are planning on attending the 2014 Escapade in Goshen Indiana next May. We are attending this Escapade to be surrounded by fulltimers and absorb more information about fulltiming from fulltimers.

 

I will share more about ourselves as new member join this class and as time goes on.

 

Again, welcome to the class of 2017

 

Dave

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Replies 502
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Good luck as you get nearer to your graduation! My wife and I are on track to be the Class of 2018. However, we may sell the house 1 to 2 years before I retire so we could end up as Class of 2016, 2017, or 2018.

Larry

Ex-Navy / Retired Coast Guard CWO w/ 34 Years Total Service.

Goals: 2022 - Retire from my CG civilian job, sell our house, and begin full-timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Larry:

 

Welcome. As most fulltimers say - plans are set in jello.

 

Reading and following the Escapees forum provides a wealth of knowledge by fulltiming gurus including Kirk, Jack Meyer, Stan Miller, etc.

 

Our plan is to start fulltiming in the spring of 2017. We will not be fully retired but semi-retired as my wife will be working from the road. With and internet connection, her job can be done remotely on the road.

 

Three and a half years will come fast as we have a lot to do. I have upgrades planned for our trailer and tuck. I need to get our house ready for sale as well as get rid of our stuff.

 

We'd love to have you in the class of 2017.

 

Dave

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Larry:

 

Welcome. As most fulltimers say - plans are set in jello.

 

Reading and following the Escapees forum provides a wealth of knowledge by fulltiming gurus including Kirk, Jack Meyer, Stan Miller, etc.

 

We'd love to have you in the class of 2017.

 

Dave

Hi Dave,

 

Actually, I have been following this forum since 2004. Although never a huge poster, I had over 400 at one time. For a few years while stationed in the DC area I quit posting on Escapees and evidently, due to software upgrades, all my posts were deleted but not my account. Most of my posts back then were newbie questions as I was just beginning my research into the full-timing lifestyle. Even back then the people you mentioned (Kirk, Jack, Stan) were a wealth of information and helped give my wife and I a much better appreciation for the lifestyle.

 

Who knows Dave, we could end up as members of your class but we probably won't know until about 2015 when things should start taking on more of a definitive shape.

Larry

Ex-Navy / Retired Coast Guard CWO w/ 34 Years Total Service.

Goals: 2022 - Retire from my CG civilian job, sell our house, and begin full-timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello class of 2017.

 

March 2017 is our goal. I will be 53 and the wife 52. We will be no where near retirement but so what!!! I'm retired Navy and we have other lifetime income. The kids are all grown, The grand kids are getting older so we spend less time with them, but will enjoy taking them in the summer. We figure 2017 is our year. I'm still working full time so all will be paid off. We just took delivery of our rig a week ago. So far so good. Dealer did a great job with the PDI. I had a checklist with me as to not forget anything.

 

Yes Dave the time is flying.......

 

Looking forward to seeing more folks jump in on this class!!!

 

No house here. Got rid of that a few years ago. We will rent for the next few years.

 

James

2024 GMC 3500HD DRW Denali Diesel

2019 Keystone Avalanche 396BH

USN Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi James,

 

Welcome to the Class of 2017....looks like you have your ducks all nice and lined up. Good luck on your timeline; I hope that my wife and I are able to join y'all.

Larry

Ex-Navy / Retired Coast Guard CWO w/ 34 Years Total Service.

Goals: 2022 - Retire from my CG civilian job, sell our house, and begin full-timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome James and Tracy:

 

Congratulations on your new rig; it looks great. That outdoor kitchen should be handy.

 

Our target date is May or June of 2017. We have a townhome to sell but won't list it until we get closer.

 

All of our kids live out of state. So we have no kid pressure to not fulltime. Our kids would be surprised if we don't fulltime.

 

Larry and James - It looks like you are both ex navy. Great to have you aboard.

 

Dave

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Dave. The outdoor kitchen is pretty cool. Micro, 2 burner stove, sink, BBQ.... We opted for the convection/micro for the inside one.

 

Haha Larry that's the military in us. Have to always have our ducks in a row. I hope you can join us as well. We are getting excited.

 

James

2024 GMC 3500HD DRW Denali Diesel

2019 Keystone Avalanche 396BH

USN Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Haha Larry that's the military in us. Have to always have our ducks in a row. I hope you can join us as well. We are getting excited.

 

James

Thanks James...My wife and I are very excited as well and finding it difficult to not discuss it 3 or 4 times daily! Good luck in '17 and hope to see you out on the road one day.

Larry

Ex-Navy / Retired Coast Guard CWO w/ 34 Years Total Service.

Goals: 2022 - Retire from my CG civilian job, sell our house, and begin full-timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Although we have 3 1/2 years to go before we have to get rid of everything, we began this weekend by giving our second television to one of our children. That wasn't so hard since we haven't been using the second television. However, I can see that this will be a difficult process and it will be harder to do than expected. I think that it would be easier to get rid of everything when you have a short deadline like two months. When under pressure, like when we downsized from our house to our townhome, everything gets done quickly.

 

It's a start. The process has begun.

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hey everyone. We are Bill and Diane. We just recently started RVing in our 2003 Winnie Brave. After a few months of talking to full timers and reading about the life style, a lightbulb turned on that we could financially handle a 2017 retirement by full-timing. We had planned on selling the house and moving, but the FT life allows us to do if 4 years sooner. So seeing this graduating class fits right in with our plans for April 1, 2017. Looking forward to learning from and with this group!

 

Bill

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus

2012 Honda CRV

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Bill and Diane to the class of 2017.

 

I noticed that your planned fulltiming date is April 1, 2017. I hope that's not an April fools joke (just kidding).

 

Moving up your time frame by 4 years is great. We moved ours up by 4 years because my wife can work remotely via an internet connection.

 

We are also planning in the same time frame; April, May, or June of 2017 depending upon when our home sells.

 

We plan on listing the house in January 2017.

 

The Escapade next May in Goshen Indiana will provide an opportunity to be surrounded by fulltimers.

 

We are planning on attending.

 

Glad to have you aboard.

 

Dave

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@ Bill. Welcome!!!! March or April 2017 for us to. We do not have a house to sell. Full time is going to be awesome.

 

@Tumbleweed I wish we could go to Indiana as well. Most likely we will not be able to attend an escapade until we move to full time unless they do one closer to the west coast. With my job I can only take on vacation longer than a week a year. In June 2014 we are taking our 2 oldest grand kids (8 and 10) on a trip to Yellowstone. We figure there is going to come a day when the grand kids will be to old to hang out with us! hahaha so we need to soak up the time with them now.

 

We finally did get to take our new rig out for 4 days. So far so good. Everything worked as it should. We used 5 gallons of propane over the 4 days using the furnace, water heater (went back and forth between gas and electric) and cooking. Oh and running the refrigerator on propane for 2 days before we left. We did pick up a small heater for the bunkroom which let us lower the thermostat the last 2 days. We will work on propane consumption.

 

Have a grand day!!!

James

2024 GMC 3500HD DRW Denali Diesel

2019 Keystone Avalanche 396BH

USN Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jim:

 

Yellowstone is on our list of must see parks; can't wait to go there. Our plan is to visit 50 of the 58 national parks once we are fulltiming. We visited Acadia in Maine several years ago.

 

It's great news that your shake down trip went well.

 

The Escapades are held once a year and are moved around the country. There should be one closer to the west coast over the next couple years.

 

Enjoy your grandkids.

 

Dave

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jim:

 

Yellowstone is on our list of must see parks; can't wait to go there. Our plan is to visit 50 of the 58 national parks once we are fulltiming. We visited Acadia in Maine several years ago.

 

It's great news that your shake down trip went well.

 

The Escapades are held once a year and are moved around the country. There should be one closer to the west coast over the next couple years.

 

Enjoy your grandkids.

 

Dave

Hey Dave,

 

We took our kids to Yellowstone about 16 years ago. This time we are taking our oldest son's kids. Pretty cool taking our kids and then our grand kids.

50 national parks. Sounds pretty exciting.

I do hope an escapade comes closer to us. But if not we can go after we head out on our full time life.

2024 GMC 3500HD DRW Denali Diesel

2019 Keystone Avalanche 396BH

USN Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We loved the parks once we figured out we were retired and could visit them before or after the big crowds were there.

First rule of computer consulting:

Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day.

Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We loved the parks once we figured out we were retired and could visit them before or after the big crowds were there.

That's one of the main things we are looking forward to.

Larry

Ex-Navy / Retired Coast Guard CWO w/ 34 Years Total Service.

Goals: 2022 - Retire from my CG civilian job, sell our house, and begin full-timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

That's one of the main things we are looking forward to.

Just booked our stay for Yellowstone. We are going to be there 6/16-6/20 in West Yellowstone. We are taking our 8 and 10 year old grand kids with us. It is going to be an awesome time!!!

2024 GMC 3500HD DRW Denali Diesel

2019 Keystone Avalanche 396BH

USN Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If necessary remind the grand kids bears can hear giggles and know it is a nice juicy kid making the noise, so don't giggle after bedtime or the bears may get them.

 

It worked for my grandmother...

First rule of computer consulting:

Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day.

Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If necessary remind the grand kids bears can hear giggles and know it is a nice juicy kid making the noise, so don't giggle after bedtime or the bears may get them.

 

It worked for my grandmother...

Sounds like a good idea!!!

2024 GMC 3500HD DRW Denali Diesel

2019 Keystone Avalanche 396BH

USN Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greetings all! My DW and I will be retiring in 2018 and can't wait to get on the road. In fact we just bought our TV for FTing. We found a great deal so jumped on it. We plan on declaring SD as our domicile and we learned that the registration on a 9yr old TV are half price there, so we decided on a 2008 F-250 6.4l to pull a as yet unpurchased travel trailer to FT in. Can't wait! the Class of 2018 can't come soon enough. Let's hope we both make it!

 

Merry Christmas all.

 

Chip & Cindy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Chip & Cindy and Merry Christmas to all.

 

Congrats on getting your TV.

 

I like South Dakota but our decision on domicile state will most likely be significantly based on how extensive is the medical network associated with the health carriers. We will most likely choose between Florida and Texas. We have three more years before we need to decide. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a domicile state. Search for domicile in the threads and you will get a wealth of information. Stan and Kirk are very knowledgeable on domicile issues.

 

Dave

Dave

2008 Airstream 34’ Classic Trailer

Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins CTD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greetings all! My DW and I will be retiring in 2018 and can't wait to get on the road. In fact we just bought our TV for FTing. We found a great deal so jumped on it. We plan on declaring SD as our domicile and we learned that the registration on a 9yr old TV are half price there, so we decided on a 2008 F-250 6.4l to pull a as yet unpurchased travel trailer to FT in. Can't wait! the Class of 2018 can't come soon enough. Let's hope we both make it!

 

Merry Christmas all.

 

Chip & Cindy

Welcome to Escapees. Sounds like you are already pointed in the right direction. Good luck with your full-timing plans.

Larry

Ex-Navy / Retired Coast Guard CWO w/ 34 Years Total Service.

Goals: 2022 - Retire from my CG civilian job, sell our house, and begin full-timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


RVers Online University

campgroundviews.com

RV Destinations

Find out more or sign up for Escapees RV'ers Bootcamp.

Advertise your product or service here.

The Rvers- Now Streaming

RVTravel.com Logo



×
×
  • Create New...