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Fulltiming? What Regrets do/did you have?


mickeyblueyes

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Since we are taking the plunge soon I would like to ask if there was or is something about fulltiming that you did not expect and regret doing it.

Believe me I understand leaving a house you raised kids in and spent 40 or more years in can be difficult and down right scary.

I for one am scared as is my wife. There are a million what ifs? There are a millionwhats ifs staying in your home also,but a complete life change seems daunting. 

When I first retired I was scared stiff I would be bored to tears. It took a while but I found a niche helping seniors in my neighborhood.

they keep me busy.

is there anyone out there that is bored stiff by fulltiming? My plan is to layup in a nice resort for the winter months and see National Parks in the warmer time. One can wash and wax a RV just so many times!

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20 minutes ago, mickeyblueyes said:

is there anyone out there that is bored stiff by fulltiming?

I suspect that you won't hear from those folks because they don't stay around very long, but they are out there. It is really no different than it was to retire in that you can be as busy as you wish or you can have nothing to do, but you are responsible for which way your life is. We started doing RV volunteer positions when we went fulltime as a way to stretch our budget because we left well before we could draw social security and Pam had been a "stay at home" mom so had only a few years to build any retirement and then leaving early, it was insignificant. When we reached the age to draw social security, we stopped volunteering for 6 months but found we missed the experiences and feeling of satisfaction we get from those positions. We have become part-time now but we still do our volunteer positions because we enjoy them and we have now completed 30+ tours as RV volunteers.

Others have hobbies to stay busy and others have internet projects while some belong to service groups like SOWERS or Habitat for Humanity. Most of our friends come from the RV world and we have observed that those who stay busy also stay on the road for a long time and usually live longer than average. We live in a community of RV folks, most of whom have been fulltimers for at least 10 years. While there are many different stories about what they did on the road, the common thing is that none of them just sat in a chair to watch, but they were out, involved, and living. 

Remember that there is no single best way to live on the road in an RV. The only limit to what you can do while RVing is your own imagination!

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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You will be fine. We have now been fulltiming for almost a year. Winter in a resort is fine, plenty of things to do. The rest of the time it is surprising how busy we are. The one thing that we had to get use to was that we had all the time in the world to see things in our wonderful country. We do not over plan nor make reservations unless a special weekend. We have learned to boondock comfortably. Planning what to do and see consumes time. In addition we have a blog with pictures that consumes time. At least one day a week we dedicate to laundry and shopping. You need to remember you are not on vacation, this is your life.

There are also many volunteer opportunities. Go to volunteer.gov to see what is available. You can volunteer at CARE in Livingston and many other places that aren't really documented.

There is Habitat for Humanity, Sowers and other groups of that nature to volunteer with.

You can be as busy or as bored as you want...................

 

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No regrets, here (about the lifestyle, anyway). We don't "stay put," though - even in the winter - unless it has to do with a new grandbaby or a serious illness with one of our mothers. A rolling stone gathers no moss, as the Kingston Trio said. I could tell my wife was serious when she looked at me yesterday and said, "I've been thinking." Yesterday was a travel day and she had watched me remove the ground tackle (chocks, levelers, etc.) and hitch up in the morning and ("Strike that, reverse it. Thank you.") unhitch, level and set up in the afternoon. She was regretting not waiting the few months until auto-leveling was standard equipment on our fifth wheel. She's also concerned about me climbing up a ladder or on top of the rig to sweep off the slides when we've stayed under trees. So, her "thinking" was about me doing these things when I'm 70 or 75 (I'm only 65 at the moment). We prefer the floorplans, living arrangements and storage in a fifth wheel as opposed to a motor coach, so I guess we'll be thinking about a few upgrades to the rig (auto-leveling and slide toppers).

In three years and two months, we've put 26,000 miles on the rig and logged 170 stays (some were in the same place as we have favorites near family, etc.). We have enjoyed every day of it... well, except for when we both caught pneumonia and she spent five nights in the hospital. That would have happened whether we were in the RV or the house, however, since it followed a visit with some of the grandkids. The only times we've been bored were our own fault(s) - we failed to get motivated, get off our duffs, and get out to do something. We even enjoy the rainy days or cold nights curled up with a good book on our Kindles (that would be the same in a stix 'n brix, too). 

Finally, Dale Carnegie said, "If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." I find that it I'm worried about something, my best therapy is to find something to look forward to and do.

Rob

2012 F350 CC LB DRW 6.7
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
Full-time since 8/2015

 

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x2 about husband going on roof.

We switched from a 5th to a MH due to our age, DH is 74. Meets our needs, still liked the 5th better. We have not had a trailer without slide toppers since 2000, you will really enjoy them. The MH came with autolevel. We would not consider anything without autolevel again. I guess we get lazy as we age.

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Great assessment as always Kirk and so very true :).      Basically it all boils down to knowing thy self, just like the City mouse or country mouse?    Embracing change or fearing change = same when you retired, same in the work place over the years.   Some embrace and look forward to it and some F.E.A.R. it.   Ironically most often we had nothing to fear, and whatever life throws at us we find a way to deal with or accept it anyways.

F.E.A.R = False Evidence Appearing Real.

If you've done your pros and cons sheets against going Full-time or not, and added solutions/compromises to the cons, then there's your "road map".  (Pardon the pun). 

Personally, we were on target to going Full-time a year and a half ago - daughter getting married last summer, and taking over the family acreage = a win-win all round.   It meant we had a space to come home to site wise for several weeks in the summer, and we weren't totally giving up somewhere we've loved living for many years and the memories.   Alas, after 6 years engaged, the wedding got called off, throwing a huge spanner in our plans, and for now we've had to compromise with continued longer and longer extended trips instead of Full-time.   Not quite our initial dream, but it works well for us, and we have peace of mind personally that, we haven't kicked a gifted horse in the mouth by selling up everything.   As another plus, "if" the grass wasn't as green on the longer term RVing side we have a back up still in place.

If daughter (huge emotional pull for us) wasn't so in love with our home place, then for sure if it was just hubby and I, we would sell up everything and go Full-time, footloose and fancy free which without question would give us far more financial flexibility to boot, but ...........   We all gotta do what we gotta do based on our individual personalities :) .

Can so relate to your being scared MBE!   Just a thought but is there anyway you can keep your current home, and test the waters so to speak for a year or two RVing = you might find that emotionally after a period of time, you'll find it easier to sell up the family home then.   Alternatively, as has been the case with many, you "just" might find that FT RVing isn't for you.   We've read of a lot of folks over the years feeling the latter, but few remain on the forums after the fact.

As always ............ to each their own.

       

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No regrets & no surprises here. I had been a part time RV'er for years before retiring and going fulltime; so it wasn't a major adjustment for me. I had also been a bit of a nomad before hand,  moving frequently.  Since I am a type A, go go go, the biggest adjustment for me was to slow down, smell the roses and enjoy each day regardless of what it included or where it ended. Some days will be driving days, some days will be work days, some days will be exploring, and some days need to be rest days. etc

I agree with others comments,  fulltime RV living is a bit different for everyone and its up to you how you want to fill your spare time. I saw it no different than living in a sticks & bricks, as far as how I enjoy spending my spare time. Some have hobbies, some volunteer, some work at remote jobs or part time jobs, and some thrive off just traveling around the country.  You will soon find that there are 57 different flavors of fulltiming. Some folks sit in place most or part of the year, others never stay in one spot more than a week. Some folks seek out every opportunity  to socialize, while others prefer to stay remote and enjoy the solitude of nature. Some folks always stay in RV Parks while others boondock year round. many sample a variety of all the above. etc  

The key to keeping you & yours happy is to understand why you're doing this, maximize what you enjoy about it, minimize what you dislike about it and keep in mind what you want out of it.  I also think its important to go into it with an exit plan in mind. Although some continue fulltiming for 10,15, 20 yrs, the majority stop in less than 5 yrs.

Although its good to get input from others,  be sure to balance your choices & decisions heavily toward your own personal preferences & priorities.

Jim

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5 hours ago, SWharton said:

Planning what to do and see consumes time. In addition we have a blog with pictures that consumes time.

I suspect we all underestimated the time we would spend doing these two things. Good thing I enjoyed doing them.

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

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6 hours ago, FULLTIMEWANABE said:

Great assessment as always Kirk and so very true :).      Basically it all boils down to knowing thy self, just like the City mouse or country mouse?    Embracing change or fearing change = same when you retired, same in the work place over the years.   Some embrace and look forward to it and some F.E.A.R. it.   Ironically most often we had nothing to fear, and whatever life throws at us we find a way to deal with or accept it anyways.

F.E.A.R = False Evidence Appearing Real.

If you've done your pros and cons sheets against going Full-time or not, and added solutions/compromises to the cons, then there's your "road map".  (Pardon the pun). 

Personally, we were on target to going Full-time a year and a half ago - daughter getting married last summer, and taking over the family acreage = a win-win all round.   It meant we had a space to come home to site wise for several weeks in the summer, and we weren't totally giving up somewhere we've loved living for many years and the memories.   Alas, after 6 years engaged, the wedding got called off, throwing a huge spanner in our plans, and for now we've had to compromise with continued longer and longer extended trips instead of Full-time.   Not quite our initial dream, but it works well for us, and we have peace of mind personally that, we haven't kicked a gifted horse in the mouth by selling up everything.   As another plus, "if" the grass wasn't as green on the longer term RVing side we have a back up still in place.

If daughter (huge emotional pull for us) wasn't so in love with our home place, then for sure if it was just hubby and I, we would sell up everything and go Full-time, footloose and fancy free which without question would give us far more financial flexibility to boot, but ...........   We all gotta do what we gotta do based on our individual personalities :) .

Can so relate to your being scared MBE!   Just a thought but is there anyway you can keep your current home, and test the waters so to speak for a year or two RVing = you might find that emotionally after a period of time, you'll find it easier to sell up the family home then.   Alternatively, as has been the case with many, you "just" might find that FT RVing isn't for you.   We've read of a lot of folks over the years feeling the latter, but few remain on the forums after the fact.

As always ............ to each their own.

 

 

Thanks for the reply, but it’s just the two of us now and we have to downsize any way 6 bedrooms 5 baths. FIL Built the house ,we are not Provost people if you know what I mean. Taxes are $14,000 a year. Highest electric in the country. 

To crowded ,rude people and on and on. But we did give it a thought.....       

 

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1 hour ago, sandsys said:

I suspect we all underestimated the time we would spend doing these two things. Good thing I enjoyed doing them.

Linda Sand

Agreed.  And the fancy the phone gets themore pictures to go through finding the right ones for the blog.  

Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net
SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834

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6 hours ago, FULLTIMEWANABE said:

 

If daughter (huge emotional pull for us) wasn't so in love with our home place, then for sure if it was just hubby and I, we would sell up everything and go Full-time, footloose and fancy free which without question would give us far more financial flexibility to boot, but ...........   We all gotta do what we gotta do based on our individual personalities :) .

 

Couldn't daughter still live in the house? 

As far as the OP's question on being bored.  I think you have to have purpose, not think it's going to be a long vacation.  We decided and took off, sold everything within 4 m. time. and never had one regret.  We were downsized from our jobs in our early 50's and knew we didn't want to stay home especially living in a place with seasons.  We wanted to travel and be in 'almost' constant good weather.  While still in the home we made a trip to a nearby national park. We loved the area in the summer/fall and loved the park.  We went into the office to see if they had any volunteer openings.  We were 'hired' on the spot to camp host.  We had to tell them our full-timing plans and that we were in the process of selling everything but we could be back in Fall.  We did that..... for 9 Fall seasons along with some summers giving lighthouse tours for the park.  We made good friends by doing this and the park rangers were awesome, including us in many potlucks and activities.  We finally decided we wanted to go other places in summer/fall so then we traveled.  We still volunteered a maximum of 6 weeks at a time at various public parks throughout the country.  Without volunteering I think we would have become bored at times.  With volunteering we had a chance to give back to the parks that we loved.  We really enjoyed interpretation and gave lighthouse tours in other places but we also camp hosted.  We picked the place we wanted to explore more; applied in person and always got a gig.

Our grandchildren grew up with us as full-timers. That's all they knew.  This was before the common use of cell phones, internet, email, etc.  However, we made an effort to spend  much time traveling to them and being there for their special occasions such as first day of school, grandparents day, graduation for pre-school and upwards.  Sometimes the family would meet us as a special place so we could vacation together. Sometimes one of us would fly to them. Sometimes we would take them on trips.  We spent many hours in a telephone booth.  We took their school project, Flat Stanley, traveling with us and packaging him up with tons of brochures and trinkets from his trip for Show & Tell at school.  It was always a hit with the class. They didn't miss out on anything with us leaving. They gained more.  They were crushed when we stopped RVing because they were such a part of it, too.  The oldest got some travel genes and loves backpacking in Europe when he gets the time.  All of them are so independent and free-spirits.  They thank us all the time for the gift we gave them of sharing experiences and places with them.

Never bored and absolutely no regrets!

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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9 hours ago, mickeyblueyes said:

My plan is to layup in a nice resort for the winter months

In addition to activities that the resort may have, most communities have opportunities to get involved. State Parks, National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges often have volunteer programs for the local community and often have friends groups that organize volunteer activities, run book stores and conduct other fund raising activities. As mentioned, Habitat for Humanity has volunteer opportunities for both the local community and RVers. Fraternal Organizations like the Elks, Moose, Jaycees and Rotary will welcome your participation. There may also be opportunities to volunteer at a local community/Senior Center.

The one that dies with the most toys is still dead!

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We started full time in 1999 and stayed on the road for eleven years and loved it!  Fortunately, we did not sell our house - had house sitter and renters the whole time.  When health issues hit us both we moved back into the house in 2010 and traded the fiver for a MH and travel south every other year.  We had even bought into two SKP Co-ops with plans to sell the house but later sold them.

Looking back I am VERY glad we didn't sell the house as I now have my workshop back and enjoying it along with being very active with the local VFW post.

Just keep your options open if you can.

Lenp

 

USN Retired
2002 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom

2012 F150 4x4

2018 Lincoln MKX

2019 HD Ultra Limited

 

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We were only full time for a couple years before purchasing another sticknbrick.  However, it wasn't because we were not enjoying the lifestyle.  We decided to come off the road because we were seeing really good buys in SW Florida for homes.  After a couple years of being back in a house we missed being on the road so much we sold out again and here we are.

We now plan on staying on the road until our health dictates otherwise.  

Joe & Cindy

Newmar 4369 Ventana

Pulling 24' enclosed (Mini Cooper, Harley, 2 Kayaks)

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We planned on learning to RV for years... before actually deciding & leaving in a 3-month time period.  We kept our house with our Daughter & Family moving in to take over... and built an apartment in the walk-out basement for DW and I.   Over the course of a year we spend approximately 8 - 10 weeks in this apartment with Kids & grandkids just above us.   (indeed, as I type we are preparing to drive back (toad) to spend the Holidays with family there)   

We have few, if any, regrets with our Fulltime lifestyle.   The benefits far more than outweigh any possible regrets.   We make it a point to stay in contact with old friends back home... and increasingly with new friends made on the road.   We pay extra for unlimited smart phone usage and internet access... all to stay in contact.   We have always loved to travel and can now indulge that urge without restraint.   We have learned workamping skills at an area that we love to spend the Summer in... and own a comfortable winter RV lot in sunny Arizona.   At both places, and in between, we indulge in our wish to 'jump in the car and roadtrip'!

If I had to name a regret... it would be "not being 1st-hand involved in our grandchildren's daily lives".  As stated, we spend significant time with them in the same house... and talk regularly via phone... but the gaps can be felt.  On the other hand, they can come to visit us in areas that they might not normally get a chance to!

So... we are very happy in our lifestyle and have no plans to change.   But as Member lenp stated...  "Just keep your options open if you can."    Good advice!   We have options for most contingencies and take confidence in that.

Good luck, Mickey! 

2007 Dolphin

  • Safe-T-Plus Steering Bar

Our Blog: Click Here

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6 hours ago, Jim & Alice said:

We planned on learning to RV for years... before actually deciding & leaving in a 3-month time period.  We kept our house with our Daughter & Family moving in to take over... and built an apartment in the walk-out basement for DW and I.   Over the course of a year we spend approximately 8 - 10 weeks in this apartment with Kids & grandkids just above us.   (indeed, as I type we are preparing to drive back (toad) to spend the Holidays with family there)   

We have few, if any, regrets with our Fulltime lifestyle.   The benefits far more than outweigh any possible regrets.   We make it a point to stay in contact with old friends back home... and increasingly with new friends made on the road.   We pay extra for unlimited smart phone usage and internet access... all to stay in contact.   We have always loved to travel and can now indulge that urge without restraint.   We have learned workamping skills at an area that we love to spend the Summer in... and own a comfortable winter RV lot in sunny Arizona.   At both places, and in between, we indulge in our wish to 'jump in the car and roadtrip'!

If I had to name a regret... it would be "not being 1st-hand involved in our grandchildren's daily lives".  As stated, we spend significant time with them in the same house... and talk regularly via phone... but the gaps can be felt.  On the other hand, they can come to visit us in areas that they might not normally get a chance to!

So... we are very happy in our lifestyle and have no plans to change.   But as Member lenp stated...  "Just keep your options open if you can."    Good advice!   We have options for most contingencies and take confidence in that.

Good luck, Mickey! 

Thanks very sound advice, in our case I mentioned that our property taxes are $14,000 and the house is way. ,way to big for us. The grandkids have all grown into independence and adolescents. They are so busy with sports ,school and friends that there is no time for us. On holidays when they come over for a couple of hours they don’t talk much anyway.

oh and they live 1.5 miles away. We both said it’s time to go when the grandkids don’t need us any longer,. That time has come. I was seriously hurt several years ago in a accident and the cold weather kills me,as does my wife. So I’m pining for AZ or RGV.

thanks,

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17 hours ago, JRP said:

The key to keeping you & yours happy is to understand why you're doing this, maximize what you enjoy about it, minimize what you dislike about it and keep in mind what you want out of it.  I also think its important to go into it with an exit plan in mind. Although some continue fulltiming for 10,15, 20 yrs, the majority stop in less than 5 yrs.

Very well stated.

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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On 10/18/2018 at 7:18 AM, mickeyblueyes said:

When I first retired I was scared stiff I would be bored to tears. It took a while but I found a niche helping seniors in my neighborhood.

they keep me busy.

is there anyone out there that is bored stiff by fulltiming? My plan is to layup in a nice resort for the winter months and see National Parks in the warmer time. One can wash and wax a RV just so many times!

If you're looking for volunteer-type activities to keep you busy, it will help immensely if you hole up in one place for extended periods of time.  You'll notice that most of the suggestions here assume that.

We've been fulltiming for 15 years now, almost always just hopping around with no plans, and it's almost impossible to volunteer when you're doing that.  For one, it's hard to even find out who might want people until you're there, and then you're leaving shortly.

But for another, almost nowhere has volunteer opportunities where you can just show up.  Well, things like hiking trail work days or the like you can do that, but they're just periodic and of course would have to coincide with the days that you're there.  And they're pretty hard manual labor.

But more often, you have to be a known quantity to the organization, which people passing through can't be.  Some places require a background check, and that will take time that someone passing through doesn't have.  For example, a hospice advertised that it needed someone to wrap silverware in napkins.  I called about doing it, and was told I needed to have a background check done first.

I thought, "To wrap silverware in napkins?"  But then I realized that it would be an enormous risk for an organization to allow just anyone off the street access to the premises, so I get it. 

I explained that I would be there for only a short time, but it didn't matter, and I realized that that actually would work against a person, since what organizations ideally want is someone who will continue to volunteer there, and people passing through will never be that.  So they'd have to make special accommodations for someone to come in and wrap some silverware, and I can see why they wouldn't be interested.

So I volunteered for the Red Cross, and went through their volunteer orientation--thinking I could become a known quantity that way, like be in their records.  But it was right after the earthquake in Haiti and everything was a big uproar and I did volunteer there but ultimately had nothing that would tell a different Red Cross chapter that I'd been vetted.  Now, if I'd been able to stay there for a while and get established, maybe it would be different.  But that's incompatible with fulltime travel.

So I joined the Elks, but then realized that their charity is mainly money-based, and that in-person opportunities happen only occasionally, as organized events.  I would probably be welcomed because I'm already an Elk, but the usual problem with having the event coincide with while I'm there presents itself.

All that said, I did find a soup kitchen in Denver that allows people to come in unknown and unannounced--just show up any Monday and ask somebody with an apron what to do.  But it's the only gig like that I've found in 15 years of fulltiming.

Basically, without a fixed location or long-term schedule, volunteering as a fulltimer is a lot harder than you think.

 

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6 hours ago, mickeyblueyes said:

I was seriously hurt several years ago in a accident and the cold weather kills me,as does my wife. So I’m pining for AZ or RGV.

Mickey, I think the first Winter you spend in Arizona... or any other warm area... will remove any doubts that at least "winter timing" is a smart thing to do!   $14,000 in house property taxes... is a lot.   For that amount of money, in many states, you could rent/buy a condominium - that could be an anchor home to come back to on home visits.   Expensive in my thoughts, but doable, and we know folks that do just that to have a 'home place'.   One thing to productively invest time... perhaps write up a "Family Biography" as only you can do - aim it at your grandkids (when they grow beyond teenager), focus on your life, with incidental stories, anecdotes, person-memories, and lots of Dates, events, and facts.   They might not appreciate it now, but they certainly will later!   

2007 Dolphin

  • Safe-T-Plus Steering Bar

Our Blog: Click Here

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4 hours ago, Blues said:

If you're looking for volunteer-type activities to keep you busy, it will help immensely if you hole up in one place for extended periods of time.  You'll notice that most of the suggestions here assume that.

We've been fulltiming for 15 years now, almost always just hopping around with no plans, and it's almost impossible to volunteer when you're doing that.  For one, it's hard to even find out who might want people until you're there, and then you're leaving shortly.

But for another, almost nowhere has volunteer opportunities where you can just show up.  Well, things like hiking trail work days or the like you can do that, but they're just periodic and of course would have to coincide with the days that you're there.  And they're pretty hard manual labor.

But more often, you have to be a known quantity to the organization, which people passing through can't be.  Some places require a background check, and that will take time that someone passing through doesn't have.  For example, a hospice advertised that it needed someone to wrap silverware in napkins.  I called about doing it, and was told I needed to have a background check done first.

I thought, "To wrap silverware in napkins?"  But then I realized that it would be an enormous risk for an organization to allow just anyone off the street access to the premises, so I get it. 

I explained that I would be there for only a short time, but it didn't matter, and I realized that that actually would work against a person, since what organizations ideally want is someone who will continue to volunteer there, and people passing through will never be that.  So they'd have to make special accommodations for someone to come in and wrap some silverware, and I can see why they wouldn't be interested.

So I volunteered for the Red Cross, and went through their volunteer orientation--thinking I could become a known quantity that way, like be in their records.  But it was right after the earthquake in Haiti and everything was a big uproar and I did volunteer there but ultimately had nothing that would tell a different Red Cross chapter that I'd been vetted.  Now, if I'd been able to stay there for a while and get established, maybe it would be different.  But that's incompatible with fulltime travel.

So I joined the Elks, but then realized that their charity is mainly money-based, and that in-person opportunities happen only occasionally, as organized events.  I would probably be welcomed because I'm already an Elk, but the usual problem with having the event coincide with while I'm there presents itself.

All that said, I did find a soup kitchen in Denver that allows people to come in unknown and unannounced--just show up any Monday and ask somebody with an apron what to do.  But it's the only gig like that I've found in 15 years of fulltiming.

Basically, without a fixed location or long-term schedule, volunteering as a fulltimer is a lot harder than you think.

 

 

Great information,thank you,I might have posted that after my accident I was in a wheelchair for a while,I really was bummed out. I should say I was really depressed.

but it took a while and things fell into place I ended up helping all the older widows in my general neighborhood.,handyman,and the like.

well it is very satisfiing  as they all worry about me if I disappear for a couple of days. 

I’m sure I’ll find something to do if not I’ll do crosswords or read or ride a bike or cook or relax..........I’m just going thru the “prewedding” jitters lol

 

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Life is what you make it. I would get on the road and really see how bored you are. You may be surprised. Just don't overplan your travels and be able to adjust your time, flexibility. Keep a bucket list so if you here of something you would like to see, put it on the list.

We just came from the North Rim and the CG closed down for the season, we put the North Rim back on our list as we felt we had more to explore. On our way back to Page, AZ we added Coral Pink Sands Dunes, Grand Staircase, Page area(more to see) and other stops. When we visited Durango, we ran out of time due to snow in the mountains. Back onto the bucket list.

We had thought we had a handle on our bucket list but it keeps getting longer.  

I don't think we will ever be bored.

The other thing, travel as far as you want each day. Somedays w travel 50 miles but never more than 250. We are 2/2 people. 200 miles or in camp by 2, whichever comes first.

It will take you a while to get out of "vacation" mode.

 

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3 hours ago, mickeyblueyes said:

I’m sure I’ll find something to do

There are plenty of things to do from your RV if you explore. We took early retirement and my previous employer paid for us to take an early retirement seminar. In it, they recommended that we set some goals for what we wished to accomplish in retirement. We actually had a workbook that we used to explore the costs of different modes of RV living as well as what activities were available. The idea was not to set an inflexible plan but rather to have some point to what we did since it is very difficult to know if you have succeeded at something if there was no goal. Our first goals were things like spending time with grandchildren we had not seen in more than a year, to see orca's in Puget Sound, to see the redwoods, to spend some time with Pam's brother that we had not seen in 5 years, to experience several places along the west coast that we had not been to, and so on, all in the first 6 months. We also had some goals for the first year and some longer term goals. One of the 5 year goals was to spend time in every state west of the Mississippi and for 10 years to visit all 50 states. There were other things and some of them got changed before we reached them but we continued to set loose goals for our lives and we still do so today. It doesn't have to be formal or written, just a reason to get up and move every morning. 

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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I like that idea, someone recently shared a couple of links to RV journeys with me. I’m sure you have seen them. The first was to spend a entire year in 72 degree weather.

it has a journey planned out for you to travel fir 12 months and stay comfortable. There are 12 moves involved I think. 

The second involved following a trail that visits all national parks on the main land US.both sound pretty cool to me. 

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