class of 2014..follow along!

[Koop]

Well, after meeting with the Benefits Specialist at HR and reviewing my options...we're moving up to the class of 2013 as I'll be retiring late summer. I won't make an official announcement at work until May but Donna and I have decided to go for it. We have much to do in the next 4 or 5 months. I've already started to get rid of "stuff". Have guns and ammo for sale (that's a hot market right now), need to move motorcycles, equipment, guitars and amps...whew, it's almost overwhelming.

 

I guess I should be posting in the Class of 2013.

[smack2020]

Well, after meeting with the Benefits Specialist at HR and reviewing my options...we're moving up to the class of 2013 as I'll be retiring late summer. I won't make an official announcement at work until May but Donna and I have decided to go for it. We have much to do in the next 4 or 5 months. I've already started to get rid of "stuff". Have guns and ammo for sale (that's a hot market right now), need to move motorcycles, equipment, guitars and amps...whew, it's almost overwhelming.

 

I guess I should be posting in the Class of 2013.

Awesome, good luck to you

[prabson]

Good for you! Of course, you'll have to join the other group, now.

[leslieo]

My husband and I are planning to go full time in the spring of 2014. I feel overwhelmed with all that needs to happen between now and then...fix up the house in order to sell it, buy the RV - 42 class A DP, plan our itinerary and then leave our jobs that we both really love. We have been thinking and planning and researching (well, my husband really is the research maven) for years and now we are just about a year from shoving off and the time to start taking action is now. We have already attended one Escapees Boot Camp and are going to the Good Sam Rally this June in Syracuse. We will not have any health insurance benefits when we leave our jobs so we are going to have to figure that one out once Obama's health plan goes into play....thankfully we are both in good health!

 

I will follow this thread in hopes of learning from you guys and share what I learn.

 

Hoping to meet you on the road somewhere in the near future!!

 

Leslie

[dosbeagles]

Welcome to the class of 2014!!

[rvingpriness]

Well here we are nearly the end of March 2013 just a little over a year to go before we hit the road to becoming full-timers. We are in the 4th year of our 5 year plan, boy it has gone by pretty quick. We also had a garage sale last summer and gearing up for another one this summer. We have gone through some stuff in the basement over the winter, threw a bunch of stuff out, took some to goodwill and have put a bunch of stuff in bins to sell. As I look around the house (4 bedroom) I just can't figure out how we are going to get rid of everything and move full time into a 34' Moho. We also have a calendar and are marking off the months as they go by and this makes it tolerable getting up each morning and heading into work. Seeing that light at the end of the tunnel helps me get through the work day, especially when I work for 2 bitch bosses. We are going to the Good Sam Rally in Syracuse in June this will be our first one, I can hardly wait. We will also be doing some weekend trips and a 2 week trip this July. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when looking around the house and see everything we still have to do. I keep trying to get my husband to go through more stuff in the basement but he says we have lots of time, but I don't want to wait until the last minute and stress ourselves out. We will put the house up for sale late next Spring and try to sell it ourselves, and hopefully be full timing by summer of 2014 or early fall. As my DH says not to worry that he will get a big garbage bin and chuck whatever is left when we are ready to leave . I know it is just stuff, but that is stuff we have collected for the past 40 years of marriage and there are things I love and will have a hard time parting with. Even though we so much left to do I am looking forward to the next chapter of our lives. Hope to meet some of you on the road someday.

[smack2020]

Caren,

I know the feelings. Thing get overwhelming sometimes.

 

I spent the day puttering in the garage trying to figure out what to get rid of. I take a few things to good will every week, me and the guy working there are becoming friends, he knows me by name now. I went through all my nails, screws, nuts and bolt and filled 3 plastic containers with what I want to take. I want to get a new tool box and start sorting my tools. We also plan on selling next spring. I keep hearing the housing market is getting better and better every month, which is nice.

 

Soon we can leave our bosses behind, thank God.

 

Next year is coming up quick.

[mkrug]

Checking in, classmates.

We have cleared another hurdle. We took possession of our 2013 Fuzion 375 last Thursday. Got it home one day before the snow storm that found its way to the mid west over the weekend. For now everything is buttoned up tight and we wait impatiently for the snow to melt off the roof so we can open the slides and start exploring our new home.

 

Get the house on the market and get a sale this summer.

Retirement April 1, 2014. The time is flying!

[smack2020]

Congrats on the new rig, Krugs.

 

I keep hearing that house values are going up, I sure hope so.

[caribbeach]

Congrats Krugs.

We are still on the market "for sale by owner", not much happening there right now, but I expect it will pick up once the warm weather comes. Also pretty soon I will be putting our house in the MLS myself, just found out that is possible, doing everything we can until we have to pay that commission! Don't know if anyone else has signed up for "workamping" but DH and I are planning on doing that some. I am getting pretty excited seeing the 2013 ads, knowing the ones that come along next we can actually consider. Getting some ads up on Craigslist today and looking at some more things to take to Goodwill. Trying to do anything I can to make myself feel like we are one step closer to our "happy place". Can't Wait! you guys! getting so excited! I am reading a blog though that is almost painful, its a couple that spends most of their time rving in Mexico which is my dream!! but wherever you rv has to be better than the ole s&b's. Lets get out there!!

[smack2020]

Is it 2014 yet?

[caribbeach]

I am having major hits on the house, but no sale yet, got offered a job (course they read our resume wrong) and that was exciting too. Its gonna be great!!

[dosbeagles]

Well DW & I had a long discussion. Next month we are going to meet with a realtor and put the house on the market. Had 2 houses sell on our street this month. We will be planning a few garage sales, trips to Goodwill and figuring out storage solutions. We will plan on meeting with a retirement counselor in July a nd see if things work out to move forward our date from June 2014 to Janurary 1 2014 or sooner if the stars align correctly . Will keep you posted.

 

Downside no summer trip this year.

[smack2020]

Dosbeagles, that would be awesome to move your date up. Housing market is slowly improving, which is good news for all of getting ready to sell.

 

My wife went to Cal Pers(our retirement people) yesterday and they said we are right on track for our mid Dec of 14 retirement plans. I may be able to pull the plug about a month earlier than my wife because I need to burn some time.

 

God willing, it won't be long now.

[caribbeach]

Waiting on an offer for the S&Bs today, am pretty nervous, are we doing the right thing, are we asking the right price, is this the right buyer, should we wait until the market improves more, will it improve more or will there be another bubble burst? uggghhh this is painful! Guess I will just have to turn it over to the Big Guy, if this offer comes in and is close, maybe its just the right time....???????????????????????????????????????????????

[dosbeagles]

Waiting on an offer for the S&Bs today, am pretty nervous, are we doing the right thing, are we asking the right price, is this the right buyer, should we wait until the market improves more, will it improve more or will there be another bubble burst? uggghhh this is painful! Guess I will just have to turn it over to the Big Guy, if this offer comes in and is close, maybe its just the right time....???????????????????????????????????????????????

Positive thoughts prayers and good luck thoughts go out to you that this is the right thing at the right time

[dosbeagles]

Dosbeagles, that would be awesome to move your date up. Housing market is slowly improving, which is good news for all of getting ready to sell.

 

My wife went to Cal Pers(our retirement people) yesterday and they said we are right on track for our mid Dec of 14 retirement plans. I may be able to pull the plug about a month earlier than my wife because I need to burn some time.

 

God willing, it won't be long now.

Wife is STRS and will have to talk about heatlh insurance as well(which is CAPERS). I don't know if you read one of my earlier posts but did the math and it will be cheaper to maintain domicile & residence in CA and stick with her current insurance rather than change to one of the PPO options offered by CAPERS. I cant believe that continuing to pay state income tax, CA DMV on motorhome and toad etc is less than what the difference in insurance cost would be. Oh well.

[roberjw49]

Well, we met with our agent last evening. Before the sun sets today our house will be listed for sale on the MLS.

 

This is the last hurdle. If it sales this year ( the DW is hoping this month - she gets to quit work when it sales) we will be joining the class of 2013. Here's hoping.

 

John

[dosbeagles]

Good luck on the sale of your house John.

 

Chris

[caribbeach]

We have an offer, just not in writing, waiting on the paperwork, supposed to come tomorrow, then the inspector on Saturday and the appraisal. This is a process and we have never been through it, we are not getting much sleep, but know it will all work out. Thanks for the encouraging words dosbeagles it is appreciated.

[dosbeagles]

This is not something to loose sleep over. It will either happen or not and if it doesn't you might as well be rested for the next time. Real estate action is picking up so it shouldn't be long now.

 

Good Luck

 

Chris

[caribbeach]

You're right of course Chris, will try to take that advice..John I echo Chris, good luck, its one heck of a ride!!

[caribbeach]

We have a contract and a closing date - WOW - getting excited, of course having some mixed emotions, but really don't have time for that, so much to do! Thanks for all the encouragement. We will still be in the area until next November, but hopefully next step will be buying our NEW home and getting parked somewhere. We have something picked out - home and park and excited to get to that next step..

[steved44]

Congratulations guys, it sure is a good feeling. We had our closing date change 5 times before it really happened, and when it finally did we wound up "stunned" standing in the parking lot looking at each other in disbelief! Then when reality crept back in we danced around high fiving for a while. Anyone watching us probably thought we were crazy, but it sure was fun! Now, after full-timing for 5 years we still dance around in a parking lot every once and a while, and it's still fun!! Enjoy the adventure and maybe we'll bump into each other on the road someday. Steve

[dosbeagles]

One hurdle gone a few more to go. Good luck the positive thoughts and prayers continue going your way.

Chris