Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Lifestyle

We were talking with a good friend yesterday and he asked us how we dealt with not having a home or a home base.  He said he didn't think he would be able to do that and how do we come to terms with it?  It kind of surprised us since we've known John for quite awhile and we have been doing this full-timing thing since 2004.  I guess it's the fact we are soon coming to an end staying here in Atlanta and are ready to start moving around in earnest.  I'm sure it seems to him and other people we know locally, that we live here, albeit in a motorhome.  He asked if we didn't miss having a house?  We really never give this a thought as we are totally committed to this way of living and don't ever think of owning a house, but his questions made us ponder a bit and made me want to try to share our outlook and impressions on this type of lifestyle.
Do we ever miss a house is the first question, and I guess, we have to admit every once in awhile it would be nice to have a place where you could have a larger group of people over for dinner or a party, or just a visit.  We make do with this most of the time because where we are is usually warm so we spend our time outside.  But, yes, sometimes we wish we had more room for people when its cold or rainy.  But actually that's the only time.
What we love about the lifestyle is we get to change our scenery, our weather, our population density, whether we are in trees, open desert, mountains, along a stream or a lake or an ocean, at a resort or the middle of nowhere, and the greatest thing is we are always at home!  We sleep in our bed, we don't pack and unpack, everything we need we have.  We can boondock and be totally self-sufficient, or hooked up to all utilities with pools, hot tubs, entertainment in a resort setting.  Here's a few examples:
Here's a shot of a foggy morning parked right beside the lake.  That is the view from inside our coach.
Parked right beside Palo Dura Canyon in Texas.
Sunset in Santa Fe right from our coach.
Pulling out of Lake City, CO with Jan's sister caravaning with us.
A gorgeous sight in the late afternoon in Durango, CO.
Relaxing beside William's Lake in Colorado.
Alongside a beautiful rushing stream northeast of Gunnison, CO.
Camped right beside the Mighty Mississippi.
Having fun with new friends and old friends.
Kayaking with good buddies.
Hanging out with some family.
Parked right on a lake in Idaho, not far from Yellowstone.
And a chilly, white day in rolling Kentucky.
All these were with our home and our own bed.  Bet your house can't do that. :-)  Moving where we wanted, enjoying the travel and the new and oft visited gems alike.  Do we want just one place with grass to mow, taxes to pay, the same road in and out every day, not now, maybe not ever again.

4 comments:

Sandy Smith said...

Sounds to me like a really small, complex, maintenance intensive, fairly expensive to acquire/sell and operate apartment. But for you nomadic types it must work, you have been at it for quite a while and your self-repair acumen is gaining.

Bill said...

There is that. It's all a personal decision that Jan and I are very happy with. Hope to see you guys this summer.

Sandy Smith said...

I have this recurring dream whereby I zip tie you and Jan or my other buddy with a coach, hi-jack the rig and make you camp out next to the train tracks to railfan for days, gruesome!

Bill said...

Part of your recurring dream is true. Jan and I are parked less than 200 feet from a railroad track and intersection where upon 50-60 trains a day come by and blow, blow, blow their whistles!