Fulltiming. Not everyone is cut out for it.
And then some are suited for it, but it’s not the right time in their lives.
For instance, I once was obsessed with owning land in the country. My pretty little house in town had neighbors so close we could talk from our windows. I wasn’t satisfied. I yearned for a huge lawn with trees, plenty of space for a big, vegetable garden, and no neighbors. I needed roo-o-o-o-m . . .
Lots of grass. Here's some grass. There's some grass. Lots of grass.
I found my house in the country. One of the first things I did after moving in was to go to Lowe’s and buy a red riding mower. I couldn’t wait to get on the thing. I had my big lawn with trees …
I mowed …
And I mowed …
And I mowed …
Soon I was back at Lowe’s picking out the mother of all rototillers. I was going to have an award-winning garden and it was going to be BIG.
Do you see the brown thrasher?
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, summer squash, winter squash, zucchini, cantelope, watermelon, eggplant, beans, white corn, yellow corn …
And I hoed …
And I hoed …
And I hoed … 
I was so proud of my garden! Friends joined in and it became an ever-changing source of good food and companionship for all of us. I loved it. Crunching those crisp radishes, and later, tying up tomatoes, running fresh ears of corn to the pot of boiling water, splitting open melons at just the right time. Ah, yes, I loved my garden.
Will I miss it once I’m on the road?
Probably, once in a while, but not too much. It was a lot of work and I’m older now. I think Georgia has grown hotter and more humid, too. I’ve moved into a new phase of my life. One thing hasn’t changed though. I like not having neighbors!
Now is the right time for me. Fulltime vagabonding requires that I sell my home and property so I can afford the start-up costs: buying my trailer and tow vehicle, plus all the other things to help me travel and live with a measure of comfort and security. It’s a contradiction, I know, to buy stuff so I can live a simple life. I have, however, rid myself of a lot more possessions than I’m acquiring. Which brings up the question:
What stuff helps one be a successful, fulltime vagabond?
Let’s put together a list! Dear Readers, what do you think is essential equipment for a vagabond?
rvsue
Great question!
1) I love to read – so an e-reader would be ideal especially when space is an issue. There are enough free books available now that I could justify the cost to the cheap person who lives inside me and likes to yell. And more and more libraries are offering free downloads.
2) I love to cook (and eat!) so I wouldn’t leave without my crock pot, grill, and cast iron skillet.
3) I love to sit around a campfire and/or watch the stars so a real comfortable camp chair would be a necessity.
I’ll be interested to hear others’ responses.
Ereaders are just the thing for people who camp or fulltime. I got the Kindle with 3G and donated all my books to Goodwill. I also got an anti-gravity chair at Target to go with my regular camp chair. Buying these things helped me hold on to my dream during the super-frugal saving years.
I don’t have the crock pot, grill, or cast iron skillet. Yet!
A really really reliable internet connection, with a trusted laptop/ipad/netbook….lol……
1 – favorite slippers
2 – favorite coffeemug
3 – really good sheets and towels and linens
Those are things I know I’d want with me. And zipties. Lots of zipties.
One of the things a full time RV’f should have (besides $) is a flexible attitude an ability to roll with the punches. Not every day is wonderful day, not everyone you meet is a nice cheerful person. Some towns don’t want us in their town, sometimes Sh*t happens and it costs you. If you are ridged in your expectations you may get disappointed or discouraged. Just stay flexible, one day at a time and enjoy what comes your way…
Kay
this is cool. I had never gone all the way back to read the 1st part of the blog, just started about the time you were in Wickenburg….whenever that was.
fun seeing the steps you took to go full timing!
Those early posts put everything into perspective. I tell about the several years of scrimping and saving that made all this possible. And then those last few months before retirement and before the house sold. . . Some readers are in that phase right now.
Nice to hear you enjoyed reading about those days. Barb.