Happily Homeless

As I sit here writing this post we are at 6 days to go until we begin our fulltime life. I quit my job on Wednesday the 11^th. And closed on the house Thursday the 12^th. We moved into a extended stay hotel to wait for Southern RV to call and say our new Keystone Sprinter 269RLS has been delivered and checked out.

We've kept busy taking care of the boring things that have to be taken care of. BIG Tip #1, Set up your mail forwarding service a couple of months in advance. You don't actually start receiving mail there until you notify everybody. But get this done soon just in case there are any problems. We also bought roadside assistance and joined the Good Sam Club.

Big Tip #2, When shopping at Camping World be prepared to be bombarded with Can I sell you this and Can I sell you that. They have a quota to meet and they are ruthless. I've also heard you can expect to receive all kinds of worthless mail. So keep that in mind when you are setting up your mail forwarding service.

We decided to sell Barb's car instead of keeping it. Didn't want the extra cost of insurance and tags plus having to transfer the title. Don't forget to cancel the car insurance. I've been getting quotes for RV insurance for two weeks now and have decided on Blue Sky. I feel we got a real good deal, just got to make the call Monday and get that set up.

Big Tip #3, And I guess its to late now anyway but lets talk about health insurance. I waited until one day before the deadline for the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care). I guess I shouldn't have expected anybody to answer the phone after waiting an hour on hold. I finally got us set up with a HMO policy from BCBSTX. But I figured we're going to be working in Texas for eight months that will give us a chance to find a good affordable PPO somewhere. So for the time being I'm satisfied with the policy.

As I said at the start of this post we are 6 days away from starting our new adventure and I feel like a child just before Christmas who can't get to sleep because I might miss Santa Claus.

Safe Travels and I Hope to See You Down the Road

Another step closer

Another step closer

A couple of weeks ago we bought our tow vehicle. A 2003 Ford F 250 diesel . It has a 7.3 Liter engine with 3.73 gears. It came with a 16K Husky 5^th. Wheel hitch installed. We've

had it checked out by a mechanic and will have an oil change done next week. But other than that its good to go to Texas where we will become Texas residents and will start our first workamping job.

Only scary part is we need to be in the Dallas area by March 1^st. Actually we will need to be there a little sooner since the job starts on the 1^st. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get a little closer to March.

In the mean time we have had the repairs done that the buyers requested after the home inspection. We've also had the appraiser come by about two weeks ago and have not heard anything so I'm taking that as a good thing. Still waiting for the buyers to get their income tax check so they have the down payment, that's why the closing is scheduled for the middle of February. Its frustrating because all we can do is sit and wait.

This past Saturday we went to the Atlanta Camping and RV show. I can say without a doubt we have found our rig. No more searching, no more listening to salesmen go on and on when you know as much if not more then they do. Although it was fun catching them in a lie when they didn't know the answer. Anyway, we decided on a 2015 Keystone Sprinter 269RLS 5^th. Wheel. We got just what we wanted and the price wasn't to bad either. We got to pick out the fabric that Barb liked the best so at least its not the most hideous looking fabric. (I'll always wonder who picks out the colors for these RV's)

My daughter says it didn't happen if there aren't any pictures and of course the only time we didn't have a camera with us was at this show. Next week when we go sign some papers and drop off some money I'll be sure to take lots of pictures. So it looks like we might be on the road soon, hopefully. Keep your fingers crossed for us and I promise to post some pictures real soon.

Be Safe and I Hope To See You Down The Road

Just 1 thing holding us back

November 15^th., Our launch date is going to be a BUST. Well to be honest it was only an approximation. In order to set up a countdown calendar you needed a end date. I'm still hoping it happens before the end of the year.

We've done just about everything we can do at this point. The house is as empty as it can get short of sleeping on the floor and watching television in camp chairs. We have sold everything we own except for what we believe we will be taking on the road. I keep saying we have only gone through the first of several purges. The last one will be everything we have crammed into the walk in closet downstairs. You people already fulltiming know what I'm talking about.

All the stuff you look at and decide well, I can't live without this or that will make our lives so much easier once we're living in a RV. I can see it now, the house is sold, we buy the 5^th. wheel, we carry box after box into our new home. After stepping over boxes and digging through each and every one just to find the new flexible light weight silicone muffin pan. We sit down exhausted and decide, its time we purged some of this junk so we can store what's really important. 11 seasons of MASH, plus the movie.

Well one thing that is decided and put to rest is the great debate of which 5^th. Wheel do we want? I can say we both have chosen the Keystone Sprinter front living #333FL. We keep going back and looking at RV's but always come back to the Sprinter. The living room has 2 couches that fold out to beds for the grand kids if we ever get back to see them. I like the fact that there is a large basement below and more storage in the back below the bedroom.

Well today we just about did it. We went to yet another RV show to look around and see what was available. Plenty of motor homes and travel trailers with only a handful of 5^th. Wheels. One of the first ones we saw was the Sprinter 333 Front living. The exact one we've been looking at only 5 miles from home only one model year newer. Of course we're stopped by a salesman and a caught in a conversation almost immediately.

After all the get to know you and I'm your buddy (I'm not trying to sell you an RV) talk, we got down to brass tacks as my Dad use to say. Our salesman Mark F. from Alabama, still not sure why they needed to recruit salespeople from out of state. There seemed to be more than enough salespeople running around. I mean you couldn't stop and drink a cup of coffee without being asked if we needed help. Anyway, I informed Mark I had been researching this for about two years now and there were certain things I was not going to pay for or put up with. Once he understood this we had a good conversation.

Show price started out at 38,900.00 being generous he got down to 36,900.00. Sorry no deal. When I explained we had a quote for 32,900.00 on a 2014 exact same model Mark got on board a little better. He wanted to talk to his boss and asked me if the 32,900 offer included a Reese Hitch. I was honest and told him no but it did include a $300.00 gift card from the Camping World store and tossing in the hitch might sway my decision to buy. Well after another cup of coffee and playing around in a really big Class A Motor Home which had the keys in it. And I wonder why Barb looked nervous, Mark came back with the offer. $34,700.00 out the door price. (Tax, Tag, and Title included) a new Reese Hitch to be installed after we buy a truck and a $300.00 gift card.

Well I was a whole lot surprised. I didn't know what to do or say. I was ready to sign right then, Barb was ready to sign. But, you know that little devil that sits on your shoulder and says Now wait a minute, lets think this through. Barbs about to retire, we would have to store the 5^th. Wheel somewhere and The house hasn't sold yet. I just couldn't do it.

I had to past, just couldn't see taking on that financial nightmare right now. Anyway when the house sells we'll hopefully find another good deal we can live with.


                                   Safe Travels And I Hope To See You On The Road Soon 

Saint Joseph, Sell my house. Please

For those of you that don't know Barb and I are trying to become fulltime RV'ers. We are now at the last piece of the puzzle. Selling the house. Its been on the market for 3 months now and still not sold. We fired our agent last week and hired a new agent on Oct. 1^st.

Already we've had three showings. But I'm already thinking about getting a new agent. Why after just five days, you ask? Well, a few weeks ago I was on one of the many RV forum clubs I belong to on Facebook complaining about my house not selling. 
Several people suggested we bury a Saint Joseph statue in the yard. Not sure how to respond I simply said Huh? Everybody said just goggle it. So I did.

Seems if you bury a statue of Saint Joseph in your yard your house will sell very quickly. I did a little research and I mean very little research and sure enough you can get these Saint Joseph selling your house kits on line. Not only can you get them on line but, Hold on to your hat, you can buy them at Christian Book stores. Really, now I'm willing to try just about anything to get on with my life and get this house sold but I'm not to sure about burying Saint Joseph in my yard.

Especially after I told my mom about it. This is the lady that goes to church on Wednesday and twice on Sunday. She came about as close as you can get to saying if you do this you aren’t my son. Not to mention all the rules you need to follow when putting Joe in the ground. And who knows what the right rules are.

I took these from several sites.

Upside down, near the 'For Sale' sign in the front yard. (An upside down St. Joseph is said to work extra hard to get out of the ground and onto someone's mantel.)

Right side up

In the rear yard, possibly in a flower bed

Lying on its back and pointing towards the house “like an arrow”

Three feet from the back of the house

Facing the house

Facing away from the house

Exactly 12 inches deep

So, my question to you fulltimer's that did bury Saint Joseph in your yard. How quickly did your house sell? Now I haven't run out and bought my Saint Joseph yet, and by the way you can actually buy one from Amazon. Prices range from $6.69 to $24.88. I guess if you buy the $24.88 kit your house will sell faster then if you only spend $6.69.

So if I come back here in a couple of weeks and tell everybody we're moving into a new RV because the house sold please don't say anything to my mom, she doesn't need to know how we did it and I still need to be able to get a nice dinner on Thanksgiving day.

T.T.F.N.               Watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6LTyJe3C_c&feature=player_embedded

Safe Travels And I Hope To See You On The Road Soon

Another offer falls through

    Seems another offer on the house fell through this past week. And I had a really good feeling about these folks. Very Disappointing. So what to do? Well we've taken a step back and looked at a few things and got the opinion of a outsider. Seems one of the recurring negative comments about our house has been, there's to much work that needs to be done on the inside.

   We just kept scratching our heads trying to figure out what everybody was talking about. That's where the opinion of an outsider comes in to play. This person does home remodeling for a different realtor than we are listed with. Looks like everybody just wants to turn the key and say We're Home. Nobody wants to pick up a paintbrush and make the house their home and personalize the walls.

   So we will invest a few dollars and make the house as neutral as possible hoping anybody that looks at it will be able to see themselves living here. So far I've completed one bedroom, one bathroom, the living room, and almost got the laundry room finished. I'm going to hire out the outside changes we have in mind, that's just a little more then I can handle by myself.

   Until then we will continue to have our yard sales and downsize what we will keep in the RV and what will go to charity. Speaking of yard sales, seems if the temperature gets above 95 degrees nobody wants to come outside. Oh well, Lesson Learned. I'll just keep telling myself “Better Times Are Ahead” Keep your fingers crossed for us. T.T.F.N. 

             Safe Travels and I Hope To See You Down The Road

One step Forward and Two steps back

 

Well as I stated last week “We have a contract on the house”, Oh boy lots to do and little time to do it. Where to begin? We found a 5^th. Wheel we could agree on at a price we both liked. Put down a deposit so they could start checking it out for us. Of course this was all dependent on the sale of the house. Started looking for an Extended stay hotel that would accept pets. We also took Maggie to the Vet's for her shots. We began looking for a campground that we could live at until Barb retires in November. OK, plans are starting to fall into place.

BUT WAIT, hold the phone. Not so fast there mister. It seems as if the soon to be home owner of our current residence has gotten cold feet and decided to pull the rug out from under us and our planning. How dare he. So much for making a plan. To brighten my day my Mom likes to say “It will happen when it happens”. Well that's great, just when is that suppose to take place? I mean I'm ready to go now. I've heard the expression Patience is a Virtue. My dad used to like telling me that one. But I can stand here and openly admit, I HAVE NO PATIENCE. This house needs to sell now.

Oh well. There really is no rush, at least we aren’t in the position a lot of people are finding themselves in. We don't have to sell. We could stay right here for a long time. It's just I DON'T WANT TOO. I'm ready to hit the open road and see some sites and enjoy myself. But if it's not my time what choice do I have but to wait. At least we can continue having our moving sales and get rid of even more treasures so we can pad our emergency fund when we finally do get on the road. I guess I'll continue being a RV Dreamer for a little while longer. Until next time keep your fingers crossed for us.

              Safe Travels And I Hope To See You Down The Road

How much does it take?

OK, so we have a offer on the house. We're moving forward as if we will close the deal on August 22^nd. As planned. Because the glass is half full as my wife Barb tells me. But isn't it half empty also? Oh well, not starting that discussion again.

Barb retires in November and I stop working about that same time so we will be staying where we are until then. We need to sell the house before buying a 5^th. Wheel to live in. Our plan is to stay in a Extended Stay Hotel for about one month so we can buy and have it moved to a campsite (no we don't have a truck yet). So this past week we started looking for one to stay in. SHOCKED at the prices is all I can say, but still cheaper then paying a mortgage, water, sewer, and electric. Oh but don't forget the $150.00 per week for our little 8 pound dog. $150.00, are you kidding me? That is if they even allow pets to begin with.

Let me say a little about monthly campsite fees. Holy Cow. Full hookup back in site with sewer, water, and electric $640.00 a month. But get this, you can only stay one month. Why? Because it sits on a lake controlled by the Corp of Engineers and they say one month in and at least one month out of the site. Also all campgrounds around the lake are the same because the Corp controls the lake.

Camping World has a book with just about everywhere to camp with cost. If you're old like me you remember the huge phone books that got dropped on your front porch. The ones that you could use as a booster seat. That's how big this camping book is. Hopefully we can find a spot a little less expensive. 

I've read hundreds of RV blogs and looked at about the same number of budgets on RV'ing. I'm not doing it yet but I believe the RV lifestyle is a lot less expensive then living in a non-moving house. I'm beginning to think getting there is a whole other story. Oh well, just one more hurdle to jump over on our way to a new lifestyle.

             Safe Travels And I hope To See You Down The Road