Freedom, Financial

by David
(Flagstaff, AZ, USA)

Akando, Banshee, and Me!

As a computer programmer I have moved 10 times in 10 years - often over 1500 miles at a time! I call it 'chasing the gravy train'. As I have accumulated furniture and other detritus I feel that I have been spending far too much money on having a house or apartment that matches the size of my furniture - I end up with whole rooms I don't even use for anything but furniture! The big scare was when I ended up owning a house AND having to pay rent somewhere else - and found that there wasn't enough money to go around. I felt trapped and suppressed by the debt obligations - obligations which are minor compared to my income! Yet, I never seemed to make any progress on them as so much money went to housing.

When I was able to sell my house unexpectedly, I invested the minor proceeds in a older 36 foot 5th wheel and F250 to tow it with. If I can sell the little tacoma pickup truck that I don't need, I'm on track to be debt free by the end of the year. I've already paid my last house rent bill, and am going full time RV in two weeks. The next move is going to be trivial, short term contracts no longer a heavy compromise.

Downsizing this many possessions is a struggle and a grit-the-teeth decision, but I'm optimistic that the next few years are going to be good, very good indeed.

-David, Dhugal, Akando, and Banshee

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Freedom, Financial

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Aug 05, 2009

Sounds Like it's Really Working for You
by: Bob

David, Sounds like it's a good thing you were mobil after the Flagstff job!

Aug 04, 2009

Moved 10 Times
by: Sharon

Hi David, Glad to hear the RV is working out for you. Those unexpected "sorry you're outta here" are not so traumatic when you haven't purchased a house and spent a great deal of money moving for the job.

We totally know what you mean about moving for jobs. It makes if so much easier, and like you said if you don't require relocation time or compensation you are a much more likely to get a job offer.

Our stress level went down considerably when we no longer had to sell a house and pack all the belongings.

Hook-up and drive is so much better for people who's jobs relocate frequently.

Aug 03, 2009

Life in the RV So Far
by: David

Well, its been an interesting less than two months in the RV so far.

It paid off almost directly in less than a month from initiating full time RV - I was unexpectedly released from my job in Flagstaff (not a fit for the team...?) and got a new job in Seattle almost immediately. (employers love when you don't require relocation time or compensation!) I was able to drive up in four days easily and park in an RV park less than 15 pure carpool freeway miles from work without any real drama beyond wrangling my motorcycle in and out the RV for the trip.

Most of the day to day lifestyle change is that I have to go on lots of walks with the dogs and visit the grocery store every other day or so for one item or another.

So far its working exactly as I planned. Keeping employment is easy, moving is easy. I can't wait to get my first fat paycheck Thursday. :9

I would check to see if I have lost any weight from all the walking, but I gave my scale away when downsizing.

- David, Dhugal, Akando, and Banshee.

Aug 02, 2009

How's it Going
by: Bob

David, How is your transition to Full Time Rving going? Are you loving it?

Jun 03, 2009

Ditto for Us!
by: Don

Hooray for making the decision to go fulltime in your RV.

We did the same thing after 'chasing the money' and moving 10 times in 7 years! We just couldn't take it anymore and we were losing money on every home purchase. The stress was unbearable.

We are so glad we made the decision to dump the houses and live in an RV. Now when the job moves we just hook-up and take off!

Hope you love it as much as we do!