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I'm curious how many people have given up their home and bought a trailer to move around the country? It's tempting.
I considered it before moving to FL but decided instead of losing 10k annually (depreciation, gas, fees at campsites) I would be better off buying a house in FL. I did. I hated the humidity and moved to TN.
The first 1500 sq ft house was modular all inside done in beautiful wood, walls and ceilings but had a wrecked bathroom and 2 bedrooms (I redid beautiful), suffice it to say cuz of flooding and a wooden bridge forced me to sell. I lost about 20k there. I couldn't take my garage or art gallery. Don't get me wrong if that house was HERE I'd never give it up. Now I live in a 960sq ft doll house w/crappy laminate floors but a NICE view. I was considering adding a room in back and using bedroom 3 as path into it and madeover as small bathroom and closet space.
I have friends from FL recently retired and they're going across the US in a camper and want me to join them.
I would love to go. I have a 2013 Honda Fit not allowed to tow anything or violates warranty. I can always trade in for a used Subaru for towing. Or buy different sized camper or I need a teardrop camper up to 20k a loan (I also have a very large tent). My friends are going for a year. I can't do that, meaning I'm scared to do that. Bills, care of this house, all kinds of reasons I can make up in 5 minutes. I could sell the house but have no house to return to. What to do with Miata and new Jacuzzi? Walk away? I suppose I could rent this out but not with my stuff here, rent a storage unit? Probably need two or three @ $60 a month.
I'm confused and looking for people who've done it successfully and enjoyed it. Did you still own a home? What was your original layout? Then cost per year; travel & house? Did you need storage for your stuff? Or sell it all? Would you rent out your house? How would a single female with 2 dogs fare? I would miss my Miata.
I'm so confused. Tell me your story.

K9Kohle789 8 June 4
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Escaping from a big house, which needs taking care of, might be a problem, especially if you want to switch to a van. It would be hard to do it without the help of specialists, as this service [onstage-online.com]. I would recommend it; Finding a great specialist will help you give you a plan and finish the work you have to do as fast as possible. I have personally made a mistake in trying to do everything myself. Even though Youtube can teach you a lot of information, it can not give you the experience and the skills you need to build the design and a full home for yourself.

1

I own a home, but it is a large family home, which I live in alone now, its too big and needs too much looking after, but down sizing and getting rid of the familiar is a big ask. I have thought of selling and getting a pair of tiny houses or living van/box/whatevers in two locations. So that I can escape the lousy and endless British winter for two thirds of the year, and come back for the summer, but then I think if I had two locations, would I give up traveling, which I love, and just go back and forth between the two. So perhaps stay where I am, and just buy a touring van and go traveling in the winter, when I retire ?

3

In my 20s, I lived for free on a 40' sailboat for over a year at Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle. The sailboat owner had a crush on me. On weekends, we sailed on the Puget Sound. I was paying for graduate school while working as a poorly-paid YMCA program director. I lived on the cheap.

It was lovely being rocked to sleep by waves. But bringing even a toothbrush aboard reduces your living space.

My home is my sanctuary. I love being surrounded by art, books, music and plants. Would miss volunteering, friends, family and hiking partners.

When you get tired of cramped living, you would be effectively homeless.

3

I have faced the same dilemma. I would love to go sailing for a year or two. But I know it would mean giving up my home, or unacceptably neglecting it. So I have just decided to be satisfied with vacations of a week or two duration, and am always grateful for my humble home when I return. It’s not much, but it’s mine.

I also find that after a week or two my “vacation needs” have been adequately met, and I’m about ready to get back to my routine and the comforts of home. I guess I’m more of a homebody at heart than a perpetual adventurer.

skado Level 9 June 4, 2021

@K9Kohle789
At least you can try it that way and see if it satisfies, and if not then selling out and going on the road is still an option. But if you get rid of your belongings first and find you are done with traveling after a month, then your belongings are irretrievable and you have to start all over from nothing. Best wishes.

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