Full Timing in a Berkshire

[ernest917]

Anyone out there full- timing in their Berkshire ??? If so, how's it been... Giving that some serious thought right now.... Any pros/cons???


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[Campin Cajun]

Boowho is a full timer. I would like to full time myself, but can't get DW to agree.


2013 Berkshire 390 BH

[boowho]

Originally Posted by Campin Cajun

Boowho is a full timer. I would like to full time myself, but can't get DW to agree.


2013 Berkshire 390 BH

Yeah..... Several thoughts on this subject.

First, if BOTH DW and DH are not 100% excited by the prospect, I wouldn't do it. If one of you is holding back, your chances for success are greatly diminished.

Second, it's NOT a 365/24 vacation. You are NOT always sight-seeing. I figure those that quit after a year or two, do so because they've been everywhere and seen everything. Personally, I travel north starting in early spring, stay a month or so at each place until I've gotten as far as I want, then start working my way back south using the same plan (a couple of weeks at each location)'

Third, if you are a 'pack rat' you will have trouble. You could always stash stuff in a storage locker or some such, but many people do this and then 10 years later, they've paid the monthly $$$ for the ten years and then just get rid of everything anyhow.

IMHO, best to just get rid of everything except a few family heirlooms and what you NEED to live and enjoy life (hobbies, etc). Everything the DW and I own is in our coach.

Fourth, unless you travel to where kids/grandkids/etc are, you will miss many 'special days', like birthdays, Christmas, etc.... I go for the good weather and you could not get me in a Northern clime no matter what during winter.

If the family lives in Minneapolis (for example) I won't be spending the holidays with then. Just like I won't set foot in Florida during summer.

The most positive thing for me (besides always being in fine weather) is the people you meet and the friends you make. People I've only known for a year or two, have become some of the best friends I've ever had.

There's a heluva social bond between most full timers. Happy hours, card games, 4 wheel (either jeep or quads) rallies, golfing are some of the more popular activities (just to name a few). These people are mostly full of energy and I have to run like hell to keep up with most of them.

The biggest downside for me, is that since I'm hanging around with mostly 70+ people, I attend a lot more funerals than I ever did. That has nothing to do with full timing, but just because of the age thing. Still it's a bummer.

We love the life and want to be carried out of ours, cold, prone and stiff!! We can't imagine (once our kids were grown) of ever needing more room than we have right now.

To the OP, if you need more specific questions answered, please PM me again.

Boowho??

[Campin Cajun]

Boo, you make some really good points. Maybe we'll have to be part timers, they way I work we could easily make that happen now.

You mentioned family, that's my DW biggest concern is missing all the things kids are grandkids will experience.

Thanks.


2013 Berkshire 390 BH

[boowho]

Originally Posted by Campin Cajun

Boo, you make some really good points. Maybe we'll have to be part timers, they way I work we could easily make that happen now.

You mentioned family, that's my DW biggest concern is missing all the things kids are grandkids will experience.

Thanks.


2013 Berkshire 390 BH

I am "fortunate" (I guess?) that my son has no children; I see him once a year or so. My adopted daughter has three kids, but I'm VERY much estranged from her and will probably never see her again.

FWIW, I am FAR better off leaving it that way; she is not a nice person.

Boowho??

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by Campin Cajun

Boo, you make some really good points. Maybe we'll have to be part timers, they way I work we could easily make that happen now.

You mentioned family, that's my DW biggest concern is missing all the things kids are grandkids will experience.

Thanks.


2013 Berkshire 390 BH

I can weigh in in a few points. We FT and have been since March 2014. It is true that you both need to be 100% commented to doing this. It takes some getting used to. Being close to our two kids is important but not possible all the time. We are gone all winter and I hate that. We "camp" all summer and see the grand kids often.
Like Boo said it's not a vacation but a new life style. If we tried to do all the site seeing we would be worn out and to tired. We are just home and sometimes we don't do much.
Setting up mail service is a tough part and deciding where to have our resident status is a big decision. Lots if options.


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[boowho]

Originally Posted by Phil57

I can weigh in in a few points. We FT and have been since March 2014. It is true that you both need to be 100% commented to doing this. It takes some getting used to. Being close to our two kids is important but not possible all the time. We are gone all winter and I hate that. We "camp" all summer and see the grand kids often.
Like Boo said it's not a vacation but a new life style. If we tried to do all the site seeing we would be worn out and to tired. We are just home and sometimes we don't do much.
Setting up mail service is a tough part and deciding where to have our resident status is a big decision. Lots if options.


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Most FT'er use either South Dakota or Texas as their "official" state of residence. I decide on SD because all you have to do to become a resident is go into the state, stay at a RV park, campground, whatever for ONE night, take you receipt to the DMV next morning and get a drivers license. Voila!! You're now a South Dakota resident.

SD is one of the most advantageous from sales tax, etc.... Of course, you ALWAYS need to have your DL, coach tags and toad tags from the same state. Mixing them is like a red flag to a bull in some states (California is particularly bad about this).

I use a woman named Terri Lund (Dakota Services, Int or some name like that) for all my mail.

She also has power of attorney for any dealings I may have with any state agency (new vehicle tags, voter registration, etc).

She will even email me whenever new mail comes in with a list of what came. If something is really important, she will scan it in an email me immediately. Otherwise will wait and forward everything whenever I ask for it.

Terri is outstanding. Highly recommend her. She is in Madison, SD.

BTW, Phil congrats on your new life style. I don't think I knew that you had pulled the trigger. Where are you hanging these days? What about next winter??

boowho??