Full Timing - A Poll II

Jim · 10-01-2010, 13:04

We ran a poll a couple of years ago, which had some interesting results. It seems that whilst even more people are wanting to try full timing and at the same time some famous fulltimers are now back in a house, ScotJimLand, BillyM, and Artona spring immediately to mind. So we will start afresh. Here is a new poll.

Is it for you? Why not? Do you intend to try it? are you doing it already? Would you encourage or discourage others?

zaskar · 10-01-2010, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

We ran a poll a couple of years ago, which had some interesting results. It seems that whilst even more people are wanting to try full timing and at the same time some famous fulltimers are now back in a house, ScotJimLand, BillyM, and Artona spring immediately to mind. So we will start afresh. Here is a new poll.

Is it for you? Why not? Do you intend to try it? are you doing it already? Would you encourage or discourage others?

Hmmmmm, very difficult to "recomend" it, simply because everybodies wants and needs are so different.

ffi' and I have been "out" for 10 years now, using a relatives address for the "authorities".
Thats the only thing I HATE about the lifestyle. The lack of understanding from the authorities that there are people for whom bricks and motar simply mean nothing.
We still utterly adore the lifestyle (even tho' this week we've registered -16.5, -9, -11 and minus 8!!!!!!

), have no intentions of finishing and love the relative freedom we have. Using CL's exclusively means we have a very quiet and peacefull lifestyle.
The biggest bit of advise I could give is, if at all possible, KEEP YOUR ADRESS!!!! That postcode is imperative for EVERYTHING and without it, you're pretty much stuffed in the UK.
We're lucky in having Mum (Mother in Law really, but as she's such a good egg, I dont really like that description, Mum is just Mum

) but eventually, nature is gonna take its course whether we like it or not, and when that happens, ffi and I are gonna have to have a SERIOUS re-think cos unless I can pursuade one of my cousins (which TBH I think I'd be too embarrased to do) we're gonna be in trouble without a permanent uk addy.

It really REALLY winds me up that over in the States, there are over a million REGISTERED Fulltimers and WorkCampers who can live completely legally and above board using nothing more than a PO Box No.

If they can do it, WHY CAN'T WE!!!!!! We not running from anything, we've nothing to hide, we simply enjoy an alternative lifestyle to the "norm"!

Salopian · 10-01-2010, 13:30

Just voted !!!! I aim to carry on the lifestyle..I had hoped to do it with my partner Kay but alas it is not to be !!! Sometimes I feel lonely but life has to go on and I have my memories , so let's just see what happens !!! I am currently in Spain and returning around mid- March, after that , who knows !!!!.....Stephen....BTW...I am going to attend the Carmarthen Show with that well known hooligan Roger and his Moll !!!!.

Sundowners · 10-01-2010, 13:45

We voted No. 1
But there seems to be some debate as to what the meaning of 'fulltiming' really is. We believe that living in it 24/7----- 52 weeks a year is 'fulltiming'
In a previous life we sold our house and everything, and lived 'on the road for 7 years.
This time, having learnt by our earlier mistakes, we have kept our house, (rented out).
This IOHO is no different to selling the house and investing the money, we don't use that address or property at all. (apart from the taxable income)
Our suggestion to anyone who needs to realise some capitol from their house, to go fulltiming, is to downsize but keep a toe in the property market, (just our opinion).
We have lived in our 5er for 18 months and really love it, so much so that we have ordered a new one

If anyone wants advice on 'fulltiming', we will be happy to tell it how we see it!!!
Nigel & Pamala

EzeeRider · 10-01-2010, 14:01

Sorta took the words away from me Sundowners! I was going to say "hate" the idea of fulltiming is perhaps too strong a word. I cannot imagine I would hate it, I just would not do it without retaining a bricks and mortar property bolthole.

ezee

Wildman · 10-01-2010, 14:10

we fulltimed for six months spanning a really bad winter before we had a smallholding and animals to care for since that time we have amassed lots of possessions which would add to the difficulties of fulltiming, however we have not entirely abandoned the idea of one day living at the smallholding in a van or mobile home. Retaining a smaller van for traveling in. In fact if the EU animal regulations get any more difficult the time will come sooner rather than later.

lawrence waite · 10-01-2010, 14:16

we voted no 1 been living in the RV fulltime for six years sold the the house but maybe should have kept it ,the main draw back is as stated in previous posts is the fact that you have no [permant address] so have to use relatives or friends address for insurance etc ,having said that we have found no better way of living ,able to move on if you want or like us do a wardens job and stay as long as you want rent free and no bills except for gas and mobile phone ,would we go back maybe one day ,but i would still have a MH of some sort and still go abroad for three or four months out of the year .When we had a house we never saw the neighbours for weeks ,but now we see new and and regular visiters to the site and every one [well nearly every one ] is ok some caravaners can be a bit of a pain but most are ok.

The Littlest Hobo · 10-01-2010, 14:57

In my third year and still wouldn't go back to bricks and mortar.

A full timer is someone who lives 24/365 in their motorhome, and plans to remain so till they carry him/her off in a much smaller box.

Pete