Why I am quitting my job to be a full time Rv'er
70We are going off the grid in 2011.
(Update ..July 2011 I have changed plans so the below article describes my plans that I made awhile back. I am now preparing to live on a farm in Florida instead where I can practice what I preach about survivalism. Also I am considering relocating to Costa Rica)
original article follows>
My wife and I decided, or should I say I decided and my wife is going along with, the idea of quitting our fulltime day jobs as a psychiatric nurse and nursing assistant to live in a trailer that we haul around in a pickup truck. Now you might ask why would anyone want to do that? My reply is, are you kidding? First off, We can lower our bills to less than $1000 a month because there will be no mortgage, no electricity bill, no heating bill, no cable bill, no water bill...shall I go on? I mean we may incur some of those if we choose but we won't have to because the RV will be equipped with about $3000 or so worth of solar panels (bought used or damaged from ebay and other sources) so that will give us free power. We plan on staying in warm climates where we won't need heat but not so warm that we will need air conditioning. WIntering in Sarasota on land of a friend who will let us stay in exchange for bartering some small amount of work and then moving on to mine gold in Northern California in the summer or visiting National Parks where you can stay for free. I have always wanted to see the California redwoods,the Grand Canyon and Pueblo villages carved in stone. I also have hundreds of relatives in Canada where my people originate.
We are getting completely out of debt and saving up now to buy the truck, trailer, and solar equipment for a total of under $20,000 and the rest of our savings will be used to jump start us. You can buy a year 2000 model or newer Trailer or fifth wheel trailer for about $7,000 that is over 25 ft long and VERY nice and cozy inside. I intend to make money online in many different business ventures but if absolutely necessary we will take on part time jobs to supplement us such as being a summer camp nurse in the Mountains of New Hampshire. Most of the time we will not be hooked up to any water or electricity. Water and waste disposal are the biggest obstacles.I can simply unhook the trailer and fill a drum of water located in the back of the pickup truck ,from a faucet and haul it back to the RV and use it for showering and flushing etc and occasionally dump our wastewater or create a composting toilet. There are many creative ways to get around obstacles. The target date is Memorial day 2011 to start this great adventure. This week I am shopping with a friend for land in the Sarasota Fl area, where we currently live and which will be our home base. Sarasota is georgoeus for about 7-8 months of the year with the nicest beach in the United States (Siesta Key voted number two after Miami beach but I have been to both and like Siesta Key best)
I am going to blog and submit articles along the journey. We are excited to be able to look forward to getting out of the rat race. Also if all hell breaks loose and we have a natural or manmade disaster like a nuclear explosion in the US or collapse of society from bank runs etc then we are much better off in an RV living on rural land off the grid with friends.
Martin Chretien
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No phone, no lights no motor cars, Not a single luxury, Like Robinson Crusoe, As primative as can be.
Actually we will have all the luxuries of life.The harshest thing I expect we will have to do is at times take a shower with a solar shower bag hung inside the shower stall or use a watering can of warm water on each other for a soap and rinse cycle. Otherwise we will watch movies on a portable dvd player or get wireless internet which will give us movies as well as tons of stuff to be amused by. We will have a fan to cool us and if need be we can use the AC it is just that it will take power in the form of gasoline or propane. Lights will easily be supplied by 12 volt appliances powered by solar panels. If we feel like going anywhere we just pickup and go. The trick will be to stay at free places and not be harassed.
I see the makings of a huge best seller regarding your life @ times in the RV.
Thank you my old friend John. I believe people will be fascinated by the idea of both going offgrid and being a vagabond. Plus I am going to do it without spending alot of money.
Martin
"Where my people come from"? I just love your mind my little buddy. Say hello to your other people ,Holly,Love Jimmy
Thank you Jimmmeee my old buddy since 1968.
We have traveled for a while and are making plans to venture out again. I wish you the best and can't wait to see how it goes for you. It's not all fun and games but it is great. Have a great time and let us know how it goes.
Thanks I have slightly changed plans by buying a truck and camper. I am also training as a survivalist such that I can live off the land if need be even in the wilderness.It is very invigorating to learn foraging for food and primitive camping and survival skills.
Martin
Hey Martin. I certainly admire your energy and determination. I'm afraid I'm a little too used to the creature comforts to go that road before I'm forced to. I agree we should all educate ourselves as to how to survive if things go totally to hell. I'm afraid I'll be one of the ones to wait until the time actually comes, and of course it's really too late then. Good luck and say hi to Holly for me and Ros.
I was used to my creature comforts, but, had the great experionce of being an over the road trucker, driving an 18 wheeler for a year. We have a great beautiful county and it's a shame people die w/o seeing it. I was a drop of a germophob, but I had no problem using truck stop showers and W/D for laundry. So I was fine W no running H2O. I surived ! I had a fridge and tv, DVD, cell W net. I had a blast, breathing that clean small town clean air at night and meeting cool people. I'm gonna do the same thing, save a little, buy a trailer, work PT, here n there, and I'll have fun visiting friends in 8 diff states.
Hope your plan all works out on schedule! We were full-time RVers for 4 years and "almost full-time" for two more. It's a great life and you really CAN go off the grid, if you want to!
good luck
you who 2 years ago
how does the theme from gilligans island go?
da da da no motor car not a single luxery lol good way to get divorced but then it would be cheaper yet huh?