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02-23-2015, 04:58 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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If You Are On The Fence - Read This
I know everyone's situation is different. We must follow the path that we think best. However, a good friend of mine died this past weekend. He was 58. He had started to put together plans for selling his company. Bought a new class "A" coach. But for some reason that is where the plans stalled. We had plans to go to Branson this spring. There was a bucket list of places he wanted to see. He enjoyed hearing my stories of visiting the places he had yet to visit.
He had no symptoms. A minor stroke a couple of years ago did not seem to affect him. We joke that I had my stroke just after his due to feeling empathy for him. We took blood pressure and pulse checks every day. Two weeks ago he had a heart attack. The doctors put in a stint and he was recovering nicely. To make a long story short, things went from bad to worse. He never left the hospital. He died in his sleep this past weekend of heart failure.
We've all heard these stories before, but when it hits close to home it means so much more. I could have worked another 8 years and put a bunch more money in the retirement account. Opted out at 57. Very glad I did. After 5 bypasses, 7+ hours of open heart surgery and a stroke, I'm very blessed I've been able to make the memories that have been created. Like my friend, I had no symptoms until I could no longer do my exercise routine.
All this is for those on the fence about continuing to work or joining the RVing lifestyle. One's health can turn on a dime. There is no time like the present.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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02-23-2015, 05:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Brampton, ON
Posts: 451
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Sorry for your loss Gary, but thank you for sharing. Wise words.
Best wishes.
Anthony
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02-23-2015, 05:17 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: East Texas
Posts: 2,269
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Amen Gary! I pulled the plug at 53 after suffering a bad work-related back injury. Although my issues aren't life threatening, they so far have kept me from doing the cross country RV traveling I have planned my entire adult life. I will be undergoing back surgery later this year, hoping and praying it gives me the ability to fulfill my RVing dreams.
I agree 100% with Gary, if you are in the fence, retire earlier than planned if at all possible!
Craig
__________________
2005 Fleetwood Providence 39J CAT C7 350, MP-8 Power Module
My wife does all the driving - I just hold the wheel...
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02-23-2015, 05:26 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Cape Cod Mass
Posts: 316
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Yeah, I think my heart attack had the appropriate effect on me, but the DW is taking a little longer to come around. However, after this winter in New England, she's talking starting our long planned road trip this fall. If not now, when?
__________________
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 35' - White Tiger
Cape Cod
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02-23-2015, 05:30 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Mid Atlantic Campers Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Virginia Beach, Va
Posts: 1,924
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Thanks Gary, I retired last July and purchased my MH in November. The weather and some family commitments have prevented us from moving it out of the driveway and heading down the road. Recently, my former employers have asked that I come back for a year. I have been wrestling with this decision. The money would help and was on the fence as to whether I should return. You reminded of why I retired and will continue down the path and not return. Sorry for your loss and thanks for sharing.
__________________
Russ - USN SWO (ret) - 2018 Dutch Star 4369 Spartan Chassis a Road Glide CVO & Dyna Switchback in an Iron horse trailer or a Jeep Unlimited Alliance Valor 40V13 toyhauler (on order) with Harley CVO ROad Glide and Dyna Switchback in the garage, pulled by a F350 DRW
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02-23-2015, 05:33 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi Russtj60,
The first two years I was retired, my previous employer along with several vendors asked me to join there companies. I politically correctly declined. This is one of the few things I did right the first time.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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02-23-2015, 05:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MI
Posts: 4,733
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Gary,
Sorry for the loss of you friend, it is always hard to see someone you are close to pass away. There is never an easy answer to do it now or later. Some of us work for insurance which we need and some for more money. No guarantees ever but you can't always quit.
I pray you find some peace. Lynne
__________________
Retired January 4th, 2018 Lynne & Jerry RVM 105
04 WBGO Itasca Sunova (Miss May) Blue Ox Tow Bar
15 Equinox (Noxi) 18 RAD Mini e-bike, 04 Tracker
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02-23-2015, 05:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,498
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I guess I'm lucky, I decided to hang it up last year when I was 55.
I had a job that put me on the road +200 days a year, mostly international travel to not so nice places (at least from a work perspective). Stress and sleepless nights were taking it's toll so I decided enough was enough and I turned in my notice an haven't looked back.
I agree, if you are on the fence and can afford to hang it up take advantage of your youth and do what you like to do. Fish, Camp, Play Golf, whatever you enjoy.
__________________
Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
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02-23-2015, 05:48 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Mid Atlantic Campers Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Virginia Beach, Va
Posts: 1,924
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Don't know why I ever gave it a second thought ... always could use a few extra bucks, but what you're selling is time that can't be recovered. I am with you ... retire when you can ... and stick with it --- if possible.
__________________
Russ - USN SWO (ret) - 2018 Dutch Star 4369 Spartan Chassis a Road Glide CVO & Dyna Switchback in an Iron horse trailer or a Jeep Unlimited Alliance Valor 40V13 toyhauler (on order) with Harley CVO ROad Glide and Dyna Switchback in the garage, pulled by a F350 DRW
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02-23-2015, 05:48 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: California
Posts: 424
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Gary, what a heartfelt story, and I am sorry you lost your friend. Lost my mom the same way.
May your friend inspire us all to never take for granted one second of our lives! He will be with you on all your trips.
__________________
Dances with wolves
Linda and Bob.
2015 Allegro33aa. 480w Go Power solar
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02-23-2015, 06:00 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MI
Posts: 1,094
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Yup. You're (I'm) not going to live forever.
2013 FleetWood Expedition 38B
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02-23-2015, 06:03 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,499
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Thank-you for sharing the story - a good message to those contemplating retirement. I retired at 58, I also politically correctly declined the request to come back - no regrets for the choice for freedom (and I even liked the career/people I retired from).
P.S. It takes quite a bit of courage to walk away from a steady paycheck to be self reliant after working 40+ years. My DW never worked outside the home, so my choice was a pure DIY project.
__________________
Tom and Amy from Northern Virginia.
2000 Allegro 454/Workhorse P32/TST/Crossfire
Life is a DIY project, so own less and live more
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02-23-2015, 06:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 157
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Gary you are so right
I am now 65 and doing okay,but 10 years ago I had a massive heart attack on the job and was forces too retire...My cardiologist and the company doctor would not release me to go back to work...I was not ready to retire my plan was to work until age 62...I was never physically the same big strong guy I was after the heart attack but I was able to manage fairly well...Two years after I retired we bought our 1st 5th wheel and fell in love with the life style...I just bought our 3rd one and by far the best one we have had...Its a Mobile Suite 38' with all the bells and whistles...I am so sorry your friend didn't make it through his heart attack...I totally agree with you ,everyone should retire as soon as they can and chase there dream because you never know what tomorrow may bring...I was very scared to retire at such a young age I just didn't think I was ready...
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02-23-2015, 07:25 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,655
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I agree wholeheartedly Gary. I retired at 58; a coworker retired at 65 after thinking about the extra money when he was only 62. H died with his first retirement check-uncashed in his pocket.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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