What do you do all winter?

[twogypsies]

We, also, went from a hectic working life to a instant retirement... we were downsized from our jobs in our early 50's. We bought a 27' travel trailer and took off for Florida for the winter. While there we talked to many very happy full-timers. On our way home to Michigan we said "we needed very little 'stuff' the past months and we don't want to sit at home. Let's go full-time". That was in April. In August we had everything sold from a 2500 sq ft house on a lake; said good-bye to the kids and we took off with absolutely no plans on where to go or how long we would do this. We then started working on our new hobbies and interests along with volunteering. Full-timing is an awesome lifestyle.

OP: You're concerned about the 6 months of winter. There are 8 states along the bottom of the country that you can explore. That would definitely fill your time and you wouldn't even scratch the surface in those states.

Many times we would take one season to explore one state - every nook and cranny.

So.... just GO and don't worry about being on a schedule or filling your time. The small towns are the most enjoyable to us. The residents are very helpful and friendly. The little cafes where people gather are fun and we discovered some very nice museums in these small places.

[mdcamping]

What do you do all winter?

Working 40 for now

Mike

[Camper25]

Go camping where it's warm.

[Busskipper]

Sorry for being so slow to get the Picture, - but - ..........So now I see/remember.... that you are leaving Florida and Headed Directly to Alaska ...... So this is what kills the first 4 months of the trip - You cannot leave till end of May, putting you back to Vancouver at the end of September.

Now bump your way South seeing Washington State and Oregon before getting into Cali for the Winter. Here just let the weather be your guide, likely taking the rest of the Year getting to Yuma and the warmth there.

Now you are into January and might just need to recharge - to get all this done will require long days with a lot of planning. Yuma will be a warm respite from the frantic pace of the last 7 months. Recharge - refit - refill - and get ready for the Rockies - Weather and Elevation will be critical as you begin your plans for the SouthWest. The good thing is that by doing as much as possible in the winter it will be Cooler and a lot less Crowded.

Arizona will have/require at least a month - January and February - then getting yourself into Utah in the desert for March and April, as it is now getting crowded in Utah the plan would be to head North to get to the Tetons for May and Yellowstone for June - with July 4th in Glacier before heading into lower Wyoming and Colorado for August and September. The Aspen will be Special in late September in Colorado. ( https://lynn.smugmug.com/Travel/Colo...pens/i-tsVRkXg ) as it is now getting into the Fall again be sure to capture the San Juan's before heading into New Mexico and Texas for the Late Fall - again using the weather as your guide.

As you push through Texas you will find that the southern Gulf Coast will welcome you with more than you can Possibly do in the short Winter - Fall. So lets see did we use the entire 18 months?

Pretty sure we have - now to figure out how to work in the East Coast and the Blue Ridge - again as the weather warms just keep zig zagging your way north between the Coact and the Mountains - Just Beautiful!

Think we are pretty much into Year 2.

Are we on the right path?

Let us Know as IMHO there is more to see than you will have time to do even in the two years + I have related to.

There are just so many Little Surprises in Every State - Every Season it will be impossible to touch them all.

Hope this is more Helpful,

Links that will help;

Stan has the most organized Images on the places you may want to see - https://www.pbase.com/sparker1/root%26view=tree

These images are of my favorite spot in Colorado - https://www.flickr.com/photos/michae...n/photostream/

Aspen - and if you click the travel section even more - https://lynn.smugmug.com/Travel/Colo...pens/i-tsVRkXg

https://www.ventusky.com/?p=39.61;-1...temperature-2m

CDOT WebCams - these are in almost every state and are a great resource - https://www.cotrip.org/map.htm#/defa...CameraId=10829

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z6hP1_uSVk

[bigthinkers]

Originally Posted by grindstone01

You may be in for a frustrating experience. It's hard to go from life all about working to life all about retirement. My advice would be to ease into this new life change and not go "cold turkey" too fast. It's like people getting married that the couple didn't experience living together first, it's a major life adjustment.

Have no worries. We'll still be working while we travel, but our travel won't ONLY be working. This isn't going to be retirement, just a change in the way we're working, and in how stagnant our days become. When your vista changes on a regular basis, there is far more reason to get out and go exploring. Right now, that isn't the case, even though we live in a highly dynamic location. Our location IS our work.

My husband and I are together 24/7 already, and we actually thrive on it. The thought of being on the road together, sharing the experience together, is highly appealing. We're probably odd ducks in that way, but full-time togetherness just works for us.

[bigthinkers]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

We, also, went from a hectic working life to a instant retirement... we were downsized from our jobs in our early 50's. We bought a 27' travel trailer and took off for Florida for the winter. While there we talked to many very happy full-timers. On our way home to Michigan we said "we needed very little 'stuff' the past months and we don't want to sit at home. Let's go full-time". That was in April. In August we had everything sold from a 2500 sq ft house on a lake; said good-bye to the kids and we took off with absolutely no plans on where to go or how long we would do this. We then started working on our new hobbies and interests along with volunteering. Full-timing is an awesome lifestyle.

OP: You're concerned about the 6 months of winter. There are 8 states along the bottom of the country that you can explore. That would definitely fill your time and you wouldn't even scratch the surface in those states.

Many times we would take one season to explore one state - every nook and cranny.

So.... just GO and don't worry about being on a schedule or filling your time. The small towns are the most enjoyable to us. The residents are very helpful and friendly. The little cafes where people gather are fun and we discovered some very nice museums in these small places.

You sound so much like us (right down to the Michigan thing; I'm a Michigan girl myself)! We do think this experience will lead to far more fun and fulfillment than we currently have with our work, even though we LOVE our work and don't want to give it up. We just want something ALONG WITH our work that is travel related, and opens up new opportunities in the social and community sense. Small towns are among our favorite diversions.

Thank you for the words of wisdom. It helps to know there is plenty of enjoyment in just "wandering" during the winter.

[HJLowell]

You will be taking notes and documentation
The first day.
I can see a book or travel journal being published eventually.

[bigthinkers]

Thank you for that seriously detailed reply, Busskipper! That's the general idea, though we will be stopping at Yellowstone/Grand Teton for 2 weeks before heading further south. We've been to Yellowstone twice in May, and want to see it in fall this time. But other than that, we're totally open to the kinds of things you've mentioned. I've got it saved in my (extensive!!) files. Thank you!

[bigthinkers]

Originally Posted by HJLowell

You will be taking notes and documentation
The first day.
I can see a book or travel journal being published eventually.

We have 3 books and a children's book series slated for writing during our travels, though they are not RV related. This will be a chance to work on the things that keep getting pushed to the back burner.

We're also scouting out further newspaper/magazine work (which we already do, and will keep doing, in addition to travel-relate books we write), and we'll keep up with several blogs we already write for other companies. But we'll finally have time to write other books we've been putting on hold. If we can get a few more out of this trip, so much the better!

[TampaDave]

New Mexico is not warm in the winter lol. I was there last week. It was 8.
In Ruidoso. It was a little warmer in Socorro. But not much. Santa Fe? fuggedaboudit. That's even assuming you can find a place to stay.

Tucson is nice, I imagine Joshua Tree is magnificent and middle of winter is the only time to see Death Valley.

Beyond that, californee is the place you aughta be. The Pacific is like a giant heat sink, doesn't get nearly as cold as you'd expect given the latitude.

It can get darn cold up in the Sierras but the valley is sunny. To be clear, most of the valley is kinda gross. But down near Paso Robles/SLO or up near San Francisco and Sac, it's nice and there's tons to do. Cali is cool.

[Leftys]

AZ, NM and NV are pretty cold in the winter. Southern California is the best weather. Go down to Baja and enjoy the beach.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Leftys

AZ, NM and NV are pretty cold in the winter. Southern California is the best weather. Go down to Baja and enjoy the beach.

Southern Arizona is a nice temperature for winter. Yes, the nights can get cold but by 10am it's warming up nicely. Oh.... and the SUN!

[bigthinkers]

Why do so many people go to AZ in winter, then?

To be honest, California holds little appeal for us, other than a few days in San Francisco, which I haven't yet seen. We've seen a lot of CA already, and aren't keen on the cost of visiting, especially as we've been there. We might choose a few specific places to visit, but won't spend a lot of time there.

Thank you, twogypsies. I did check the average temp in Phoenix from November through April, and mid 60s to low 70s works for us at that time of year. It's pretty much what we get in Orlando, though we can get into the 80s, too.

We aren't beach people, and we're happy to wrap up a bit. I'm a little bit concerned now, though, that we'll spend the whole winter freezing cold and miserable! Other than CA or FL, and knowing we don't need 80s, where IS the best place to spend the winter months? We really are pretty flexible for those months.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by bigthinkers

Why do so many people go to AZ in winter, then?

The Weather !

Too pull up the Blanket in those Cool evenings and then to wear Shorts and a Sweater in the morning and Shorts and a T in the Afternoon.

Heaven, Plain and Simple!