Community Forums

Bruins · 06-20-2020, 05:38 PM

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself and my wife to your community. We're Brian and Dianna and live in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

We're looking to go full-time within the next few years and are currently in the research phase of purchasing an RV.

If anyone has any tips about good dealers in this part of the country or tips on what things to watch for as a Canadian getting into this lifestyle, we would love to hear some.

We look forward to getting to know some of you and possibly meeting up on the road at some point in the future.

Take care,
Brian and Dianna

theboondork. · 06-20-2020, 10:19 PM

I'll be the first to admit that the full-time lifestyle isn't for everyone. But for me after six years of full timing, most of it boondocking, [that means camping with no hookups if you're unfamiliar with the term], I wouldn't change my life for anything. And here's a few tips on enjoying the full-time lifestyle.

If you're a workaholic full-timing is going to be difficult because there's not a lot that your required to do.

Slow down. You don't have to do and see everything in two weeks.

Don't make up rules and schedules for yourself that you feel you have to follow.

Learn to relax. And that doesn't mean you have to be laying on the sofa. Relaxing means you can be doing something, or nothing, and you don't feel guilty about either one.

Try to never travel more than a couple hundred miles a day, if that much. If you're living the full-time life the way it's supposed to be lived, there should seldom be a place that you have to be, there should only be places you want to be.

There's different full-time lifestyles. Some folks love to stay on the road a lot. Some people like crowded commercial RV parks, some people like me likes being in the desert somewhere all alone. Some people are snowbirds. They go from their favorite RV spot in Canada in the summer to their favorite RV spot in southern Texas in the winter. There's all kinds of ways full timers can live. Don't think you know how you want to live until you've been a full timer for a while. Full timing changes people, usually for the better, so get used to being free before you decide on your lifestyle.

And speaking of being free, freedom is the way you enjoy the full timing lifestyle, it's the reason you're there. Try to simplify your life is much as possible, get rid of as much stuff as possible, because the less stuff you have the more freedom you will have. The less rules you make up for yourself the more free you will be. The less schedules you have the more free you will be. The less stress you have the more freedom you will have. Freedom is the goal, full timing is the road to that goal.

theboondork.com

YoungSteven · 06-21-2020, 07:01 AM

Well said and I second the entire attitude!!!

MSHappyCampers · 06-21-2020, 08:23 AM

Hi Brian & Dianna! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Hope you find the perfect RV for your needs!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

momdoc · 06-21-2020, 03:47 PM

Welcome to the forum.

You are joining a good group of folks here with good info to share. Read the various threads and ask questions as they come up or add info if you can.

Good luck on the search for the perfect rig and enjoy the adventure!

becks · 06-22-2020, 07:44 AM

Welcome folks, this is year ten for us full time and is still going well. Poster above has given great advice. Enjoy

450Donn · 06-22-2020, 08:17 AM

As with any RV floor plan is number 1.
Can you live and get along in 350SQFT?
Type of RV? Not every full timer wants or needs a 45 foot DP. Nor can they afford the maintenance and upkeep.
Start now, get rid of everything you dony want to take on the road with you. Storage fees for junk can add up real fast, so that really is not practical.

Bruins · 06-22-2020, 05:37 PM

Wow, great advice is right. The more we hear from people who are already living this lifestyle, the more we think that this is definitely the right move for us.

Thanks to all of you for making us feel welcome. We'll be picking your brains for information over the next while and we'll add our two cents wherever we think we can add value to the conversation.

Looking forward to getting to know you all better!! Stay safe!!

Brian and Dianna