When did FullTiming start for me? Or, better yet, why did it take so long!?

 Full Time Living

2006 FullTiming Lake Milton, Ohio

In 1993, I bought a 1978 Itasca Class A twenty-five foot motorhome. I thought it was going to be so cool to take my wife and children out on the open road up to the tops of mountains and down to the deepest valleys; out to wilderness destinations and in to towns and cities near and far, big and small, exploring America, the beautiful. And, it was.

Little did I realize at the time was that I had actually purchased my dream home and that, fifteen years later, here would I be surrounded by thousands of miles and moments of great memories of time shared with my loved ones, living the life of a full timer. 

Some would say tough luck brought me to this near nomadic, pseudo-hermit type of lifestyle. Some would say that I have become a 'fool-timer', and not a full-timer. I say, not! Choice led by circumstance led to contentment. Life is good.

I've only been full timing since 2003 - five years. Snowbirding has not yet become part of my routine, although, the thought has crossed my mind many a cold wintry day here in Ohio. Maybe, some day. But, for now I am settled in a good spot on a friend's piece of land with plenty of firewood to burn away those dreams of warmer winter climates.

Sometimes, when I slip into a not so gracious moment and begin grumbling about everything under the sun, I wonder what has become of me. I am living in an aluminum can on wheels with a cat. 

Psychology might have been a pragmatic course of study back when I was in college. Not so much for illuminating what exactly is going on in my own mind, but, in the mind of those whose facial twitches betray an undercurrent of disapproving puzzlement when they learn of my unusual living arrangements. If only I could read a face, just for my own entertainment value. I love a good laugh. Who better to laugh at than myself. That, I am fairly sure, is not a sin, whereas, it is almost impossible to laugh at someone else without stepping into some bit of sinfulness. And, I do love to laugh.

I really don't have to live like this. It is not always an easy 'road to travel'. Nor, is it an easy task to convince the scoffer that full timing makes sense. To which end I can only reply, 'My mind's made up... don't confuse me with the facts'.

This blog is my story.

<a reprint from 2008>

Sundance Lake, Hoosier National Forest

Sundance Lake in Hoosier National Forest has free 14-day dispersed camping that is what boondocking is all about. Great spot for a little bit of gravel riding, camping, and enjoying Indiana's pieces of America's National Forest. 

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8AqPgrC/

https://youtube.com/shorts/k5KHhqBvBI8?si=nyUPCSQNBv8XCgW-

@FullTimeLiving.life

#cyclenutsusa #SundanceLake #HoosierNational #dispersedcamping  #vanlife

SKIP AHEAD 13 YEARS AND...

It is 2025 and I am in Hoosier National Forest sitting in my screenroom pecking away on a laptop, updating this very old website from 2012 - Full Time Living. Once upon a time I owned the URL FullTimeLiving.com, but I let it go. Yo Daddy holds it ransom, up for sale to the first one to pay $5,000 to buy it. Nice. I checked my host provider, Netfirms. Same deal. Five grand to buy it and $21 a year to keep it. I went with a new URL - FullTimeLiving.Life

Full Time Living in RVs has taken off like a rocket since 2012. So has van life, car life, bike life, suv life, any kind of vehicle life, and minivan life. That's where I ended up after doing trailer home life since 2014, in Betsy, the mini van. I bought the Flamingo, a 70 foot single wide trailer home from the 1970s, selling  the 35 foot motorhome I had been living in full time. 

Why? Why what? Why was I living in a motorhome or why did I sell it and move into a trailer home? I was crazy with love for a woman who lived in the area. It seemed like a good plan. Move closer, with a bit more stability in a trailer that I had no way to move without hiring a semi-truck for thousands of dollars. Maybe she would take me a bit more serious as a proper suitor. 

Nope, that did not happen. Probably, I was more attractive as a nomad to her than a nester. So, that fizzled out over the course of a couple of years. By then, the Flamingo was looking pretty fine with all the work put in to make her attractive. A comfortable nest. Like a proper nester would do. 

Much came and went over the decade in Flamingo. There is a lot to be grateful for over the time there. To much to speak of here. After the loss of my beautiful Kitty, life in the Flamingo would never be the same. Left without a reason for being there the itch to get away, to wander, to explore, to seek adventure bubbled up. The short of the long is now I am in Betsy, the minivan, with Pete the poodle fulltime living on my way to warmer zones for the winter of 2025/26. 

"Take a permanent vacation

 work and live in

America's best destinations while enjoying the RV lifestyle!"

♦ Workamping provides a way to escape the drudgery of your everyday lifestyle!

♦ Workamping is a new way to live, work and play!
♦ Workamping provides a way to travel and make money while doing so!
♦ Workamping offers a way to experience new people, places and opportunities while still being able to support yourself and live comfortably.

Workamping can provide you with all of the above...and more!

Workamper News - Introduction to Workamping

FUN STUFF TO DO IN THE MUD - NOT

No.. this is not a lowrider - Sunk to the axle tubes.

Resting on the exhaust pipes.

Jacked front end up to level it.

Jacked up to get the weight off the front fiberglass nose.

ROAD TRIP! WEST BRANCH STATE PARK, OHIO JANUARY 2012

Full-timing in Ohio over the winter is rough. Things freeze, like water lines, hot water tanks, drain pipes, and waste water tanks.

I don't know how these things happen, but, winter snuck up on me again! Both the grey and black waste water tanks were full and the propane was getting dangerously low. And, the temperature was taking a nose dive into the sub-teens. So, it seemed like the calling for a road trip to the nearest dump and propane stations.

DESTINATION: 

WEST BRANCH STATE PARK - OHIO

The first thing I noted was that she handled the snow covered roads with ease. Great traction and control probably due to her massive weight and 19" 100psi tires. This was the first trip for my Honey Bee on snowy roads. Thankfully, it was a good experience.

Temperatures were already into the teens when the trip began. On the itinerary was a stop at a U-haul for propane, Giant Eagle for fuel and food, and final stop at West Branch State Park.

She seemed shocked that anybody would be pulling up in an RV for propane, let alone on their way to a campground with the temperatures dropping into the low teens. Besides, her gloves were wet, her shoes were wet, her nose was cold and she just seemed downright irritated. The U-haul employee seemed to be having a bad day, and, I just iced her cake.

Within minutes of fumbling with the propane fueling connection she burnt her hand. No, not by fire, but, by freezing. She had taken her wet gloves off. I guess they were freezing to the nozzle. When she loosened the relief valve propane shot out and froze her exposed skin. Worse even, she seemed unable to get the propane pump to work right or even the connection to my tank to seal. Propane was dripping and spraying everywhere! I was relieved when she dismissed me and told me there was an Ameri-gas just up the road at bit. Shew. Glad that stuff ain't explosive!

Found the Ameri-gas. It was open, but the techs had gone home for the day already. No problem. I had enough propane for the night. So, I headed on up the road to West Branch and would return the next day for propane, food, and fuel. My big intention was to get to the dump station and unload those waste water holding tanks.

The release valves were already frozen. The temperature was 12 degrees. With air movement from driving I would suppose the wind chill was sub zero. The drain pipes and sections of the tanks were probably frozen, too. I thought about using a hair dryer, for a minute. There was no way that was going to thaw anything out. Too cold. Too big. hmmmm... now what?? Those tanks freeze, they will burst. So would the pipes and valves.

Thankfully, I remembered I had my portable propane camping grill with me. As I texted a friend..both of the waste water tanks and valves had already froze...bad bad bad..ice will burst them open..really bad stinky messy disaster if allowed to happen..so..i thought maybe hair dryer to try n thaw..but too cold 14 and dropping n tanks too big..so i look for where gas tank is..right next to them ..lol..of course..but decide to chance it and fire up my portable propane bbq right under the frozen tanks...after half hour heating the crap tank valve thaws n tank starts draining..the sink tank took longer..i was out there close 2 hours..but got it done.

The rest of the adventure was very peaceful. Not a soul around. Had the whole campground to myself. So, just what does a person who hates the cold do in a very cold campground? Eat! What else?

Chunky tomato soup, wheat crackers, cheese, baby spinach with apple vinegar to dress it, and coffee. All organic, of course. 

The view was great and the experience of solitude was very settling. Glad I don't believe in Big Foot, Aliens, Monsters, or marauding bloodthirsty madmen waiting for their next victim in vacant public parks.

Rocket, my faithful companion, didn't seem too impressed with the whole adventure. He hates being cold more than I do. And, cold was just the constant.

The ice machine really seemed out of place. 

FREE CAMPSITE LIST - 2250 campsites currently listed

All in all, my first road trip for 2012 was a smashing success. I was able to drain the holding tanks, fill up the propane tank, fuel up the gas tank, score gallons of free water, and get a little food shopping done. Had a couple of nice meals. Enjoyed the peace and calm of the moment. And, treasured the time given me to see creation at it's unique best. It is going to be a fine year, indeed.

MY NEW HOME - NEW ADVENTURES

As it was reported in a previous post, the old girl is gone. I was sad, for a moment, until this new-to-me Honey Bee came into my life. She's a beauty! 

At 36' long, she has everything a full-timer could desire. For me, having a dedicated bedroom is the cats meow. The old girl didn't have one of those, so I was always having to pull the over cab bunk down for my bed. 

There is one thing that I do miss about the old girl - 7 mpg. The new girl only gets 5 mpg.