D.E.Bishop
Eagle Rock, CA
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Joined: 08/09/2001
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Over the years I have seen posts asking, when is it time to hang up the keys, well for this guy it is 82 years and 9 months. I suppose I could buy a "B" or "B +" and we could still do some traveling but it would only work for a year or two.
Seven months ago I realized that after driving the towed to the storage yard, moving clothes and supplies into the RV and hooking up the towed was taking two to four hours and then after three or four hours on the road I needed a nap. Degenerative spinal discs and inflammatory Poly Arthritis was slowing me down and causing a lot of pain, it even sent me to the ER a few months ago.
So we sat down and talked about travel and decided that driving a four wheeler or flying and driving was the best we could do with our health issues. Five days ago it was clear and warn so we went to the RV to get some of our kitchen supplies to take to our OR home. A guy stopped at the RV and asked if we were interested in selling, I said sure and we got our price less cost of 6 new tires and new front brakes. No need to place a for sale ad or dicker. He and his son met us at the RV, we filled out papers, visited the bank to deposit the cash and in three hours it was gone, we took our eldest out to lunch for helping fill out the papers and counting the cash, told the storage yard we wouldn't be a tenant any longer, cancelled the insurance, transferred the title with DMV and we were having a cold drink in the living room back at home.
I think the old saying about a boat owners two happiest days are buying and selling but in this case, about 02:00 am, I woke and almost cried, the memories came flooding back from our first camping trip with a borrowed tent and Coleman stove with a 4yo and a 5yo, to our last trip up to OR in Sept. in the Winnie.
I'll miss it and miss all of you, at least we did it till we just couldn't do it anymore. No more Pendleton Shirts smelling like a campfire, no more kids and grandkids giving gooey S'more kisses, no more sunrises at "Q"
To quote Bob Hope, "Thanks for the Memories".
David
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson
David Bishop
2002 Winnebago Adventurer 32V
2009 GMC Canyon
Roadmaster 5000
BrakeBuddy Classic II
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Yankee Clipper
Cairo, GA
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Joined: 06/08/2006
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At 70, I can't imagine what will become inevitable for me, too. It sounds like losing a pet.
Good luck in RV retirement.
* This post was
edited 03/24/23 07:18am by Yankee Clipper *
Yankee Clipper
2014 Winnebago Sightseer 33C on Ford F53 6.8l V10
2014 Honda CRV 4 down toad/Roadmaster Falcon2 with EvenBrake
TireMinder TPMS,Tiger, the Little Big Man minidachshund,
Rosey the minidachshund resident Princess-in-Chief
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ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 07/13/2005
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Awww, this was very heart-moving. I'm sure it is different for everyone. We have neighbors who are 78. They sold their house last summer, bought a new fifth wheel and truck, and are on the road. They call about every other week on their whereabouts with plans to get with us this fall on a trip if it works out.
Take care and do what you want and what you know you can and continue to live life to the fullest.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3
1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica and Mabel, both Rat Terriers!
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Scottiemom
Florida
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Joined: 09/09/2003
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We fulltimed for 15 years and my DH died on the road at age 70. I drove back to our newly purchased snowbird home and sold the big rig while keeping the 22' rig we bought to take to Alaska. I have too much arthritis to manage hooking up a toad. Traveled for 3 years in the little one and I just bought a 2021 Coach House, exactly what I wanted. Sold my little one to people who stopped by. I'm 72 and planning my next trip. Got an ebike to do trails, etc.
Dale
Dale Pace
Widow of Terry (Teacher's Pet)
Traveling with Brendon, my Scottish Terrier
2022 Honda Odyssey
2011 Mazda Miata MX-5
2021 Coach House Platinum III 250DT
Fulltimed for 15 years, now living in Florida
http://www.skoolzoutforever.blogspot.com/
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ferndaleflyer
everywhere
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Joined: 03/31/2011
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I'll be 82 in a week. Leaving for Myrtle Beach Sunday and so far so good. I even still drive my drag racing car. My Monaco has served me well for 22 years and is still as good as new with 98,000+ miles on it. It is stored at home so we have never had to deal with the storage issue. I am sure thats a hassle. We are really blessed. Many years ago I got rid of a large boat the same way. It got damaged in a hurricane and as I was checking the damage in dry dock someone offered to buy it. Good by boat and hello Monaco. I am sure you have many memories and it will be an adjustment not having the RV. Good luck on your next adventure.
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cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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Safe travels no matter what the means of conveyance is!!!
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zigzagrv
Nazareth, PA
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Joined: 08/12/2004
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Yes, I too am an octogenarian and will be hanging it up after the 2 trips we have planned this year, the good Lord willing.
We have been to all 50 states, 6 Canadian provinces and the Yukon Territory. We have seen and experienced a lot and have fond memories and thousands of pictures to sustain us the rest of our lives. Some of the folks we have met along the way have become lifelong friends. These last trips are for visiting these friends around the country one last time. There are still places we would like to visit, but we can now do that vicariously with travel documentaries.
David, wishing you and yours the very best in your 'retirement'. Life goes on.
Ron
2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme 33'
F53 Class A
2013 Ford Edge toad
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Joined: 02/02/2003
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David,
That is a very moving post. This must be one of the most difficult times in an RV'ers life: Hanging up the keys. I saw it happen to my uncle when he was in his early 80's, about 5 years ago. His wife had passed away a few years prior and he was never the same after that. His last few trips, including one last trip to Florida, I ended up doing most of the driving, but he helped out for about a 1 hour shift here and there. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") He was fortunate because he owned a lot in the Berkshires (small mountain range) about an hour and a half away where he could park the rig from late Spring until the threat of snow and he could drive his car up there to enjoy the rig throughout that period, yet easily return home as well. We would visit him in our motorhome as much as we could up there and we made some great memories then and when his wife was still here. He and his wife were very special to us for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they were instrumental in getting us into the RV lifestyle. For that we will always be grateful. But ultimately, the time came when he knew he had to sell his rig.
David, thank you for your contributions to the Open Roads Forums all these years. Hopefully you'll still drop by once in a while. You've got a lot of experience in this lifestyle and there are always newbies, like I was back in the early 2000's, looking for some sage advice from folks that have "been there".
Safe travels and best wishes that you will continue to make memories with your family and friends as you enter this new stage in your life.
~Rick
* This post was
edited 03/24/23 08:20am by Rick Jay *
2005 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (27-Angel since 2008), 1 girl (22), 2 boys (23 & 20).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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Matt_Colie
Southeast Michigan
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Joined: 10/09/2011
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D.E.Bishop wrote:Over the years I have seen posts asking, when is it time to hang up the keys, well for this guy it is 82 years and 9 months. I suppose I could buy a "B" or "B +" and we could still do some traveling but it would only work for a year or two.
SNIPPED
I think the old saying about a boat owners two happiest days are buying and selling but in this case, about 02:00 am, I woke and almost cried, the memories came flooding back from our first camping trip with a borrowed tent and Coleman stove with a 4yo and a 5yo, to our last trip up to OR in Sept. in the Winnie.
I'll miss it and miss all of you, at least we did it till we just couldn't do it anymore. No more Pendleton Shirts smelling like a campfire, no more kids and grandkids giving gooey S'more kisses, no more sunrises at "Q"
To quote Bob Hope, "Thanks for the Memories".
David
David,
You have uncovered what those of us with sailboats and motorhomes know.
That two best days thing is a LIE.
A motorhome is more than just a house on a truck. A part of your life, it was home. Like sailing, you didn't just drive, you were in a perpetual participation in the travel.
I hope you have a pleasant life without the coach.
Matt_C - Sold the sailboat and wondering how soon for the coach
Matt & Mary Colie
A sailor, his bride and their black dogs (one dear dog is waiting for us at the bridge) going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.
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2oldman
NM
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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Sorry to hear that, but it sounds like you had a good run.
I'm 74 and not hanging it up just yet, but I may keep the trips much shorter - which means no more going south in winter for 5 months.
As I age my problem is just too much worry about what *could* happen when I'm out in the sticks all by myself with a cat.
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