Sunday, May 27, 2012

A CHANGE IN DIRECTION: WE’RE BACK IN CALIFORNIA

The idea of full time travel came to Odel and me in October of 2002, while we were visiting southern Arizona.  We’d never had an RV, but in light of Odel’s planned March 2003 retirement, we were considering alternatives to staying in our house in Sacramento.

Within 3 months, we gave ourselves a cram course on RV’s, made a quick decision, and bought our first (and, so far, only) RV.  On April 1, 2003, we took off.  Everything we owned was in the motorhome or in the Jeep behind us.  Inspired by a whim, this abrupt life change was just right for us.

We’ve never known when we would transition out of fulltiming, or why.  A couple of weeks ago, my sister Sydney let us know that a mobile home with a fantastic lake view was for sale in Lake Oaks, the mobile home park where they live, a lovely spot in Diamond Springs, California.  She suggested we consider buying it as a home base, close to them, to our parents, and to Rosanna and Auntie Carol.  Our immediate response was “no way, we are not ready”.  A week later, after a little daydreaming, thought and conversation, we figured it was worth investigating.

We left Boise last Tuesday, and today we a signed contract on our new home base… though NOT the mobile home with a beautiful view that enticed us to drive 600 miles back to California!  

We looked at half a dozen mobile homes for sale in Lake Oaks, and were surprised to find that other features beat out a fabulous lake view:  a big, FLAT lot (unusual in this hilly, forested park) with a graveled side yard perfectly suited to a kitchen garden; a huge combination living room, dining room, and appealing (large) kitchen; a neighbor on just one side; a low maintenance front yard with huge trees and dappled shade; a flat, covered carport large enough for two cars; lots of privacy; easy proximity to the lake, the lake trail, and the clubhouse (where Odel and Frank can hone their skills on the pool table, or Odel can join the poker players).  Another plus: the park has RV storage for $30 a month, and we can walk past Scoopy daily as we circumnavigate the lakeside trail.

The walls are freshly painted, the carpeting brand new.  The effect is light, bright, clean and airy, ready to move in.  It felt great the minute we walked through the door.  We made an offer, they countered, and for $40,000, we have a home base.  The site rental is less than what we budget for campground fees; the entire house cost a fraction of the price of our motorhome when we bought it 10 years ago.  I can’t quite wrap my head around that.  

Escrow will close in about a month, just in time for us to head to Colorado to meet friends from Texas in July. Until then, we’re making lists, budgets, and trying to figure how where we’re gonna get some furniture. :)

Two weeks ago, in Idaho, we had no inkling we would soon be home owners.  Today, we’re celebrating this unexpected turn of events.  Hooray for the inspiring whim!

50 comments:

  1. Good for you guys & I congratulate you on your purchase. Totally understand your logical thinking. We have it in mind to 'maybe' take a run up to the Placerville area sometime this winter from our Congress home base. Never been to that part of California so we'll see. Hope you find 'change' as exciting as I always do:))

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! That is a change in direction. Hope you enjoy your new digs and settle in nicely. We'll still see you on the road I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We love doing things on a whim...that is when life is guiding us and it feels right...good for you guys, we are sure we will see you on the road too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds lovely..take some pictures and let us see your new homebase. Congratulation to both of you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. In hindsight your getting a home base in the greater Sacramento makes sense since your family is concentrating there. It is still a surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, that IS a fast change!! Congrats!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations on your new decision and new life. The only thing that never changes is change itself. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You will be having a new different life style again. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a change in your lives! It sounds like the purchase process went so well, it must be the right thing to do. No doubt you'll enjoy the home base, neighborhood and family, and yet still feel free to hit the road.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Our home base in now an apartment in the Minneapolis area. After lots of research about furnishing it we bought everything in one trip to IKEA and had it all delivered. That turned out to be a wonderful method of "moving in."

    ReplyDelete
  11. I take it that you are not selling your motohome....so will you be part-timing it from now on???

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congrats to you both! Sounds like the recipe was just right. Can't wait to see pictures of teh "Homestead" @;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm flabbergasted. I guess congrats are in order. I just hope this doesn't end up tying you down too much. I also hope we still run into you out here on the road sometimes. If not, we'll be sure to stop by when we come by to visit with Rosanna and Carol.

    -- jc&bev

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds wonderful! Although we are happy in our (now second) mobile home with the fantastic view, I very much long for the more carefree days of fulltiming. There are pro's and con's about both lifestyles - the grass is always greener syndrome seems to always have me in its clutches! ;->

    Open field storage . . . we have this at our place, too, but found that a well-motivated pack rat can do a lot of damage in a very short time. Ask me for details if you find this to be a possible problem.

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow! You'll also have family nearby to keep an eye on the place while you're traveling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've been following full time RVers for several years. It seems like many find having a place to call home base a good thing. We need to sell our house in order to be free of all the maintenance and hopefuly gain access to some of the equity. It is too big and to expensive to keep up to have it be a part time abode! I hope someday e will be able o spend a couple of years traveling and finding the next place to call home!

    Sounds like you will have the best of both worlds!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Holy smokes--it is an epidemic!!! I absolutely love it--someone besides Mike and I make quick, rapid, do it now kind of decisions. We hope you guys enjoy your home base and traveling which is what we intend to do although in a much smaller rig than a 40 foot motorhome!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations! Don't you just love it when the planets align? It definitely sounds like this move was meant to be!

    We're just beginning to think about finding our home base one day. We will read with great interest as you transition to life as "anytimers". Best of luck as you enjoy the best of both worlds!

    ReplyDelete
  19. When it's right, it's right! Congrats you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations!! Nothing ventured...nothing gained. Hope this works out for you two. If not, you just do something else. The ability to make changes really makes life much easier:o))

    ReplyDelete
  21. How exciting, Laurie! We also bought in NorCal and we close on our house in two wks. We intend to continue RV travel, but there is a pull toward nesting (and that kitchen garden). Glad we're both in the same neighborhood; we should be able to visit from time to time, yes? Best wishes on your new digs!

    PS: We've been to Ikea!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Holy Mackerel. We had no idea you two would even think of buying anything yet. But how exciting for you both. It sounds more like a dream than a house. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Well now you have joined us as anytimers!! Any time you want, you can head on out and RV till your heart's content.... Then, just return home and stay there for a while...... Options, always lots of options.......

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congrats and Thanks - Your RV blog story wondefully documents a piece of American culture and America. All the best as your story continues with its new addition.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congratulations! Chuck and I love our homebase in New Mexico. Most of the time we are only there 2 months or so out of the year, long enough to swap winter clothes for summer clothes etc! I love Rod and Loyce's term.... "anytimers", perfect defination! Just be happy and keep grinning!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm so happy you found a wonderful home base, and glad you didn't agonize over it for a long time. As glad as I am that I was able to full-time for a short while, I love the duality of my life now.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great news! Congratulations on your new home base.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I agree it sounds like it was meant to be. Whenever things just fall into place and feel "right" you know you are following your heart. And since you like to spend time each year with that great family of yours this seems like the perfect thing. Love the term "anytimers". Can't wait to see your new base.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow, what a surprise! But it's the right time for you, the right decision and so enjoy! Sounds like a great choice and we can't wait to see it!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sounds like a wonderful deal, Laurie and Odel!
    I didn't realize you hadn't been RVers before you got Scoopy!
    Thought you had been doing it for a long time!
    Now you can be "extended stay RVers" and have the best of both worlds!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Funny. I'm only 4 months into my Journey and am thinking about property in Vegas...never thought I'd consider it. Now that you're settling down somewhat, are you ready to adopt my awesome cat?

    ReplyDelete
  32. These opportunities and inspirations come when they do. Can't necessarily plan for them. Good for you for doing it carefully, by looking around. Our opportunity presented itself three years ago, just when Suzy needed a little more stability, and we grabbed it. No regrets at all. And now that Suzy is getting back into easier movement, we'll still have this place to come back to from the road. Hooray for people like you, like Al and Kelly, like Gypsy, and so many others, finding just the right inspiration mixed with opportunity!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Not so much of a surprise, I think. You two did the full time thing as well as anyone I have ever known. So glad you found a place that is perfect for you and your family connections. Of course I had to google off and look at your surroundings via street view. For the four years I lived in Sonora, I drove north on 49 many times and always wished that my job had been in Placerville instead of Sonora. It is a beautiful area. Hot of course, but you already know that one. Your cheap living expenses might be offset a bit by the air conditioning bill. My mobile in the senior park where I lived was older, 1986, I think, and air conditioning cost me more than 500 during the summer months to keep the stat at 80 degrees. Looking forward to all your stories about the shift, and to seeing where you choose to travel when it is HOT in California! Big hugs to both of you and CONGRATULATIONS!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sounds like a plan worth doing to me! I would love to sell this big behemoth we live in and get something small somewhere where the State isn't dipping into your retirement :-)....

    ReplyDelete
  35. Congrats.....can't wait to see some photos of the house and property. We bought our property in Georgia like that...quick!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a interesting turn of events. We wish you all the best and are happy you found such a nice and reasonable home base.

    ReplyDelete
  37. That's just how we did it. All of the sudden we looked at a place and bought and 2 days before we weren't even thinking about it. You sound like you got a very good deal. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  38. That's just how we did it. All of the sudden we looked at a place and bought and 2 days before we weren't even thinking about it. You sound like you got a very good deal. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow...That is truly amazing. Congratulations to you! Somehow I think that's how we may make our decision, if and when it happens; just like when we started full-time RVing in 1995. Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Well Congratulations!! We have a home base in SO Cal area and have never had so much fun furnishing it. Just went to living spaces and started pointing, they delivered and set up PERFECT, then came the kitchen shopping OH boy was that fun went to BBB (Bed Bath and Beyond) and starting piling in the stuff.... Good luck and the fun begins....Again.....

    ReplyDelete
  41. Stunned and speechless. I can't believe how many people we know are suddenly coming off the road. Sure you'll still have Scoopy and do some traveling, but it won't be the same. I'm sad you won't be roaming around out here all the time, but happy for you if you're happy.

    ReplyDelete
  42. well congrats to you both...you will have a nice home base knowing you can return whenever you want or need to..and family close by..its a win win situation!!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Really.....REALLY!!!????
    Wow!
    We've been thinking about you two ever since we read your news last week! Congratulations on your new home. Whether in a house or in your MH, as long as you're together, you'll enjoy every minute.
    Hope we will still see you out and about occasionally. Hugs, J&C

    ReplyDelete
  44. Things happen for a reason, it must have been the right time. We enjoy a home base in Lacey, WA. It's very small but a great place to go for the summer to spend a couple of weeks or a couple of months. The summer weather in Washington is great. I know the area you bought in, good choice and great weather.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Congrats on the home base - it sounds lovely. Beware it's a slippery slope. Take it from one who knows. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi Laurie & Odel, I have been following your blog for a couple of years now. I think I found you from a story on Howard & Linda Paynes blog. My wife Sue and I are in our 50's and have been camping/RV'ing for the past 30 years. We had a pop up camper then moved to a truck and Lance camper that we purchased new in 1990 and still have. We were exposed to full timers from meeting them on the road before the internet had blogs. We always wanted to go full time but I guess never had the guts to cash in the jobs and take off. Now we want to go but are not quite retirement age so we will see what happens. Being able to follow people such as you provides a lot of help in thinking about how we might want to do our own traveling and a home base has aways been a thought as well so it is interesting to see your decision process. We are in So Cal (Santa Ana, near Disneyland) and in addition to reading you blog we have tried several of you recipes which are great and some have become regulars for us. We are semi full time vegetarians. Not sure if you will keep your blog going or not so I just wanted to make a point of posting and saying thanks for a the good reading to help me get through the work days.

    Jim & Sue Ellsworth

    ReplyDelete
  47. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Congratulations on your new home! I do miss having a garden but think I will again someday.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Way toooooo long for an update!! Would love to see pictures of your new home and hear about your travels.
    Janet
    Ontario Canada

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi, Nice post thanks for sharing. Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. Please email me back.

    Thanks!

    Joel
    JHouston791@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete