Life changes

I have been thinking about how my life has changed in the past year ...
I looked after my nan for 20 yrs until she passed away 7 yrs ago , looked after my grandchildren (their mum has bipolar )until last year as they are now 15 ,14 and 11 .
My lurchers are all getting older 14 , 10 and 9 ....so life is quieter even morning walks ....
I looked after my father in law until August this year .....
So now its time for change and having time for just my husband myself and the dogs ....
We are buying a motorhome after xmas and are going to be getting away more ....
It feels like an end of an era and i am happy and sad .... (hubby says its my hormones )

More well-deserved you time, and less 'other people' time, Kara

You are turning a page, but I hope you love motorhoming - it has opened up a new lifestyle for us. Some tips -

If you haven't chosen it yet, look carefully at layouts and imagine being stuck indoors for 6 hours in it - will you be comfortable. For example we like a comfortable lounge area because we do a lot in the UK, including in winter, when you might be inside from 4.00pm until bedtime., so somewhere nice to watch a DVD and have a glass of wine is important to us.

A tennis ball on the floor will roll towards the wheel sitting lowest on uneven ground - that's where you need to place your blocks to level off.

The bath mats without rubber backs are great for just inside the door - you can come in with muddy boots when it's raining and the mats can be washed easily.

Make a departure checklist - windows shut, fridge locked, tv aerial down etc.

Get some emergency rations - tins or packets of soup and veg, pasta etc. so you can always make an emergency meal.

The small 250 ml bottles of fizzy juice (usually supermarket own brands, sold in multipacks) are great for carrying kitchen cupboard staples like sugar, salt, flour and oil because they have good screw on lids and are a great size.

Store anything in overhead lockers in baskets or it will all fall out when you open them. Kitchen area workshops can be damaged easily.

Have your first nights on a campsite near the dealer so you can easily get back to fix any niggles or ask silly questions (like why isn't the heating working - because it's not cold enough ).

France is fabulous for motorhomes - loads of towns and villages have aires (areas) for stopping and staying. Visitors are welcomed as they want you to stay and spend money in their businesses, so they are free or cheap - some are free and provide free electricity.

If you are going abroad be aware of the need for different gas regulators. Refillable gas systems are great but expensive.

Scotland is nice too!

Your habitation door is likely to blow closed when it's windy, even from a catch - we've never had a secure catch. If you have a fly screen across the doorway it will get damaged - a bungee rope from the door of the habitation door to the cab door is more secure.

I can't think of anything else right now but message me if you have any questions!

Wow , I envy you. This is the plan OH and I had for our retirement but due to his illness it cant happen now.

The Netherlands is also great for motorhoming with lots of places offering up to 3 nights free parking.
Im sure once you start your new adventure your sadness will pass.

Plus Im sure I speak for everyone in saying .... we want photos!

Thanks Jo but we have had a motor home before a 28ft hymer and a 24ft caravan ..thanks for the tips xx

Kara 1 said:

Thanks Jo but we have had a motor home before a 28ft hymer and a 24ft caravan ..thanks for the tips xx

Click to expand...

Ah sorry - you will know what you are doing then!

We always wanted to get another motorhome...we were going to move into the detached annexe in our garden and rent the house as a holiday let /air b&b but we have decided to stay in the house (now we have rebuilt it )
Hubby is going to use the annexe as a workshop for the time being ...our friends were horrified but he wont be making any structural changes , just taken the hand built kitchen out to put in the house and then when he decides he's had enough of renovating old motor bikes we will change it back into an annexe and sell up ....after losing friends (before age of 65 ) and others being Ill we decided life is too short for what ifs so we are just doing what We want to do ....
Will post pics when we get motorhome...we have been looking at an Autotrail Chieftain....cant wait

Bon voyage! To quote John Ruskin 'The only wealth is life.' I try to repeat it on dark days- and it sounds as if you are going to act on it. Well done.