Early in 2017, my wife DiAnne and I decided to forego our annual vacation to the Caribbean and spend the money instead on a used Class A motorhome. Both of us were 62 years old at the time and were contemplating taking an early retirement to become fulltime RVers. In my 20-year career as an IT Professional at Mayo Clinic, I saved diligently and invested well enough to retire a little early. The question was could DiAnne and I live together along with our three small dogs in the relatively close confines of a motorhome?

Throughout the year, we camped locally and fixed up the newly acquired 1999 Tiffin Allegro learning the nuances of RVing which included motorhome maintenance and minor repairs. Our plan was to take the Allegro south from Minnesota to Arizona during the coldest part of the 2017-18 winter and enjoy a warmer January than what we had become accustomed to. I was still working and when I requested five consecutive weeks time off, my boss grew worried and suggested I work a couple of days a week remotely. I said “sure” then upped my request from 5 to 6 weeks.

Di and I buttoned up our home on Apple Ridge Boulevard and left Rochester several days before Christmas. Our plan was to drive south, catch Historic Route 66 in Missouri and follow the route westward with a Volkswagen Beetle in tow. The trip was a fantastic experience with only a few minor inconveniences along the way. I believe that the effort spent getting the motorhome and tow dolly into top-notch shape prior to the journey was the key to a relatively trouble-free experience.

The two of us took in many tourist attractions along the way and stayed mostly at state parks. It was surprising to see how sparsely populated the parks were considering the sites were often lower priced and roomier than nearby commercial campgrounds.

One of the lessons we learned was not to try to put on too many miles a day; to enjoy the journey as well as the destination. Too many hours spent on the road makes one weary and cranky. The trip ended back in Minnesota at the end of January and by February, I was back in my office firming up July 27, 2018 as my retirement date.

I retired from Mayo Clinic at the end of July, sold the home on Apple Ridge at the end of August and upgraded to a 2012 Itasca SunCruiser in September. Downsizing from a three bedroom home to a motorhome was a challenge, but fortunately for me I place a higher value on memories and experiences rather than trinkets, toys and mementos. That said, I’m carrying along four guitars (I downsized to get to four) and a small PA system. I’ve been a gigging musician continuously since the 1960s and don’t plan to give that up anytime soon.

This blog will focus on fulltime RVing in retirement with occasional nods into cooking, fishing and music as well as other things that I am passionate about. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I’d appreciate any feedback that you may have for me.