[88781]

I would, rightly or wrongly, regard anyone who either owns a Motorhome or is interested in Outdoor pursuits to be, in general, amongst the more intelligent members of society and would therefore be genuinely interested in whether you feel you are more prone to "go with your gut instinct" or take a more complentative approach to decision making.

Personally (and not I hasten to add with the benefit of hindsight always correctly) tend to be an impulsive character. The three biggest decisions to date have been:

Buying our first house - I was in Lancashire on business and didn't even see it, just trusted my wife to make the right choice and it was all done and dealt with by the time I returned.

Buying our first new car (Golf TDI estate FWIW) - was going to look at a few different models but ended up at the VW showroom first, had all the right questions to ask bubbling around in my head, in the end didnt even go for a test drive, hell didn't even spend longer than twenty minutes before signing up.

Change of career - Although there are other influencing factors, namely inlaws in poor health who need help, sat down the other night with a G & T discussing options with the wife and to cut a short story even shorter decided why not, so am off to put the business on the market, rent out the property and tour Western europe for a couple of years, simple as that really.

For the record decisions one and two proved to be spot on, the third, only time will tell!

Over to the esteemed panel for their input and experiences.

Dave

 

[88741]

Go for it, you never know what is round the next corner. You only have one life so why not live it to the full ?
OK I do appreciate you have to look a little to the future but to pin all your dreams onto that day when you both retire and then can do the things you have always wanted to do is to my mind chancy at best.
Jam tommorow is all very well, but without wanting to sound too pesimistic there may not be the tommorow that you have hoped for, so much can alter to spoil your dreams.
I am going to be financially challenged if I retire at 60 rather than wait for 65, but I am now determined to retire at 60 and do those things I have always wanted to. What is more important to you a standard of living or a standard of life?
I just wish I was in your shoes and had the chance to take off now.
Go with your gut instinct, if it turns out wrong then plough on and put it behind you, far,far better that than to be sat saying ' If only' to my mind the saddest most desolate words anyone can ever say
Good luck

 

[Texas]

How I envy your courage.

Go for it, don't live to regret not doing what you obviously want to do.

If things don't 'pan out' you've still got your house to come back to. :wink:

Do it now whilst your still fit enough, no good waiting 'til your too old, and/or infirm.

Texas

 

[88751]

Go for it.

Good for you. I have seen so many people work their "butts" off and retire and die young.

You really have to live and enjoy your lives, whilst you are able.

Ian

 

[88789]

hi dave, i can say that i fall into the impulsive catogary too, this has been a trait all my life and when the opportunity came to retire aged 56 i didn't hesitate not even to think if i could live on the works pension. now eight years later i can say with all honesty it was the best snap discision of my life. believe me you have nothing to fear go for it mate.

 

[Drummer]

I personally plan everything. look into all the pros & cons before I make any decision.
And I'm the one without the MH! :roll:
GO FOR IT!
This is not a rehersal.

 

[88933]

Decisions

Hi Mandy and Dave,
I would say GO FOR IT, your gut instinct has served you ok thus far, take the opportunity while you have it, and the best of luck to you both.

Wife and I waited until we retired before we bought our motorhome, and now we often wish we had taken the opprtunity sooner, than later, but what the heck, were enjoying our new found freedom even though we have our aches and pains, would`nt change our lifestyle now for all the T in china.

Mike and Pearl

 

[Grizzly]

Hear Hear ! I go with all of the above. i've seen too many friends and acquaintances go on working to the last minute in the hope of amassing a bigger pension only to find they cannot enjoy it because they are too old or ill when the time comes.

As someone said; there are no pockets in a shroud......

G.

 

[88991]

Go for it, and enjoy every minute of it. Would like to know what you doing with the kids though, School etc.

 

[Yorky]

Happy the man,
He who can say
Tomorrow do your worst
For I have lived today.

 

[88781]

Hi Ray, I was just talking to Ladyj about the school situation, we're assuming that whoever takes on the business, will need some steering and guiding for a while, and by the time we have everything sorted out at this end, Kirsty will be ready for leaving school, if she wishes to stay for further education, eldest son has a spare room, if it's Uni, then halls of residence, house/flat share etc.

 

[RobMD]

I'm not the impulsive type, and thought about what best to do regarding retirement.
Eventually, I decided that I would take early retirement at 57 and accept a lower pension in return for a better quality of life - albeit not such an affluent one.

We live relatively well, and want for nothing essential, but if we want a large item (e.g a new car), we first have to ask if we really need - or even want it. If we do, then we have to plan for it and not just go out and get it.

If you can get used to a less aquisitive lifestyle, and don't need frequent periods of Retail Therapy - then go for it.

It was the best move I made, and there is very little that I really want.

Nevertheless, IMO it is essential to look forward and try to predict if the lifestyle intend living is viable in the long tem.

Anyway - Best of Luck!!!!!

 

[88847]

Dave

You can only do this if...........................

you call and tell me where to meet you so we can go get a ticket for the tunnel and set off in to the sun....................oh ......2 years will have to be for starters only

Paul

Go for it ..........how many christmases do you have left

 

[storeman]

Hi Dave go for it .I just wish I was in a position to do same im sure you will not regret it.


Chris

 

[johnsandywhite]

8) MandyandDave. Back in October 1996 I made the decision you are about to make. I looked at what we had invested? What income we had from a small pension and rent? I then worked out what it was cost us to live in Spain at the time (in a C****** on a beach site). How long our money we had would last until I received my National Pension? The value of the property we owned? I then realised I was working for EXTRA luxuries that we neither needed or really wanted. We RETIRED after paying up our taxes and closing down our accounts. I actually got some tax back. All I can say is:-

STOP PROCASTINATING AND GO FOR IT​

 

[autostratus]

In short do it while you are_both _in good enough health.

Whether you can do it later depends on you both being fit at that age.
Should you opt for caution and safety intending to do it later and one of you is not well enough, you may carry the resentment throughout the rest of your life.

Should you do it soon and one of you not be well later, you'll have the memories and experiences there to carry you through some testing years.

 

[89264]

Can only agree wholeheartedly with everything that has already been said.

I would like to think that I use my head as I look into everything, read up on stuff etc, etc before making any decision - I like to know what my options are (for the sake of Justin - Justin case :roll: ) - but then ALWAYS go with my heart!

Andrew and I are renting the house, quitting jobs and heading off after November (tied to job contract until then). We will be 41 and 31 respectively when we go. My boss knows we are desperate to go, just doesn't know when it will be yet! He thinks we are bonkers and should wait until we retire.

What if we don't make it to retirement 8O 8O 8O

We have looked into finances and pondered the old pension question, but in the end it's about living now while we can and taking everything else as it comes. We are fortunate to have the backing of our families, but I will still worry about them while we are away. But let's face it, you're never that far away by plane if you really need to get back home for something.

No one ever said on their death bed "I wish I'd worked more"

Loved the poem from Yorky - made me go all goose bumpy!

Good luck and go for it!

Rachel

 

[johnsandywhite]

Happy the man,
He who can say
Tomorrow do your worst
For I have lived today.

I seem to remember someone also said - Live for today, for tomorrow you may die.

 

[relay]

Go for it and good luck!

I would say, re the question of head or heart, follow your heart - if your head can back it up, so much the better - but let your heart choose what your head should look at.

In 2001 Ern and I moved in together, a fortnight later I said, "Lets buy a camper van" - haven't a clue where the idea came from, neither of us had ever wanted one, or even been camping or caravanning since childhood (when I'd detested it). We bought one within a couple of weeks and have never looked back - it's turned us from two stay-at-home, never-been-anywhere miseries into frantic travellers who are trying to see the whole of UK and Ireland as best we can. Wider Europe will be next :lol:

Another snap decision came two years ago. Browsing on the internet for price of houses (quite happy with where we lived) and found them to be enticingly cheap in South Wales - drove over to have a look, loved the place and put our house on the market and subsequently moved here with a bit of extra capital to finance the travel - couldn't be happier - it's a lovely place to live. Would love to travel for longer spells but at the moment my son's health doesn't allow me to be away for extended periods.

Wishing you all the very best - don't forget to budget for that internet connection so you can tell us where you are :lol:

-H

 

[Pusser]

I'm impulsive but that is generally curtailed by the missus who is not. I would sell up now and embark in a new hitop around Europe if it was down to me. Missus takes into acoount kids, grandchildren and my 93 year old parents.
I see it that we would see all of them for longer periods than the day\weekend visits and spend quality time with them rather than quickie weekenders. But the missus will never do anything without bricks and mortar to come back to so I suppose I will be stuck here building sodding PC's for ever.

But if I were in your shoes, I would go for it without hesitation. Hope the fact I think you should do it is now not causing you some concern.