By Lindsay Reed

I began planning this adventure in June 2015 while I was reading Charles Kuralt’s America. My boss had given it to me because the cover photo was one of my favorite Maine lighthouses—Pemaquid Point—and I remembered enjoying the travel segments he did on CBS back in the early 70s.

I’ve always loved to travel and road trips had become regular events in recent years as I explored my passion for photographing lighthouses all over the country. I started thinking about how I could possibly retire as soon as I turned 62 and travel extensively around the United States. Charles Kuralt spent many years traveling the U.S. in a motorhome so I did extensive online research into “full-time RVing” and found there is a huge community of like-minded people out there.

I researched what it costs to live full time in a motorhome with the goal of living off my Social Security checks alone and not tap into my 401k investments. Time will tell if that works out as planned.

I spent months picking the brains of everyone I knew who owned an RV. I watched how-to videos on every topic imaginable. I read everything I could get my hands on and went to RV shows. I wasn’t leaving anything to chance because this would be the biggest life-changing event I’d ever experience.

Finally, in February of 2016, I had the financing in place and I had a good idea what I wanted to buy so I started my search. I had convinced myself that I was best suited for a “C” Class motorhome because the van chassis they’re mounted on seemed less intimidating than the bus-style “A” Class. But a good friend convinced me not to rule out the “A” Class. That they’re not difficult to drive and in some ways easier.

And that’s when I found her. My perfect home on wheels. She was an 11 year-old Coachmen Mirada in mint condition. And she’s green inside and out…my favorite color! We were destined for one another.

The day I took delivery of my 2005 Coachmen Mirada.

 

Upcoming post:

I knew I couldn’t afford to keep my house in New Jersey if I retired at 62 and I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford to travel extensively and still maintain a house so I made the decision to sell it and get rid of everything I’ve ever owned. Yikes!