Early retirement has its pluses and minuses, believe me.

Most of the folks in the RV community did two or more careers and had a house to sell, usually with substantial savings as well. So they could buy the biggest, newest, rigs and with extensive warranties.

We, on the other hand, decided to do it early and within our budget.

Having just gotten back from seven years assignment in Europe, we didn't have any house equity built up. So, we got a beautiful used 1990 5th wheel and a used one ton diesel dually. Both of them now customized to suit our style. That way we could buy cash and have some retirement check left over for some luxuries in life, like food and clothing! LOL.

The point is that I hear "I wish I'd done it when I was as young as you are" regularly. This is my choice, and I'm glad too! But here are pluses to doing it the other way too.

It reminds me of having a family. We chose to have both of our kids right away and very young (19). All during our twenties we envied the couples who waited and partied as a couple for 5-20 years before being "tied down" with kids. However, at 42, as my youngest was just settling into his first apartment back in the states (we were in Europe) I looked around and saw many of my peer group with pre-schoolers and grade school age kids mixed in with their teenagers. Many of them were older than us as well! So we are a couple again, and just when our finances are in order and we can still Ski and dive.

In other words there are two sides to every coin. Both with their built in pluses and minuses.

I can tell you this though, there was one very unexpected plus. See, I built some businesses up over in Europe, which gave us some discretionary funding to pursue some dreams. So we toured Europe and when a new toy became available, I could get it. Got 'em all! But never was materialistic, Just could.

The very unexpected plus was when I divested myself of almost everything. My significant harassment (Lynda) kept her collectibles and antiques, which will be cared for by family until we tire of being "Influential street-people". LOL

But for years I had noticed that my stuff was not being used much anymore. I'd already had everything I could have wanted and was shocked to find myself bored with all but my computer and MFC (those were used daily).

The feeling of a burden being lifted was totally unexpected. It's great to be down to just the basics, and have to follow the rule of before we can buy anything, we have to decide what we are going to throw out or sell to make room for it. RVs are not roomy enough to be a packrat.

What really surprised me was the number of friends and family that kept saying things like "how can you part with that" or "How could you sell that". And they were sincere!

Well, it was obvious how many people were limited resource thinkers (you know, when someone they know gets something, it is then removed from their sphere of possibilities). I resisted the impulse to address that issue, as that would be presumptuous, and intrusive. So I'd just simply say "Hey, if I ever want another, I'll just go out and get it, they have after all made millions of 'em". To paraphrase Flaubert, now I surround us with only "Le object just".

And now have the time to attend to important things like watching the daily spectacle of a sunrise and sunset. I honestly don't know how I ever found the time to go to work every day.

RV/dg