New fulltimers...Help...

[rovealot]

We will be hitting the road full time in about two months. We have been camping a long time so we know the basics. We have a 32 ft motor home. How do you downsize from a home to an RV? I have problems coming up with a way to pack the family photos, shoes, clothes, and office supplies and paperwork. How do we keep the computer and what about desk space? How much do we need in the clothes and shoes dept? I can't seem to come up with solutions. Any suggestions? Thanks

[suesodyssey]

First off, what will you be doing? That decides on clothes. Basics: shorts, tops, couple pair long pants, a jacket for cooler weather, a sweat shirt, tennis shoes, sandles. If you plan on dresses...make it a basic skirt and top, pair of flats or heels. I personally don't carry heels. In the last 6 years I have worn heels one time. I have a pair of nice slacks, a skirt & top and a nice pair of flats. Most of the time I am in shorts and a T-shirt. Same for DH..always LESS IS BETTER. If you have a washer in your rig you can always wash every other day. I wash almost daily. Also, carry a poncho for each of you. Makes sitting up and taking down in the rain so much easier. I buy the little ones at Wal-Mart. Usually under $2, so if I rip them, it is no big deal.

Suggest a lap top versus a large table top computer. Get the smallest printer, copier, scanner you can.

The most important thing to remember...think small. And if you don't use something for a year, get rid of it. If you pack light, you can add as you need to. If you pack heavy..you will be purging everyplace you go!!
Sue

[dab704]

Get a large storage unit, like I did and fill it up, pay for the stuff you no longer need but, cannot part with. I have for 7 years?

[trvlnthrds]

One of the best advise I read was choose 2 colors you like that go together and base your wardrobe on them. Then you can mix and match. Have enough underwear to go two weeks and go to a laundrymat every other week. Why waste siteseeing time doing laundry all the time. Remember nobody know you wore the same outfit twice when you are seeing different people daily. Shoes are walking with maybe one or two good pairs. Heels what are they? :) One dress outfit for each of you. And if you haven't worn it in 6 months give it to a thrift shop.

[rovealot]

Thank you all for the great advice. It seems like such a chore to get ready to go but once we are on the way things will fall into place. I am going to take one thing at a time and try to get it workable before we actually leave. I like the clothing ideas. the decisions are easier to make now. How about family photos and all the photos you take on the road?

[suesodyssey]

We are in the process of putting all our photos on CD's...then I will send the pictures to kids if they want them, but they will have a CD too. Have some pictures on the walls, nothing bigger than 5 x 7. I also have photos on the computer and have a slide show.

[timkelmom]

We have most photos on CD or saved on my hard drive. I also do scrap booking an carry my supplies with me. I have my closet organized very carefully so that everything fits.

We've been full time for 4 years now and it gets easier as you go. You will realize how much you just don't need.

We also have the benefit of still owning our home and renting it to family, so we can store things in our basement.

Good luck and safe travels.

[smokeybear]

Please remember that an RV has weight limits. Some more than others so what ever you put inside... you need to know how heavy your making your RV. We are often stopping by a Salvation Army or GoodWill to donate some of our less used items... always with the idea we make room for additional items with out going over the weight our FifthWheel will safely hold.

There is a RV Safety Education Foundation... Known as RVSEF. They often provide several locations that they weigh RV's.

Check out their Web Site below:

http://www.rvsafety.org/

Marv

[seatinkers]

Garage Sale, Stuff to Save, Stuff to go in RV, Stuff to give away and then Garbage. Then after you do all that get a storage unit for a year and put things in there that you think you need to save.

Pack your RV with things you want and when you return in a years time if you haven't used certain things then give them away or store them. Clothes and shoes depends on you. I always have and will overpack LOL. But then when I don't use them after a year I give it to the church. We are trying to do away with the storage unit but thats another time consuming story. One thing you learn is that material things aren't material things anymore they are just more stuff LOL. I am always downsizing. My husband would say "if you buy something you have to get rid of something" and I say "get out of my way and let me pack" LOL. But please do watch the weight of your RV and be safe...Have Fun!

[zippy1215]

how are truck stops for over night parking?Hi ther now in New Hampshire but was raised in Portsmouth RI