Selling the lot to go travelling!

[4yearsandcounting]

My husband and I decided at the end of last year that we are going to sell our farm, house everything apart from a few bits and pieces, buy a motorhome and go travelling from Autumn 2028, we'll start in the UK for the first 6 months of so then we're going overseas. We worked hard and are mortgage free on the farm and the house so we can't see why we shouldn't do it. I CANNOT wait and neither can he. We are waiting until our first son graduates then starting to work our way around the UK. We will be roughly 60, me, and 56, husband, and figure we have a good few years whilst we are young and fit enough to see more of the world. Our boys are all for it and we were surprised to find a number of friends and family are thinking of the same thing. It is going to take some planning but that's my bag, but a step at a time and we will be ready to go. If you can do it, do it. Me and mine are the most important things in the world so we are doing what we need to do so we can all have the life we want while we can. Go for it!

Blimey, who knew that motorhome living would be so sweary?!

Yeah, we don't take shit from anyone

Yes yes and yes. I would LOVE to do this.

I don't know the logistics with visas etc but it sounds like a lovely plan.

Enjoy it.

I simply cannot get my head around selling your properties. And not having a property, even to rent out.

DH's relations live on a houseboat, but they rent out the flat they had.

I've got two childless friends who have done this. It certainly works well for them BUT they have kept a base here which they rent out.
I like to travel but the selling of everything wouldn't appeal. What if in 3 years your DC have small children, I'd want a family house for celebrations, christmas and birthdays. The thought of being away from my family with nowhere to come back to would worry me. Certainly do it, but why the big 'let's sell everything' approach?

Remember you can only spend 90 out of each 180 days in the EU. And would have to go back to UK in-between times. Unless you have EU passports of course.

Only one of a couple needs an EU passport.

OP - everybody thought we were totally mad when we sold up and went to South America travelling on our motorbike - all full of, oh where will you stay, what happens when you get back, is it safe etc etc. The fact is you are either adventurous or you are not. Living in small spaces, having no "base", and living day to day is not for everyone. But it certainly is for some - so don't be put off with all these negative posts. I don't know a single person who would have done our trip (and others since) - so the odds of finding many on here that understand is very low. Best of luck with your plans - although 2028 if a fair way away - if I was you I would be trying to go earlier!

Sounds exciting. We are planning on travelling too, sooner than that, though master plan is to rent our home out. Dc are bit older so should have all bought before we leave as currently house hunting.

No motor home here, motorcycle and tent! (We will be stopping in hotels sometimes, especially if weather is poor.

Yay a whole new adventure, did this sold up house business the lot in 2008 spent 4 yrs doing this with DH and 2 ds, another 4 yrs putting down roots abroad after 2 more dc surprises Came back and settled to put them all through school and college, might be staying put for now but not forever 😉do I regret it ??? Not a bit ! !! Go for it I love your plan x

We are doing this but not selling everything. DS and his GF will look after the house and cat and pay for utilities so they get free rent and can save for their own deposit and we know the house is cared for.

We rented our first motorhome last week and loved it, we also now know what we want and don’t want for our own motorhome. We are aware of the 90 day rule in the EU. DS GF lives here half the week already. Spain and France are attempting to have the 90 day ruling over turned and there are other ways that mean that staying more than 90 days is possible.

Just keep a base here, if you want to sell the farm that’s not the issue it’s having nowhere to return. If something happened and you had to return quickly the rental market is an utter shitshow and really expensive.

@ViciousCurrentBun France and Spain have had their attempts overturned. The EU won’t reconsider the 90 days at any point soon, sadly.

You may be able to get a visa, but most have residency requirements, so you’d need to settle for long enough to be tax resident - usually 183 days per year. Golden visas don’t have that requirement but aren’t cheap, Spain is closing their scheme; and Portugal’s takes two years to process.

You could do border runs for 90 days to non EU countries though, it doesn’t have to be here.

@4yearsandcounting I have a friend who is doing this at the moment, with their four young boys. They’re renting places short term rather than living in a van. They started in Australia; didn’t like Bali, then did Vietnam, a week in Japan, Paris, Spain, and now they’re in Morocco. They’re off to Egypt next. They’re very honest about the struggles of not having a home to go to, and always being on the road, but they seem to be loving it. She’s now working a bit too.

"Lived in our 6m van full-time for 5 years in the UK. Moved back into a house at 67. So fuck off with your Pinterest put downs."

😂 calm down. If that's remotely true you should know full well that UK winters in a van are not all "cosy".

You're very angry for someone so boho!

Not true actually. Most have diesel or LPG central heating. Heat up very quickly. Hot showers, comfy beds. So if you don't mind the small space and enjoy freedom it can be wonderful. Coldest we've been has been the Pyrenees, minus 12. Wonderfully cosy inside.