(NON FINANCIAL) Retirement plans/ dreams/ discussion.

Crabby

Sat in the van in a Stellplatz in northern Germany, now heading home after a tour of Denmark, for the summer boat fishing season. A few trips planned for the summer/autumn, then we'll be looking for the winter sun after Christmas. It's a hard life, but I have to keep going.
I'm sure you'll get the hang of it MallyGirl.


PS. If I keep heading up to Scandinavia, I might need a bigger pension.:eek:

Tahlullah

Congrats Mallygirl. Got my camper van over the Easter break and keep sitting in it. Ebay is getting a lot of traffic from me as I buy bits and pieces as well. Have a great time with it when you begin your travels!

MallyGirl

We are off to a camping show for a few ‘essentials’ in a couple of weeks.

bluenose1

Doubt we would ever get a camper van, though may hire one at some point, but enjoy reading books about other people's real life adventures. Currently reading "Upsticks" about a couple travelling around EC on my kindle unlimited.

shinytop

Is a camper van different from a motor home? Is it just a question of size or are they different things? To me, camper van conjures up hippies/surfer dudes in a VW whereas a motor home is a huge removal-van sized vehicle towing a small car. I suspect we're talking about something closer to the former here.:cool:

MallyGirl

In my case it was a short wheel base VW transporter that I had fitted out with crates first - for my sled dogs and their mushing equipment. Now the oldest dog is too old so out with the crates and in with swivel front seats, overnight heating, a pop up roof with a bed in so we can stand up in the back, rear bench seat convert to another bed, there is a fridge, sink, solar panels to charge the leisure battery, and lots more. SWB means it is easy to park and drive and does pretty decent mpg.
A motor home is usually coach built, no longer looks anything like the underlying vehicle, is bigger (sometimes enormous), but that means there can be room for a loo and shower. Not that easy to drive/park and very thirsty due to the weight. Not great in high winds.
A camper requires you to be careful and efficient with your luggage - everything bijoux.

thriftytracey

MallyGirl wrote: »

Our camper van is ready to collect
It will have to sit there till after the fencing people have been and put in a new fence and gate to allow us to park it down the side of the house (safe from being hit by passing vehicles).
Something to take my mind off the inappropriate Agile software development course I am having to sit through this week.

HA HA, been there done that., although product can only really support Waterfall/Agile hybrid model and Automation will never happen. Sounds like we work in the same area Got Cambam training scheduledbut as I gave in my notice on Monday to retire I won't be able to attend which is sad! Plus all the other Global/UK/Technology updates which I won't miss..... Indeed there are so many things I won't miss I could go on listing forever.

Looking forward to forthcoming 5-6 weeks in France in the caravan with our two dogs!

Crabby

shinytop wrote: »

Is a camper van different from a motor home? Is it just a question of size or are they different things? To me, camper van conjures up hippies/surfer dudes in a VW whereas a motor home is a huge removal-van sized vehicle towing a small car. I suspect we're talking about something closer to the former here.:cool:

A campervan is more geared up for long weekends/short holidays, though plenty of people tour Europe in them.
We have a a 6 metre PVC (panel van conversion) with fixed bed, full kitchen,shower and toilet, which is big enough for us. But as you say, some are based on coaches and could fit ours inside.
All we need is somewhere to park, somewhere to top up our water and dump our waste occasionally, and we can stay on the road for months.

shinytop

MallyGirl wrote: »

In my case it was a short wheel base VW transporter that I had fitted out with crates first - for my sled dogs and their mushing equipment. Now the oldest dog is too old so out with the crates and in with swivel front seats, overnight heating, a pop up roof with a bed in so we can stand up in the back, rear bench seat convert to another bed, there is a fridge, sink, solar panels to charge the leisure battery, and lots more. SWB means it is easy to park and drive and does pretty decent mpg.
A motor home is usually coach built, no longer looks anything like the underlying vehicle, is bigger (sometimes enormous), but that means there can be room for a loo and shower. Not that easy to drive/park and very thirsty due to the weight. Not great in high winds.
A camper requires you to be careful and efficient with your luggage - everything bijoux.

Yup I get the idea now. One is like a small motorised bedroom, the other like more like a whole house. I definitely want to hire one sometime.

Triumph13

Crabby wrote: »

A campervan is more geared up for long weekends/short holidays, though plenty of people tour Europe in them.
We have a a 6 metre PVC (panel van conversion) with fixed bed, full kitchen,shower and toilet, which is big enough for us. But as you say, some are based on coaches and could fit ours inside.
All we need is somewhere to park, somewhere to top up our water and dump our waste occasionally, and we can stay on the road for months.

Small campers are fine for long holidays - as long as you have the weather. If you're outdoorsy by nature then you don't spend that much time actually shut up in the van until the evening. With the side door open they can actually feel much more roomy than a motorhome. It's when you are cooped up inside them for days because of the rain that you go crazy