Dilemma/confused

[jodimckenna56]

Please can someone help me figure out what to do with my beloved 2013 Casita Spirit Deluxe that has become my home as I am going on a 2 yr stint in the Peace Corps. 73 and a happy single nomad needs the kind of advice one would get from a partner. Do I sell her? Do I store her? Even though I’m attached, I could buy another one when I get back and not have the worry or would I be shooting myself in the foot. Enclosed storage will cost a little per month but she’s be snuggly and safe. Any ideas, insights, advice? I’m park hosting in Santa Cruz and plan to visit family in Austin before taking off in June. If don’t sell will drag her to Tx...anyway the saga goes on.

[trainman]

In my case I would sell it for top dollar, storage, insurance, etc. is going to cost something and you have to put the pencil to it and see if it works for you. Biggest problem is when you return home a new Casita is going to cost more as they do go up in price every year and used is going to follow the same price increases, plus used can be hard to find at times. One thing to think about is if the trailer sets for two years and not used, you could have some repairs that will need to be done before you use it again, no guarantee on what this could cost, could be $50, or $1,000 dollars. I myself would sell it and buy again when I get back home, I don't get attached to things like trailer, auto, my home, all can replace with something newer and better.

trainman

[jodimckenna56]

Thank you for taking the time. That is very helpful. I will try and sell it. Relieved.

[cpaharley2008]

I, on the other hand recommend keeping it. Take the battery out and other than new tires you will have a new camper, ready to camp, when you return. The fiberglass units hold up well in storage as evidenced by 30 year old models still in use. You would return and immediately start camping without ordering or trying to purchase another used unit which cost more in 2 years.

[Jon in AZ]

I’d probably do the same. If it were a hard-to-find model or if I had made extensive and/or specialized modifications, I might keep and store, but stock Casita 17’s are fairly common.

Your biggest challenge is selling a trailer while you’re living in it. To get the best price and a quick sale you need to empty and stage it to a certain extent.

[jodimckenna56]

I like this idea as well and that’s why I am in a bit of an inner quandary. Thank you, and now I’m back to square one. Makes perfect sense, though.

[jodimckenna56]

By doing the same, are you referring to selling it as trainman suggested? It is standard and I have/am emptying it and cleaning just in case I get good bite. So you say sell, right?

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by jodimckenna56

Please can someone help me figure out what to do with my beloved 2013 Casita Spirit Deluxe that has become my home as I am going on a 2 yr stint in the Peace Corps. 73 and a happy single nomad needs the kind of advice one would get from a partner. Do I sell her? Do I store her? Even though I’m attached, I could buy another one when I get back and not have the worry or would I be shooting myself in the foot. Enclosed storage will cost a little per month but she’s be snuggly and safe. Any ideas, insights, advice? I’m park hosting in Santa Cruz and plan to visit family in Austin before taking off in June. If don’t sell will drag her to Tx...anyway the saga goes on.

Sell it now while you have the chance.
You may take a completely different direction after 2 years away....

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by jodimckenna56

By doing the same, are you referring to selling it as trainman suggested? It is standard and I have/am emptying it and cleaning just in case I get good bite. So you say sell, right?

Yes, that’s what I meant. The other post slipped in as I was typing. In addition to cleaning inside, get the outside shiny. If there’s some chalkiness, I recommend Meguiar’s Marine Fiberglass Restoration Kit, under $40 on Amazon. It’s a three-step process involving a ladder and a bit of work, but you might be able to hire it done.

[jodimckenna56]

I polish it several times a year with Mothers wax which seems to have kept it deoxidized and shiny. I do have to hire for the very top. But, thank you for the support in letting it go.

[jodimckenna56]

Right or I may never come back. Letting it go kinda means I’d be essentially homeless...not in the sense of poor but you get my point. Like a previous respondent I may need to just get unattached psychologically. Sorry...for the blah blah but this interaction has helped be sort this out. ❤️

[monB]

As a person also in their 70's...I took a bad fall a few years ago and kinda messed up my back. I kept thinking, "It will get better, with time, and I can use my camper". It's been 7 years, it's NOT better, and I've been paying storage fees all that time.

Sell now and save the $$$ to invest in your NEW , trouble free trailer when you're ready for it. You might even decide by then that a Happier Camper or some other style fits your THEN needs better!

Mon

[jodimckenna56]

Luv this response and I think it actually helped push me over the edge on my decision. Sell. Thank you.

[Doctor Harold]

Originally Posted by jodimckenna56

Please can someone help me figure out what to do with my beloved 2013 Casita Spirit Deluxe that has become my home as I am going on a 2 yr stint in the Peace Corps. 73 and a happy single nomad needs the kind of advice one would get from a partner. Do I sell her? Do I store her? Even though I’m attached, I could buy another one when I get back and not have the worry or would I be shooting myself in the foot. Enclosed storage will cost a little per month but she’s be snuggly and safe. Any ideas, insights, advice? I’m park hosting in Santa Cruz and plan to visit family in Austin before taking off in June. If don’t sell will drag her to Tx...anyway the saga goes on.

You call it "beloved" and say you're attached. Only you can measure the value of those. I can't tell you what to do, but one way to help put it in perspective is to ask yourself which you would REGRET MORE:

Selling it and wishing you hadn't, or

Keeping it and wish you had sold it.

Sometimes visualizing how your future self might feel about a decision you have to make today can settle your mind.

There's a lot of good advice in previous posts. Penciling out the expense of storing it is especially good. Don't forget insurance.

Also, is it possible to store it with the family in Texas, assuming they can be trusted. (I have family I wouldn't trust to care for a toaster.)

Just my thoughts...

--Harold

[jodimckenna56]

And thank you for those provoking thoughts. Going back and forth sell/keep has become dizzying. I’ve full timed for several years and so yes it had become my home and I’ve loved every minute. But it’s time to say goodbye and find us both a new home. This forum helped me make that decision. I think I knew, but I’m good at second guessing myself since no one to bounce things off of. Thnx Doc

[Doctor Harold]

Another thing I do when trying to decide whether to sell or keep something is to ask myself which I would rather have: the item or the money.

I recently went through that with a C5 Corvette that I dearly love but seldom drive. Of course, I'm not pressured by plans such as yours, so I can put off deciding. It took me a while, but I finally did decide I'd rather have the cash. Once the decision was made, I no longer felt ambivalent or had the need to second guess myself. It's settled.

Settled is good.

Best of luck to you Jodi. I admire your contribution to the Peace Corps.

--Harold