how did I know it was time for me to become a full-timer?

Chatfield state Park. and yes the Park is around the entire reservoir.

Another beautiful Fall day in Denver, low 70s and sunny, but the nights are getting a mite chilly in the low 40s. And the 10 day forecast is more of the same, with no sign of snow in the forecast it would really be great if I could make a graceful exit from Denver before I get snowed on.

I'll have a big anniversary near the end of this month that will mark the beginning of my fifth year as a full timer. Since time flies when you're having fun, it certainly doesn't feel like it's been four years that I've been living in the Arctic Fox, and I'm enjoying it so much I sure wish I'd started sooner.

A lot of full-timers make that exact same statement, but I think most of us start full-timing at just the right time. I don't think I was mentally ready to go full-timing until I actually did. I was still very much attached to my home, all the stuff in it, and the property it sat on, I was enjoying the way I was living, and life was going along pretty well.

But I think over time my attitude started changing about owning things and how if you own too much the things start owning you. And the more you own the less freedom you have. The more I thought about it the more it seemed that freedom was the key to happiness for me, and all the stuff I owned was blocking that road to freedom.

The icy cold winters of the Colorado Rockies also had a lot to do with me wanting to change my life. I used to consider dealing with five months of winter a challenge to be met head on and overcome, but as I got old it just became a drag. A drag on me physically, I drag on me mentally, and a serious safety issue.

I don't know if the winters alone would've caused me to change my life, but my mental switch to desiring a more minimalist lifestyle, along with my disdain for dealing with snow forced me to make a decision, and you know how I hate making decisions.

So I guess you could say the harsh Colorado winters were the driving force that made me want to leave Colorado. And the desire to simplify my life, divest myself of all my stuff, get lawyers and accountants off my payroll, well at least I got rid of the lawyers, was the reason I wanted to become a full-timer. And it all came together October 29, 2015 and it probably couldn't have happened any sooner than that.

                             theboondork

Miles of bicycling and walking Paths ran past my campsite at Chatfield state Park.