RE: HAVE TO ASK
HOW HAS THIS ECONOMY AFFECTED you fulltimers?
i know from reading posts alot of people here that fulltime are retired and were living off of retirement accounts, 401k and pensions.
these accounts are probably down 30-40%. just wonddring how this is affecting peoples lifestyle.
Between national company retirements, ss, and money market in a credit union, we will be ok. Rig is pd for, and have monies to finish paying off tow vehicle (but not wanting to as loan is 2.9%). We are in our late 60s/early 70s, so our view is different than younger ones.
Fall/Winter plans are to start our trip South to Albuquerque, then East to Georgia soon, and nothing has changed. Just will not be moving as often as last time we made this trip. In the rv park here we have seen two rvs being replaced with new and bigger rvs so far this week. Economy must not be too bad. Beauty shops and car dealerships are complaining, as are travel agents in these parts.
We hope to leave the end of this next week as the temps are in the 30s and 40s at night. But can't until to do list is done.
RE: Nashville
Any updates on these parks? We may be there over Christmas, haven't decided yet. Would like some updates on being there in the wintertime as to which park you would choose.
RE: Full timing and my primary doc - rant!
It is nice to see a physician in private practice, however, have not had a problem since going to a hospital clinic whereby I can make appointments with a specific doctor. His associates have come and gone, but my doc has stayed put which I feel is a blessing for me. The hospital does the billing, etc., and has a referral program to which doctors take medicare, medical coupons, etc.
I originally changed to this doctor after having had a doctor who either moved out of the area or retired. Started going to this doctor before I went on medicare which makes a difference also. Finding a new doctor can be a real struggle, and when we cannot get in to see this doctor or being in away from our home site, we go to immediate care clinics.
RE: Odd Question On Travel Trailer for us to travel in
In 2002 we bought a used 20 ft little travel trailer for $6000, bought an ac for it, went on a few trips, but found that after 4 days in the rain that we needed a slightly larger unit to full-time in. It was just us two plus a german shepherd, and now have a 28 ft alpenlite aspen which works for us. Our dog is no longer with us, and so have more room for us two, when shopping we do wish we had shut the bathroom door on this unit, it is a little snug, so I hung a window panel in the hallway for more room when showering, etc. in the bathroom.
Paid $23,000 for it new, and have used TLC in upkeeping it. Put a lot of miles on it from the west coast to the east coast, plus the nw and now are heading south, then east, then north to VA again. We still like the size. For us it was a floorplan which worked, plus it is not an off-road unit which means it has 2 less steps to allow me better flexibility on my bad leg days.
Would not hesitate now to buy used, but need to look at floorplan as others have said, also I am short therefore the cupboard heights was important to me. We looked around for about 8 months before finding something which both of us liked. Check out batteries, how easy it is to hook up to utilities, etc., and does it have enough closets for you, do you want a walk around bed, where do you want the tv. If I were to do this again, I would take a video camera around while shopping, just to remember which unit had what.
RE: Bakersfield to Barstow to Torrance, Calif
We are going to Barstow then on over to Grand Canyon, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Nashville as much on 40 as possible.
Just want to find a safe rv park near the LA area which is pet friendly. Don't really relish the idea of pulling the TT any closer to LA than we have to. There are so many variables in traffic around LA I know that any helps in where to stay overnight while we visit with relation would be most appreciated.
RE: What is killing my battery
Check the alarms as we had one small TT which we had to ensure everything was turned off as even a trickle on a single battery will drain it real quick. Finally had to disconnect the battery as could not find the leaker.
Bakersfield to Barstow to Torrance, Calif
Will be staying in Pismo Beach to visit with friends in Arroyo Grande, then need to go to Torrance. Trying to decide where to stay at an overnight rv park while visiting relation in Torrance for the day. We have a 9 lb. dog and have not been in the LA area for 40 years.
Barstow ? Hemet ? Victorville ? Long Beach ? Suggestions.
Will be pulling a 30 ft travel trailer with an SUV. We have figured out everything about our trip from Portland OR to Nashville except for this portion of the trip. Help.
RE: Residency Requirements (Here we go again!)
Sorry about that posting - I was thinking of how to get mail forwarded - however, the above still applies to our residency. We use our daughter's address and our mail forwarding address. Have had not one twit of problems, hubby just received his driver's license upgrade, we have purchased a new vehicle in the last three months, and have all our banking accounts with these addresses.
We have a post office box which is a "family mail box" and that was obtained a few years back, so had no "new" restrictions. As to the future of government controls of what it takes to be a resident, I think it too will be resolved however slowly.
RE: Residency Requirements (Here we go again!)
When I have packages sent to the rv park here in Pasco, I simply put the street address plus the box number below my name. Of course, there are several semi-permanents here so there is a wall of mail boxes for everyone by site number.
At the rv park we were in near Sequim it was stated at the top that we were not to use the park address for mail. However, those who had signed up for a year at their site were allowed to receive mail. We use a mail forwarding service whereby we simply put the street address plus a #__ indicating our box number.
For our driver's address we use our daughter's address for home address and mail forwarding service as our mailing address. Have had no problem with voter's pamphlets, etc. We get our state notices, etc.
RE: Retirees - Decision to Retire
When you speak of retirement I am presuming most of you mean from the careers you had for 25+ years. We laugh that if hubby retires next month from charter bus driver, it will be either his 3rd or 4th retirement. We decided in 2004 to "hit the road" and become full-timers after a coupla health issues, and haven't regretted it.
As to monies .. have had short months from time to time since we married. Short months when the monies ran out b4 the month did. We weather them. Went full timing in 2004 although hubby & I have workamped and volunteered as well as he does charter bus work whenever he is in this neighborhood (our home base rv park).
I have a money management computer program plus a spreadsheet of spending over time which I maintain to track our quarterly expenses and income.
We are now 71 & 69 and love this full-timing lifestyle. Have a coupla offers to come park our rig and volunteer for as long as we wish, so know we have a variety of contingency plans available for "when we decide to come off the road". Our health is better than when we were in our early 60s and our doctor has been hounding us the last 8 months to get back on the road (which we will do next month).
We have been helping our daughter get back on her feet after her home disruption. She and the kids are fine now. And that is what I like about this lifestyle -- we can go places without really leaving home.
RE: Cool Mods
We had the dinette cushions re-upholstered, picked out the bedroom carpet today, will be talking with carpet layer tomorrow, new convection oven, will be recovering valances in bedroom soon, looking at satellite tv, and by then should be ready to take off down the road again for 10-12 months.
Have read all the postings of you all's modifications, etc. and have picked up some ideas. Its sure neat to have this forum to glean ideas from. AND the pictures are nice to show hubby what I really want .. -marji
RE: myth busted
After replacing two storage doors, we now are much more exacting in our walk-a-round, checking all lights, turn signals, doors, and make sure the entrance/exit doors are dead bolted, not just locked.
'08 Suburban - back up alarm
Do you have a '08 Suburban with a back up alarm which has malfunctioned?
If so what answer did you get from a service center?
Ours went out about 4 weeks after a trip to Montana and back,towing the travel trailer. Service center is claiming it is the hitch.
Any others out there with similar problem?
Satellite TV - equipments costs, etc. ?
I have spent hours searching for costs involved in obtaining satellite tv service .. receivers and dish purchases, etc. I know the monthly costs, etc. But I am seeing that some need new receivers for HD, dish purchases, etc.
I am confused and just need to know the costs involved in setting up satellite service .. not necesarily doing a cost comparison, just want some clarification as to whether I need to purchase equipment and do not want to be "snowed" by a salesman when I go to talk with them.
Oh, our rv is our home .. we have no stick built home.
RE: Towing in the Rain
In our case the rain came in thru the battery compartment, took the manufacturer two days to find it, but find it they did. The battery door was re-sealed and is now hard to open and close, but no more water leaks.
RE: slide outs
A friend told us that their friend has a 5th wheel with a slide which when brought in to travel the slide blocks the bathroom. That was our first criteria when shopping - that the slide did not block the bathroom with the slide in. Hard to boondock overnight with the slide blocking the bathroom. We don't like to put the slide out when just staying overnight whether boondocking or staying at an rv park.
AND did I say that some rest stops do not have clean latrines/bathrooms or it just feels safer if both of us go into the RV instead of being separated?
Summer Salsa - any more recipes?
Summer Salsa
2-10 oz cans sweet corn (I used 1-can of MexiCorn)
1-14.5 oz can black beans
1/4 cup chopped red onion (plus or minus per personal choice)
1/4 cup chopped red pepper (plus or minus per personal choice)
1/4 cup chopped green pepper(plus or minus per personal choice)
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar (I used Nakano Rice Vinegar - Natural)
season with salt & pepper
Stir together corn, beans, onion, peppers, and sugar. Add rice vinegar and seasonings. I think it best to let sit for a coupla hours in the refrigerator.
Good for pot-lucks as can be used as a side dish. -Marji
RE: USB External Floppy Disk Drive
I thought my USB external floppy drive was not working, I asked hubby to go to a national electronics chain store. He was told by their "experts" that the two 3-1/2 inch disks were unrecoverable.
Then he took the drive and disks to a local computer "help" store. Who said the disks were fine, had files, etc., and said perhaps we should try plugging the drive into another USB slot on the computer. Voila! Did that and the data was there, was able to take a file off one of the disk by attaching it to an email to the person who wanted the data.
I am not impressed with the national chain electronic store, but am impressed by the local computer "help" business which we have used in the past for other computer problems. I guess I jumped to the conclusion that the drive was the problem. Oh, well such is Life.
Thank you for your posts.
