Great Post John! We have lived full time for most of the last 35 years. We sold our last home more than 25 years ago. A lot of dreamers don't understand what this lifestyle entails. I could write a book about the "creative thinking" that became necessary at times to accomplish the myriad acts you described so well. We have traveled fulltime on several continents and I can tell you first hand, amenities vary widely mandating even greater "creativity".
We have a great life together and can't imagine living any other way.
Happy New Year,
Sidney
No flame here intended BUT,
'Everything' you mentioned about the MH is experienced by 'anyone'
RV'ing, whether it's a 2 day weekend, snowbirding, or full-time.
We buy an RV and EXPECT and LEARN about how to use them.
If people don't like the idea of dumping, propane, and CG's
they most likely would 'not' buy an RV in the first place.
IMHO, JMHO. The only big difference is selling a home
and missing family members means just turning the coach
around and going to visit them.
Camping Rv'ers save for a their big 5-day vacation.
Fulltime Rv'ers save for a bigger, longer vacation.
To head out on either without money saved is foolish in either case.
Planning for retirement no matter what you do should be a plan
well thought out.
So no I don't think it is all the gloom and doom that was presented
because no one is ever 'forced' to go full time in their RV.
We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Well I'm not sure I get your point. I pull into a park and hook up to the utilities that's real tough. No News , what about the Internet. No TV, Directv dose a wonderful job, in fact I get both east and west coast feeds. I have more friends than I ever had in a stick house and more time to enjoy them.
You make it sound like we all boon dock or live in a T-Pee. Most of us have all the comforts of home, because we are home.
There are those that quit but still hang out on this site. Are they still looking for some thing?
Your are right it is not for everyone, but than what is. I have been full timing for the last 15 years and wouldn't trade life styles with any one.
Ben & Jean
Tick a GSP
Full time since 1995
Spending the summer in Utah
2002 39' Winnabago Jouney DL
330 Cat
2005 GMC 4X4 PU
2 Yamaha Kodiak ATVs web site
Great post John - I thkn you pointed out somethings that most people would not even consider. I have a long time before we can full-time - but it is something we aspire to do... you just have to learn to take the good with the bad and roll with the punches. For me, it would all be worth it just travel and see our great country.
Mark & Tammy
'01 Excursion Limited, 4x4, V10, RoadMaster Active Suspension
'01 Prowler 31G
Equal-i-zer Hitch - Prodigy Brake Controller
No flame here. If comfort, convenience and nearby medical facilities are a big part of your life, full-timing isn't for you. But for the rest of us who thrive on change and challenge, the benefits are well worth the risks. Just MHO, of course!
2000 Born Free 24RB Class C
2002 Honda CR-V toad
Roadmaster Sterling A/T towbar
VIP braking system
Eddyline Merlin kayak
Oldlthrnecksgirl wrote: I think you are right on a number of points. This is Not for everyone. I think you really need a "less is more" mentality along with an ability to adapt to your environment. Truth is, a lot of people like to think they are like that,,, but truly are not.
I would recommend that anyone that thinks they would enjoy this, buy an older rig and try it before selling off their worldly goods etc. I liken it to a sandwich. A chicken/swiss cheese/horseradish mayo on rye sandwich might Sound good but you just don't know if it will agree with your palate until you take a bite.
This was funny, as I was reading your post I AM eating a chicken/swiss cheese/harseradish w/mayo on Rye, I actually added a little Catalina dressing, I had to look around to see who was watching me.
Everything posted so far is right on, we are one of those that have considered all of the above and decided it was not for us. We will be snowbirds in a few short weeks but we will return to our home for the summer.
Not ready to give the homefront up, don't know if we ever will, but we know ourselves well enough to not give it all up then try it.
Good advice for everyone to contemplate, thanks for posting it.
besides, if you sell your home and all the stuff and get out there and don't like it. i think it would be pretty easy to re-acquire a home and all the stuff
sdurbin wrote: Do the math yourself. John's "facts" are not the same for every person in every situation. For us the lifestyle is much cheaper.
In reviewing your math (Financials on your website) I note that you have allowed a modest reserve for replacement....but you haven't included the "cost of money" that your investment in your rig would normally earn. Your monthly costs would, I estimate, increase by about $1000 if you included that cost. It's (your rig) a depreciating asset, but the original cost of your rig permanently removes that money from your investment pool.
It's a common mistake with fulltimers who haven't considered "cost of money" and investment income strategies. It's not uncommon for motorhomers (rigs like yours) to have $20,000 in annual costs, including "cost of money" before they drive one mile away from their home community. There are some fulltimers who also budget for their "exit" from fulltiming and that's something that should be carefully considered, too.
jharrelson wrote: Living the full-time RV lifestyle sounds so wonderful... kinda like a beautiful dream... travel, adventure, freedom.... etc......BUT... it comes with a price .... and I'm not talking about money....God Bless,
John
I started reading your post and was thinking, "what's his point". But, I got it, maybe I'm slow.
Full time RVing is not for the average American. Although many would consider it to be very romantic and attractive, it is a major change to the way most of us live. I'm not retired yet but believe I will do well with fulltimiing. I am concerned about whether my DW will be able to adjust. The American way of doing things pretty much since the very beginning is to force our environment to conform to our wishes. I think the successful fulltimer is one that can adapt to their environment rather than trying to change it. When we fulltime, I realize that the DW and I will be leaving our comfort zone.
Tim (in NE Ohio)
"Okay, I admit it, the only thing I'm really good at is being me."
2006 Weekend Warrior FK1900
1998 Ford E150 4.6L
1996 BMW R1100GS
2007 Trek 7.2FX
2005 Trek Madone 9spd.
1995 Burley tandem
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