2Rovers wrote: If you can afford to live in a stick/brick, you can more than afford to live fulltime in a RV.
For us, and I think for a lot of others, fulltiming is the means to enable us to retire.
When we evaluated the possibility of retirement, we knew we would have to greatly downsize both our living space and extravagant lifestyle. While considering smaller houses, condos, etc. it occurred to us that we didn't want to sit in the same place every day looking out at the same view. (Thanks, Firedude, for your wonderful article). We wanted to be able travel but how to afford it while making rent/house payments?
It has been said" WE PASS THIS WAY BUT ONCE" The question for all of us, Do we want to spend this one time working for every penny we can get and never see this wonderful country of ours or do we settle for less and enjoy the time we have here? I do not plan to full-time but am retiring next summer. I plan to travel just as much as I can squeeze in. Maybe do a little work camping. I just know that I have not worked the last 50 years so that I can sit in the house and worry if my bank account is getting fatter.
Ron Stevens 38 ft. Damon Intruder
Penny Elrod 3 felines
FMCA #F360271
Saturn Toad
2Rovers wrote: If you can afford to live in a stick/brick, you can more than afford to live fulltime in a RV.
For us, and I think for a lot of others, fulltiming is the means to enable us to retire.
When we evaluated the possibility of retirement, we knew we would have to greatly downsize both our living space and extravagant lifestyle. While considering smaller houses, condos, etc. it occurred to us that we didn't want to sit in the same place every day looking out at the same view. (Thanks, Firedude, for your wonderful article). We wanted to be able travel but how to afford it while making rent/house payments?
Fulltiming was the perfect solution.
Our exact same situation. We also, have talked with a lot of folks who feel the same way. Agreed.... sitting in the same place every day, watching the same people do the same things strikes terror in our hearts
We live the result, we can live much cheaper fultiming as in a S&B. As one poster said they could not afford ti retire in their S&B. We agree with that. BUT for some, they also have to account for what they are giving up to do it. You have to also WANT to live in 400 sq ft AND not just for the cost factor. You also have to be happy doing your thing.
Gruffy wrote: Where do you folks winter?? We had frost every night from 12 Dec to 26 January just outside Phoenix last winter. Nice days but chilly nights.
Have lived is southwest Florida for the last 7 years and have never experienced a frost! It rarely gets down to 40 at night, even in Jan. and Feb. The days are usually in mid 60's to mid 70's.
Wouldn't want to spend a winter anywhere else. However, it's already overflowing with snowbirds in the winter so I wouldn't even think about it!
OP, You have presented an excellent reason to full-time! As a cock-eyed optimist, I enjoy the freedom. I relish the thought of running into a (thankfully few and far between) curmudgeon and getting up and going. BTW, where will you be wintering? I don't think I'll be there.....
was_butnotnow wrote: We live the result, we can live much cheaper fultiming as in a S&B. As one poster said they could not afford ti retire in their S&B. We agree with that. BUT for some, they also have to account for what they are giving up to do it. You have to also WANT to live in 400 sq ft AND not just for the cost factor. You also have to be happy doing your thing.
rockhillmanor wrote: Well I think it's a real easy no-brainer answer.
You either have the money or you don't.
What's to ask about it?
I have to believe in my heart of hearts that if someone posted about going fulltime and had no money........that they wouldn't take it literally when the responses where 'go for it'.
I mean really think about, how far would anyone get in their MH with out enough money to go and do it? It's like asking why some people live in a 700 ft square home versus the guy that owns a 4,000 square foot home.....because he can!!
I respectfully disagree. How and why do you think the housing market is in the shape that it is? It is mostly because folks bought houses they could really not afford based on bad information and high pressure sales.
I, like wasbutnotnow, have read a lot of the "just do it posts." It would be interesting to know how many folks on very limited budgets took that advise and ended up in worse finacial shape then when they started. I doubt they come back to the forums and post about their failure.
Another observation, many who state how much more economically they can live in an RV are comparing it to the costs of maintaining a much larger living space that has a mortgage. In my experience, the day today cost of living in a small to modest house that is paid for and an RV is about the same in the same area. The edge goes to the RV if one follows the weather. Both property taxes and income taxes can also affect the economics of either. Then of course there is the consideration that an RV depreciates while in most cases over the long term a house apreciates in value so the economics may change depending on the time frame considered.
I do not believe that all the factors that should go into a major lifestyle decision are intuitive and many forum discussions do not give the new rver a complete picture.
Dianne, myself and many others trailertraveler have always maintained this lifestyle is not for everyone. Everyone is different in all aspects of life. I have seen both sides presented and very well quite frankly. I think once you've been around the forum here a while you'll see that. EVERYONE based on their needs, finances, desires and all that goes with it needs to research and plan before jumping into it if they desire like anything else you do in life. For ME the lifestyle has proven much cheaper than conventional living, whereas it may not for others. it goes back to us all being individuals with individual needs. The term full-trimer is such a broad term anyway as there are many ways it may apply to some where it may not to others so ya see there are so many variables involved, but as for the negatives not being presented here in the for? Oh yeah they have and continue. It helps people decide what's right for them, not me. There are no set rules, but only your own. Hang around a while you'll see both sides of the fence presented.
rockhillmanor wrote: I do think that the people who do it for the sole purpose of trying to live cheaper won't last doing it compared to the person who does it because it's in their blood and 'want' to do it.
There ya go - that statement is right on. If it's in your blood you will do it and it won't be dictated by finances, or planning for the future, it'll just be. It'll be a step van you turned into a motorhome, or a old school bus you converted or maybe even an Allegro Bus cause you got lucky along the way - but if your soul burns for the open road you'll find a way to get there.
If the motivation is cost then be sure to set something aside for your return to a fixed whatever when seeing the sights get's old or health stops you from traveling. But on the other side of that coin are the gypsys who need the road to survive. Like a caged animal they won't last long in the old folks home. So what's the point in doing without today so you can afford a big fixed abode (read coffin) in some yet to be revealed future
So if you're going this for financial reasons get out the spread sheets, think it all through, plan well - if you're doing it because the road is calling you, then go for it and you'll find a way to make it work.
John Ewing
2007 Allegro Bus 42QRP ("TisIt")
2005 Sportster/HydraLift ("Dinky")
2002 Miata toad ("Mellow Yellow") www.jandse.com
FMCA 104106
What goes around comes around - always treat others the way you'd like them to treat you.
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