"They no longer allow their identity or sense of self-worth to be defined by where they live or what they have accumulated. Their focus is definitely different" ???????
Having read many of the signatures on this site, most full-timers identify themselves by the size of their engines, length of their MH, amount of high tech equipment, and areas traveled.
3000 Sq ft house
4 bedrooms
2.5 baths
1 acre lot
central air
electric heat
satellite TV
(Get the point) (just jealous, wish I were full timing)
I think the point of listing our rig/toad, etc. is more an information thing than an identity thing. It's just interesting to know what kind of rigs people have, what they tow, etc. I don't think someone with a big coach has any more status than someone with a Class C or a TT.
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.
Cost depends on too many factors. Think about it this way, if you live in a big house now with high taxes / insurance / HOA fees then yes you can likely save a good bit of money. If you live a bit more meager then your cost difference may not be much or you might actually spend more Rving.
You are going to have:
CG Fees (Site, water, sewer and electric usually)
Sometimes Metered electric
TV costs (Sat or cable if not included in CG fee)
Fuel to go where you want to go
Food
Some maintenance costs
Insurance on MH and car
Loan payments (if applicable)
Health Insurance
Those costs are going to follow you and some can vary a great deal from location to location.
You'll have to fill in the blanks, do some math and figure out if in your situation it will be any cheaper and if the cost difference is worth what you gain.
Aridon wrote: Cost depends on too many factors. Think about it this way, if you live in a big house now with high taxes / insurance / HOA fees then yes you can likely save a good bit of money. If you live a bit more meager then your cost difference may not be much or you might actually spend more Rving.
You are going to have:
CG Fees (Site, water, sewer and electric usually)
Sometimes Metered electric
TV costs (Sat or cable if not included in CG fee)
Fuel to go where you want to go
Food
Some maintenance costs
Insurance on MH and car
Loan payments (if applicable)
Health Insurance
Those costs are going to follow you and some can vary a great deal from location to location.
You'll have to fill in the blanks, do some math and figure out if in your situation it will be any cheaper and if the cost difference is worth what you gain.
Aridon wrote: Think about it this way, if you live in a big house now with high taxes / insurance / HOA fees then yes you can likely save a good bit of money. If you live a bit more meager then your cost difference may not be much or you might actually spend more Rving.
...
You'll have to fill in the blanks, do some math and figure out if in your situation it will be any cheaper and if the cost difference is worth what you gain.
I agree that everyone should do their own cost comparison before making the decision to full time. But I in my opinion, the same point about class of lifestyle would apply to the full timing life as well. Just as in a house there are different cost ranges, there are different cost levels in full timing. State/COE parks vs. campgrounds, campgrounds vs. resorts, low cost used RV vs. a Marathon Coach, 200 miles per month vs. 1000 miles per week, etc. So, in my opinion, it can balance out, or better, in almost any cost of living range. It just depends on your lifestyle choices on both sides of the equation.
For example, we almost always stay in campgrounds that include the utilities. We spend more time on the computer than the TV, so we settle for open air stations and DVD's when we want TV. The Internet and telephone run about the same as before. Even a modest house payment is over $650 most places and modest apartments in reasonable areas rent for $600-$700 per month. On the other hand, our average monthly campground fees are less than $300, leaving a fair budget for fuel since we don't go far at a time. Our RV isn't fancy, but it is paid for and we like it. Aside from routine maintenance, it will likely outlive us. Maintenance expenses happen whether you own a S&B or an RV. Our eating habits haven't changed much, so the cost hasn't really chnaged. The insurance is about the same as my homeowner's policy was.
So in summary, we lived a modest standard of living before and we still do now. Our total monthly cost of living is actually lower than it was before. But the big difference is that now we are free to be where we want to be at the moment. To some, like us, that is worth a lot.
BusNut - exactly. You can control your costs a lot by the lifestyle you choose, where you choose to stay, etc. There are campground with $300/mo fees and campgrounds with $2000/mo fees. You can dry camp and if you don't need to run the generator for power it's a dollar a night for propane to keep the fridge cold (if that). So you have a lot of control over what your costs will be simply by what you choose to do.
* This post was
edited 02/06/08 07:59am by an administrator/moderator *
Size have nothing to do with full-Timing (This could be a great topic)
Friends of mine do it year round with a class B westvalia style, some other with campers, I have a Class A remodeled for my need but only 29 feet, a loner that I have met from Canada travel full-time in a 25 footer class C and she is very happy, The freedom That being Full Timer can bring you, does not measure by the length of your RV.
Mike
MIKE, MARTINA and MAYA our Golden Lab
MEMBER:
VR-CAMPING,FQCC, STANDBY-SAMS,WOODALL'S
We lasted 18 months before we both knew we had made a huge mistake selling everything and fulltiming. For me, the parts I hated the most were:
1. The obstacles of doing every days tasks, (like getting mail)
2. Erratic or NO internet access
3. Getting adequate medical treatment
4. The MH just wasn't big enough
Then onto the emotional aspect:
1. The lonely & empty feeling of not belonging any where. Having no safe haven to return to in case of significant events causing us to "go home".
2. Well, I guess there is no # 2, and # 1 just about covers it.
We now have a home in NW Arkansas, and a park model sitting on a deeded lot in Silver Springs, Fl. Now, when I want to "go home" we get into the car and go.
It's not a life style for everyone which is why you should start out part time and try it. Take longer and longer trips and one of two things will happen -
1. It'll be time to go back to the SB and you will be asking each other "Do we really have to go back?" - you're ready to try fulltiming.
or
2. It'll be time to go back to the SB and you will be anxious to get HOME - you are not ready to go fulltiming.
I'd never suggest anyone sell everything and hit the road until the road is calling them in a loud, clear and easy to understand voice. For those who've heard the call all the above are just part of life not problems or obstacles.
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