PrivatePilot wrote: The price of fuel could double and we'd still RV. We probably wouldn't be going cross-country like we are this summer (not without saving for a few years to pay for it, anyways) but we'd still be out probably every weekend through the summer within a few hundred miles from home.
The price I put on the enjoyment of RV'ing and the experiences my kids get as a result far outweighs the cost of filling the tanks.
Here too!
That diesel coach ain't going nowhere except RVing. This year, I'll go border to border, once to each. Del Rio to Brownsville, Texas, and top center NE Minnesota - Gunflint Trail & Boundary Waters.
The Gunflint trail & BWCA should be great this year. With all the snow and rain we've been getting should keep the fire danger down. We're due to get more rain/snow and cool temps starting this Friday. And we're going camping......
SRT
2000 32' HR Vacationer with Banks
1998 Subaru Outback Ltd. 5 spd
Brake Buddy & Blue Ox Aventa II tow bar
FMCA #266040 HRRVC #84109
Sea Dog wrote: Seems there are a lot of people missing the entire point!
If fuel remains at present levels or increases as some predict, the cost of RVing will pale in comparison to other living expense.
How long can you absorb a fifty percent increase in heating, cooling cost, groceries, and all other aspects of your life?
The increase in fuel cost has just begun to filter down the line, wait a couple of years.
I think that there are many who say they will never stop Rving who will find that they have no choice in much less time than they realize.
I'm not missing the point either.
...Buy, buy, buy, cars, trucks, toys, electronics, RVs on credit, credit card, more credit card, than even more credit card, re-fi their home, buying homes they couldn't afford in the first place, and on, and on, and on.....
Everyone's going to feel the pain--even those who have been financially responsible their whole life. I think we are in for a world of hurt and our country's future is scary. It doesn't seem like we'll ever regain the living standard we're loosing/lost.
I agree, we're ALL feeling the pain of higher gas prices, food prices, EVERYTHING prices. However, I'm never MORE certain than now, that we made the right financial choices over the last decade.
We've ONLY bought gently used cars, RVs and other toys -- and we paid cash for them. We don't use credit cards and and all the extra money we've funneled towards our mortgage has nearly paid off our house. We live well, but not extravagantly. YES, we feel the pain, but much less so than many of our friends. We're in the best possible situation we can be to deal with the economy as it is today. That's really all you CAN do, I guess. I'm SOOO grateful that we don't have to worry about losing our house, our cars or our RV. We can still afford to go places and do things. And we sleep better at night, too!
Teri--the RV.net addict!
DEAR and WONDERFUL husband Eric (& furry faced Angus!) Western Washington
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Traxtermax said: Everyone's going to feel the pain--even those who have been financially responsible their whole life. I think we are in for a world of hurt and our country's future is scary. It doesn't seem like we'll ever regain the living standard we're loosing/lost.
SeaDog said: Of course our present standard of living has been only in the past fifty years.I think we’ve been progressing since we left our caves but the rate of improvement has been geometric during certain time segments. I agree with your post of 12:43 PM and I’m well past the 50 year old mark, so I can address your post from personal experience.
Ask your grand parents what type of classA that they owned, I don’t think they had Class A’s then—not even penicillin ask them how many opportunities they had to travel out of country on holiday.There’s no doubt that each generation, for the most part, had it better than the previous one. That’s how our living standard improved over the years—more than 50 I suspect. It’s when some of those in the ME generations combined greed with ethical bankruptcy that we have run into trouble (just one opinion of course).
I am old enough to remember when the ordinary worker was hard pressed to keep food on the table, let alone live a luxurious life with fancy homes and expensive toys.Me too. People saved before they made purchases, we had a vast industrial base and I think people 50 years ago acted more ethically and were more financially responsible.
I think we are really only returning to a more normal division between the social strata in our countries, a line that has become blurred in recent years. If it takes as long to loose our present living standard as it did to gain it, I'm sure we can adapt. On the other hand, if we are relegated to the living standard that we had in the 50’s in a very short time span, that could be a disaster of historic proportions.
Not a chance we will cancel. Have a 3 month trip planned, starting 8 May. Like everyone else, we dont like the fuel prices, but have saved all our lives for the opportunity to travel this country. Will not let the cost of getting from here to there slow us down. The rest of the year we will stay home and take care of our little piece of Texas, and get ready for another trip next year.
AF Ret & Enjoyin
2005 Cardinal 33TS/LX
2005 GMC 3500CC Dually 8.1/Allison
RDS 51g Fuel/ToolBox Combo
SwanInWA, you've figured it out like some of the rest of us - if owning the latest and greatest to the point where your living far beyond your means to the point where you can't afford to actually enjoy life anymore, then step back a little and lower your standards.
We too buy used, and we too are concentrating on paying off our mortgage as quickly as possible as well as what little debt we do carry, and that (along with an admittedly good double income) allows us flexibility far beyond many others.
Theres lots of others out there in a situation exactly the same as us (we know a few ourselves) with similar incomes, but nary a penny to spare because they have a truck payment, a car payment, motorcycles and ATV's with payments, a mortgage that was at one time manageable but is now tight due to their foolishness, and we see them stressing about it.
No stress here. We enjoy life alot more because of a little financial savvyness, and a complete lack of "Keep up with the Jonses" syndrome.
One of my customers at work has a $80,000 Fiver he bought last year ($700-$1000 / month payments I'd guess?) and he's now complaining he probably won't be able to go more then a few hundred miles from home all summer due to fuel prices. Tell me where that makes sense?
We are staying closer to home. But the state parks in Oklahoma leave much to be desired.So we are heading to Queen Wilhelmina over across the Arkansas State line.Might spend a few days at Greenleaf in Oklahoma.But the restrooms leave a sour taste in ones mouth.
On-R-Way
2001 Dutchman Zephyr
1996 E-150 Ford Custom Van
Hi.We are going from AZ to the Cape Cod Canal(MA),3000 miles oneway.We signed a 6 month contract with the USACE for their Midway Rec Area last December. Got to go now. Hope we can afford to get back home in October....lenOrge
Hi: Our approach to the problem has been more towards decisions that allow the trips to go forward but with different options and equipment. A few years back, we bought a smaller TT, which is much more economical to pull. We are also considering pulling it with an auto instead of the truck. However, I wouldn't give up the larger one. You never know what might happen and there are times when you want more rving, with all the gadgets and less of a camping situation. Bill
After much thought( at least 20 seconds) NO WAY. After we got our kids raised and on their way, we started to save for our retirement. Now that its here we are going to enjoy it.
RETIRED AND LOVIN IT. Wife Joyce three excellent grandkids and a grumpy ol tomcat
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After much thought( at least 20 seconds) NO WAY. After we got our kids raised and on their way, we started to save for our retirement. Now that its here we are going to enjoy it. 
