why fulltime?

[packnrat]

i am starting the looking process,

thinking about doing the retirement in a rv full time.

but not able for 8-10 years, ( money thing).

mostly fo not want to stay in ca ( locked in for a time). 

want to travel, see some of this country.

but broken body, single, lack of much income.

as a first need to buy a motor home, tired of sliding out of bed, and trying to not slip on the stairs. in my fifth wheel. also no head room to stand next to said bed.

so what are the advantages in living on the rd? over in a stick house.

no mater what happens i will be trying to find a place i can go to die.

no not a death wish. just old. and if a stck house would want it to be a place i can live in for years. if on the rd, can i survive years?

i figure i got a good 30 years left in me. 58 now. 

only my mom left, no other family.  hope i can sell my house for good money. income? union ? socialist insecurity? sell off everything i own?

 

what good - bad can one say about living on the rd?

 

[Kirk W]

Good or bad about living on the road? It all depends on the person who is doing it. On these forums, you won't find a lot about the negative side of the lifestyle since those who try it and hate the life do not stay around to respond, while we who love the life are here pretty much forever. The key thing to remember is that every bit of life's baggage will travel with you when an RV is your only home so if you have problems now, you will still have them on the road, but you may have to deal with them when there is nobody nearby who you know. In our 12 years on the road, we had to bury my mother, my favorite uncle, and several other relatives. We had a son divorce and one lose his job. We had to deal with illness and a major surgery. Even so, we loved the life and would still be out there if my wife's health problems had not gotten into the way. We still go out for months at a time as medical events allow. 

[sandsys]

One of the good things is you can go where the good care is. Whatever medical need you have there tends to be an excellent specialist somewhere. You can then pack up your house and go there. 

Linda Sand

[packnrat]

i do not expect my mom to be around in 10 years. if she is. she will not remember anything.

only other living relative is up in portland or, and seeing as he is a socialist and i am a capitalist. we do not talk.

as for me. as long as the cancer stays away ok there. my back is toast. neck has a dead body part in it.

my joints.. well lets just say i do not care for snow any longer.

other than that i guess i am doing ok. i do support the drug manf. not that i want to. but in good health.

today after buying something for my fifthwheel (roof stuff). looked at a class C. ouch 30-50 grand and up. for used. very clean...

 

not sure how much longer my 2001 will last before it is just a dump on the rd. very clean now. but in 10 more years? and sliding out of bed can be unsafe.

 

with luck over the next X of years can do some longer travels. (still must work).

[ToddF]

Sounds like you have little to lose when you cut the cord in CA. Try full-time and have an exit strategy in place. Maybe store some personal belongings so you have them when you go off the road. Many seem to end up as permanent residents in RV parks living in park models or modified RVs with additions etc. Class C has lots of advantages, tow a small car 4 down. Full timing doesn't have to be forever. 

[packnrat]

yes i do expect to see a lot of good used rv's out there in the years coming.

many will buy and not like it,

many will buy and not be able to afford it, (storage hassles).

sad, but some will buy and get very sick, or pass on.

and i would rather drop big coin on a good unit than drop little and just buy a money pit.

as for permanent, i have been looking for homes in texas. prices.. ok, but having to live in a city (yuck).

i have been living up in them thare hills for some time now. the closest city (40 miles away) in the valley has more people living there than this whole county.

most of my life has been doing out and away from even pavement. so yes lots of places to camp and not have to pay for.

as for "other" transportation. i do have three motor bikes, one no way, (but this year i road it up to madras Or to watch the eclipse, yes tent camp) other maybe, third is a keeper. (little old honda xl350),

and for size (yuk) a "smart car". (is it batt or gas?). funky looking easy to get around in, but safe?  both will fit on a trailer i already own.

i know i tend to sound a down talk, thats just me.

but i have a good ten years to get all set up for retirement.

 

i read a lot, try to do a lot. and have a number of those extend-a reach grabbers.

a week of hiking, riding a road bike 60 miles, things like this are out, but i still get out there.

 

as for "little" to lose. i gots lots to sell off. as trains are one of my hobbies. no room in a rv for that. and my books, got lots of them. (i read a lot). maybe rent out the house? small 2/1 but then i would not be cutting the cord from ca if i did that.

 

for now my biggest hurdle is surviving the next number of years at work.

seven more to go to get the union pension,

eight more to get 5 weeks paid vacation.

so first possible year is  january 2026

 

.

[OldMan]

On 12/26/2017 at 4:23 PM, Kirk Wood said:

Good or bad about living on the road? It all depends on the person who is doing it. On these forums, you won't find a lot about the negative side of the lifestyle since those who try it and hate the life do not stay around to respond, while we who love the life are here pretty much forever. The key thing to remember is that every bit of life's baggage will travel with you when an RV is your only home so if you have problems now, you will still have them on the road, but you may have to deal with them when there is nobody nearby who you know. In our 12 years on the road, we had to bury my mother, my favorite uncle, and several other relatives. We had a son divorce and one lose his job. We had to deal with illness and a major surgery. Even so, we loved the life and would still be out there if my wife's health problems had not gotten into the way. We still go out for months at a time as medical events allow. 

Your post got me thinking...In most cases, people (esp Americans) just love to p*ss and moan. My guess about this is because the lifestyle is a choice, having failed at that choice, they're not interested in falling on their sword. Can't say I blame them. Who volunteers for pubic humiliation? 

[Kirk W]

On 12/26/2017 at 6:48 PM, sandsys said:

One of the good things is you can go where the good care is.

We seem to have gotten off on the downside of things to a large degree, which surprises me. I have long considered there to be more good than bad for myself. Not only can you choose your medical facilities, but if you have family needing help, it is easy for you to be there, as we were able when our son's wife was hit by a car and in critical care with 4 children at home. 

A big advantage to me was the fact that if I discovered that I didn't like my neighbors, or the weather, or most anything else about where we were, we could just start the engine and move on without dealing with whatever it was we didn't like. And when we would meet folks who we really liked it was very easy to plan to meet again or to even travel together for a while. With cell phones and internet, it is very easy to stay in touch with RV friends and meet again in our travels. 

[Pat & Pete]

Wondering ... Aren't you going to be on permanent vacation ? Why even think that 5 weeks would be any kind of important ? 

[packnrat]

kinda a time frame mostly.

takes twenty years at this company to get the fifth week.(got 12 years now).

but it works in with when i get 100% ss.

if i do get the 5 weeks. 4 ph days, and 8-12 sick days.( get 8 each year, can carry over up to 4).

just gives me a good going away gift.

i will be a couple years past the 80 and out with the union pension. 

and qualify for medacare.

[kb0zke]

Packnrat, you are wise to spend some time thinking about how you want to live as a full-timer. Most of us have gone through the process at least once. First of all, I'd suggest that you NOT pick a type of RV just yet. Since you have some experience with a 5'er and presumably have a truck that can tow it, it might make sense to choose another 5'er that your truck can handle than trading truck and trailer for MH and towed. That would certainly save $$$ and maybe time. On the other hand, you may well have enough experience with the 5'er and all of the steps that something else would fit you better. You might want to spend some time at as many RV shows and dealerships as you can. At the other extreme of steps is an Airstream TT. Depending on how the campsite slopes, you will have zero, one, or two outside steps. Our MH has one exterior step, and sometimes we have an additional step outside if the slope is the wrong way. Then there are three steps inside.

Back to how you want to live, will you be primarily staying on one place for months at a time, or will you be moving from one campground to another frequently? Keep in mind that you will have something towing something else. A MH allows you to tow a fuel-efficient vehicle, but when you need fuel or propane you have to take the MH in, whereas a towable will let you leave the coach at the campsite and take the truck to get fuel or propane. With a towable, as you know, the tow vehicle is your daily driver. Lots for you to consider. Just remember that what fits us may not fit you.

[packnrat]

yes i am looking at as much as i can.

love some 5th wheels out there as they have small garages in them.

great for a moto.

at first travel, see some of this country,  and the great ball of twine.😜

take my time. no hurry. my life has been nothing but hurry up and get there.do it fast and get on to the next load. ( truck driver).

i want to just stop. anyplace and see whats up. not the tourest traps ( will see some of that), but see a live kinda the local life.

been stuck in a rut for way too long.

get up gulp food,

work loong hrs,

get home sleep,

repeat.

i work harder and longer hrs than younger guys are willing to do.

 

then??

maybe find a place. or three. and really relax.

nothing like waking up at a mountail lake just as dawn is breaking.