offroad

On 2/1/2024 at 1:47 PM, Expat2B said:

I can't renew my FL DL yet since you can only do it 18 months prior to expiration.  I spoke with the Bushnell DMV and they were very familiar with Escapees so updating my DL to that address shouldn't be a problem.  My concern was the DMV needing to use my vehicle tag # on my license as they do for RV owners.  I don't want my FL DL reliant on an automobile tag that will soon be returned to FL due to sale of vehicle.

do we need to travel to florida to renew our florida driver license?

6 hours ago, FL-JOE said:

In my time as a K-9 handler (Illinois State Police) we went through an initial 9 weeks of training with our canine and then quarterly certification plus advanced week long training each year.  Obviously I love dogs since I literally counted on my old partner to save my life if needed.

As we travel I have watched hundreds of pet owners with their pets.  90% or more have probably never been though any classes with their canines and have little or no control over their behavior.  Is there a need to be concerned when camping around someone with dogs?  You bet there is.

I am an avid walker.  I also do not leave my RV without being armed.  My reaction to a dog attack would probably be different then others.  For a small dog in the 10 to 15 pound range I would rush at it yelling just before it got to me.  That would probably stop the attack long enough for the owner to respond.  For the larger dogs that may also work, but if it didn't then I would need to get my hands on them and get them on their back.  I would possibly take at least one bite but once you get a larger dog on their back they will submit and be done.  For breeds such as a pit bull with devastating bite power I would simply pull my firearm and put them down.  I would never risk taking a bite from a pit bull.  There are a few other breeds out there I lump into that same category but the pit bull is the most common you will find in today's world.

this makes complete sense.  What is also unforgivable is the owner who lets the dog run free on a hiking trail, or near a campground.  here are lots of 6 to 12 year old children that have no ability to defend against a dog.  The owner always says SORRY, and HE NEVER BITES.  Dog spray is good.  Was at first  speculating about fire works to toss, or through a stick.  Always have hiking poles and use them if needed. 

1 minute ago, SWharton said:

We left copies with our daughter, put the POA and Medical on the national data base. Always carry a copy with you also.

what national database?  have not heard of this.

FYI that we ended up using MAMA BEAR LEGAL FORMS.  The resulting will and POA and Living medical will all seem functional and effective.  Just do not know where to store them, or copies.

Britbox and Acorn TV are two different services that provide a connection to the programs available from the BBC.  They have more than what BBC america has.  Just wondering about experiences with it.

old note but we finally just used an ONLINE will service that automated the process fro a Florida will, Power of attorney, durable medical, etc.  Getting them notarized at our next stop.

Does anyone have a contact in florida (Bushnell or Clermont) for an attorney office that does wills, power of attorney, living wills etc?  Need to get ours updated for our new state of residence via domicile at Bushnell.  Let me know what others have done.  we have examples from other states we have lived in, but obviously needs to update this all.  Hope we can get this all done for something way less than $500.  But please give me examples of what you did.  Thanks.

Can someone tell me the paid access Boondocking Website?  I thinks its called Boondockers Welcome or something?  Was told on another discussion that you can access the web site to browse locations, but can not make final contact.  Just need the web site link if anyone has it.

13 hours ago, jcussen said:

Are you saying that Boliy parts are interchangeable with Honda parts?

http://www.boliyusa.com/category-s/1817.htm

as the source for parts for this company

frankly it looks overpriced on amazon.  but people buy what they want

http://a.co/3vorh3A

On 4/30/2018 at 8:11 AM, mesa said:

Costco has Yamaha A-IPower 1600W Running / 2000W Peak Yamaha Powered Gas Inverter Generator for $499. I have a honda but for that price might of went Yamaha

would go for this.  Have a 1000W generator now (Sportsman by Buffalo Tools) that I have not used, but it can not do parallel.  You need to be certain of what you need.  This Yamaha powered one will definitely be the way to go for parts and service.  Two means that one will always run in an urgent need, and two will power any AC system for overnight sleeping in a boondock situation. 

And see if you buy via Costco and use the Costco Citi visa card you can get a four year warranty on this baby.  Two original years, plus two more years via Citi Costco visa; plus 120 days theft protection too. Good deal.

1 hour ago, Barbaraok said:

When we first started fulltiming we also that that we would utilize a lot of state parks.  Turns out that can be down right expensive, especially with a motorhome, since a lot of states will charge extra per night for your tow car.  Plus with online reservation systems, most state parks are reserved for Thursday through Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day - - we just gave up on them.    We do like COE (Corps of Engineers) parks in the midwest and they can only be reserved 6 months out and tend to have more open spots that you can get into without reservations.   

As to why more than one membership, it is because every membership park will set aside a certain number of sites to be used by each affiliate system they belong to such as RPI, C2C, AOR, ROD.   So if C2C has 10 slots at park XYZ and you want to stay there during a certain time frame, those 10 sites may be booked.  However, AOR might also have 10 slots at the same park, but because it isn't as well know as C2C, it has fewer members and there might be a site available.   We go with ROD first because there is a $0/night fee with them, but they also are booked out first, and then C2C or AOR will almost always have a site for us, but at $10/night or so (most parks now add on a surcharge for 50 amp).    

Takes a little practice to get in a rhythm with membership parks, but if they are in areas where you will be going (PNW if full of them) then you can save a lot of money using them.   This week we are staying under AOR, it costs us $70 for a 50 amp pull through site with full hookups and a view of Mt. Baker.  This is the ONLY nightly fee we will pay until the middle of August, all the rest of our time will be under TT and ROD, as will most of September.   Works for us. 

 

thanks for good examples Bard & Dave!!

2 hours ago, Tumbleweed said:

I own a deeded site in a rv park that offers Coast to Coast classic. My buy-in is $550 plus $89 per year. Amortizing the cost over 5 years, I only need to use the system 7 nights a year to be at break-even. However, if I purchase a deluxe membership from Southern Trails RV park i Georgia, the buy-in is approximately $1,000 with an annual fee of $249 (park and C2C fees). Amortizing the cost over 5 years requires using the system 18 days a year. I'm wondering is the additional cost of getting a deluxe membership worth it. Does the 90 day window to make a reservation versus a 60 day make that much of a difference? I'm not sure that I will know our plans that far out. Also, I'm not sure that I want to spend more than 7 days in any one park. Just inquiring what others have found.

I will also get Passport America and use Escapee parks. We will also use state parks and national forest campgrounds.

Dave

I like your planning.  We have a small 25 foot RV trailer, with only 30A need, so we have a lot of flexibility.  Guess I can just use Passport upon demand, and Escapee with availability.  Else hit state parks.

9 minutes ago, GlennWest said:

My jobs are short jobs. Always has been. I can go to work and make 12k monthly. Really enjoy them too. I would hate to be stuck to a crummy job this stage of my life. I have been off more than on this year. May just continue that.

This is also what I am thinking.  GlennWest is fact.  The mythical walmart starving slave old man, is fake news for anyone here with half a smart brain to deal with economy and getting a good easy job as a retiree person.  Go drive a school bus part time.  Go be a teacher at trade school in high school.  Most here have some serious skills that can be passed on for a price.  How do you think you will be starving and working poor, when you never were that?  Okay okay, turning off my RED character FROM 70s SHOW attitude rant from wanting to yell dumbass.  lol

thanks all for great perspective on this topic.  Not an easy nut to crack, as its very different circumstance for many. 

56 minutes ago, chirakawa said:

It's a personal choice and each must make it based on their own personal circumstances.

However, here is one way to look at it.  If you retire late (66-70), start rv'ing, then die a year later, you will have absolutely no regrets later.  If you retire early (55-62), rv for 10 years, then live to 88, you may spend the last ten years of your life seriously regretting not working another five or six years.

I retired at 59, have spent over 10 years full time rv'ing, and am still in good health with no regrets so far.  But, my financial needs are pretty simple and I'm not responsible for any other's financial security.  Who knows how I will feel if I live another 10 years.

 

Literally have met no one who regretted retiring early in any circumstance; and can not find these mythical humans.  And that is an issue with the public at large thinking they need more to retire on, than they really do.  Many think they need at least $1.5M for each person in the bank, plus other things like paid off house and maybe a small pension, and insurance coverage.  Its just not true. 

Start with determining what you need per year to live on, including various insurance premiums (cause you need those too).  then figure the retirement requirement from that.

But.... Do understand that there are many who say they want to retire and they have nothing at all.  They have no SS benefit cause they never worked reportable income for SS (family worked, not them; or special job like old government jobs that had no SS).  Or they have nothing I savings at all.  or they have big debts due to nasty medical situations. 

have chosen to live in a Lance TT full time, but not starting until next month.  We looks at Class A (small), Class C, and Fifth Wheels.  All have significant issues in that lifestyle.  For us, its the cost to maintain a vehicle, and use a vehicle once we get to a destination.

1)  Class C, and pulling a small car.  Just seems like a lot of planning.

2)  Class A - too big.  cant get into smaller state and national parks or small unique areas.

3)  Fifth wheel  - just again too big to deal with.  Need a 2500 to 4500 truck to tow anything safely, and those trucks cost big bucks to maintain and to run; as business use is high demand for those.

We choose a Tundra truck (Toyota reliable) and a Lance TT under 25 feet, with one slide.  its pretty perfect so far, but will see how it goes in six months.

Trying to understand why people choose to wait to retire at 65 or 67 or 70.  To me its a fools choice, as your risk of death is pretty certain when that age.  Do you want ten years of healthy RV life?  or do you want one year, and then end up needing to go on assisted living due to the various other risks.  Admit I am jaded in my perception, as I provided care to a sick wife who passed from cancer years ago (now remarried).

1)  Average age of death is 72 in WV and 82 in Wash DC.  This is average, meaning many will die younger (half); and does not mean you will make that age.  It means that given all conditions half the people live to that age.

2)  Average age of cancer is one third will get it by age 70.  It takes a year to get through that, and only half survive.  A third getting cancer is pretty significant; and its pretty hard to have any energy come back so you can do things like traveling.

3)  Average heart attack age is 55 to 65; and you could have a crippling stroke or other permanent injury, if you have a heart attack.

4) Do you have any medical risk factors or mobility issues going on?  they will only get worse, so you need to fix your health as best as possible until mobility retirement.

*****************

Am retiring early with significant cut in pension, but SS at 62 will cover that mostly.  Please comment about your perception.  Can see living day to day, and just rolling the dice; but best to get out and starting living that RV life now.      

first post to this thread (I think).  Are going full time end of July.  Selling off our stuff (downsizing).  Will be doing the Lance travel trailer full time, with our Tundra truck towing it.  Changed address to ESCAPEES service in Bushnell FL and Livingston TX; but will make the Florida driver licenses and vehicle registration trip in middle of July.  Trying to keep it small and practical with stuff.

Kevin & Cara

Charleston SC (soon to be in the wind)

On 12/24/2017 at 9:19 PM, ToddF said:

As a footnote to this thread, I recently toured the South researching potential snowbird locations. 3 options discovered that are very economical that could potentially fit into your plans in the short term or long term...

 

Thousand Trails zone pass ( with or without trails collection .) Many using it in Florida even during high season.

Escapee Coop parks with great rates and ERPU option too in Rainbow system.

The Rio Grande Valley has a glut of RV parks and deals abound.Could live there FT for $209 month if money runs out.

Give it a shot.... Lots of mostly favorable responses here.

 

have been looking at this overall situation.  Have to agree that THOUSAND TRAILS (TT) membership with the ELITE option (buy used for $3000) can get you there.  Sure its $600 yearly after you buy into this RV TIMESHARE service from TT, but then you do not pay anything more.  Think on the math of $600/365 days so $1.65 per day cost.  If you have to go to Florida you can get the TRAILS CONNECT add on ($200 more per year) as they do not have many Florida parks in TT original system.  So $2.20 per day with Florida.

Only GOT YA so far is that, you do need a modern RV that is not more than ten years old (typical); and some "rare" parks are requiring you to be 55 years old, and the RV to be 27 feet long at least, and to be a fifth wheel or class A.