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Gnarley's avatar
Gnarley
Explorer
Aug 11, 2020

RVing during Pandemic and looking relocate

Thanks for your consideration!

My wife and I are in our early 60's, we hadn't planned to retire and are both unemployed, I have a little side income, and both plan to work into our 70's. We live in Sonoma County, CA and find the area great weather-wise, except for fires and very low humidity in the late summer. Finding suitable employment is the challenge! We have no children and enough equity to buy a home somewhere else. We never planned to be in this situation, did anyone? We could never afford to outright buy where we are with our equity, so why try restarting a career in this area, yet again!

We have a lot of reasons to move! We both like the ocean and milder temps and have considered the Oregon coast and maybe somewhere from Florence to Astoria. We also need to consider community and available resources and healthcare. I'd like to plan an exploratory drive for a 2 weeks and see what could work. I'm concerned about available places to camp and am looking for suggestions on how and where in our 1999 32' HR Class A, that's in very good condition!

I'd like to sell our home and move ASAP (60-90 days), we wouldn't need to buy right away and could even live in the RV for a while and it's that which I'm concerned about during COVID and if you can actually find a place to park for a while?

Please share your thoughts and questions respectfully,

Thanks!

48 Replies

  • Janss wrote:
    I am on the Oregon Coast right now. This private RV park is quite busy. Some of the State Parks on the coast are closed to camping, some are open. Life is going on almost as usual, with masks, outdoor seating, take-out, smaller groups, etc.

    Have you traveled the Oregon Coast before? Not sure you would like the weather year round compared to Sonoma County. We come here in Aug. and Sept. because they are the two best weather months. I think the southern coast is more the "banana belt".


    If finding suitable work in Sonoma County is a challenge, doubt it will be any better on the Oregon coast.

    If you want RV park recommendations in specific towns, just ask. Lots of RVers on this forum have been to the Oregon Coast.


    We love the Brookings area, but there are no airports close by. We prefer to be closer to a large airport. By selling our home and using the equity for an outright purchase we eliminate 2/3rds of our bills and can afford our life. I have many skills to offer anywhere we land and if I'm unable to find a good job there are many other ways to sell my services.

    Do you know of any lists for campgrounds along the coast?

    By the way, some of our summer days look like coastal Oregon due to the marine layer. Today is overcast and 66° 30 miles inland. If you haven't lived in this part of Sonoma County you may not understand but due to the fires of 2017 and 2019 and the increasingly dry humidity that time of year we would like to go somewhere that has more humidity such as a coastal area.



    Thanks
  • Tuff to get a home loan anywhere without employment. And have you priced Oregon Coast homes?
  • Come on East!
    We have wonderful health care here. Cost of owning a home is one of the lowest in the country! Lots of camping, including the #1 & #2 State Parks on the country.
    Where is this place, and it Western New York! Yes it gets cold here, but we have some of the best skiing east of the Mississippi.
    Come give us a try, (after you quarantine for 14 days, that is)
    WNYBob
  • I am on the Oregon Coast right now. This private RV park is quite busy. Some of the State Parks on the coast are closed to camping, some are open. Life is going on almost as usual, with masks, outdoor seating, take-out, smaller groups, etc.

    Have you traveled the Oregon Coast before? Not sure you would like the weather year round compared to Sonoma County. We come here in Aug. and Sept. because they are the two best weather months. I think the southern coast is more the "banana belt".

    Not sure about healthcare. Thank goodness, we've never needed it while here. But I do know that Samaritan recently expanded their hospital/healthcare facilities in Newport.

    If finding suitable work in Sonoma County is a challenge, doubt it will be any better on the Oregon coast.

    If you want RV park recommendations in specific towns, just ask. Lots of RVers on this forum have been to the Oregon Coast.
  • jdc1 wrote:
    I returned from a trip through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. There are plenty of "campgrounds" open. you WILL NEED weekend reservations. Along the coast? Good luck.


    Yes, along the coast that's the area we'd like to consider moving to looking elsewhere wouldn't be in alignment with our desire or needs.

    Do you have any other ideas or suggestions?
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    I returned from a trip through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. There are plenty of "campgrounds" open. you WILL NEED weekend reservations. Along the coast? Good luck.
  • HappyKayakers wrote:
    Plenty of RV parks and campgrounds open right now. How much they mitigate against the virus is hit or miss so I would avoid the common areas as much as possible.


    Early on I thought about all the full timers and wondered with all the reported park and private CG closures what would everyone do? We can't stop living but I can't take a chance of driving without a locked in destination. It will take some research and any recommendations are appreciated!
  • Plenty of RV parks and campgrounds open right now. How much they mitigate against the virus is hit or miss so I would avoid the common areas as much as possible.

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