Active Duty Retiring - Should I Full-Time?
I plan to retire in 2-3 years from active duty (26 years). I'll be around 45 years old. Wife and I have dreamed of full-timing for a while and both kids will be finishing up college. We are conside...
Forum Discussion
We are full-time, and I'm US Navy retired in 1992.
1) There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities across the country if your income allows you to cover all your living costs. Having 3 to 6 months of free FHU camping a year helps the budget. Check volunteer.gov
2) Your Tricare healthcare plan is good nationwide and meets ACA requirements. You can try to use military pharmacies to refill prescriptions, or use Express Scripts.
3) Unless you have a super reliable relative/ friend - look into a mailing service like Escapee's or Good Sam or one of the others. We use Escapee's and are very happy with their service. Our legal residence is at the Escapee's park in Livingston, TX - partially because we were already Texas residents before going full-time.
4) There are lots of paid work-kamper positions at commercial RV parks across the country. Be sure to ask if they provide a 1099 for the value of the camping spot. If they do, you end up owing more federal tax dollars than the net dollars you received from the campground for your actual work. Also, you will have to file and maybe pay state income taxes in any state where you work-kamp. That can be a hassle, and reduces the net value of any income you get. Most work-kamp positions at commercial campgrounds pay between $8 and $10 per hour for 20 or 30 hours a week.
5) For the future 20 years from now, it is very useful to continue with some work and to contribute to Social Security. It enhances that future additional income for you to add to your current SS account earnings.
1) There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities across the country if your income allows you to cover all your living costs. Having 3 to 6 months of free FHU camping a year helps the budget. Check volunteer.gov
2) Your Tricare healthcare plan is good nationwide and meets ACA requirements. You can try to use military pharmacies to refill prescriptions, or use Express Scripts.
3) Unless you have a super reliable relative/ friend - look into a mailing service like Escapee's or Good Sam or one of the others. We use Escapee's and are very happy with their service. Our legal residence is at the Escapee's park in Livingston, TX - partially because we were already Texas residents before going full-time.
4) There are lots of paid work-kamper positions at commercial RV parks across the country. Be sure to ask if they provide a 1099 for the value of the camping spot. If they do, you end up owing more federal tax dollars than the net dollars you received from the campground for your actual work. Also, you will have to file and maybe pay state income taxes in any state where you work-kamp. That can be a hassle, and reduces the net value of any income you get. Most work-kamp positions at commercial campgrounds pay between $8 and $10 per hour for 20 or 30 hours a week.
5) For the future 20 years from now, it is very useful to continue with some work and to contribute to Social Security. It enhances that future additional income for you to add to your current SS account earnings.
