Active Duty Retiring - Should I Full-Time?

Good advice above. Consider a good resale rig initially with the objective of learning about your new adventure and the many alternatives pro and con. Then keep, sale or upgrade.

Dutchman,
That's a good perspective and one reason we are considering this. We even talked about the "tiny home" craze that's going on right now for the same reason. We feel like we are working just to pay for stuff...then we sell (for 1/4 of the price) or give away that stuff so we can buy more of the same stuff. I'm thinking (hoping) the "simple" life (i.e. less stuff) will result in more LIVING. As an added bonus, since both of my kids will be adult age and either out of college or almost out of college, we will be able to spend time with each of them even if they live in different parts of the country.

There's 2 ways to look at your situation!

1) Retire, get an RV, hit the road and live within the means of your retirement funds.

2) Settle down somewhere. That means you either have to buy or rent some place to live. Well, that just blew your retirement monthly check! Now, you have to pay for electricity, property tax, automobile, home owner's association (if it applies), roof repairs, furnace repairs, drive way resealing, mowing the grass.... which means you now have to buy a law mower, and furniture, and pots and pans and bedding and a washing machine, and .... all that takes MORE money.

So now you MUST get a job. So now you MUST have transportation to and from work, that mean auto insurance, fuel, lunches every day, driving back and forth, fighting traffic .... for what? To make money so you can simply turn around and put it into the car, so you can keep going to work, so you can make money, so you can keep putting it in the car, so you can go to work ...... A vicious cycle that never ends. It just gets deeper and deeper and you get deeper and deeper in debt. and you work harder and harder to get out of debt.... all for what ... to put that new roof on the house ... a new drive way sealer?.... on and on.

Oh man! If you have a retirement from the military, you're in a great position! You've lived the last part of 2 decades pretty much free as a bird! Minimal property to enslave you! Why anchor down now and put a noose around your neck!

I worked a job for 5 years after college and it required moving ever year or every 2 years. I never owned anything but my car. I then went into the Army for 6 years, and live in temporary housing, or an apartment, or base housing. I got out of the Army and returned to my former profession and for another 5 years lived on someone else's property.

Then I had this mid-life crisis! I felt like I needed some kind of "permanent" ground under my feet. So, my wife and I purchased 2 acres with a small house, and from that point on, we've been slaves to the money pit! Oh, we've sold various houses and made a little profit, just to get something bigger, and a better job that pays more, so we can buy more, and sell more and buy more. And now my wife and I are dreaming of dumping this whole mess to go full timing. But, it's hard when you're in deep.

Think twice before jumping in deep! And be certain if you REALLY want to plant your feet somewhere!

The only thing I can add is, if you want to do it and are able, do it.
You don't know what life will hand you tomorrow.
Enjoy your retirement, full time or part time, go see the USA.

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.

Firs, thank you for your service.

If you can afford it and are inclined to full time, by all means do so, at least for a while to see if it really suits you.

There is also the possibility of part-time work, especially in the summer. My wife and I had a very enjoyable summer working at a lodge in Alaska, actually a "paid vacation".

Whatever you do, enjoy.

Congrats and Thanks... doubt the guilty feeling will be a problem and you can always go back to work. There is no guarantee that you will live 10 more years (YES it's very likely, BUT) so go for it. If you shop/buy carefully and buy used you can bailout if things do not work out without it costing you too much.

You might look into working for FEMA... they will pay you to see the country with unknown amounts of time between and length of jobs.

Thank you for your years of service.

There is no reason for you not to take time now to be with your family/spouse and enjoy the country you have put so many years in to defend. You have worked and forfeited a lot. Please plan on enjoying yourself. If after a few years you want to settle down and work you still have the time to do so.

I would recommend a supplement insurance policy for Tricare. Many of the military organizations offer them and they are affordable.

Also, many military bases have campgrounds where you can contact other retirees.

gbopp,
That's what I'm kind of leaning toward...I think we need a "mission" or a "purpose"...at least initially. At some point I would like to be able to travel and see this great country just for the joy of it but I think when we first transition, it might be a little easier if we have a purpose in mind...maybe something like, "write a travel book" or "raise awareness of xxx" or "volunteer with homeless vet organizations"...Something other than "sit on my butt and do nothing..." LOL

There are plenty of volunteer positions available around the country if you don't need to work and want to get involved and help.