End game

RVUSA wrote:
"We could sell everything today and not miss one brick. Q: What about our end game? Will we be ready financially to buy/rent that small condo when I can no longer drive? "

If you own the house outright then there is no problem. Keep it and lease it out or sell it and buy something else with the proceeds that suits your end game vision, or take the money and stick it in a low risk investment.

Is the rv tech path because you have always wanted to do that or just more of a logistics thing in that you'll pretty much be near rvs so works should be easy to nab?

RV tech is what I have wanted to do for a long time. It is a perfect fit for my skill set and love of fixing things. I would much rather be working with my hands doing what I do for fun at home-buiding, repairing, etc. For some reason I've been a natural at it since I as very young (took vacuum cleaner apart in early emenentary to fix it.) I work part-time at RV dealer now as a "sales tech." I do minor repairs and detailing. The longer I work there the more I wish I could quit my career and do RV's full time.

Thanks for all the good sggestions. I do have to work to age 60 to be elegible for the pension, so I have until Aug 2015 to prepare. My wife and I both intend to work-one of us for site, the other for $$$. Having grown up in Petoskey, MI; and having lived in Tacoma, WA; Norfolk, VA; and Miami, FL, we really miss the sea, the beautiful great lakes, the mountains, and the tropical sunshine that this amazing country has to offer. I know if we wait too long the dream of living where we want at any given moment will just be that-a dream. But I also want to be wise and not quit my career only to find at age 80 that we made a huge financial blunder. We have lived in poverty and it is no fun. So its a fear thing too.

"We could sell everything today and not miss one brick. Q: What about our end game? Will we be ready financially to buy/rent that small condo when I can no longer drive? "

If you own the house outright then there is no problem. Keep it and lease it out or sell it and buy something else with the proceeds that suits your end game vision, or take the money and stick it in a low risk investment.

Is the rv tech path because you have always wanted to do that or just more of a logistics thing in that you'll pretty much be near rvs so works should be easy to nab?

Why wait? That's what I am seeing a lot of people say. My concerns with being an independent RV tech would be the cost of liability insurance and the fact that there are ads sprinkled across many of the RV websites now on becoming one. I know there a couple of places that offer a good program but I also saw one aimed at being a tech in an RV park which, in my opinion, wasn't offering much but a lower cost than the ones that really lead to certification. Life is short and why wish away two years or more just waiting for one's life to begin?

One nice thing I read yesterday about the AHC is that it will actually benefit business under 25 the most. So as a self-employed RV Tech, you should have some advantages (tax and insurance exchanges) over some others. Now if you choose to work for someone else, then they will cover some of those costs.

I've found a few RV Tech businesses that move from say MN to Tampa or MN to TX and snowbird with the rest of the RV population.

Then to income, I constantly read about those who live on much less than $25,000 per year of strictly SS. Plus lower incomes also get a subsidy to pay for HC insurance.

Check over on the Escapees forum. Needs are less when you live in a small space. That's the whole point of going full-time, to rid yourself of some of the expenses. There will still be repair expenses in an RV, but you'll be able to save the labor cost by doing many things yourself.

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Just a thought on being a seasonal part-time RV tech at dealerships. It is going to be very tough always being the new guy at your place of employment. You are going to be getting the least desireable jobs, always. You will be temporary. They will have no incentive to make your stay enjoyable or easy. Each time you move, you will be starting over at the bottom of the ladder. The cliques and friendships that the other employees enjoy won't avail themselves to you, since you are only going to be there for a few months. Personally, I would rather work at my job until I could really retire, or maybe only need to earn spending money, rather than take on full-time work just to get away from a job you can retire from in a few years anyway.

...and just the opposite...we have met folks who do exactly that and are quite happy moving from place to place. They had no complaints like the 'what ifs' you have projected, 'westernparkowner'!

To the OP, if this is your dream and your wife is o.k. with it, we would highly recommend you fulfilling your dreams. Too many people put it off or wait too long and then it's really too late. You can't be sure of the future, in any way.

You are both willing to work but in different ways than you're doing now. Especially, if your wife is willing to work for your campsite that would be a big expense saved. Many people do exactly what you are doing. If you're willing to work there is something for you out there.

However, don't plan to stay 9m in Ohio..:) There are plenty of places to go for a 6m temp job and you could even stay 'cool' while doing it. (our last house was in Michigan which is about the same).

Medicare is not going to change with the new health plan coming up. We have had multiple surgeries, including cancer, in our 16 years of full-timing and we haven't had to pay a dime above Medicare.

We have volunteered many seasons for national and state parks and absolutely love it. Good luck in your decision.

Tubaronnie wrote:
I will receive about 10 k ss.

Not untill you are 62. Are you going to burn through your $25K? Then what will you use for emergencies, etc.

Barb

We have been full timing for 2 years. We are in our 50's and have no regular income. We work camp. We have spent a summer in yellowstone a winter in So.Cal. and Arizona and a summer in Idaho. Summer is easy to find jobs that pay for all hours and a free site. Winter is a bit tougher. We are getting ready to head to Sadona Az. to volunteer at a state park for a site.
If you watch your expensives and don't be foolish it is very doable. We enjoy the out doors and spend our time enjoying the area we are in. We don't go and spend our money on things we do not need. We do this to enjoy different places. Travel is expensive if you stay in one place for a season (Yellowstone 6 mounths) it is cheaper than living in S&B. Get a plan and a budget and stick to it. This is an awesome live style we have seen so many wonderful places and met some great people.

Good luck

Just a thought on being a seasonal part-time RV tech at dealerships. It is going to be very tough always being the new guy at your place of employment. You are going to be getting the least desireable jobs, always. You will be temporary. They will have no incentive to make your stay enjoyable or easy. Each time you move, you will be starting over at the bottom of the ladder. The cliques and friendships that the other employees enjoy won't avail themselves to you, since you are only going to be there for a few months. Personally, I would rather work at my job until I could really retire, or maybe only need to earn spending money, rather than take on full-time work just to get away from a job you can retire from in a few years anyway.

Hey Stickdog-great idea i hadn't thought about. Yes certification is good in all states and Canada. With the experience I'm getting locally, and the good reference, I should be able to follow high seasons and choose our location based on job offers. My dealer says my idea would work out perfectly for here in Ohio. My wife wants to work camp for our sites and she plans on learning KOA system to be marketable. We are also planning on volunteering in state/national parks as needed.