Off-grid vs RV park

I'm a little torn. I'm looking at buying a TT to live in full-time with my toddler, but need some advice from some seasoned RV'ers about my concern. I know no one can tell me what I should do, but any advice will be helpful.

I found a wonderful opportunity to go semi off-grid (I would have hook-ups put in) on an acre of undeveloped land zoned for agricultural use for $400/month plus electricity. The real motivator here is that I would be able to grow my own organic garden. The people currently living on the land are looking for like-minded people to create a nice little community, establish a farm, and eventually barter and trade goods. This is right up my alley and ultimately my dream. However, I have never done any sort of gardening and I'm worried about not having any bearings on how much energy I will produce (especially with the bi-polar Texas winter coming up), nor any idea of how much this is all going to cost. I'm a young, single mother, and my mom is the one who is going to be paying for all of this until I am able to do it all myself (God only knows when that will be).

Then there is the RV park that I was initially looking at before I found the off-grid opportunity. It's one of the top rated parks in my state and has amenities such as a swimming pool, laundry facility, and full functioning bathrooms (that were amazingly clean) all for $400/month plus electricity. Seriously, this park blew me away with how nice it was and I really did fall in love with it.

The off-grid opportunity is essentially my dream, but I'm afraid I will have bitten off more than I can chew as someone with no experience living in a trailer, let alone in seclusion. I'm starting to think the adjustment might be too much and the thought of how much money this is going to cost upfront worries me. But my heart breaks to think that I could be passing up an opportunity to live they way I've always dreamed.

If you were in my position and knowing what you do now from personal experience, what would you choose?

SteveRuff
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
I realize you have a dream and this lifestyle is all about living "the dream." However, the "deal" you are being offered is too one sided and not in your favor. Take the park and learn to live in your RV first. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that I did not have to take the "Once in a Lifetime" deal, whatever it was, because there always seemed to be another one down the road. You will find that co-op deal again. If the one you are looking at makes it, they will still have room for you in a year or two and you can get in then.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Tvov wrote:
Francesca Knowles wrote:
RoadLife wrote:
I agree with the poster that recommended you apply for public assistance and housing. Start standing on your own two feet.
:h

Since when is using public assistance "standing on your own two feet"?

I was wondering about that... and, if someone is doing okay without being on welfare, why start?

PA exists for a reason: to ASSIST in standing on your own 2 feet; I've no problem with it being used for that purpose. It certainly makes more sense in many instances than depending on grandparents' limited resources which might not be there when the older generation is living on a limited income at retirement time. Read an interesting article on children paying for their own college costs as opposed to parents funding it. Similar related thunk and I'm glad to see it's time has come/returned to this country.

Back on topic. I believe for many of the reasons cited above, you'd be best off living in the RV park for at least a year, ShelbylovesKk.
Tvov
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
Francesca Knowles wrote:
RoadLife wrote:
I agree with the poster that recommended you apply for public assistance and housing. Start standing on your own two feet.
:h

Since when is using public assistance "standing on your own two feet"?

I was wondering about that... and, if someone is doing okay without being on welfare, why start?
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
RoadLife wrote:
I agree with the poster that recommended you apply for public assistance and housing. Start standing on your own two feet.
:h

Since when is using public assistance "standing on your own two feet"?
Clay_L
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
Two things I didn't see mentioned yet.
How about sewer? Can you connect to an existing sewer or septic system?
What are the county rules about living in a TT? Many/most places don't allow it even on land zoned agricultural.
RoadLife
Explorer
Sep 03, 2014
I agree with the poster that recommended you apply for public assistance and housing. Start standing on your own two feet. Public assistance in some states can include vocational training. You have many years to be a mom supporting her child, do it to the best of your ability.
ncrowley
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2014
I would go to the RV park. Living remotely in an RV with a kid is not to be taken lightly. You are getting a much better bang for your buck in the RV park. You need to have a pad of some kind to park the RV or else you may sink in the mud when it rains. You have to pay for the improvements to the land. Go to the RV park and use a municipal garden to raise your vegetables.
PghBob
Explorer
Sep 03, 2014
Hi. Let me voice my concerns. As I see it, you have 3 major learning curves before you, 2 of which you seem to have zero experience. The third, raising a child as a single parent you have done it so far, but there is still much for you to learn as the child ages. The two things you need to learn are how to live and manage an RV, as it is not the same as a house. And you need to learn about farming. Both of these can be a challenge for a novice. With winter coming, I suggest staying put until the Spring at least. Try to rent an RV for a week in the Spring and try it. Even if sunny, try staying in with your child for a whole day like you would do if it was raining all day. See how you and your child tolerate it. During the winter/spring/summer try learning what you can about farming, maybe at a Community College or ag. extension school. See how you manage. While doing this, craft a budget that you can live on and stick to. If all of these things come together for you, then give further consideration to your plans. Best wishes for success.
dahkota
Explorer
Sep 02, 2014
There is a reason it is called subsistence farming.

You are assuming that what you can grow will generate enough income to pay your rent and electric at minimum. And yet to do that, you need growing skills, crop knowledge, and a network of buyers.

I don't know about Texas, but in Virginia, it will run you about $3000 for a septic field, $3000 for a deep water well, and depending on how far you are from the grid, $1000 for hook up to power. And in this scenario, you won't own any of it. You are better off buying your own acre of land somewhere to set all this up; you will then be able to sell it when your dream changes. And the mortgage would probably be cheaper than the rent.
littlemo
Explorer
Sep 02, 2014
Definitely RV park until you see what all is involved in living in RV. Get ready to buy lots of Propane because it gets cold in Ft Worth in winter.