Advantages of full time RVing?

Were thinking hard about Full Timing after just spending $2,500.00 to get rats out of our attic! Also, we have to have the house and decks painted this summer! Just paid the taxes and looking forward to going back to Western Arizona for 7 months this October.

Something that has not been discussed so far is boondocking. My rig is set up to live off the grid and I spend 6 months in the desert SW and 6 months in western MI. You can buy a 7 month Long term BLM pass for $180 or camp 14 days at a time in a short term BLM for free. I also belong to Elks, Moose, American legion, VFW and use casinos which offer low price or free parking near the bar! Traveling across country I overnight in Walmarts. I do spend some time in RV parks but even then its usually in an Escapees discount park. Bottom line is I can live off my SS and conserve my savings for major items and emergencies. By the way I am single, have TX as my domicile and love the lifestyle. Good luck!
Jack H

2gypsies wrote:
There's a wonderful club geared for full-timers called Escapees. They also have a terrific mail forwarding service and they give you a real street address, not a P.O. box. We've used them for 17 years with no problems. We have met long-time friends through this organization. They also have a yearly 'boot camp' for full-timers which was just completed in Gillette, Wyoming.

You're free to choose any state you want to domicile in and depending on your circumstances, some states are better than others as far as taxes, insurance, registrations, etc. You just have to do your homework. The popular states are Texas, South Dakota and Florida. That doesn't mean you have to live or stay or even visit those states, all it means is that's where your address is for mail forwarding, driver's licenses and registrations.

...and before anyone else posts a big misconception about Texas - no, you don't have to return for yearly vehicle inspections. If you don't enter Texas you don't have to do it. When and if you visit Texas you have a grace period to have it done and it's no big deal - brake check, lights checked, etc. Same for jury duty, if you get a card in the mail for duty all you have to do is call the phone # on the card, say you're traveling and you'll be excused. It's no big deal.

As far as 'safety in numbers' - we could never travel with a group and there's no reason to do so. Do you travel with a group when you take your RV out now? Full-timing is no different - except that you do it day after day.

It's a liberating lifestyle to be rid of the big ole' house and all the stuff you've accumulated including much that you haven't even used over the years. You're FREE! We haven't regretted it for one second! We love our country's public parks and have volunteered many seasons in national and state parks. How cool is it to actually be able to live in a national park for a couple months?

For any future information on full-timing, mosey on over to the full-timing forum on this site. Just about every question has been asked and answered and you're free to ask more! Happy planning!

Big X-2 on Escapees. You can get a home base lot in one of their parks too that will give you a more stable setting to return to. Just got my own lot in Chimacum last month after being on a seven year waiting list!! Not all parks have a waiting list. I use a Montana LLC for vehicles. Although we own a home in AZ we still keep our membership and Texas residence. Great club.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Escapees Care facility.

CARE answers the question, "What happens to full-time RVers when they cannot take care of their own or their spouse's needs following an illness, injury, surgery, or the progression of a long-term health situation?"

Escapee Care Center

I'm sure there are others around the country, if not, there will be in the future.

randco wrote:
Tax advantages may not be a large portion but for me the advantage would be no home mortgage, no property taxes, no electricity bill, no water bill, no garbage collection bill, no yard mowing, no landscaping (200 bags of mulch every other year) no trimming trees, no home owners association dues, no home owners insurance.

Now if I could only get my wife to see it this way.

200 bags of mulch? That’s a lot of bags. I have a local nursery deliver it with a dump truck.

Tax advantages may not be a large portion but for me the advantage would be no home mortgage, no property taxes, no electricity bill, no water bill, no garbage collection bill, no yard mowing, no landscaping (200 bags of mulch every other year) no trimming trees, no home owners association dues, no home owners insurance.

Now if I could only get my wife to see it this way.

we enjoy partial full timing, if there is such a term. we will travel May-the end of October. Then return home for Nov-January 20, holidays, birthdays and general RV maintenance. Beginning mid January wife and I will start traveling by car, for we do contract "cell-tower designs" thru my sons engineering company. We will be relocating to oldest sons/daughter in-law when the house sells. Have already started a larger shop and barn on their property, with a small guest cottage. Barn is 70' by 100'. this will be one of are home bases, another family member has farm we have added a 50amp sevice and site pad to get away when we want to hunt and fish for a few weeks with all the family during Nov-DEC. Since we are able to do the RV maintenance , upgrades, and other related items our self the cost has stayed down over the last 8 years. Let me also mention that during the traveling months we often stay free at many locations. We have a ministry that helps with the needs of church, summer camps, orphanages, retirement and assisted living center, crisis pregnancy centers, churches, and other organizations that believe in Jesus Christ is our Savior. For we are the Adventurerersforchrist.org ministries-----helping others at no expense to them.

Illness doesn't negate RVing. I've been through chemo, would have been easier in the MH, toilet just a couple of steps from bed, couch just a few more, much easier than a 4 level house! Lots of hospitals allow spouses to park in a lot so they can visit often. Dave had a stroke before we started fulltiming (reasons we took early retirement), and I can see how he could have recuperated in the MH as well as he did at home. So it can be done.

Barb

I am not yet retired. I hope to retire soon - we will see.

I am RVing 6 months per year and hope to sell our stick house - we will see.

I am a what if person. But, you can plan for issues and MH imo.

The stick house costs us 12k/year plus and I have to worry about it.

In the MH I look forward to the next stop the next adventure.

In the stick house after 4 to 8 weeks I can't wait to get back in the MH.

Do what is right for YOU not me or somebody else. I accept the MH as my home something I never did on several week road trips in the past.

If 1 to 2 months is enough for you do that. If full timing is right for you as I expect for me then do that - we will see.

dogvetia wrote:
Love Motorhoming but like many also like some "roots". My biggest fear if fulltiming with no "stick" house to return to is what happens when one has a heart attack, cancer strikes, need some type of surgery with several weeks etc recover? I suppose you can do it in a MH but what do most of you full timers do in this scenario? tom

That in part was why I just opted to buy another house after being on the road full time. As mentioned the RV just depreciates day after day. I started thinking about getting older and what would happen if I couldn't get around as well.

If you are full timing and become disabled or health problems that prohibit traveling in an RV the next step is nursing home. I wanted to ensure I had that 'second to last option' where you can stay in your own home and still live independently.

Funny I NEVER thought one iota about these type of things when I first went full time. It was only after meeting RV'ers that were older than me that shared some of their concerns that started me thinking of changing part of my full time experience to ensure I continued to live happily!

And when the time comes for me to pull off the road permanently and I have to do the ole nursing home, I will have a house to sell to pay for it. Selling the MH wouldn't even get me a 2 bit room on the south side of Chicago!!!