Help: Military retiree w/ family temp living
I am 33, married with a 2 year old, and a new born (4 total). We currently live in Japan, where I will retire from the Air Force in 5 months, with disability. Looking to buy a travel trailer, and if...
Forum Discussion
First and Foremost, Thank You for your service. I hope the disability will not be too difficult in your future life.
As to is this feasible and practical, it is marginal on all fronts. Your savings will be depleted very fast if you are not very careful what you do. If you buy used from reputable sources, you should be able to pull this off and it will be a better option than locating and renting accommodations. BUT (notice the big but <- one T), unless the DW (Dear Wife and mother of 2) is looking forward to this, I would suggest that you keep your options open.
Though they look like an inexpensive way to live, RVs hide a lot of effort and expenses that one does not find elsewhere. If you are not already familiar with these things, this will not be the time to discover them.
Travel Trailers (TT) are a nice way to go and see and do things, but the 5K that the Ridgeline will tow is actually not very much. When(if) you start seriously looking at things, keep adding a couple or three thousand pounds to the published weight of any TT. They publish the empty weight and you will add that much in clothing and provisions.
Keep on looking and sending out resumes. This could all suddenly be a moot point.
All of this from a guy that spent most of his young life on a 13 ton sailboat. I know what living in tight space is and it is not for everyone. Please make sure DW is onboard.
Best of Luck
Matt
As to is this feasible and practical, it is marginal on all fronts. Your savings will be depleted very fast if you are not very careful what you do. If you buy used from reputable sources, you should be able to pull this off and it will be a better option than locating and renting accommodations. BUT (notice the big but <- one T), unless the DW (Dear Wife and mother of 2) is looking forward to this, I would suggest that you keep your options open.
Though they look like an inexpensive way to live, RVs hide a lot of effort and expenses that one does not find elsewhere. If you are not already familiar with these things, this will not be the time to discover them.
Travel Trailers (TT) are a nice way to go and see and do things, but the 5K that the Ridgeline will tow is actually not very much. When(if) you start seriously looking at things, keep adding a couple or three thousand pounds to the published weight of any TT. They publish the empty weight and you will add that much in clothing and provisions.
Keep on looking and sending out resumes. This could all suddenly be a moot point.
All of this from a guy that spent most of his young life on a 13 ton sailboat. I know what living in tight space is and it is not for everyone. Please make sure DW is onboard.
Best of Luck
Matt
