Crowe,
Been there done that for so many years so I'm NOT talking hypotheticals. Just trying to share what I know to be facts as we'd experienced them with a place for 19 years in Florida and for over 33 years, a place/places in Northern Michigan. Please understand that I don't give 2 hoots if you RV or buy and cabin/home/etc. It's your life! I makes not one inkling of difference to me in any way. Life simply goes on 24 hours each day!
A vacant cabin/home/etc is usually a much better target for thieves for any reason than an RV in a park with park security and surrounded by other RV's which of course some will be occupied which means EYES! Yes, crime is much higher in the Northeast and some other areas of the country than others. Why do thieves rob banks? Because they know what's inside and that's a given. Usually much more to take from a stick built residence especially if nobodies home than an RV anyway. My Bro being a Sheriff for many years before he retired could burst your bubble of it will happen everywhere the same way!
In all these years we've have never had anything stolen or broken into, BUT, we have always had people/neighbors/patrols watching closely as they usually lived very close or next to our place or in the same structure as in a condo setting. A very big difference.
Have fun with your decision...
As for being on the water, both can have that going for them and having a launching ramp for a boat is much more likely in an established RV park on the water. Much depends on if the place of consideration is on an inland lake, a navigable river, or the ocean or bay.
