Where do FT land when coming off the road?

We aren't FT but have met and known many while on the road. Most that we've known have either only FT for a few years or they often buy or rent a lot or find a site where they can land and stay for a season as a "home base". Not necessarily near where they lived.

We left CA when we hit the road and KNEW without a doubt we would NOT return IF/WHEN we came off the road.

7 yrs we FTd loving the adventure/lifestyle and then life thru a curve out of the blue.
OK so we had to go back to a S&B but WHERE??

Well we had been to Central AZ several times during our travels and decided we would look there.
Love the area---rural but on 18 miles to town with all amenities.

We still miss the FT but we 'whacked' that curve ball and its OK

Lots of discussion about this over on the Escapees forums. We aren't ready to come off the road, yet, but it won't be the same place from which we launched. Other than healthcare providers we love, there is very little to pull us back there. We are using our time on the road to explore places to settle down when the time comes. We look at a number of criteria, including - but not limited to:

• Tax structure and rates (income, property, vehicles, sales, etc.)
• Access to primary care providers and tertiary health care
• Culture
• A faith community
• Diversity (I know this may rub some of you the wrong way)
• Climate/seasons
• Terrain and scenery
• Recreational opportunities

Our plan, at this point, is to find or build a very small home - around 600 sq. ft. on one level and preferably log cabin style. If we're still able to travel, a pad/port for the RV would be added. Both of us have lived and worked around the world and have seen the majority of the U.S. At this time, we haven't narrowed it down too much, but we really like the upstate Carolinas, and north Georgia. We also like New England, but the winters and cost of living don't make the cut.

Rob

Im a relatively new snowbird but am interested in replys on here. I have seen two real cases of people hitting the road after putting too much of their net worth into it and are now living in relatives yard. Both of them are because of blown engines.

On this forum and others it's common for people to believe that it's going to be much cheaper. I always tell them if they don't have enough Bank to cover multiple breakdowns such as possibly $10,000 engines $5,000 Transmissions or having to replace a rig in an accident don't do it.

As Second Chance says, are also looking around where it's warmer all year for something that's smaller, not a tiny 200 square foot house but smaller than what we have now. Thanks for posting this topic.

Second Chance wrote:

Diversity (I know this may rub some of you the wrong way)

Doesn't rub me the wrong way. People are free to move where they like for whatever reason they choose...but are you implying they are moving to an area with more or less diversity and what is the definition of diversity?

As far as our journey:
- We started on the boat for a few years.
- Found ourselves on the Great Lakes in the fall and decided staying on the boat over the winter was crazy (yes, people do it), so we picked up a truck and 5er and headed south.
- Flipped back and forth as the seasons dictated for the next 5-6yrs.
- Sold the USA boat and picked up a boat in spain. Did that mixed in with the RV for a couple years.
- 3yrs ago a work commitment took us overseas for 3-4 week trips every other month...in the winter, we pick up airbnb apartments in different destinations. In the summer we hang out more locally in the RV with just some shorter local trips.

We expect more variations with boats, RV and apartments as long as we are healthy and capable. At some point when we settle down, it will likely be because we aren't physically capable, so likely a condo where we don't have to do the maintenance.

PS: it can be a very cheap lifestyle or a very expensive lifestyle. Our first truck and 5er combo was a total of $8k and took very little maintenance for the 8yrs we used them (the truck was rough looking with rusted out wheel wells but ran great). On the other hand, you can buy $500k motorhomes that cost more than $8k to keep running for a year.

I’ll let you know when we come off the road, in 10 or 20 years, or 1 year.

If at all possible it will not be anywhere near Dallas. DW and I were both sick and tired of that area, especially summer weather. One of our goals when we started full-timing was to see if there was another part of the country we might like to settle.

Oregon or Washington west of the Cascades seems best of the 46 states we have visited.

But all the kids and grandkids are in southern Florida or near Dallas.

We will keep on rolling as long as we can.

When we sold down and started our full-time RV life, we retained our small 640 sq ft lakeside vacation cottage in the southern Adirondack Mountains. We've since remodeled it for better year round living and it's our exit plan when we hang up the keys. We also have a full hookup RV site there that we use when we visit the area to see our kids.

No, I don’t belive most do.

Ourselves included.... FT’rs that we have met in our travels, won’t settle back where they came from.

Everyone’s idea of paradise in their later years, is as varied as the individuals. When you find yours, you will know it.

Having AT LEAST one exit plan is rule number one of true full timing.

Nutinelse2do wrote:


Having AT LEAST one exit plan is rule number one of true full timing.

I agree maybe even 2 exit plans if "A" happens or if "B" happens.