3/4 timers, unite!

[Naio]

I never know if I belong here or in Snowbirds. The 'birds seem to only go for a few months, starting in January, but I am on the road more like 9 months of the year. I saw someone in another thread who said 'we three-quarter time' and I thought, that's me!

It was a change, for me, to realise this summer that I will be (for the foreseeable future) spending significantly more than half of each year in my van... and that in this sense my van life is my 'real'
life.

This way of thinking changes things like what I pack, when I do van maintenance, what health insurance I should have, etc.

What does 3/4 timing mean to you?

[DianneOK]

I never cared what I was called, as long as I was happy 🙂

[tonymull]

We have a park model in a membership campground. The membership is about $75 a month and includes garbage and water. That's home base, but we only spend 3-4 months a year there. It is an older model and I spent some time upgrading to low maintenance materials. The trailer and all the outbuildings have metal roofs now which shed most leaves and don't leak..and won't need to be replaced in my lifetime. It was some work and a bit of expense but worth it I think. We put down plastic tarps to catch as many leaves as possible in October and take them up in December before we leave for warmer climes for a couple of months. I've made sure all the surfaces are gravel, cement pavers, or composite decking. We shut off the water when we are not there. Keep these things in mind and upkeep can be minimal...and since it is during the summers when we are gone to BC and AK the months when we are not there are those least likely have problems.

[John_Joey]

Naio wrote:

John&Joey wrote:
It use to throw me in the very beginning also. Not a FT, yet not a snowbird either. We seemed to have a lot more in common with FT'ers then snowbirds when we were on the road.

Yes! But I also worry that fulltimers will think I am a fake wannabe, at least here of the forum.

I sure wouldn't worry about it. IMO, there are many more fake FT'ers (base on "MY" definition of FT'ing) on this forum, then fake wannabe's. I feel sorry for the wannabe's that read a way too rosy picture of the lifestyle from those that seek approval.

[Naio]

John&Joey wrote:
It use to throw me in the very beginning also. Not a FT, yet not a snowbird either. We seemed to have a lot more in common with FT'ers then snowbirds when we were on the road.

Yes! But I also worry that fulltimers will think I am a fake wannabe, at least here of the forum.

Someone once wrote "Part-Timer" which added up in my mind. For us six months on the road, and six months in the S&B makes us PT'ers. I hate leaving the S&B in the fall, but look forward to traveling. I also hate getting off the road in the spring, but look forward to comforts and family and friends that the S&B affords us.

Yeah, me too :). I looked forward to family and friends and having SPACE to move around when I was head back to the S&B. But now that I'm here I miss camping and my cosy little van where I never have to go in the other room to get something.

[John_Joey]

It use to throw me in the very beginning also. Not a FT, yet not a snowbird either. We seemed to have a lot more in common with FT'ers then snowbirds when we were on the road.

Someone once wrote "Part-Timer" which added up in my mind. For us six months on the road, and six months in the S&B makes us PT'ers. I hate leaving the S&B in the fall, but look forward to traveling. I also hate getting off the road in the spring, but look forward to comforts and family and friends that the S&B affords us.

IMHO, best life around!

[Naio]

Interesting that for some folks the 3/4 includes summer! Mine includes winter, and I am at my S&B for summer. But it's true, I have toyed with the idea of getting a small winter S&B somewhere cheap....

[cheteckie]

Our house is basically a cabin. This will be our first time snowbirding, so I don't know exactly how this is all going to work. My best guess is we will probably be close to 3/4 time.

Our only goal for the next year is to not have to winterized the RV. Instead, the cabin will get winterized!

[soos]

Snowman9000 wrote:
I'm interested in what kind of home is maintained by a 3/4 timer. It seems to me that unless it is a rental, the upkeep will eventually be an issue. My parents used to own a home in the Keys and one in the midwest and spend 6 months in each. They spent the first month or so at each place doing repairs, maintenance, yard work, etc. They got tired of that aspect of it.

To me the ideal 3/4 situation would be some sort of secure place like an RV park, with a casita and covered RV spot, and a good sized shed. Or a rented pad on a farm, set up the same way. That would be very nice indeed.

What kind of house? Our daughter calls the house we are building the Party House. In addition to the bar, pool, and spa it will have 2 FHU spots for friends.

In our case we went on the road full time 6 years ago, but we put some stuff in storage. DH builds furniture so we kept what he built plus his specialty tools etc. we also kept some of our household things. Condo won't work for us, he wants a work shop, and we have a boat, 5th wheel, and camper to store. Renting won't work either. Neither will a casita. we need a place big enough to get our stuff out of storage.
we are building a brand new house, so maintenance shouldn't be too hard. In AZ- no grass and stuff to maintain.
Its not a huge house (garage is bigger than the house) or a fancy house and its not our "forever home". For us its a comfortable place to hang out in the winter and go boating on a gorgeous lake.

[GMandJM]

I'm a "snowcone" instead of a "snowbird" (a Florida transplant that comes north before the weather gets so hot that I melt).

We'll not be full-timers anytime soon, but would like to at least be "more-of-the-time-rs.

Maybe you're a "most-of-the-timer", Naio.

[Mr__Camper]

We are now 3/4 timers mainly because the real estate market is still soft, especially in a small town. The day after we sell the brick house we will be full-timers.

[JiminDenver]

Naio

I'm just a old two timer. 😉

Two weeks at a time that is. lol

[JC2]

Snowman9000 wrote:
I'm interested in what kind of home is maintained by a 3/4 timer. It seems to me that unless it is a rental, the upkeep will eventually be an issue. My parents used to own a home in the Keys and one in the midwest and spend 6 months in each. They spent the first month or so at each place doing repairs, maintenance, yard work, etc. They got tired of that aspect of it.

To me the ideal 3/4 situation would be some sort of secure place like an RV park, with a casita and covered RV spot, and a good sized shed. Or a rented pad on a farm, set up the same way. That would be very nice indeed.

I agree. :B DW will retire next April and we will hit the road shortly after for some traveling destinations. Will most likely do the first winter in the RGV or possibly Arizona then more traveling mixed with a little work camping? We will put the S&B up for sale when the time feels right.;)

[JAXFL]

Now this is just a personal opinion. If you are going to be a 1/2 - 3/4 timer, then a Condo or RV park would be the correct choice. I know that during this time of year in North Florida that if I miss 2 weeks the grass in the yard is over a foot tall, really over a foot I just cut it again yesterday and the last time was last Thursday. Yea I could hire a lawn service but what about the electric, phone, water, and mail. Being more than half but less than full timing is a bigger pain than just getting out there full time and not worry about a house. So when it is time... I am thinking condo.

[happynow]

We plan to be 3/4 timers beginning Dec 2015. Currently rent beach condo in FL (DH retired in Feb) after being lifetime homeowner's. DH has decided he's finished maintaining homes, enjoys that it is someone else's problem now. We have family located in most region's of the
US, lots of family in FL. All offer their home's to visit, and take a break from the road. 5 grand children centrally located will be frequent stops.
We are not sure how long or how well this will work before we settle down.

We are grateful to give this plan a try.