Traveling FT vs being anchored

[travelingbug]

I get that some people simply want the smaller living they get in an RV as opposed to a McMansion. A lot of them don't seem to travel but park and live in one spot (or two if they are snowbirds). For those who do move though, isn't there a great deal more to consider for the full-timing lifestyle? And, after doing away with a house, what happens if you reach a wheelchair stage and can no linger operate in the RV? I know this is several questions all in one, but we are in our 70s and considering traveling with our TT. We envision a couple months in various locations, with very few of our "things" being put into storage for safekeeping (no furniture, just things). What are we not taking into account in our thinking? I'm quite sure we must be missing some vital elements.

[John_Joey]

This whole house thing is based on an individuals need for security.

Right now it would be a perfect time for us to go FT for a few years prior to us buying our "last" home (whatever shape that might be.) DW says no because of her need to have a base home (other then a FHU park lot.)

This concept of home ownership gives her comfort and security. In her defense we have seen more then once where one spouse gets disabled or dies leaving the other in a state of RV "homelessness." Who am I too argue with her. It's her fear and she's entitled to it.

[Dog_Folks]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

Bumpy: With all respect: I am confused as to why you are so adamant about having a house as a part of an exit plan.

The only thing I can think of is you are enjoying engaging in debate or you have some undisclosed information that solidifies your position.

I only think that everyone should go into this with their eyes open. not rashly sell out the house and put it all into a RV which will be worth about 20% when they need/want other housing.
exactly why I want a place to "land" is nobody's business in this forum.
bumpy

Fair enough. Thank you.

[Bumpyroad]

Dog Folks wrote:

Bumpy: With all respect: I am confused as to why you are so adamant about having a house as a part of an exit plan.

The only thing I can think of is you are enjoying engaging in debate or you have some undisclosed information that solidifies your position.

I only think that everyone should go into this with their eyes open. not rashly sell out the house and put it all into a RV which will be worth about 20% when they need/want other housing.
exactly why I want a place to "land" is nobody's business in this forum.
bumpy

[Dog_Folks]

Bumpyroad wrote:
if you plan on staying in your RV till the "end", I would suggest getting a two bedroom unit. if not, one of which will be taken up by the sickest one with all of the oxygen bottles, concentrator, etc. etc. and the other person can always sleep on the jack knife sofa and will get a preview of what it is like when he/she later departs for he!!.
bumpy

As I mentioned before, I am already disabled and have a collection of "equipment." My wife still shares our bedroom.

Bumpy: With all respect: I am confused as to why you are so adamant about having a house as a part of an exit plan.

The only thing I can think of is you are enjoying engaging in debate or you have some undisclosed information that solidifies your position.

There are lots of people doing just the opposite of your advice and doing well. Your position is a valid one, BUT not the only one.

Besides, it is not a matter of "right" or "wrong," it is what works best for the individual.

[RVcrazy]

We are planning to FT starting this summer. The house will go on the market later this spring. When we need to come off the road, we won't want a big place with a yard to maintain. We thought about keeping our current home and renting it out; but the reality is that we really won't want to live there again. We would be concerned about the renter, the upkeep & wht may happen to the resale value a few years down the road.

[Bumpyroad]

if you plan on staying in your RV till the "end", I would suggest getting a two bedroom unit. if not, one of which will be taken up by the sickest one with all of the oxygen bottles, concentrator, etc. etc. and the other person can always sleep on the jack knife sofa and will get a preview of what it is like when he/she later departs for he!!.
bumpy

[BarbaraOK]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Flanz wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
that's why I caution people about selling their homes. nothing to fall back on.
bumpy

There's nothing wrong with selling the home as long as you take all or a good amount of the proceeds and put them away in a safe account. Then when your ready to come off the road you will have a good chunk of cash to use for your next home.

-paul

today that might be OK if you can find an insured guaranteed investment, but previously if you sold your house and full timed for some years, you wouldn't be able to afford to buy your house back.
bumpy

Why do you insist everyone has to purchase another house? Many of us don't!

Barb

[valhalla360]

Having an exit plan - good.
Keeping a house while gone - not as good.

Remember, if health forces you off the road, you probably will no longer be able to maintian the house.

Since houses and bank accounts typically go up at around the rate of inflation (admittedly we are coming out of an odd spell for both), a cash reserve gives you better options. It also means you aren't a defacto landlord and you don't have to cover maintenance and repairs remotely.

[Bumpyroad]

why does everybody keep saying they don't want a LARGE house? I don't want a large house either. but half of a duplex in a development like Leisure World, one of the communities where you can start in a small single unit and move up to elder care if needed, etc. or even a small stand alone house that is designed for wheelchair use,etc.?
bumpy

[Larryzv7]

Some RV’s are more comfortable and luxurious than some people’s S&B here in the U.S. My 5th wheel with it’s small space is luxurious compared to all the years I spent in the U.S. Army out in the field living in a large tent or on base in the barracks.

When I was a college teacher I had 5-months off every year with pay; 3-months during summer break, 1-month over Christmas holiday, and spring break and the other holidays off added up to 1-month. I got used to that and thought I would never want to go back to working with only a 2-week yearly vacation as it is for most jobs.

It’s the same with fulltime RVing for me. I feel blessed to be able to live the lifestyle and do the fulltime RVing which I am doing right now; especially since there are a lot of people here in the U.S. who want to retire but can‘t. Past lifestyles served me well, at least most of them, but I don‘t want to go back to them.

I read that Willie Nelson, who has a wonderful mansion, sleeps in his Motor-Home (RV) even while it is parked in the driveway of his house. He just feels more comfortable there.

[GramaofAAAA]

We have been planning for the last few years to go full time. We are just starting the paper work to sale our home to one of our children. We really don't want or need a large home (with all the stuff inside) and a large yard to care for. We plan to full time for a few years and then decide if we want to rent or buy something small and then travel as we want. But we never want to own a large place to keep up and pay taxes on. We're getting excited for June 1st!! 🙂

[2gypsies1]

I would guess that most people who have full-timed for a number of years and have sold their house would not want to go back to a typical house. They are used to living in a small space and loving it. You don't need a big house, maintenance and yard to take care of when you're 70+.

The full-timers we know have full-timed for 10+ years. They found a spot of the country that they had visited often and learned to love and have bought either a park-model trailer or a very small townhome or condo. Many can be bought fully furnished. Some still travel months at a time. They bought with the proceeds of the sale of their original home or their savings. We honestly don't know of anyone going back to their previous way of living and especially not going back to the winter climate again.

A major thing to think of is to not be in debt when you sell the house and everything in it. Take some of that money and buy your RV. Paying cash for the RV lets you truly be free. Then when you want to settle down again you'll have the money to do so.

As far as using a walker or wheelchair, we've met folks that easily do this. An RV can be modified for it. We've met folks on dialysis and without limbs and they manage just fine. If you really want to do it you'll find a way. I might also mention to make sure your medical insurance will cover you completely while traveling. We've had multiple surgeries and even cancer and had no medical bills while traveling.

[reubenray]

We are in the process of thinking about selling the S&B plus all contents and traveling more. The S&B is paid for and to big for us plus I am getting tired of the yard work.

The perfect scenario would be to take about a 1/4 (or less) of the money and use if for a small lot on a lake, river or bayou. Another 1/4 (or more) would be put in our emergency fund. The 1/2 (or less) would be used to upgrade to a bigger more capable 3/4 timing motorhome. I want to have an address to fall back on in case of an emergency. To start off with we will most likely live in the motorhome all the time either on the lot or traveling. So I guess it could still be called full-timing it.

[travelingbug]

Thank you all so much. Much to think about now.

[Larryzv7]

Bumpyroad wrote:

R12RTee wrote:
I don't get this thinking at all. I sold my house and if and when I decide to no longer live in an RV there are plenty of places for rent. I have no intention of doing all the upkeep on a house when I am old. I have enough capital from savings, investments, pension, SS and the house sale to buy a home but I would never want to.

perhaps 80% of the people out there do get this thinking.
bumpy

I think what some people don’t understand is that not everyone who buys an RV owns a house, and lots of people who are renting buy RV’s and then decide to go full-time RVing. To them whether or not they should keep their house is a mute point because they never had a house to begin with.

I’ve found that a lot of homeowners look down their nose on renters but during the housing crash renters where better off than a lot of homeowners who ended up walking away from their investment. The other thing is when a big storm wipes out a persons home who is renting they usually have an easier time with it than a homeowner who has lost their house.

In my opinion there are pros and cons to both renting and owning, but I love the freedom of not being attached to a house and all of its’ furnishings, HOA, property tax, etc. I can stop wherever I am at, anywhere in America, and rent a place without having to travel, especially under a dire situation or hundreds of miles, back to where my house is located.

Nonetheless, I do understand, different strokes for different folks.:)