I may NEED to live in my RV fulltime.

[jesseannie]

We are renting an apartment in Boise, ID. The rent is nearly 40% of my retirement income we are able to do that OK because I currently work a part time job. But the time is coming when I may not be able to work or just don't want to.
The big blow came yesterday when we heard that the rent at our complex will go up 17% at the end of our term. This will put the monthly payment out of our range even with my work income. Boise is an expensive city to live in and because of national attention is now unaffordable for us.
I don't need any lectures about how I should have planned for retirement better, sometimes unforseen things happen to even the best planning.
It is what it is.
We are assessing our options and one may be to live full time in our rig and work camp and find seasonal jobs on the road.
I have a lot of talents and I am in great physical condition. I have had a few seasonal gigs and enjoy that, so it will just be another adventure for us.
Jesseannie

[jesseannie]

I guess my first post may have given some the impression that I am close to homeless and may be arrested for vagrancy lol.
I am retired have great medical coverage a couple life insurance policies a lovely wife and a Springer Spaniel named Maggie.
There are places we can rent in Boise but I think we will just find ourselves priced out again.
If we choose to live in our travel trailer short or long term it would not be in the Northwest in the winter. We have the resources to travel and follow the warmth.
I guess my OP was more of a mild rant against the terrible rental prices near any Metro area. It is going to get harder even with a moderate income like we have.
Thanks to all who have participated and the advice I got.
Jesseannie

[TechWriter]

jesseannie wrote:

We are assessing our options and one may be to live full time in our rig and work camp and find seasonal jobs on the road.

What do you have for health care?

[theoldwizard1]

Very few RV are really designed to handle extreme temperatures well. Below freezing, you are going to have problems with plumbing freezing, including the waste tanks, plus you need energy to heat your poorly insulated RV. Above 80F and it will turn into a sweat box unless you have good air conditioning and the power to run.

Appliances in RV are not really designed to withstand day to day use.

I am not saying it can not be done. I am just saying it is not going to be easy.

[jesseannie]

bukhrn wrote:
"Boise is an expensive city to live in and because of national attention.."
Ok, I may be a little naïve, (or a lot), and I admit that I almost never watch the news, exactly What national attention has caused Boise to become an expensive city to live in?

Boise has been picked by Forbes, Money, Sunset and a few other national magazines in the top ten best cities for about 5 years. Idaho had the highest growth rate of any state in 2017 and I think they all settled in the Boise area. Good colleges, great outdoors recreation 2 or 3 large electronic companies highly rated medical care. And the BOISE STATE BRONCOS FOOTBALL team playing in a stadium with Blue Turf.
Lots of new people and a housing market that can't keep up means housing costs have risen over 10% a year for quite awhile.
There doesn't seem to be an end to it.
Jesseannie

[bukhrn]

"Boise is an expensive city to live in and because of national attention.."
Ok, I may be a little naïve, (or a lot), and I admit that I almost never watch the news, exactly What national attention has caused Boise to become an expensive city to live in?

[donn0128]

2gypsies wrote:
I think your plan will work very well. Remember... you don't have to stay in one climate year-round. You've got wheels. Find a warmish winter spot and a cool summer spot. You mentioned Dallas - it gets cold and hot there - not a good place for year-round RVing. Even Arizona has a great year-round temperature - desert for winter and mountains for summer. Best of luck to you!

The other Dallas, NOT Texas

[2gypsies1]

I think your plan will work very well. Remember... you don't have to stay in one climate year-round. You've got wheels. Find a warmish winter spot and a cool summer spot. You mentioned Dallas - it gets cold and hot there - not a good place for year-round RVing. Even Arizona has a great year-round temperature - desert for winter and mountains for summer. Best of luck to you!

[donn0128]

Roseburg is a nice town, but can get cold in winter. We love the small town life. Most everything except medical is within 15 miles. I still have to travel to Portland for my DR, VA medical. Mid coast as long as you dont want ocean view is still fairly reasonable. But, personally, I would move to full timing and start lining up either volunteer or paid camp hosting jobs. Volunteering is way less stressful and lower hours. For Oregon parks we work 20 hours a week each for a couple for our full hookup site. Work is 5 days on 2 consecutive days off. Easy and basicslly you are asked to do what you can. Those that work hard are in demand. We have friends who do Central Oregon during the summer, valley in the fall and coast in the winter. Keeping pretty moderate climate all year.

[jesseannie]

donn0128 wrote:
I have to agree totally. Get out of Boise. Unless there is an underlying reason you absolutely must stick around, large metropolotin cities will eat you alive cost wise. Yes, you must also have an exit plan. Because sometime in the future it will become nearly imposaaible for you to travel.
You could also look into someplace with a moderate climate and simply buy a park model or a used mfg home. Both options would be far cheaper in the long run than apartment living. The down side of course is your stuck in one place. But again picking a moderate climate location it should not be a hardship. Mid to southern Oregon coast is a good option that comes to mind.

We have looked at the Dallas area as well as a few others. My brother lives in Roseburg but it us a tough? Place to live unless your in a safe rural area.
Jesseannie

[jesseannie]

DallasSteve wrote:
Ooh a budget! Let me put my former CPA hat back on.

Camping fees $3,000 ($250 per month - I'm skeptical, that's less than $10 per day)
Fuel $4,000 ($75 per week - sounds reasonable)
Food $4,000 ($75 per week - that's plenty)
Extra $2,000 ($167 per month - not nearly enough for me)
------------
Total $13,000 per year

My extras (per month):

100 - Health insurance (if Medicare at 65)
100 - Auto/RV insurance (maybe more)
100 - Cell phone and Internet (maybe more)
100 - Repairs (maybe more)
----
400 - Total (realistically, I would budget at least $600 per month)

A realistic RV budget (living cheap):

$5,000 Camping fees ($400 per month)
$4,000 Fuel ($75 per week)
$4,000 Food ($75 per week)
$7,000 Extras ($600 per month)
-------------
$20,000 per year ($200 per month)

That looks reasonable our road budget is a little higher in some areas. By doing some volunteer work for few months we could cut the camping budget in half.
If it was a paying gig then it could just add to the savings account.
Jesseannie

[DallasSteve]

Ooh a budget! Let me put my former CPA hat back on.

Camping fees $3,000 ($250 per month - I'm skeptical, that's less than $10 per day)
Fuel $4,000 ($75 per week - sounds reasonable)
Food $4,000 ($75 per week - that's plenty)
Extra $2,000 ($167 per month - not nearly enough for me)
------------
Total $13,000 per year

My extras (per month):

100 - Health insurance (if Medicare at 65)
100 - Auto/RV insurance (maybe more)
100 - Cell phone and Internet (maybe more)
100 - Repairs (maybe more)
----
400 - Total (realistically, I would budget at least $600 per month)

A realistic RV budget (living cheap):

$5,000 Camping fees ($400 per month, that may still be light)
$4,000 Fuel ($75 per week)
$4,000 Food ($75 per week)
$7,000 Extras ($600 per month, that may still be light)
-------------
$20,000 per year ($1,667 per month, living very cheaply and ignoring depreciation)

My real, sustainable budget is between $25,000 and $35,000 per year.

[donn0128]

I have to agree totally. Get out of Boise. Unless there is an underlying reason you absolutely must stick around, large metropolotin cities will eat you alive cost wise. Yes, you must also have an exit plan. Because sometime in the future it will become nearly imposaaible for you to travel.
You could also look into someplace with a moderate climate and simply buy a park model or a used mfg home. Both options would be far cheaper in the long run than apartment living. The down side of course is your stuck in one place. But again picking a moderate climate location it should not be a hardship. Mid to southern Oregon coast is a good option that comes to mind.

[jesseannie]

Some good responses thanks.

Some answers we own our RV and truck both in good to excellent condition. We have an emergency fund for repairs or to buy another used truck.
Our trailer has wheels we would not be in a cold climate in the winter!
We make too much money to get assisted living housing.
A volunteer gig with free space is waaaaaaay cheaper than what our rent will be.
We are debt free no payments NADA both of us are healthy and don't currently need ongoing medical care but there are no guarantees.
Nothing holding us in Boise we just liked it here when we passed through a few years ago.
We will have a small resettlement account in the bank before we cut loose so we can get off the road if we want or need to.
We are not broke, destitute or homeless. Even without a job we could do fine, but in Boise the housing I would describe as affordable is often substandard. Our newly remodeled trailer is nicer it just needs a sewing room for my lovely. Lol
Jesseannie

[TenOC]

My yearly budget for fulltimeing since 2006

Camping fees $3,000 old timer 50% discount at government parks and membership in C2C, RPI and AOR. Annual maintenance fee $49 at Breckenridge Lakes, Crossville, TN

Fuel $4,000 I stay 7 to 21 days at each campground. I often overspend this amount.

Food $4,000 I do not eat out much, do my own cooking.

Extra $2,000

Total less than $15,000 per year

GO FOR IT BUT GO WHERE IT IS WARM.

[valhalla360]

With an RV already owned, it will likely be cheaper with a few caviots:
- What are the long term rates at the local campgrounds?
- Are you planning to stay in Boise year round? If yes, the heating costs could be substantial.