13 reasons you will regret an RV in retirement

[SummitPond]

I don't agree with the premise at all, and of course there are links in the article stating just the opposite.

It came through on an MSN newsfeed (https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB14IVNq?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare) - almost like clickbait.

But the article does have points to ponder for those considering full-timing.

[gearhead]

I've had people ask me if we were going to go full time. Nope, no way. I enjoy my back porch sittin and looking at the trees, not another RV. But whatever floats your boat.

[sourdough]

I've seen that article before and hopefully anyone thinking about full timing, or owning an RV, has done enough due diligence to know all that.

Full timing in an RV? That could, and would, not happen in our world. An RV is so temporary, fragile, disintegrates. We travel all around and invariably you're in a park with all those "full timers" ie; live in them. 300 sq. ft. trapped in a 30' x 60' "home space" covered in all the things that you would want in a "home" place - minus about 90% of it then stuff it like you had a "home". Constantly trying to fix roofs, slides, broke stuff. Then the rain comes.....nah.

All should understand that there 2 definitions of full timers; those that travel all the time, looking for new adventures; money, time, situation is meaningless then those that must live in them. Two very distinct scenarios.

A lot of rhetoric and I'm sorry. I think of RVers as RVers; folks that move into, and live, in an RV aren't full timers to me - they LIVE in an RV unless they travel. JMO/YMMV

[travelin texans]

We were full-time travelers by our choice for just over 10 years & wouldn't trade 1 minute of the experience.

[roadglide]

I have a friend Single dude likes to play pool and drink beer , Ride his Harley and chase women. He is full-time has sold everything he owns except the truck camper. I forgot to mention his give a ****ter is broken. If I was to full-time I would do it like my friend free wheeling not tied down to anyone. With the country shut down his lifestyle has changed dramatically.

[Huntme]

full time is a life style,no doubt about it,10 years and I still like my trailer.

[FlyingAroundRV]

Again, I find myself in furious agreement with Danny. Full time RVing in my opinion is travelling. Living in a trailer park is totally different. My family did the latter (out of necessity) when I was a kid. Never again.
But having said that, would I ditch the S&B to travel full time in an RV? No way. Just like I wouldn't do what some I know, who've sold their homes, bought a boat and spend their lives sailing around the world.
Sooner or later, your health is going to decline and getting back to solid ground is very difficult coming off a depreciating asset. I know a few people who are in this exact predicament and life is pretty tough for them, even here in Oz with our great healthcare system.

[JRTJH]

I was in the Air Force when we first married. DW's first experience as a new USAF wife was Incirlik AB, Turkey. We lived in "base housing" which was Italian trailers moved to Turkey after they were used for several years in Lybia at Wheelus AB.

It was laid out very much like a 30' travel trailer and we called it "home" for the 2 year tour in Turkey.

My wife's only "hard and fast requirement" for any home we've had since that "experience in full timing" was that if there's no place in the house to make left or right turns, she's not going to live there. So, the closest we'll get to full timing is a month or two "on the road" then back to her "left/right rooms"....

[Dave W]

RVing is a lfestyle. If I were to consider doing it today, would have to do a lot more research then we did in 1973 when a p'up was our way. We then moved to a Kountry Aire 5er and have had several between that one and the current 2014 Montana. Today, lots of hard earned dollars for less then mediocre quality vs what even our current, now 7 seasons old was built. Yes, lots more bling and hard to repair gadgets addwd even in those 7 years but are they really added value? Or just added price for poor quality? It sounds great - open skys, wide highways and beautiful beachs. For sure. Along with how many million other people clamoring for the same dream.

We OWN our 5er, no bank or loan company. We OWN our high milege truck. But we also OWN our ~4000 sq foot house, decent neighborhood, acre lot. I'm not really willing to give up a big basement shop and big two car garage that I can actually fit that long bed, crew cab truck for about 400 square feet with neighbors parked within a few feet. Our RVing today is mostly a seasonal site (a very big one at the CG we stay in), pulling out late in the summer for an extended 3-7 week trip

Sure, we could do more traveling and might have considered long time (3-6 mos/year) but full time is and was never considered.

If FT is "your thing" abd suits your lifestyle, I applaud your choice

[LewisB]

I have a friend Single dude likes to play pool and drink beer , Ride his Harley and chase women. He is full-time has sold everything he owns except the truck camper. I forgot to mention his give a ****ter is broken. If I was to full-time I would do it like my friend free wheeling not tied down to anyone. With the country shut down his lifestyle has changed dramatically.

Now THAT is a sad story. When he is on his death bed, he can ponder his legacy - a list of pool halls, gallons of beer, an old motorcycle/truck/camper that will be sold for almost nothing, and a list of one-night stands with names he can't even remember. Rest in peace - then meet your maker...

I have no desire to build a legacy - but I'd like to go knowing that somehow, I added a little something to this world that enriched the lives of people around me. I'd like to hear "well done, good and faithful servant!"

[sourdough]

An observation that I failed to mention in my previous post;


When I was growing up you had mostly homes of some kind around (we always lived in smaller towns) from mansions to barely standing up, but most folks lived in those. In the 60s or so mobile homes (manufactured housing now) became popular and there were mobile home parks all around that folks lived in when a house was not an option, or, they could get something new and shiny for the price of that s&b.

If one notices now (at least we do) there are no new mobile home parks. Every single true mobile home park is dilapidated and the mobile homes in them are generally run down. Why? They still make mobile homes but I see them pop up on a piece of property vs a "park". Mobile home parks? They've turned into "RV parks". With the economy booming or busting there's always "that section" of the park set aside for the "full timers" (ie; live in them permanently). That's something I don't recall seeing back then. Heck, I checked into one campground and they told me that they only saved EIGHT slots for overnite "RVers" (out of about 80+) and the rest were for "full timers" (live in them). Many (in this park as well) have old trailers with absolutely no way to move them and they drive an old car. When hurricane Michael came calling they had to depend on the good will of others to move them....or not. So I think that is a transition we've seen take place.

All that to try to say that I think it's misleading to consider those that live in an RV in one place "RVers". I do think that those that full time yet move around to see the country are truly RVing - and we've discussed it (retaining s&b...but it was a short, one sided conversation:nonono:). With the various uses that RVs are put to the term RVer is getting muddied up a bit IMO.

RVing is a lifestyle choice. Actually living in one is sometimes forced on folks due to life circumstances and it is the only financially available option. Whatever path one chooses, or has forced upon them, I wish them well and hope to see you "on the road" one day. :D

[notanlines]

I see both sides of this discussion, and good on all of you for seeing the 'other side' with respect. We are on the road or in RV parks 9 months a year. Nothing puts joy in our hearts like Willy Nelson's "On the road again." I have nothing but disdain for a John Deere zero turn mower. My hands aren't ever going to fit a mower. I'd pave the lawn green left up to me. DW isn't interested in cleaning a four bedroom house. The housekeeper comes once a week when we're home.
But there is the security of driving into that cove and knowing that house is paid for and has been for 20 years. It may not be our final home when all the tires go flat on the fiver, but I do see the security side of this discussion.
When my time finally comes and I'm called home, if God deems a little purgatory necessary it will end up being behind a push mower and there will only be light beer.

[wiredgeorge]

We have eight dogs now (down from a high of 11 a few years back) and some of these dogs will probably outlive me. (also have 3 indoor cats). We are doomed to brick and mortar and a life of weekend warriors. My wife enjoys taking at least one of our mutts; a peek-a-poo named Honeybun. She is a wonderful camper... no yapping, no messing, no escaping/running away and always happy. She does snore and likes to sleep on our queen bed so the trick is to nod off before her. :lol:
Only negative with Honeybun is unquestionably the world's greatest beggar!

[sourdough]

I see both sides of this discussion, and good on all of you for seeing the 'other side' with respect. We are on the road or in RV parks 9 months a year. Nothing puts joy in our hearts like Willy Nelson's "On the road again." I have nothing but disdain for a John Deere zero turn mower. My hands aren't ever going to fit a mower. I'd pave the lawn green left up to me. DW isn't interested in cleaning a four bedroom house. The housekeeper comes once a week when we're home.
But there is the security of driving into that cove and knowing that house is paid for and has been for 20 years. It may not be our final home when all the tires go flat on the fiver, but I do see the security side of this discussion.
When my time finally comes and I'm called home, if God deems a little purgatory necessary it will end up being behind a push mower and there will only be light beer.


Haaa! See red above. I know this is off topic of the 13 reasons not to own an RV but....my neighbor across the street did just that - sort of. We use the same lawn service. He had a well dug and watered his yard with that. I just had them add a meter to city water and put the lawn systems on it. His well started pumping some sand and he got aggravated and absolutely would not pay the city for water (old farm guy from a family of farm guys). Drove over on his Gator one day and told me he was digging up all the grass, covering the lawn system and "doing away with it all". Gonna save lots of money from that well and the lawn guy along with not messing with the yard anymore.

Well, he did. Came in, leveled that yard, recessed all the sprinklers, put some sort of compacted base all over it and.....put it some kind of fake grass. Bright green I might add. Looks nice and not out of place in summer. In winter it's a little startling to look over and see this brilliant green yard while everything else is dead. And that yard guy that cost so much money? Turns out that he has lots of trees and they drop leaves badly. The pickup of them was included in his yard fees. Now he's paying them anyway to blow that deep green covering off so it will still stay "brilliant green". It's a hoot. Painting the yard green might be the better way to go....:lol:

[wiredgeorge]

What is a lawn? is that the place where you use a string trimmer to cut down the 3' high weeds once every couple months? BTW: Had a 4' rattlesnake slithering across our drive and I bashed its head in with a piece of old wood trim from our car port. Took the missus out and showed her and it was still wiggling in spite of its lack of a head and she wanted me to shoot it. "IT AIN'T DEAD ENOUGH!". The joys of the Hill Country!

[sourdough]

4' rattler? That's supper right there! Hope you cooked him up.

[Huntme]

I know that me and the DW,made a Decision to live in our 2011 Hideout for the last 9 years,in a park,it is a life style choice,we still love our trailer,and our 2015 Springdale travel trailer we bought to Hunt in, and travel in ,so me and the Boss,my wife,have no regrets,at least not yet.

[McRod]

Ok, I read the article, but I didn't see it talking about full timing - specifically. The title just preps the reader for owning an RV in retirement. All thirteen reasons, valid or not, could apply to both full timers and part timers.

A few people here have pointed to differences in full time RV travelers and full time living in a RV stationary. If you are full time living in a RV stationary, most of the article is invalid. If you are traveling in the RV, full time or part time, most of the article is valid.

[Phil Saran]

All the comments have value.
When I got divorced in 2004 my ex bought me out of the house. I looked around at apartments and anything I would consider renting was at least $1500 plus I would have to buy furniture.

So I shopped around and found a couple who needed to sell their 27 foot Terry TT and placed it in a small park a mile from the beach for $500 a month. I was still communicating 50 miles to work.

Did that for a couple of years until I met my new wife. A few more TT and a MH and now a 5th wheel trailer.

We travel one weekend a month during the summer with our Elks Lodge camping group. This coming winter (2021) we are going to try out going to Az for a month and a few other weeks traveling to warm places.

[jimborokz]

First, that article is definitely just click bait.
Having said that, it starts out with selling the house and hitting the road, so it is all about full timing. Narrows the field to about 1% or less of retirees. Then it seems to focus on motorhomes and the costs associated with them. Narrow that field even further.:cool:

Even with that, the cost of full timing in an expensive motorhome is still cheaper and much more fulfilling than a nursing home.

I'll take the road please. We half time and still have a paid for S&B for the summer. Some full time and some just weekenders, some big 5er's and some small TT's. RVing for retirement is such a broad subject, no article can cover it all. There are whole books that try.

Just looking at the range of tastes on this forum alone shows how many strokes there are out there, and guess what, that's what makes this life so good.

Just looking at the morning news, we are definitely the sane ones.:bow:

[Huntme]

First, that article is definitely just click bait.
Having said that, it starts out with selling the house and hitting the road, so it is all about full timing. Narrows the field to about 1% or less of retirees. Then it seems to focus on motorhomes and the costs associated with them. Narrow that field even further.:cool:

Even with that, the cost of full timing in an expensive motorhome is still cheaper and much more fulfilling than a nursing home.

I'll take the road please. We half time and still have a paid for S&B for the summer. Some full time and some just weekenders, some big 5er's and some small TT's. RVing for retirement is such a broad subject, no article can cover it all. There are whole books that try.

Just looking at the range of tastes on this forum alone shows how many strokes there are out there, and guess what, that's what makes this life so good.

Just looking at the morning news, we are definitely the sane ones.:bow:



well said.

[travelin texans]

Maybe I should write a book, "13 reasons why not retire in a rv". Or should've posted our 10 years of fulltiming on U tube like several others are doing.

[Northofu1]

I think it all depends on how nomadic you have been throughout your life.

[Alpine]

Absolutely no regrets here! Sold our home, all the contents in the home and the garage (every power and manual tool a man could need). Retired May, 2013 and hit the road running and have made priceless memories! We have had pretty much an effortless experience with our (purchased new) 2012 Alpine, which makes for a totally different opinion than others who have had a myriad of problems from the get-go. So I guess we would be called "fulltime travelers", seven years & approximately 100,000 plus miles on the Alpine.

Recently we purchased property in an RV Resort. Our personal site has complete outdoor living areas, Kitchen, Dining, and living room overlooking the high desert and sunsets each night. I guess one could say this is our "sticks and bricks" when we are not on the road. We stay there off and on during the winter months... October thru May. Average temps around 70*.

I am the kind of guy that... If I can do it... I will not pay to have it done! So do I miss mowing the yard, painting the house inside and out, landscaping, changing the fluids in the cars and truck, washing all those windows etc, etc, etc.. Not one bit!!! :D

Oh and it sure is a huge bonus when your spouse feels the same!!!

[LadyCash]

I've had people ask me if we were going to go full time. Nope, no way. I enjoy my back porch sittin and looking at the trees, not another RV. But whatever floats your boat.
Full time isn’t looking at another RV. We do volunteer work at state parks without campgrounds and the view is always great! Of course this isn’t for everyone. I am glad we were told about it. I love the giving back, the nature, the beauty, the education, and we get to be in some beautiful places. =)

[gearhead]

Full time isn’t looking at another RV. We do volunteer work at state parks without campgrounds and the view is always great! Of course this isn’t for everyone. I am glad we were told about it. I love the giving back, the nature, the beauty, the education, and we get to be in some beautiful places. =)
I'm missing something. If you do volunteer work in a state park without a campground, where do you sleep?

[LadyCash]

I'm missing something. If you do volunteer work in a state park without a campground, where do you sleep?

They have sites for volunteers and rangers. They are spaced out throughout the park. Though one we considered was fenced in the city because it was a state park trail. Some are VERY remote and let you know before you accept.

[nitrohorse]

My plan for full timing will come when I need assisted living. I plan on booking cruises every week. One can get a closet sized, windowless room next to the ship's engines for about approx. $800.00 a week. I have all my meals included and have fresh sheets and towels. Who would have thought that Carnival cruise lines has a glorified assisted living option....ha..ha.

[dutchmensport]

I think if someone just flat out sells their house and hits the road and has never camped a day in their life before will experience all the things mentioned in the article AND will face the horrid SHOCK it's NOTHING what they were expecting or visioned in their bubble dream world.

For those of use who have grown into RV's, passed through the tent stage, to the pop-up camper, to the travel trailers, the fifth wheels, truck campers, and motor homes, who have been week-end warriors, 2 week a year Summer vacation travelers, occasional work from camper (seasonal, temporary, or even a campground work-camper), who have bought and sold and bought again new RV's, dealt with all the up's and down's of RV ownership .... NONE of the things listened in the article is a surprise when the big day comes to lock the front door of the house that last time. We've grown through these processes and learned to deal with them over years and years of first hand experience. There are no surprises .... except one! And I think it's a "surprise" when you take a trip and there are actually no surprises!

I have ALWAYS advised folks who say they want to sell out, get an RV and hit the road, to buy the RV and use it for at least a year before hitting the road, for a number of reasons.

The first is, because it takes time to work out all the different problems and warranty issues that happen in the first year.

The reason you find all these issues in the first year, is because you are using the camper as much as possible. Issues do not turn up until the camper is actually used.

Next, when issues turn up, warranty work is needed, you have the safety net of your stick-n-brick home to live in, if you camper sits at an RV lot for 3 months waiting on repairs! If you are on the road and this happens, and you have no where to live for that duration, you are really screwed.

It takes a year to figure out 99% of how your camper works, and how to prepare for it ... extreme heat, extreme cold, being trapped inside when it's raining for days and days, and how to deal with natural events, like tornados, floods, hurricanes. It easier to learn how to do this with the safety of your stick-n-brick home to retreat to if you can't figure it out, than it is to panic and be completely clueless when you are in the middle of nowhere and suddenly find yourself in a precarious situation. Take a year, learn how to do this, get the expereince, and then after 1 year, IF you still have the same enthusiasm to hit the road, then GO and live life! You're better prepared now.

Pipe dreams and bubble dreams get shattered real fast for people who have never done it before and find their imaginations are nothing compared to reality.

The article is good for someone who has never owned an RV before, and for someone who probably has never camped a day in their life, thinking the RV lifestyle is the cheap answer to all their financial problems.

For those who are seasoned, .... we already now this stuff, accept it, and it's all a part of our lives we live with every day, and we do it gladly, because we realize the end result is worth it, more than the inconveniences addressed in that article.

[gearhead]

They have sites for volunteers and rangers. They are spaced out throughout the park. Though one we considered was fenced in the city because it was a state park trail. Some are VERY remote and let you know before you accept.
Ahh, OK
That works.
I've just got too deep roots where I'm at to move away permanently. A month or so at a time is OK. But I'm not leaving my kids and grandkids.
And, I walk out my backdoor into a National Wildlife Refuge.
Are you "on duty" all year?

[2Savages]

I was in the Air Force when we first married. DW's first experience as a new USAF wife was Incirlik AB, Turkey. We lived in "base housing" which was Italian trailers moved to Turkey after they were used for several years in Lybia at Wheelus AB.

It was laid out very much like a 30' travel trailer and we called it "home" for the 2 year tour in Turkey.

My wife's only "hard and fast requirement" for any home we've had since that "experience in full timing" was that if there's no place in the house to make left or right turns, she's not going to live there. So, the closest we'll get to full timing is a month or two "on the road" then back to her "left/right rooms"....
I will drink to your experience at the (LIK) in Turkey. It was a silver Twinkie (Airstream) 50's vintage with a half bath and no room to sit on the toilet without pinning the knees along the bath. It was the wildest camping out adventure with having to secure your propane for the winter and staying outside in the summer for air conditioning. At least we had full hookups.
So No, to full time, unless I have a full Cabana, porch/deck and laundry room addition such as a double wide mobile home and resort atmosphere.

[Fishsizzle]

I was just going to ask some of these questions.

We are now “full time” as we live in our Alpine. We bought some small acreage when we sold our home with the intention of building a new home.

We then thought, hey we can do this 5th wheel life more. Well we can’t.

My wife needs a place that’s more stable. When she had a bad day, I’d go down and get a flat of Pansies or Petunias and she would spend the afternoon filling planters or window boxes. I’ve found out she doesn’t have that outlet now, and she needs it.

I’m a bit of a slob, can live anywhere, but I do miss a shop for projects.

At any rate, now we are contemplating a Barn with a small apartment in it for relaxing/laundry, and a real bath tub.

We figure we have 8-10 years before our folks need pretty substantial care, and will build a home in case we need to take some of them in.

We hope to travel a month or two in the winter to recharge our batteries from work and the snow.

[LadyCash]

Ahh, OK
That works.
I've just got too deep roots where I'm at to move away permanently. A month or so at a time is OK. But I'm not leaving my kids and grandkids.
And, I walk out my backdoor into a National Wildlife Refuge.
Are you "on duty" all year?

It depends on the state. The one we are currently in requires 20 hours per week (per site whether a couple or one person); the next state we head to in May requires 24 hours per site but it structured 3 days in 3 days off in a rolling rotation. Every state park is unique. =) We enjoy it very much!

[JRTJH]

Justin,

Before we bought our cabin up here (back in the 80's) we built a 38x32 pole barn with a bathroom in one corner, 2 rollup garage doors on the side with windows on the opposite side and along the front and full hookups next to the rollup doors. At the time we had a 34' Holiday Rambler travel trailer. We would tow it up here, back it "VERY CAREFULLY" adjacent to the two rollup doors, open them so the two doors on the trailer were centered on the doors. That gave us a kitchen/bedroom and small bath (in the trailer) and a HUGE family room with a real bathroom in the pole barn. We spent several summers "parked in the woods" with that rig and it was "more comfortable than most cabins we'd rented"...

We sold that pole barn (for a nice profit) when we bought the cabin and later tore down the cabin to build this house once we retired. We've thought about building another pole barn to "park the trailer against" somewhere in the southwest, but the older we get the "shallower is that plan"...

[Fishsizzle]

Justin,

Before we bought our cabin up here (back in the 80's) we built a 38x32 pole barn with a bathroom in one corner, 2 rollup garage doors on the side with windows on the opposite side and along the front and full hookups next to the rollup doors. At the time we had a 34' Holiday Rambler travel trailer. We would tow it up here, back it "VERY CAREFULLY" adjacent to the two rollup doors, open them so the two doors on the trailer were centered on the doors. That gave us a kitchen/bedroom and small bath (in the trailer) and a HUGE family room with a real bathroom in the pole barn. We spent several summers "parked in the woods" with that rig and it was "more comfortable than most cabins we'd rented"...

We sold that pole barn (for a nice profit) when we bought the cabin and later tore down the cabin to build this house once we retired. We've thought about building another pole barn to "park the trailer against" somewhere in the southwest, but the older we get the "shallower is that plan"...

Sounds like we are on your plan. We love our new property (2 ac), far enough from town but can still make work in 15-20 mins. Family is all still here.

We can build the home anytime. We would like a home in AZ, wife wants a yard as well. The new MH allows us to venture out relatively inexpensive and keep a “home base”

Who knows, I don’t have all the answers, and it could all change tomorrow

[JRTJH]

Our plans changed "at least 15 times" from 2003 when we built our house in Louisiana with plans to winter there, summer in a small cabin up here and fly/drive to destinations as we wanted to see them. Plan was essentially, to rent a condo or just stay in an extended stay hotel as we travel...

There were several "changes as the years progressed" and then in 2008, I decided to retire. DW told me, (with no smile), "We've spent the last 40 years living where the Air Force sent us and where you wanted to live. I'm tired of snakes and alligators in the pool and wild hogs in the back yard. I want to go home and live in Michigan." Well, with her "look" I had no choice but to say, "Yes dear" and VOILA, here we are.... Living the dream, eh ???

Actually, I told her OK, but this time, I'm not spending a winter in Michigan, snowbound in that damn little cabin with you and no way to get out and enjoy the snow and cold.... So, we can do that, but we're building a bigger house and I'm getting all the toys I've been saving for my whole life... I must have hit her at a vulnerable moment because she said "DEAL"... and the rest is history.... I got all the toys, snowmobiles, new boat, tractor, ATV's and UTV's, motorcycle, trailer, truck, pole barns (2 going on 3) to keep it all in and unfortunately, she put her foot down when I stopped at a little private airport in Atlanta, MI to look at a Cessna 182.... That was a "chilling ride home" and I've "sort of stopped looking for an airplane".... (for now) :whistling:

[gearhead]

Thankfully I missed the airplane "bug". I had a half dozen co-workers into them and got to hear about their adventures. Sounded similar to adventures with RV's....who is the best/cheapest A&P mechanic, what airport has the cheapest fuel and hangar, where to eat in Heber Springs Arkansas, etc. All the details of how to cut an old Swift in half for lunch time conversation. Building a push/pull kit plane......

[Fishsizzle]

I love planes, everything about this is magic. However, I am not a detail person. Everyone who knows me would NEVER get in a plane with me, maybe not even myself.

Your comment about your wife reminded me of a moment I had while working on the motorhome.

What a wife I have found that would let me sight unseen, spend big bucks on a motorhome? Then pack up for 2 weeks and let me demo it, work on the engine, and follow me home?

After almost 30 years, I find I’m still very blessed to have her.

It’s why we are trying to get more time, together, experiencing new things. The RVs give us a path towards adventure. I think that’s what most people are looking for. Problem is their problems are still there. Full timing in a small space will make them come to a head quicker

[Sarge2]

I got all the toys, snowmobiles, new boat, tractor, ATV's and UTV's, motorcycle, trailer, truck, pole barns (2 going on 3) to keep it all in and unfortunately, she put her foot down when I stopped at a little private airport in Atlanta, MI to look at a Cessna 182.... That was a "chilling ride home" and I've "sort of stopped looking for an airplane".... (for now) :whistling:[/QUOTE]

Got my private in 1985...I owned a 1959 Cessna 182 ... best plane I ever flew.

[nitrohorse]

Now THAT is a sad story. When he is on his death bed, he can ponder his legacy - a list of pool halls, gallons of beer, an old motorcycle/truck/camper that will be sold for almost nothing, and a list of one-night stands with names he can't even remember. Rest in peace - then meet your maker...

I have no desire to build a legacy - but I'd like to go knowing that somehow, I added a little something to this world that enriched the lives of people around me. I'd like to hear "well done, good and faithful servant!"

He always has time to repent.

[Ken / Claudia]

My 2 cents worth, not sure this was said.
At my state retirement meetings, yes I got paid to go to 16 hours of estate, retirement planning. Many have a big pool of money and need to decide what to do with it.
They strongly stated do not sell your house to buy a RV and full time in the RV. Unless you plan on having cash on hand to buy a home or condo in a few years.
The reason was given if or when you want to settle somewhere. The RV will not be worth much compared to when new and housing costs likely will be higher. So, you may not be able to get back into home ownership.
It was just commonsense to me, planning ahead, do not put all your money into 1 investment. Do not spend your life savings to RV full time.
I might want to travel around for a few months at a time, but the full timing for ever life style is not for me or my wife. Some can and will do it. My hats off to you. I would never want to take away someone's life dreams of living on the road. I want a home to come home to and call it mine.

[Javi]

"WE" will never sell everything and full time the DW could never do it.

I could easily do it and would have already done it 10 years ago but I've accepted that as long as she is with me it will not happen.

Heck, I learned a long time ago that when she's ready to go home it's best to load up and head back. I've had to do it the day we arrived and I've had to turn around before we even got there. I've seen a month long trip that we planned for two years turn into 3 days and we never got there. I once drove from the Painted Desert to Waco stopping only for fuel because she decided that she wanted to go home NOW.

Me... I'd spend 6 months in the mountains and 6 months at the beach and never bat an eye but I've traveled all my life and she was always a homebody.

[JRTJH]

I broke my hip playing tennis about 12 years ago. Having to use crutches and a walker for 2 months taught me "real fast" that I don't want to navigate RV steps with crutches and I really don't want to sleep in theater seats when the bed is "3 steps up"... Then there's that pesky thing called needing to go to the bathroom in a fifth wheel.....

For us, RVing is a "while we're healthy" kind of lifestyle. I couldn't imagine being relegated to a walker or a wheelchair or even a "scooter-mobile" and trying to travel in a fifth wheel or motorhome.... Just setup/breaking camp would be a significant hinderance to remaining mobile....

We've got the RV for travel, but we've got the "necessary adaption of a home" if our health changes so that we can't travel any longer.

I'm of the opinion (everybody has one) that the closer to slowing down that I get, the more important having a community of friends, a hospital and healthcare that "knows who I am" and the framework to stay independent even if health status changes is important. I couldn't imagine trying to recover from heart surgery or being stuck in one place for radiation therapy or chemo therapy for several years... and you (at least I) don't want to change oncologists or cardiac surgeons midstream....

Lots to think about "toward the end of a lifetime of full timing....

[sourdough]

^^^^^This would be us. No way will DW full time in an RV and absolutely wouldn't sell her house. Heck, she wouldn't even let me sell it and build a new one in FL....or MO, or AR - so here we (I) are.

Over the last several years we have watched folks age and have issues. Some either had their homes and gave up RVing. Some had to sell their RV and then had enough to buy a tiny home. Some still live in the RV. Option 1 is the way to go IMO. Like most things I think one will know when "it's time" and the things required to be in an RV are too much trouble...or you can't do them.

To each his own on how to proceed into "aging" but when they took my knee out I found lots of things either impossible or difficult to the extreme. I built a new bathroom just for that eventuality; you can't do that in an RV.

[wborisenok]

First, that article is definitely just click bait.
Having said that, it starts out with selling the house and hitting the road, so it is all about full timing. Narrows the field to about 1% or less of retirees. Then it seems to focus on motorhomes and the costs associated with them. Narrow that field even further.:cool:

Even with that, the cost of full timing in an expensive motorhome is still cheaper and much more fulfilling than a nursing home.

I'll take the road please. We half time and still have a paid for S&B for the summer. Some full time and some just weekenders, some big 5er's and some small TT's. RVing for retirement is such a broad subject, no article can cover it all. There are whole books that try.

Just looking at the range of tastes on this forum alone shows how many strokes there are out there, and guess what, that's what makes this life so good.

Just looking at the morning news, we are definitely the sane ones.:bow:

Love this response :thumbsup:

[wborisenok]

Our plans changed "at least 15 times" from 2003 when we built our house in Louisiana with plans to winter there, summer in a small cabin up here and fly/drive to destinations as we wanted to see them. Plan was essentially, to rent a condo or just stay in an extended stay hotel as we travel...

There were several "changes as the years progressed" and then in 2008, I decided to retire. DW told me, (with no smile), "We've spent the last 40 years living where the Air Force sent us and where you wanted to live. I'm tired of snakes and alligators in the pool and wild hogs in the back yard. I want to go home and live in Michigan." Well, with her "look" I had no choice but to say, "Yes dear" and VOILA, here we are.... Living the dream, eh ???

Actually, I told her OK, but this time, I'm not spending a winter in Michigan, snowbound in that damn little cabin with you and no way to get out and enjoy the snow and cold.... So, we can do that, but we're building a bigger house and I'm getting all the toys I've been saving for my whole life... I must have hit her at a vulnerable moment because she said "DEAL"... and the rest is history.... I got all the toys, snowmobiles, new boat, tractor, ATV's and UTV's, motorcycle, trailer, truck, pole barns (2 going on 3) to keep it all in and unfortunately, she put her foot down when I stopped at a little private airport in Atlanta, MI to look at a Cessna 182.... That was a "chilling ride home" and I've "sort of stopped looking for an airplane".... (for now) :whistling:

This is the best example of compromise in marriage I've ever seen. Forwarding to my wife right now. :lol:

[Jim2366]

My Dad past away a year ago at 92 and spent his last years in an expensive senior living facility. He had to walk from his two bedroom apartment to an elevator and walk quarter mile to the dinning area. He ended up using an electric scooter and lost stengh and ended up in a wheel chair.

Living in an the 5th wheel is a lot easier. I like having both a home and an RV and I like both. My Mom died at home and lived a great life and the bedroom was on the second floor. Three steps is nothing. She died of Pancratic Cancer and actually went up and down the steps.