the most fun we've ever had!
You want to buy a what?!? I can’t tell you how many times we heard that question. Deb, and I had been RV owners for more than 20 years; we started with a vintage pop-up trailer in 1990 – it was a 1967 Cox. And for a short time we towed around a travel trailer. We had so much fun adventuring with them. And now we knew we were ready to step up to the Big Leagues: a motorhome.
We had [twice] traveled to 49 of the 50 states and were ready to make a significant transition to a new lifestyle. We wanted to live full-time in our motorhome. What?!? OK … mebbe for just a couple years (at first). We were careful to give ourselves an escape plan. We wondered if we could somehow turn the adventure into a ministry.
What would you do with all your stuff? How will you get your mail? Hey, wait a minute..., what does the IRS think about people who full-time in an RV and have no fixed address? Our inquisitive friends were overly curious with their sweeping volleys of probing questions. But deep inside we suspected many of them were, at least in part, a wee bit envious. An opportunity to travel around our expansive and beautiful country is the one thing that is prolly on EVERYbody’s bucket list, isn’t it? So to want to do it ALL THE TIME must be a pretty good idea, then, huh?
What would you do with all your stuff? How will you get your mail? Hey, wait a minute..., what does the IRS think about people who full-time in an RV and have no fixed address? Our inquisitive friends were overly curious with their sweeping volleys of probing questions. But deep inside we suspected many of them were, at least in part, a wee bit envious. An opportunity to travel around our expansive and beautiful country is the one thing that is prolly on EVERYbody’s bucket list, isn’t it? So to want to do it ALL THE TIME must be a pretty good idea, then, huh?
We are baby-boomers. It would not surprise us if there is accelerated growth in larger RV sales as other retiring baby-boomers catch the adventure-bug and take to the road, too. It's quite affordable and a very satisfying life-style on more than one level. Here are some of our initial thoughts on Full-Timing in a RV:
- Simplified life – all of your possessions fit into one 440 square foot box on wheels
- Variety – You can change your front yard anytime that you want (a lot more fun than living in one place all the time)
- Spontaneity – If you pass by a place that makes you curious, you don’t need to worry about whether you will be able to find a nice motel in the area
- Livability -- today's RVs are so spacious; they feature full kitchens, computers, multiple TVs, large bedroom and bathroom, and plenty of room for two people to live comfortably
- No jury duty – or maybe there is (hmmmmm...?)
- "America the Beautiful" – almost every road is a stimulating and new scenic adventure; you can explore wherever/whenever you want
- The weather never gets too cold or too hot -- Travel north in the summer, south in the winter -- follow the Spring!
- Places to see – you will add so many great places to your list of sites to explore that your list will get longer, not shorter. WooHoo! Let the "full-times" roll!
- No yard work – enough said?
- Eco-Footprint -- Living in an RV is a lot "greener" than living in a large, traditional home, even after factoring in fuel
- Nuisances -- When the neighbor’s barking dog gets to you, you can just pull up your jacks and drive away
But wait! There's More...
...And the list goes on. In the Summer you are planning which route to take in the winter. In the Winter, you are planning which route to take in
the summer.
- Unbounded flexibility – Just keep it between the oceans, please!
- Fall in love with your spouse all over again – enjoy what you were doing together when you fell in love the first time
- Communities – Your sphere of friendships will grow as you meet fellow RVers (according to the 2000 census there are millions of them) as well as local personalities in the places you adventure
- What made America great – see all of the exciting history that you want, and at your pace ... "Remember the Alamo!"
- Extra income -- You can work (even earn $$$) when you want (or not) simply by jumping on the Internet or helping out at a Park
- Get outside of your box – There are a lot of remarkable cultures in our continent just waiting to experience you
- Volunteering and Workamping – thousands of terrific and needful programs in our country are designed for husband and wife teams who are fully mobile
...And the list goes on. In the Summer you are planning which route to take in the winter. In the Winter, you are planning which route to take in
the summer.
Remember: It's not the getting there -- it's the going that's good. Most full-time RVers follow some form of the "Rule of Threes," these are ours:
Every adventure brings new appreciation for this incredible hobby. So ... what is the NEGATIVE? Seems that it is separation from our family. But EVERYwhere is just an airplane ride away, right? And the kiddos have each expressed that they would like to come see us when we are camped in one of those cool places that THEY [also] want to explore! And in the meantime there is always Skype and FaceTime!
Now back to that list of places we want to see next summer. How does the song go? "...Get your motor runnin'... Get out on the highway...Looking for adventure...".
WooHoo!
- -Commit to no more than 3 calendared stops in every 3 month period,
- -Drive no more than 300 miles in any one day,
- -Drive no later than 3:00; and,
- -Stay at least 3 nights when you get there.
Every adventure brings new appreciation for this incredible hobby. So ... what is the NEGATIVE? Seems that it is separation from our family. But EVERYwhere is just an airplane ride away, right? And the kiddos have each expressed that they would like to come see us when we are camped in one of those cool places that THEY [also] want to explore! And in the meantime there is always Skype and FaceTime!
Now back to that list of places we want to see next summer. How does the song go? "...Get your motor runnin'... Get out on the highway...Looking for adventure...".
WooHoo!