A home on wheels.
When most of us think of RVing or "fulltiming" we envision an older, retired couple in a motorhome, trailer, or fifth wheel chasing the seasons (snowbirding) from desert to mountain camping sites.
There's more to it than that, and the lifestyle is not confined to retirees.
There's an RV to fit everyone from big to small and cozy. This Class-A has "pop-outs" for maximizing living space when parked.
These days singles, couples, and even families are hitting the road and choosing to forgo high monthly rents and mortgages. Working from their home-vehicles these creative and adventuresome people enjoy nature's million-dollar vistas for without the million-dollar house, all for free in most cases.
Home is wherever you roam.
They've forsaken property taxes and insurance fees, mortgages, and yard upkeep. They've opted out of the failing promise of the American Dream and instead are living on their own terms.
The American Dream promises that if you work hard, acquire lots of stuff, you'll not only find happiness, but be able to retire and enjoy a prosperous life. Not always so for many.
Reduced pensions, high medical costs, and going into retirement with a lifetime of debt spells disaster for many. The "dream" has become a nightmare of poverty, lack, and misery.
Others just want to swap their formerly stationary lifestyle for one of mobility and "getting away from it all".
Of course, food, propane, gasoline, and dump stations are the main expenses of the mobile life, but far less so, than maintaining a "stick and brick" home. There are many living the nomadic life living well on pensions of $500 or $800 a month. Suddenly life is not only affordable, there are new friends and lovely spots to sojourn for a time.
It's not only the monetarily challenged that are hitting the road. Vintage and cobbled-together, DIY RV's share the road with six-figure mobile mansions complete with saunas, washers and dryers, and more.
Why would a wealthy person choose to hit the road and leave the trappings of the house on the hill?
Rich folk like to travel, too, and love an ever-changing panorama of natural vistas. Many tire of maintaining large homes and gardens. Like many others, they long to see America in all its wonder and diversity. They want more spontaneity and adventure and less predictability of the daily routine.
Glamping - glamour camping - has gone from occasional weekends and vacations to a full time lifestyle. Cozy and cute...who wouldn't wake up with a smile living here?
But what about lonliness?
Mobile nomads are only as "lonely" as they choose. There are clubs and social groups where meetups are planned. People may choose to travel with their mobile friends group-traveling from place to place.
An old sheep wagon - where the shephard lived - has been converted into a cozy, mobile retreat.
In addition to RV's, trailers, and fifth wheels, people convert mail trucks, U-Hauls, de-commissioned ambulances, bread trucks, even semi-tractors into mobile domiciles.
Nomadic types hit the road in all types of conveyances. Really, the sky is the limit!
How does one find a place to camp?
The Good Sam club publishes a big, fat catalog filled with campgrounds and dump stations. Freecampsites.net shows the "boondocker" (one who likes to camp in the boondocks) where they can camp for free.
Full time RVing guarantees an ever changing vista. Boondockers love to go and stay off the beaten path where few others venture.
BLM - Bureau of Land Management - and the USDA Forest Service manage many beautiful free and low-fee campsites in the Western states. There can be a limit to how long one can stay at a particular site to prevent permanent squatting. There may also be vehicle length limits negating where some of the large RV's can camp.
The BLM generally has a two-week limit. Most people simply move to another nearby campsite when the two weeks is up. State Parks usually charge a fee for day use and overnight camping, but seasonal passes are available that greatly discount those fees.
Teardrop trailer owners, such as the popular TAB models, have their own large following and travel clubs.
Many RVers opt to install solar panels to maximize the amount of time between visits to towns to resupply and to recharge the batteries that run cabin power and their devices.
How does one get their mail, pay their bills, order online, communicate with the outside world?
RVers do have cellphones and laptops, and cell towers reach most locales. Many folk have YouTube channels where they share their lives and adventures.
Many off-grid RVers use Verizon Hot spot to receive streaming shows and upload their videos. There's also a Boost option to enhance cell signals and upload speeds.
Bills are paid on line or mailed from the post office of towns and cities they frequent for their supplies and to dump/refill their tanks. The Post Office's General Delivery option is used to receive mail and shipments.
There's an RV to fit every personality and lifestyle.
Check out Carolyn's RV Life on YouTube. This full timer lives in her Class-C RV, travels, and hikes. She also shares why she chose this lifestyle and the how-to's of living in an RV full time. She talks about where to camp, solve RV issues, and boondocking. Check this out by clicking on the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoy3vNUjLOU&t=272s
This truck/camper combo means you can use a truck you may already own, thereby saving money to outfit for your roaming lifestyle.
RVing is a popular option for those wanting to break free of debt, the eight to five rat race, and live free and frugally.
My next post will take us "back to school!
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The RVing lifestyle isn't new! This historic model didn't have many of the perks of today's RV's such as running water, toilets, showers, kitchens, TV's, microwaves, and more.
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