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We had a motor home and a month of traveling was sufficient. Lack of space and other issues gets old. We used it to vacation yearly with 4 dogs for 13 years and then sold it.
Yes, I get that too. My Sprinter is ideal for one person. With two people, you're in each others' way constantly. The limited amount of cargo space forces you to get creative with stowing essentials.
Love the galley and the bathroom, though. Just got a new inverter and it is awesome. The old inverter was a piece of crud.
Seems prudent. For those fortunate enough to live a long life, at some point one becomes incapable or unsafe when it comes to operating a motor vehicle.
Last edited by Arktikos; 07-09-2022 at 09:10 AM..
Reason: typo
Yes, and it's hard being on the road. Many nomads travel together. Some like to be solitary. I would be on the fence about that. It would be prudent to travel with others if one is a senior, though.
Debra Dickenson is one who is like that. She has put out a few really informative videos in the past 2 weeks about new laws regarding NRC's (Non-Recreational Camping) on federal public land.
This is another reason why some nomads are getting off the road - if they can. It takes a lot of money and elbow grease to set up, furnish and landscape raw land.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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It's expected there will be transitions in FT economy RV living, especially when it was vaulted to fame and trendy. Fortunately, there are many options. I've had friends and family take many paths. Each has there own benefit. One must count the costs and time remaining. I would not start from scratch on bald, dry, remote land. And most of the desirable vacant spots got snatched during Covid, greatly ratcheting up the price. These properties may fall back to reasonable, but unlikely cheap. There is a lot of money parked in bare land.
We assisted an elderly couple who homesteaded 40 acres at age 70. They cleared the 200'tall trees, built an airstrip, hangar, machine shop, house, gardens, roads.... Then they were worn out. I had to sell everything and get them into care by age 85, they were gone in 2 more yrs. A dream realized, but not able to relax and enjoy. Health trumped desires. They bought a huge RV at age 80, and did not get to use it once. Just too much, and too little energy / health.
I've been gleaning my country places for great gains and great deals for the buyers. But I still have too many. They all cash flow and each has main home (rented to retirees) an extra home / cabin for me, + RV sites + shops, barns, mature landscape. Each are view props and less than 10 minutes to full service towns. Many venues and international airports less than an hour from each.
Those of you in the planning stage, consider the points of self sufficient, financially viable on their own, and having extra living space for future caregivers and visitors, if the need arises.
Those who are aged and at risk of missing the window of ability.... Just buy a place fully equipped. Money well spent at this age.
I hope the transitioning road warriors find their next paradise and good fortune.
Yes, I get that too. My Sprinter is ideal for one person. With two people, you're in each others' way constantly. The limited amount of cargo space forces you to get creative with stowing essentials.
Love the galley and the bathroom, though. Just got a new inverter and it is awesome. The old inverter was a piece of crud.
If I haven't said it yet, Welcome home!
Our motor home was 27 ft but older so no slide outs which can make it feel bigger. The bathroom was tiny. It did have a bedroom with a sliding door which was nice so one person could sleep and one be up. Anyway it wasn’t for me on a long term basis. It feels good to be home!
With age, many have always went off the road. Following this after we moved to AZ for awhile back in the 1990s, the population of full-time nomads has boomed. For everyone that leaves, another one or two or more are hitting the road. It is almost impossible to find a used van, youtube is full of nomads, and with Bob Wells of Cheap RV Living, if you go to the forum that he established, you'll find that more are joining the lifestyle every day.
I believe there is no end in sight for this lifestyle, as it is just too much of an adventure for some people to pass up! People like me!
I would think that some of the RV full timers or nomads are getting squeezed by high fuel prices, if they are frequently on the move. If they only move 2 or 3 times per year with the seasons, and the distance is not more than 1000 miles per move, perhaps the fuel cost is not such big deal.
I agree with many above, that the task of buying bare land and setting it up DIY for a rural home is no small task. It is tough (and $$) to find & hire contractors for tasks in places that are far from large towns or cities. Building material costs have skyrocketed too. If one can find a parcel with an existing mobile home, that would mean that power, water and septic is likely in place. After the old mobile home is removed, you have a head start on building something new.
This is by far the easiest way to do it. I've seen folks tear down the old house/mobile home on a property and have a steel roof shed constructed on metal poles to protect their RV from hail and sun. The property usually has already been graded for a road, or driveway, and the power/water/septic are already in. There might even be a fence already on the property.
I'm not sure where they're finding all this land where they can just plop down an RV and occupy it full-time. Most cities and counties don't allow that even for legit tiny houses, as they don't want to encourage "shantytowns."
It's in the high desert of Arizona, near Williams and Show Low.
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