All words I have heard to describe the time reference of the RV Life style. I'm sure there are more ways to describe the way in which to approach the amount of time we spend on the road. My definitions may be different than yours. I believe the details of the definition matter little.
What matters most is for each individual or family to define a way that makes sense for them the life they want to live, so that the plans and 'home' decisions made will match their definitions and their preferences.
Working Definitions as a Starting Point
Full-timer - one who lives in some type of an RV all of the time. The RV moves from time to time to different locations. They may or may not own a residence but do not occupy it during the year.
Snow-bird - One who lives in some type of RV during the winter in a warmer climate and returns to a residence/home base which they occupy the rest of the year.
Summer-timer - One who lives and travels in an RV during the summer and occupying a residence/home base during the school/work year.
Any-timer or Part-timer - One who primarily lives in a residence/homebase and travels extensively in an RV at any time of year regardless of weather, at every opportunity.
Some-timer - One who travels or camps occasionally in an RV. Lives in a primary residence. May dream of full-time travel in the future.
So why give definition to how one lives in an RVs and manages their living circumstances?
Perhaps one of the most important questions one needs to answer when considering living in an RV either full or part time is whether to sell their home of residence or to maintain a home base/residence. Then whether they will return to the residence for at least part of the year. I am amazed when I talk with people considering living in an RV without ever having spent much time in an RV. How will they ever know if the call to the road is greater than the relief in the return to home?
Some of the considerations I pondered were based on finances, desire to live more simply, and freedom from long distance maintenance and changing life responsibilities and commitments. Whether I choose long-term travel, financially I needed to downsize and change where and how I lived.
Another consideration worthy of consideration is the need for security. Does you home on wheels fulfill your need for home and provide a sense of security. Or is it provided in another place that you must return to in times of stress. The real test for me was the first time I became ill for more than a few hours. Could I wait out pneumonia, while hacking and coughing for weeks in a tiny space?
The answer for me comes with having a short-term Plan B. What will I do if..... There may be times that I need to land for a time do to illness, vehicle repairs, family need, (who can truly anticipate every possibility). My Plan B entails ensuring that I always have enough money in the bank to cover an extended stay in a base camp complete with electricity and water when I need life to be simplified.
Many people do not talk readily of the what if's that come in life. I have found that not talking about these questions wake me up at night and anziety. So I say, let's talk about these shadows of the night, share in the dialog learning from each other.
Some of the considerations I pondered were based on finances, desire to live more simply, and freedom from long distance maintenance and changing life responsibilities and commitments. Whether I choose long-term travel, financially I needed to downsize and change where and how I lived.
Another consideration worthy of consideration is the need for security. Does you home on wheels fulfill your need for home and provide a sense of security. Or is it provided in another place that you must return to in times of stress. The real test for me was the first time I became ill for more than a few hours. Could I wait out pneumonia, while hacking and coughing for weeks in a tiny space?
The answer for me comes with having a short-term Plan B. What will I do if..... There may be times that I need to land for a time do to illness, vehicle repairs, family need, (who can truly anticipate every possibility). My Plan B entails ensuring that I always have enough money in the bank to cover an extended stay in a base camp complete with electricity and water when I need life to be simplified.
AND
A Plan B Fund available to fund a start over after full time travel has ended. I like many other nomads haven't a clear cut plan to answer the question of how long will I wonder? But having a fund set aside has provided a security to help lessen the anxiety of uncertainty. Will I ever want to own a home again..... Who knows??? But I will have access to funds to get started with the next chapter in life.
What kind of RVer are You??? How do you ponder PLAN B?
We started out to be anytimers but in reality are more likely sometimers. We flirted with the idea of becoming full-timers once upon a time but we really are homebodies when you get right down to it. I like having a home without wheels where I can stretch out and take long showers and enjoy the big backyard. I like to have my flowers and bird feeders and dogs in the back yard. As much as I wanted to spend months on the road, the reality was not as exciting as the dream. I found the motorhome was not as comfortable as I had imagined and I missed having a fenced backyard for the dogs. Now I just want to take a trip now and again, and the desire to drive clear across the country and be away from home for months at a time has pretty much diminished.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly has worked out for you to find what works for you. It is certainly important that we each figure that out and strive to make it the best we can. There certainly is NO one right answer.
ReplyDeleteWe have been full-timers for 2-1/2 years and love it. We have been in San Antonio for two years, but have taken off on road trips to Yellowstone/Black Hills/Mesa Verde (six weeks), McKinney Falls State Park, Texas for a week, two weeks to Las Vegas/Phoenix/Carlsbad Caverns. We also took a seven-week vacation to Portland, Oregon, Australia and Hawaii. Later this year we're going on a seven-week road trip to Michigan/Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteWe don't miss our sticks and bricks house and do enjoy the coziness of our 5th wheel.
Yes, even working seems better when you can still visit new places and changes your address at will. Definitely worthy of consideration.
DeleteI was a summer - timer for a few years leaving the heat for the cooler mountains. I have my own manufactured home that is paid for in a really nice 55 plus park. I also own the land it sits on. HOA 82.50mthy covers garbage, water, sewer and all amenities.
ReplyDeleteI travel at whim and am working on a plan for this summer. I am not staying in Tucson for sure. I may be doing lots of boondocking to save money. I am hopeful that my camper will do the job if not then plan be will be to find a pop up of some kind.
We are full timers who tried it for a year, loved it and had trouble going back to clean out the house to sell it. Then the diagnosis came out of no where and we kept the house as exit strategy since it was paid for. But I don't like being responsible for it on the road. We go back for a week or so once a year so far. But out of the blue, we may need it. Love fulltiming.
ReplyDeleteWe have enjoyed many great trips in our travels together and a lot of them were without an RV. Although we've had some kind of RV for most of our married life, we've only had 2 motor homes, the rest were travel trailers from 16 ft. up to 30 ft. We've been to Maui twice, Alaska twice, visited the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons NP, Yosemite NP, Phoenix, Quartzite, Sedona, Tucson, Yuma, Mexico, a lot of great places in Canada, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, and Arizona...all without an RV. In the motor home, we certainly enjoy our travels and the ability to take our doggies with us.
ReplyDeleteWe have been blessed to be able to have done the traveling. Having the great Pacific Northwest here to explore with the RV is a real plus for us. We love living in Oregon, and haven't found anyplace yet that we'd rather be. When people are happy with their life and what they are doing and where they're doing it...that's what is most important. Having good health, and the ability to travel where one wants to go are wonderful gifts from God.
I sure want to visit all the places you mention and you and Donna too!!
DeleteWe'll be coming up four years as full-timers soon. Personally, I never want to own a house again. When the time comes we have to get off the road, I envision a park model or unit (apartment, condo, whatever) in a 55+ community. Life is short, so I'm just enjoying living my dream these days.
ReplyDeleteI don't miss the worry of a house and all the responsibility but there is the sense of security of knowing there is that place to go.... Always the refining of the future needs. But then I have never been much of a future forecaster.
Deleteone and a half years into full-timing. Hasn't been what I planned but I still feel I couldn't go back to sticks and bricks! Would like to do the trip I set out to take but the world won't come to an end if I don't. My health is a big concern and I will either die on the road or retire to an assisted living facility. For now, I will enjoy every day the good Lord gives me! Miss talking to you.
ReplyDeletewe are full timers..we sold our sticks and bricks and hit the road. sometimes my hubby feels the need to work for out site and I let him...keeps him busy in his retirement. we've been doing this for about 8 years....we had to live in our RV after Katrina whooshed through New Orleans and left out house a shambles. I've given thought to where we'd settle down one day because we're not getting younger. But as long as we can, we'll travel and enjoy this country as our yard
ReplyDeleteGlad you shared.... we all come with such different back stories, it certainly helps me and I'll bet others too to hear what brought others to the way they live their lives.
DeleteWe're some-timers right now but when we're both retired (first of next year) we plan to be any-timers! We love our home & living here on the island but are looking forward to traveling whenever we get the yen to do so.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering coming to the islands this summer for the first time. I luv new places!
DeleteWe're Canadians and 'snowbirds', travelling frugally in our little Casita, exploring and birding. We have a small house we built ourselves, 14 acres of land, and a solar array as a retirement investment.
ReplyDeleteAs much as we'd love to full-time, we could never give up our home. I'd worry that full-timing would eat up all our $$ and there would be none left for Plan B.
Certainly no right or wrong way.... only what works for you in your specific circumstances. Glad you found a way that makes you comfortable.
DeleteI'm not sure how I fit in. I am a full-timer becasue I sold my house. But I have been sitting in one place for 5 months, visiting with my family and helping out with a few days a week of babysitting. I am always looking at property, I always wanted a "farm" - nothing big, just a place to grow lots of flowers and fruits and veges and now with a grandchild, that dream is resurfacing. So, I will just wait and see what happens. I will be leaving TX in May for a workamping job in Wyoming. It is too hot in TX in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI love that you are finding a way t o make life work on your terms. You fit in...into your life ! I know I am always searching for what makes it work for me too. And have fun along the way. And I can't wait for spring flowers. The trick seems to me to not get so caught up in searching out the greener pastures and miss the sweet smell of today's flowers.
ReplyDelete