Pogoil
Oregon Coast
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Joined: 01/04/2010
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A lot of speculation, negativity and such. Come on folks lift your head off the table. The cup is just not as empty as some of these posts will have you believe.
Pogoil.
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Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
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Joined: 06/08/2001
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One of the reasons we quit fulltiming is because we discovered that the way WE were doing it was going to run us out of money. It was too boring to hang out at the RV parks, so we ended up doing expensive touristy stuff everywhere we went. The total expense rose to an alarming amount, and we were NOT getting THAT much in return. So, our exit plan was the answer. Now, from a central TX base, contolling the amount of time and money in our RVing activities, is easy to manage. Much of time is taken up on our affordable hobbies, which require the space and features of a house and yard. Most of our motorhome trips are short. In fact, we're down to only two long trips per year. This is fine with me 'cause I really enjoy fishing the nearby lakes. I went yesterday, and going again tomorrow.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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RVGRINGO
Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico
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Joined: 05/05/2010
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As a retiree, we often ignore inflation until it bites us really hard. Social Security and Pensions don't keep up at all. So, unless you have a few million set aside, your lifestyle will deteriorate and supporting the full time RV life became burdensome for us. Membership plans dried up, campgrounds charged more & were less friendly as times got tougher. So, we gave up and sold the motorhome that we loved so much.
In the course of our travels, and wintering in the Rio Grande Valley, we had taken trips into the central Mexican highlands and made an 1800 mile excursion through Mexico. It was wonderful! In 2001, we decided to move to Lake Chapala, and have never looked back. There is no weather like this in the USA and the people, food, color and music are delightful. In 2004, we sold our first Mexican home and moved some five miles, from Ajijic to Chapala, and we and our three dogs are settled in for 'the duration'.
We can afford to live here. We can afford to have a week in Puerto Vallarta each winter, or some other beach town on the Pacific Coast. We have fresher food, clean air, cheaper gasoline and no need for either a furnace or air conditioning.
Sure, I miss the open road once in a while, so we take a road trip in the car and stay at charming inns or hotels at prices you wouldn't believe. Life is good, even though we aren't as mobile. But, at 74, we're moving more slowly anyway.
So, there are choices. Some folks winter in the Rio Grande Valley and then go south, yes, south into the center of Mexico for cool summers. RV parks are fewer and not as fancy, but many have hot springs, etc. Others, just drive down by car, or even fly, and escape the hot and humid summers all the way from Toronto to Texas. We have both 'snowbirds' and 'sunbirds', in addition to retirees from Florida and Hawaii. Does that tell you something?
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nina_70
On wheels, USA
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Joined: 07/06/2009
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If you're worried about fuel try doing shorter drives . We spent 2 months in New Mexico last year going from one state park to the next, sometimes only travelling 30 miles between sites. It was great! Each new spot was a completely new experience, even though it was only a little ways away. Saved a ton in fuel those 2 months too.
Another idea is to take time boondocking and get rid of some of the camping fees. Lots of spots to do this esp.ecially in the SW in winter (in fact we're boondocking right now!). You could travel the entire SW for 4 months without really paying any camping fees.
There are ways and means to save $$ if you're open to making small changes in the way you travel.
12 paws, 40-feet and the open road
http://wheelingit.wordpress.com/
Investing for a Living
http://investingforaliving.wordpress.com/
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Daboo
Texas Panhandle USA
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Joined: 11/28/2001
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I am in the same shape you are in..tho mine is not because of the price of gas, or ..I found this oout the last trip, that the loading and unloading and driving the RV is getting to be a job now, not a hobby...we are thinking about selling the RV...gosh, thats a scary thought, but I think the day has come...
Served proudly 1957-1965..U.S. Air Force
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The Beave
Georgetown TX USA
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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We have enjoyed touring this great country the last 20 years, and have visited every state but Alaska and Hawaii, 8 Canadian Provinces and portions of northen Mexico, many of those areas multiple times. It was great fun and a real privilege!
We vacillate about selling the rig. Interests change, we have a great home in a great area and we are enjoying it and our many friends.
We may continue to use it for shorter trips, but I would sell it if I thought anyone would buy it.
The Beave
30' 1997 Beaver Monterey
(The shortest DP we could find)
2005 Honda CR-V
Remco surge brake
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jakcheese
Alhambra, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/27/2004
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dennis and terry wrote:i have cancer. i don't care how much fuel costs. that's why we spend 14 days a year at fort wilderness amongst other trips. there's just going to be less for the kids to fight over. to offset the costs we travel less miles and stay at campgrounds an extra day or two. less movement equals more value and enjoyment. and if i didn't have cancer? 14 days a year at fort wilderness...especially since they changed the hot dogs at casey's. life is way too short.
We're in the same boat,RV, whatever.
DW has cancer for the 3rd time in her 58 years and we sold the shop and have been traveling for the most of the last 9 months.
Only one last stop on the bucket list...Alaska. God willing, this summer!
Jackcheese and Motlah
2006 Dolphin LX 6320 W22 Workhorse chassis
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down home
south
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Joined: 06/01/2008
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It is might near impossible to obtain all the facts and put them down in a cohesive picture of what is happening, from the sidelines.
They keep telling us it is the new reality of global markets. The ones doing the telling are the ones rigging the market.There is no domestic production. It is all global production now. Maybe a better way to put it is that domestic production doesn't stay here. the reason they wanted the pipeline to Texas coast was to use that refineries and ship gas and diesel to Europe and South America. Venezuela sells diesel and gas for pennies and has a lot of production. They tell us this and that but it is as it has been for years. It is scheming and manipulating to keep prices here high as well as elsewhere. If they built the refinery near the Canadian border all that production from the Dakotas and Canada would keep us and Canada well supplied for decades from what is already developed and drive prices down. They don't want to see that. I'm tired of the excuses of its a global economy and so forth. The ones pushing this on us are the ones raping our economy for someone other than America's pocket. Energy cost have driven up everything just since09.
A cut to supportable and realistic cost of fuel around a dollar fifty would fuel jobs and development and raise the value of the dollar and drive down food and other costs. A win win for America but not for the Manipulators and Hedge Funds from London Brussels and Wall Street. imo
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invmartyc
Florida
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Joined: 08/10/2007
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I think in life there are many "tradeoffs". If you want to travel to new places, eat different fresh foods, and meet new people RVing is one of the best ways to do it. Especially if you full-time.
Fuel is not cheap, but then neither is owning a home. For example, in Florida many insurance companies will not cover you with homeowner's insurance. In some counties none will and you have to go through the state program. My house is valued at $140,000 and it cost me $3500 last year and it is slated to go up this year. Then you add property taxes and all the other expenses like water, sewer, garbage, etc.
I am not a full-timer, nor do I even have an RV, it is something I have been dreaming about for around six years. I would have been on the road had it not been for the housing bust and souring economy. But in my studies of RVs and full-timing I have figured that the cost involved is about the same or maybe even less that a stick and bricks.
The amount of fuel you burn is up to you. Yes, if you are fiddle-footed you will burn more than if you linger a little longer in each place that you stop at. There are many more ways to cuts costs fulltiming than there are living in a house.
So if I am off base please feel free to educate me! I have studied this appealing lifestyle with great interests but if I am wrong somewhere please let me know.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness..."
Mark Twain
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Nascarcruzin
Home is where the RV is parked.
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Joined: 01/06/2005
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racer99 wrote:What I am having a hard time with is your complaining about the fuel when you are still restoring a pick-up truck and paying someone else no less to do the work-Can not figure out if your fulltimers or not but there is a lot of us running older gassers and enjoying it and not on good retirement checks but SS-driving less and enjoying the surrounding country side more-Think hard on your decision-maybe add a hobby both of you can do like metal detecting or geocaching you can can stay at campgrounds longer to fullfill your hobby--HAVE A HAPPY DAY ANYWAY-RICH First off I am not complaining about fuel prices, I really was just thinking out loud and put my thoughts on paper. As far as for the 46 Dodge it is sitting in storage, I have not spent one dime on it in over 4 years. I elected not to finish it so I could put all my money towards traveling. There is really more involved than I can put in my post at this time. I probably will try to keep my RV for the time being as it is the only place I have to live for now. We pretty much been just about everywhere there is to go, so it is not like I will not get to see many places. I just enjoy traveling. Ronnie
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Ronnie & Rebecca
Soddy Daisy, TN
Full-timing since 2004
Check out our adventures:
North to Alaska 2011
Travel Journal Enter the password - 12345
2008 Alaskan adventure
2009 Northeast coast and Canadian Maritimes
1999 Holiday Rambler Imperial 40WDS
FMCA #388387
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