The Recreational Vehicle Lifestyle Can Fit Almost Anyone
Wed Apr 29, 2009
Author: Charles Bridwell
When we see a camper trailer, fifth wheel or motorhome going down the road in south Arkansas, we usually associate it with folks going fishing or headed to hunting camp. In most cases that’s probably right. Today, though, people use RVs (recreational vehicles) for everything from occasional weekend getaways to full-time life on the road.
If you’ve seen the movie “RV” starring Robin Williams, you’ve caught a taste of a family vacation in a motorhome. For some, their first foray into the world of camping in an RV evolves into a lifelong passion which may inspire them to abandon their home for life on America’s highways.
For most Americans, RVs are used for a few weekends a year. They take them to hunting camp, or use them for camping at the lake over a holiday weekend. Those in fast-paced jobs cherish their “back-to-nature” trips and feel the expense is worth it, even though their RV is in storage most of the year.
There is another side of RVing, though. Folks from the cold northern states often pack up their RVs and head south for the winter, earning them the nickname of “snowbirds” in the lingo of RV enthusiasts. Others may spend several months of the year traveling the country, and retirees without jobs or obligations find it a wonderful way to spend their golden years with their spouse. Some travel with other couples, and always have friends nearby.
The diehard RV’er may become a “Full-Timer” because they spend years on end with no home other than their RV, no responsibilities except to plan their next horizon, and no home base other than a relative’s house or a post office box.
Normal folks who live in houses are called “slabbers” because they spend their lives bound to a house on a concrete slab. The lure of the open road inspires a few diehards to sell all their possessions, buy a motorhome, and begin a journey that may last for years.
One twist among this group is to buy a nice lot, put in some improvements like an outdoor kitchen, a pavilion, some nice landscaping, and a concrete pad for their RV. When they’re at “home” they simply park their RV in this spot which they own. When they want to travel, they just crank up their “house” and take it on the road. Some own sites in numerous states, and alternate locations as it suits them.
There are some financial downsides. A permanent home appreciates in value while an RV eventually depreciates. Motorhomes, campers, and tow vehicles all depreciate, but buying a used unit helps slow the rate of depreciation. Those who trade up regularly incur the most cost, but also suffer fewer maintenance woes and less equipment failure.
A surprising number of Americans ages 30-55 do their work while traveling the country. With modern technology, it’s possible to perform certain jobs from anywhere. Writers, photographers, secret shoppers, consultants, computer technicians, engineers, and other specialists can travel and work at the same time and make a good living while living the RV lifestyle.
Retirees often perform some work to supplement their income and help occupy their time while traveling. They may serve as a camp director for large campgrounds, do some landscaping or yard work, or provide entertainment for large groups at RV parks. Some jobs only provide free camping space for their RV. Other jobs provide actual income, and it’s kind of like working on a cruise ship and seeing the world while getting paid.
Even if you use your RV only for occasional trips, it’s possible to get a taste of what the gypsy lifestyle of a full-timer must be like. Just imagine having the country wide open before you, no one telling you when to go somewhere or what road you must take, and having the freedom to stop and see the sights at your leisure.
It’s a great way to see America, a wonderful experience for those brave enough to give it a try, and a possibility for anyone willing to adequately plan for their retirement years. Best of all, you can go RVing a little at a time. Begin with a few trips a year, expand your horizons and trips as you can, and see if the lure of the open road doesn’t tug at your heart and soul cause a wanderlust that can only be fulfilled by seeing the world through a windshield.
