Possible RVer -- still thinking and investigating

[JudyJB]

I am a 67 year-old woman with two married children living at opposite ends of the country. (Single, no pets.) Right now, I am working a regular job and also teaching online through a local college part-time. I've got a couple of years before I retire from my regular job, but I plan to continue teaching online for a few years. As long as I can get internet access and have my cell phone, I can continue to do that to supplement my savings, at least for a few years until I get tired of it or start losing it mentally. I do like to teach, especially online.

I have been seriously thinking lately about the possibility of buying a motor home when I retire from my regular job, selling my condo, and taking off across the country for at least a year. I think I would not be comfortable unless I bought something fairly new and with a separate bedroom and enough space to take kids and grandchildren once in a while. I don't plan to tow a vehicle, but can use my bike or maybe an electric scooter for short trips while camping.

Some things about me. I am very independent and used to traveling alone for business or pleasure. My most recent trip was in 2008 to SCotland where I spent 19 days, 14 of them driving a rental car on the wrong side of the road. I stayed in small hotels or B&Bs in tiny towns and even took a day trip on the "Hogswort's Express" aka the Jacobite Steam Train. I plan to go to London in September for 11 days, also by myself. Someday I want to rent a cottage in the Cotswolds and the Lake District in England and invite my friends for a few days.

I have always wanted to see more of the National Parks and drive to Alaska--part of my "running away from home" and seeing the World complex. It seems like taking your home with you would be a good way to do this. I have quite a few concerns about doing this that maybe you ladies can help me with:

- Can I drive a Class C 28-30 foot vehicle without scraping things and bashing into stuff??? (I confess to blowing a tire in Scotland hitting a curb when a bus came around a corner on a very busy, but narrow road. They have very sharp curbs in the UK right at the edges of the road. No shoulders at all.)
- Can I park one of these behemoths? i.e. back it up, if need be.
- Can I handle the minor or major maintenance things that pop up? Lighting a furnace, hooking up hoses, etc.
- Am I going to lose a lot of money purchasing a vehicle and then selling it in a year? I think I eventually want to settle near my son who lives in Napa, CA, so I want to preserve my savings since I have no pension.
- Can I live without a washer and dryer, dishwasher, and other luxuries?? I am not really a camper by nature, so I am not sure how well I will do "roughing it."
- Am I going to get bored? Just retiring itself seems daunting--not sure what I will do all day.

Anyway, thanks in advance for all of your experience and wisdom. If anyone wants advice on Scotland, I would be more than happy to share about that.

JudyJB
Michigan

[VickieP]

Welcome to the forum, Judy! I think this will be a good place for you to learn more about everything to do with RV's and the women who love them. (sounds like a book title ) I believe you can do all of those things you have questions about, just put your mind to it! Read and ask questions and we'll help you along the way to new adventures.

[Birdie]

Judy, Welcome to the forum. You will get lots of answers to your questions. Some will be opposites, that's because we all look at RVing a little bit different than the next one or the last one. It is an individual "thing".

You can do most anything that you put your mind to whipping. I had never driven a Class C 30' behemoth. I do now and pull a 2008 Ford Edge behind. Most people learn continuously. I learn something new everytime I make a trip. Some scary, some fun. But it is the fun that I like. Taking my house with me where ever I go is a really neat thing. Just now, I am better living my retirement. Have learned how to do what I want to do. You see a lot of "I" in my post. This is my lifestyle now. Not sure for how long, but for right now it fit's me just fine. I live full-time in my Class C that I purchased used (2005 chassis built as a 2006) last November. Yes the hit you take on buying new and selling in a year is probably on the same percentage basis as a car. It was out of my price range to do that and live the way I want. You can probably deal fairly well for a 2005/2006. You will still take a hit when you sell, but the percentage will be much less, especially if you care for it and have all the receipts.

If you can 'light the furnace' at your home, i.e. turn the thermostat to heat and then to a #, you can do it in an RV. If you can screw a water hose on at home you can in an RV. Now the sewer hose is a little different - it doesn't screw on and if you don't put it on tight, you can have a mess delivered to either your feet or lap - no I haven't done that, but I watched someone who knew what they were doing! Baby steps in all things. I vote you go for it! Be sure to ask any and all questions that come to mind. You can also search the archives as lots of other's have asked a gizillion questions, too.

[Bethers]

Hi Judy and Welcome.

We're all different, but I say you can do all those things. And be forewarned - if you want to travel to AK - you need at least 2-3 months- so your 1 year is easily going to turn into more. I started out planning to be on the road for a year, then settle down again - and I'm now into my 6th year and don't see it ending. Or you might want to make a home base for winters and travel summers to all those national parks, etc. Just some ideas to consider.

As to selling, if you buy new, you will have a loss, like with a new car. Price goes down right away. If you buy fairly new - and you keep it in good shape, you can probably sell for not much loss in a year - that's figuring you aren't using dealers.

Hooking up, driving, doing normal maintenance - is no biggie after you learn it (mainly by doing). If you could take care of a car and house, you can take care of a home on wheels.

Keep asking questions. You'll learn the answers are as varied as the people. You could get an rv and love it - you could get one and hate it (I never understand that lol). I had never driven an rv when I bought this one. Never liked camping. And took to this like it was the best thing that ever happened to me (it is). Hope you do also.

Great people here - have fun with us.

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome aboard. Several years ago I met two fulltime RV'er who both worked as professors at an online university. They mentioned having to return to "campus" a couple of times a year but did everything else through the internet and with Fax machines. I would recommend you trying to attend one of the RV Boot Camps put on by the Escapees RV Group... Attend their rally and sample their seminars or even the Nick Russell one coming up in the end of August. You get exposed to many different rigs and traveling styles. You can learn to drive anything you want to and there are Driving Schools to help you out with the learning curve on the bigger rigs. As you will find out from reading past posts and as the ladies jump in, every rig has its pluses and it drawbacks and limitations. You find some of those issues in space available and in maneuverability. As in many things in life there are always trade offs.
To answer your question about resale value. All depends on what you buy. A newer vehicle will run much more $$ and will depreciate all the faster. I have yet to hear anyone consider the RV a good investment for their money...but it is a life style and or travel style that meets our needs and dreams. There are some nicely maintained used units out there. It does take patience and deligence to track them own.....will sometimes luck, too! Good luck as you gather your information and begin your journey towards your future.

[avalen]

welcome ditto what everyone else has said. I'm still working myself but my official
retirement is at least 3 years away minimum. Right now I'm living in my fifthwheel but
plan to get a class c when I get ready to hit the road. If you can manage driving on the
wrong side of the road in a foreign country, you can drive an rv. Don't sell yourself short.
I remember back in 1989 when I first got behind the wheel of a passenger bus and asked
myself if I had bitten off more than I could chew. By the end of the first shift, I said,
"yea, piece of cake" and I'm still driving buses today.
Sift through some of the old posts and remember there's no such thing as a stupid
question unless it is the one not asked.

[retiredhappy]

Welcome Judy. As everyone else says, you can learn to do whatever you want. You might think about renting a 24 to 26 ft RV for a weekend or so and see what you feel about it. You will probably rethink towing a car - its not all that hard and believe me, you will want something to sightsee in and get groceries, etc. I would suggest looking for a well cared for used rig if you're only going to keep it a year.

[Bethers]

Not to be argumentative - but towing a car is also a personal choice. I'm into my 6th year full-time and do not tow. For one year I had a scooter. I will eventually tow a car - but to sightsee like I am - a car would actually get in my way. You'll need to decide for yourself how you're going to travel. For some, like Karen, they wouldn't want to be without a car. Except when I'm workamping, I don't use a park and then sightsee in a car - I plan my route to be sightseeing all along it - in my rig. It works for me and I love traveling this way.

[JudyJB]

Wow! Thanks for such fast responses. I've learned that there are driving schools, which sounds like the way to go for someone like me who is hesitant about driving. I was envisioning myself buying a huge vehicle and having to drive it home. I think I will do a rental next summer when my son comes down with his family.

Wrong side of the road turned out to be very easy. The scary and hard part was heavy traffic on narrow roads, which is why driving something really big scares me. I had a relatively small car, but those big trucks and buses took up so much of the road, and it was so hard to judge how much space you had on eithe side.

Do I understand that furnaces don't have pilot lights that have to be lit? I was thinking of the old furnace and water heater at our cottage where you had to light it when it went out.

I suppose i might reconsider towing a car, but I want to start out simple. I do plan to mostly keep moving, staying a few days to a week at each location, and figured I could stock up with groceries as I go.

Bether, how did you haul your scooter? I was afriad a gas-powered anything would be too hard to load and carry, hence my thinking of an electrical one that has a seat.

JudyJB

[retiredhappy]

Beth is right about towing. My rig is 30' so I just can't drive or park it anywhere. I took my first long trip without a car and ended up renting one to go sightseeing. A scooter would work around town but not for a long drive. Its strictly personal. You'll get a better idea if you rent one for a short trip.

[Bethers]

I had a hitch scooter rack - had a 125 cc scooter - got almost 100 mpg and went 60 mph - although I think the fastest I took at was about 55, and only for a very short distance. Next time might get a slightly larger/heavier one- with a scooter rack easier for me to handle alone. The one I had worked well, but I needed a 2nd person to get the scooter on or off - in order to not drop it.

[bikerchic777]

You can do anything you set your mind to! I have driven/parked a 37' toy hauler fifth wheel behind a big turbo diesel dually truck. Have also had a 37' class A, 40' diesel pusher, and now a 34' class A motor home, named Myrtle. I quit my wonderful job, running an optical dept. at a children's eye clinic, to leave IA in the winter with my retired/disabled husband. We spent the first winter in southern CA, then the past two winters in FL, before deciding to divorce this spring. We had sold our house last summer to go full time. I did most of the driving so that part doesn't intimidate me, though some take the course at the community college. I much prefer driving and parking a motor home, rather than a fifth wheel or tt, but that is my personal preference. I convinced a 60 some yr old girlfriend to buy a mh and she bought a 30' class C and loves it! She didn't tow her first winter to FL, but really felt restricted without a car. She bought a used toad that was all set up to tow and has been much happier now. I have to admit I haven't towed a vehicle yet, but will be this fall. We caravanned before, with my DH driving my Pacifica and towning a motorcycle trailer and our two motorcycles. I now have a Dodge Dakota 4x4 that is towable four down so just need to get a base plate installed and a Blue Ox and Brake Buddy. I'm very independent, too, and figure if there's a will, there's a way As you can tell, I have continued the RV life after the divorce. I wasn't ready to give that up...just the husband I'm a Certified Optician, but am work camping for something new and loving it!!! I love being outdoors and this lifestyle suits me. I live full time in Myrtle and she is very cozy I don't have a house to deal with so I figure anything that I can fix, I will, and anything I can't, I will find someone who can....same as a house. I have already replaced an AC cover and have a skylight to replace this summer. I removed a side chair from the floor and put my own in. I would love to rip out this old carpet and put in laminate flooring, but think I will ask someone who knows more about that to help me.

As for guests...My oldest GD came for 3 wks and work camped with me. She slept on the couch and loves RVing. Now, my second GD is here for 2 wks. She had a rough start with homesickness, but has snapped out of it. I enroll both girls in swim lessons every summer and I have been taking them to a nearby public pool for those. It is a good experience for them and something they will always remember. They have sure learned a lot about nature being in an Army Corps of Engineers park with me. Barbie just came to visit from MN and brought her tent. A niece of mine came up with 5 kids for a few days this summer with a tent. I know I will have other visitors. Not much room in Myrtle for a large crowd and I kind of like it that way

As for your job...You have such possibilities! I keep up my certification so I do have that for a backup plan, but I am limited to what states I can work in without going to school in some states for their required licensing. Not worth it for me since I won't stay in that state longer than 6 months at a time. I'm hoping to continue work camping for awhile.

[sharon]

All good responses Judy, and most I was going to suggest when I read your post, but as usual our great group of girls beat me to the punch. Lots to think about but you'll do fine. Welcome and good luck!

[cpatinjones]

Ditto on what all the others have stated.

Welcome to the forum.

[JudyJB]

I really appreciate all your support. One of the reasons I want to do this is that I think I am living a very unhealthy life. I sit in front of a computer screen 8 hours a day (luckily in a not very pressured environment), come home and sit in front of the computer another 2-4 hours every night. This summer I have only one class and there are only 14 students, but usually I teach a double class of 50 students, which is a LOT of papers to grade and things to get ready for online. I mostly spend me weekends crashing and grading more papers. There are 4 slightly condensed 11 week semesters at this college, so it is teach, teach, teach all year round.

The result is that I really and truely have very little time for exercise like walking or riding my bike. (I rode 5.5 miles last night, so I am resting tonight.) I know I am overworking myself, but I want to put aside enough money in my 401K so that I am not a burden on my kids when I get beyond where I can work even part-time. For a lot of reasons, I was not able to do this when I was younger.

Some work days, I really struggle to get myself up and to the office and am really beginning to feel my age. But on the other hand, I think if I did not have work, I would also be doing too much sitting at home. I think traveling around to natioal parks and such will at least give me something healthy to do!! I have been doing a pretty good job this summer of walking at work to take a break and riding my bike when it isn't too hot here in Michigan, which lately has meant atfer 8:30 pm. I have two knee replacements that need some exercising, and a back that I destroyed last Feb in Disney World carrying an infant because my son and his wife brought only a double stroller for three kids age 3, age 22 months, and 4 month old baby. (Even my son admitted it was probably a bad move to take two toddlers and a baby to Disney, evne with two grandmas along to help!) I am seeing a doctor about my back.

I am trying to get my old body in shape for a week in London this fall. I want to be able to walk without pain, which I haven't been able to do in 13 years! My most recent knee is the best it has ever been, although still a bit stiff and sore. I want to do some traveling and have a few more adventures before I get too old and I have hoping an RV after I retire will do that for me.

JudyJB