Here it is! The one many of you have been waiting for. Hope you have some time - it's a long one. :)
- What are our first year impressions of full-timing?
- What have we learned about full-timing?
- What have we learned about ourselves as full-timers?
- If we were starting from scratch today, what would we do differently?
- If we were starting from scratch today, what are the things we got absolutely right and would do again?
- What have we learned from a financial standpoint?
- What are our top ten places we have visited?
- What are Linda's top ten favorite memories?
- What are Howard's top ten favorite memories?
- What are our top five canoe runs?
- What are our top ten campgrounds for nature, beauty, spaciousness, and privacy?
- What are our top five campgrounds for social atmosphere?
- What are our best pieces of advice for wannabe or new full-timers based on our first year experiences?
What are our first year impressions of full-timing?
For us, our first year has been more amazing than we could have ever expected. There is nothing we have experienced that gives us any indication that we cannot do this for years and years to come. There has been absolutely no point at which time we wished we were back in our big beautiful former home. Sure, we miss parts of our prior lifestyle, but as a whole, there is no comparison.
Sometimes I struggle in coming to terms with where we are financially compared to other full-timers or wannabe full-timers. We seem to be somewhere in the middle, yet I feel we are extraordinarily lucky to not have earn all of our expenses out here on the road - yet.
I still worry about finances, as evidenced by our painstaking discipline in scrutinizing what we spend. But I can't imagine enjoying the lifestyle any more if we had no money worries at all.
On the other hand, I still think the full-timing lifestyle, even if we had to work many hours a week to earn all of our expenses, is still a better form of survival than the rat race we came from. As Linda says, "I can work at anything if I know it is just a means to maintain the simple life and it's temporary." In other words, there is much more peace in earning enough to live on - on your own terms - than there is in chasing a career and a mythical retirement dollar figure. The problem (just my own hang-up because I want to provide the best possible information) is that we have no basis (yet) to confirm that theory. :)
So for whatever it's worth, we love our life! It's a steady stream of pleasure with little pockets of rough water that pass quickly and are never very deep. Our attitude is better. Our frame of mind is better. Our patience is better. Stress is minimal. We still have to pinch ourselves to make sure the RV-Dream is real. :)
What have we learned about full-timing?
We have learned that there is no "right" way to do it. There is no "right" rig. There is no "right" way to travel. There is no "right" amount of money to have. There is no "right" place to stay.
We have learned that full-timers are nicer and more helpful than we expected - and our expectations were pretty high already. RVers in general are a good group of people.
We have learned that full-timing couples really are best friends. There is more love and friendship displayed between full-timing couples than I have ever seen before in the general public.
We have confirmed that the majority of full-timers are much older than we are and that most have some sort of steady retirement income (pensions or social security) and healthcare coverage (former employer plans or Medicare). However, the full-timer population is becoming more and more diverse in terms of age, asset holdings, and reasons for going on the road.
We have learned that it is not necessary to know how to drive a rig or take one apart to get started. Sure, some common sense and basic safety precautions are necessary, but even people that struggle with a screwdriver, like yours truly, can learn quickly. Just put the pride aside, ask for help, be patient, and proceed slowly.
We have learned that there are tons of opportunities to work for free campsites and find jobs to earn a little extra cash or all of your expenses if necessary. All you need is persistence, work ethic, and a little personality. The amount you work is up to the lifestyle you choose.
We have learned that full-timers are very resilient and they often bounce back from unexpected health and financial issues to continue living on the road. The people we have met have helped us feel much more comfortable with our "go with the flow" attitudes.
We have learned that full-timers are pretty saavy when it comes to technology. I think the senior population of full-timers is much more computer oriented than the general senior population. Every rig seems to have two laptops. :)
We have learned that we are never going to see everything and there is so much that we miss when we try. Never underestimate the places where there is "nothing to do." You might just find something you never expected - and it just might be inside you. :)
We have learned that Geocaching is a great, inexpensive activity for RVers. It can bring out the kid in you, and it can take you to wonderful places you might not otherwise have been.
We have learned that south Florida is crowded and expensive in the winter. And if you don't go far enough south, Florida can still be cold in the winter. But the further south you go, the more crowded and expensive it is, especially on the coasts. It's hard to find openings in the state parks in winter time for more than just a few days unless you make reservations way, way in advance - not our style. There are some great monthly rates in some private RV parks and campgrounds, but it takes some digging and being at the right place at the right time.
We have learned that RV repairs are part of life. Everyone has them. Everyone deals with them. Everyone moves on.
We have learned that checklists are invaluable, especially departure checklists, to keep from damaging you rig or contents, for safety, and for a little peace of mind.
What have we learned about ourselves as full-timers?
We have learned that a positive mental attitude and a smile goes a long, long way. And we have more positive energy and smiles than we have ever had before.
We have learned that the internet has made us more knowledgeable about full-timing than many folks that have been on the road a long time. We are still learning and always will, but we have gained a lot of confidence through internet preparedness and we have even taught some old dogs some new tricks.
We have learned that we are definitely cut out for this lifestyle. And we have confirmed that we are compatible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - maybe not 365 days a year, but pretty close. :)
We have learned that working as a team is an absolute must, and we do it well together.
We have learned we like public campgrounds (state parks, national parks, corps of engineers, national forests, etc.) much more than private campgrounds and RV parks. We don't like being awning to awning with our neighbors. We don't like being too close to high population areas or interstates. We will sacrifice full hook-ups and all the other campground amenities (pool, cable, etc.) for sites with more natural settings. But we will do the RV park thing if we cannot stay in the area we want due to lack of availability or it being too pricey in the public campgrounds.
We have learned that we spend more money the closer we are to metropolitan areas. We spend more money the more we move (and not just on fuel).
We have learned that we eat more when we are around more people for longer periods of time. We tire quickly of eating healthy all the time, but we will do it in cycles.
We have learned that we like staying in one place a week or two, but I start getting hitch itch after a month. It will be interesting to see how that pans out with staying in one place for four months this winter. :)
We have learned that the internet is an absolute necessity for us. Not only because of our websites and communication, but because it allows us to research animals, insects, plants, etc. that we encounter - the world is our laboratory.
We have learned that TV will always be a part of our lives for entertainment, but our need for it changes constantly. Having satellite TV is a must. We love TIVO! And we love our East & West Coast network feeds.
With our websites, Linda's crafts, hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, geocaching, birding, photography, writing, and socializing, we are rarely bored.
We have learned that we can just sit and not feel like we have to be doing something, going to see something, taking advantage of a pretty day. It took us several months to learn that one. :)
We have learned that our Road Rules work very well for us and we rarely break them. They are:
- Tow only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays - this allows us to depart campgrounds after the weekenders have vacated, but more importantly it allows us greater opportunity to get our choice of campsites when we don't have reservations since there are more sites available during the week
- Tow only between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm - this allows us to leave after the early birds, avoid rush hour traffic, and park before the late arrivals; Sometimes we will pull in to a campground later, but only one time have we arrived after dark
- Tow less than 200 miles at a time - we understand this may not be practical when we get further west and may have to be adjusted, but so far we have only broken this rule once
- Stay at least 3 or 4 days and preferably at least a week at each stop - we hate when we have to break this rule
We really try to stick to these rules and they help keep anxiety down and alertness up.
We have learned our holding tank capacities, not in gallons but usage and how to tell when they are getting full without the gauges (which are unreliable anyway). This gives us great confidence in staying in places we love that don't have full hook-ups. We know how long we can go without worry.
We have learned that we enjoy books about the areas we visit that give us a historical or local perspective.
And we have learned that a campfire ALWAYS means s'mores. :)
If we were starting from scratch today, what would we do differently?
This is probably the question most people want answered more than any other. So, with hindsight being 20/20, here is what we would have done differently.
We absolutely would have attended at least one Life On Wheels conference. Not so much to learn about the lifestyle, but to learn about RVing in general since we had zero experience. Understanding basic systems and maintenance would have been good to know before we bought a rig and before we went on the road.
We would have read every word of RV-Dreams.com had it existed! :)
We would have more carefully considered the model fifth wheel we chose (there is no doubt that our rig of choice would still be a fifth wheel). We would have taken more time and researched more options and manufacturers. We probably would have visited some manufacturing plants. And we might have considered a shorter, lighter fifth wheel if it had the options and layout we wanted.
Now, with that said, had we done all that, we probably wouldn't have ended up with what we have. It was by dumb luck that we own a Keystone Cambridge from its first and only model year - but, we wouldn't trade it for any other model we have seen in the $60,000 price range. So gut decisions can pan out - don't underestimate them. :)
Knowing what we know now about the importance of weights and RVing, we probably would have looked at bigger trucks with more towing capacity and stopping power.
But we still have enough cushion in towing capacity and gross combined vehicle weight that what we have is adequate and our fuel mileage is quite acceptable.
Doing it all over, we would never start out on the road without: a tire pressure monitoring system, an electrical power monitoring device (Surge Guard or Progressive Industries), and chocks that lock between the trailer tires.
We would never take a full-timing rig on the road again that has just one house battery. In fact, we would probably take out the RV battery and replace it with two or three AGM maintenance free batteries (assuming I had the weight capacity). That's something on our agenda still to come.
We would pay more attention to the fifth wheel cargo carrying capacity. Just because the sticker says 3,000 pounds of cargo carrying capacity, that doesn't mean that's how much you will actually have after you add the optional generator and a few other options. The dealers aren't real good about telling you how much each option you select reduces your available personal items capacity. The time to figure this out is NOT when you are loaded and on scales for the first time.
We would start out with more fresh water marine hoses, sewer hoses and connectors, and extension cords. There can be quite a variety of distances to your various hook-ups.
Had we known sooner that we were going to do this, we would have stopped putting money into the house and furnishings and saved, saved, saved.
We would have saved the money we spent on a large going away/bon voyage/retirement party. It just got way out of hand and I sure would like to see the money in our bank account right now. :)
If we were starting from scratch today, what are the things we got absolutely right in the beginning and would do again?
First and foremost, we just did it!!! Right or wrong, mistakes or not, we just made the decision and made it happen. So even with all the things we would have done differently, we have no regrets for the way we have done anything! Life is for the living - the physically living, the mentally living, the emotionally living, and the spiritually living. So no matter what, we are experiencing life on all those levels. :)
So on to other tangible things we would do again:
The automatic rooftop Datastorm satellite internet/TV system,
The custom-made truck bed cover,
Holding off on a washer/dryer until we had the chance to test our lifestyle and laundry facilities,
Two laptops!,
Joining the Escapees RV Club,
The following fifth wheel features (even if they were dumb luck) as must-haves to build around:
- Mor/Ryde suspension
- Automatic awning
- Central vac
- Convenience center where all tank valves and gauges exist along with fresh water hook-up, hot/cold outdoor shower, satellite hook-up, phone hook-up, cable hook-up, electrical outlet, black tank backflush connection, light, soap dispenser, paper towel holder, battery disconnect, and water system valves and shut-offs behind another door.
- Huge 4'10" X 2'8" basement pass-through storage compartment.
- Separate compartment to hold all sewer hoses and connectors so there is no contact with anything else.
- Large holding tanks: 100 gal fresh water, 75 gal gray water, 45 gal black water.
- 12 cu ft side-by-side refrigerator
- Washer/Dryer hook-up (just in case)
- Peninsula (more space than an island) in kitchen for more counterspace and storage
- Insulation package to zero degrees
- Dual pane windows
- Computer desk area that holds a laptop docking station with a full size monitor, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, and an all-in-one deskjet printer (with photo printing capability), copier, and scanner.
- Floor to ceiling 3-foot wide pantry
- Propane stove and oven (a convection oven might be fine, but Linda has never used one)
- Storage, storage, storage - inside and out
There are several other things we love, like the kingsize bed and the electric fireplace, but they don't necessarily fall into the "must have" category to build around.
What have we learned from a financial standpoint?
We have learned that, if you are new to RVing, no matter how much you plan, you still won't know what you want to have with you until you have experienced the lifestyle.
As much as we wanted to buy everything up front while we still had regular paying jobs, we just did not know what else we would need or want. So, build a cushion into your budget for the first year, or maybe two, for unanticipated expenses and additions to your set-up.
We have learned that we can make enough money to live on if we want to work that hard. There are several options available to us that we have not pursued simply because we don't want to work that much yet and because we don't have to. We still have time to see where our own little, fun ventures take us.
We have learned that the more rural the campground and the more natural the setting, the less money we spend. We are not tempted by fast food and eating out and shopping. Those darn marketing and advertising people WILL get you when you venture into their territory!
Okay, where do we stand after one year on the road?
We started out August 1, 2005 with $336,000 ($101,000 in IRAs we can't touch without penalties and $235,000 in other investments, checking, and Health Savings that we can get to if need be).
After 1 year, as of July 31, 2006, we now have $423,000 ($110,000 in IRAs and $313,000 in everything else). Wow! Our investments did great .... not exactly. :)
It gets a little complicated, so I'll try to make it simple. With the sale of my company, tax refunds, and our new little start-up businesses ($5,000 in revenue), we had $95,000 in income that came in from Aug 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006. We anticipated most of that which is one big reason we went on the road when we did.
For that one year period, we have spent a total of $40,000. Yikes! However, of that $40,000, $4,000 was spent in business expenses taking us down to $36,000 in living expenses which is slightly over what we have budgeted for 2006. Of that $36,000, we spent about $8,000 on things we determined we needed/wanted AFTER we were already on the road - Datastorm equipment upgrade, Pressure Pro tire monitoring system, Sea Eagle Canoe, Sea Eagle FoldCat, Bikes, Surge Guard, Air Compressor, fixing the truck rails and tailgate after dropping the trailer on it, and various other stuff.
So, we spent about $28,000 ($36,000 - $8,000) on actual living expenses including all our insurance. Now that's about right! But the $8,000 is why I say to build in a little extra in the first year or two (maybe not that much since you are not going to drop your trailer on your truck like we did or lose your toad going down the highway like others have).
So we started with $336,000 Aug 1, 2005 and added $95,000 in income which takes us to $431,000. Then we spent $40,000 which takes us back down to $391,000. So our investments made $32,000 to get us back up to the $423,000.
Take our IRAs ($110,000 - Note: the IRAs have made about 8% during the year) out of that and that leaves us with $313,000 to live on. But we, Linda and I, have established that we are going to try to never dip below a $200,000 threshhold (our "just in case" fund), so that leaves us $113,000 in cushion to live on for as long as possible. That's great - because we thought we were only going to have about $80,000 in cushion when we started.
Now, let's assume we have finally bought all the big ticket items we need and we can keep our expenses at $30,000 a year ($2,500 per month) which is a very reasonable, moderate full-timing lifestyle. At an average return of 9% a year, which is what we are shooting for, on our $313,000 that will be about $28,000 a year. That would mean we would have a $2,000 per year deficit between our expenses ($30,000) and income ($28,000). Our $113,000 cushion would last 56.5 years without us earning a penny by working. And we would still have our $200,000 threshhold plus our IRA funds. That oughta do us. :)
Note: Yes, I know that these examples are little oversimplified for the accountant and investor types out there, but they're somewhat illustrative.
Not going for the 9% annual return? Okay, how about 5%? At 5% annually our $313,000 would make a little over $15,000 per year. So now I am at a $15,000 per year deficit and our $113,000 cushion would only last 7.5 years if we didn't earn a penny working. But we would still have our $200,000 threshhold plus our IRAs.
Seven and a half years doesn't get us very far. But guess what? That's double how far we thought our cushion would get us a year ago! We feel better already. We know we can earn $15,000 a year between the two of us if we need to, so I am less worried about finances now than when we started!
What if our investments tank and never recover? Oh well, guess we'll get j-o-bs while we live in our rig at an RV park for $350 a month. Yeah, but everything you built up would be gone. That would be a little rough, but that's the way it goes - we'd deal with it and move on. I ain't skeered, and oh what a feeling that is. :)
As I told Sharon, who came to visit us in Louisville from Knoxville on her birthday, "Hope that makes sense as we are somewhere between a solid plan and wing and a prayer." :)
Now that you have the big picture, lets dissect this sucker a little more for those of you that I didn't lose ten paragraphs ago - financial stuff is a great cure for insomnia. :)
We averaged $450 a month in campground fees.
We averaged $236 a month in diesel fuel at a little over 1,000 miles per month.
We averaged $406 a month on groceries and dining out.
We averaged $176 a month on entertainment - golf, park admissions, movies, etc.
We averaged $65 a month on laundry, clothing, and hair care - about half of that is laundry.
Cell phones are $82 a month, DirecTV is $68 a month, and satellite internet is $66 a month.
So those 8 categories total $1,549 a month - $18,588 a year.
Add $3,046 for truck and RV taxes, insurance, and registation and $3,106 for life, health, and umbrella insurance and we have $24,740. That leaves a little over $3,000 for Miscellaneous, propane, RV clubs, RV maintenance, and truck maintenance. And there you have our $28,000 in actual living expenses for the year ended July 31, 2006.
So, in my opinion, it is very reasonable for a couple to live on $2,000 - $2,500 per month all inclusive, but $3,000 a month sure sets the mind at ease a little more.
That will be the last financial recap for a year that does not end at December 31. :)
What are our top ten places we have visited?
- Stephen C. Foster State Park - Okefenokee Swamp, southeastern Georgia
- Myakka River State Park, southcentral Florida
- Bird Banding, Fort Morgan, southern Alabama
- Lovers Key State Park, southwestern Florida
- Cloudland Canyon State Park & Lula Falls Land Trust, northwestern Georgia
- Weeki Watchee River, westcentral Florida
- Natural Bridge State Resort Park & Red River Gorge (Daniel Boone National Forest), eastcentral Kentucky
- Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, southern Florida
- Corinth Recreation Area, Bankhead National Forest, northwestern Alabama
- Cherokee National Forest, southeastern Tennessee
What are Linda's top 10 favorite memories?
- Helping Hurricane Katrina evacuees at Oak Mountain State Park
- Being asked to join the Hummer/Bird Study Group bird banding team
- Hearing and seeing the donkeys at Sumter Oaks RV Park come running when they saw me or heard my voice and watching "Hootie" the resident barred owl
- Exploring the Okefenokee Swamp
- Watching a manatee feed on the Loxahatchee River
- Watching the young bald eagles bathing and catching fish on Myakka Lake
- Witnessing a gopher tortoise digging a nest and laying eggs
- Our first Geocache find
- Spending almost every day with the craft ladies at Sumter Oaks RV Park
- Stealing a smooch from Snuggy, the cockatoo, and playing fetch with Filmore the standard poodle
What are Howard's top 10 favorite memories?
- Helping Hurricane Katrina evacuees at Oak Mountain State Park
- Exploring the Okefenokee Swamp by boat and canoe and fishing amongst the alligators
- Canoeing with manatees on the crystal clear Weeki Watchee River
- Canoeing the alligator infested Myakka River
- Spending the day touring Lovers Key State Park watching osprey, manatees, and dolphins and fishing with workampers and fellow full-timers Dave & Barb Jenkins
- Riding my bike alongside the wheelchair of my new friend Jim Shelton on the Withlacoochee Bike Trail - what an inspiration!
- A 6:00 am sunrise on the beach at Hanna Park where an Osprey snagged a fish right in front of me against the gorgeous colors of the sky morning sky
- Canoeing the Loxahatchee River and watching a manatee feed on the shore plants
- Fly-fishing Citico Creek in the Cherokee National Forest
- Finding out we were being given a try as Life On Wheels instructors and getting our first paid gig as seminar speakers at the Florida RV Supershow
We both have to say that our most emotional, thrilling, and freeing memory was the day we started on the road August 3, 2005. It is a moment we will never forget and one we will savor the rest of our lives.
Also, a list of memories would not be complete without mentioning all the people we have met on the road in the last year from our very first campground until now. You are all wonderful and each of you holds a special place in our hearts. Our experiences were enhanced by your helping hands, your kindness, and your laughter. Thank you all!
What are our top five canoe runs?
- Okefenokee Swamp
- Myakka River
- Weeki Watchee River
- Loxahatchee River
- Peace River
What are our top ten campgrounds?
Looking at the campground and nothing else, here are our top ten for nature, beauty, spaciousness, and privacy. These are the places that had great sites and where we we could just sit outside and enjoy without going anywhere else.
- Bankhead National Forest, Corinth Recreation Area Campground
- Isaac Creek Corps of Engineers Campground
- F.D. Roosevelt State Park Campground
- Foscue Creek Corps of Engineers Campground
- Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground
- Falling Waters State Park Campground
- Stephen C. Foster State Park Campground
- Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground
- Paintsville Lake State Park Campground
- Tellico Plains KOA
What are our top five campgrounds for social atmosphere?
- Lake San Marino RV Resort
- Sumter Oaks RV Park (An Escapees Rainbow Park)
- SKP Resort
- Kelly's RV Park
- Kathryn Abby Hanna Park Campground
What are our best pieces of advice for wannabe or new full-timers based on our first year experiences?
Ask yourself "Do I really know who I am?" and "Do I really know who I want to be?" The answer does not have to be "yes" - but our advice is to give it some deep thought and do the same for your traveling partner.
You may not truly know the answers until you remove the distractions of your current lifestyle. There will be opportunities for individual, couple, and team growth, so your compatibility may mesh more than ever before. BUT take the time to ask these questions just in case you suddenly see a big bus coming at you with horns blaring and lights flashing. We don't want you to get hit by a bus that was coming all along, but you were too distracted to notice. :)
Going on the road and spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year in such close quarters with someone is different. At least be sure it is not a recipe for disaster.
Moving on.
If you want it bad enough, don't let anyone or anything stop you. Fear can be a good thing, but don't let it paralyze you. Take a leap of faith and don't look back!
If you are a genuinely positive person, the transition will be easy. If not, start working on changing that.
Good attitudes and smiles conquer a lot.
Be flexible.
There is a series of books called "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff ..." Full-timing tends to shrink a lot of stuff we used to think was big - let it!
Okay Howard, now give us something a little more concrete. :) Okay, here ya go.
Attend a Life On Wheels conference. We didn't, and we should have.
I've said this numerous times - Never, ever, ever rely on a single source for information when it comes to RVing. That includes RV-Dreams.com, although we will do our best not to steer you wrong. :)
Don't be penny wise and pound foolish when selecting your home. I don't want anyone to go in debt on a rig. But if you have a guaranteed income or a few thousand extra dollars to spend, consider going up in price range (usually means better for full-timers, but not always). Look for the following:
- Manufacturer reputation and stability
- Solid construction and top quality suspension
- More than enough cargo carrying capacity - full-timers tend to carry between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds of personal items
- Storage, storage, storage - easy to access and organize; How do the doors open? Do they stay open? How do slideouts affect the access? Are the doors as wide as the storage space? (in other words, Will what can fit in the space fit through the doors?) Can deep spaces be accessed from both sides? Can you safely lift items from storage with minimal risk to your back and muscles? How much bending is required for your most accessed compartments?
- Look for solid insulation packages - in winter, keeps heat in and cold out and vice versa for summer, but don't underestimate the noise control in a good insulation package; strongly consider dual pane or triple pane windows
- If going to be towing your rig, don't flirt with truck towing capacity limits - get more than enough truck or step down in trailer weight
- Consider an automatic awning - I'm biased, but just about every RVer we have met seems to wish they had one
- We all fall in love with the interior layouts first - just don't marry the rig until you have checked out the construction, suspension, storage, dumping process, battery set-up, control panels, and access to all systems.
Get roadside assistance (CoachNet or Good Sam, for example).
This is my personal opinion, but if you buy new, get all the extended warranties, tire warranties, and anything else you can get - just consider it part of the price like sales tax.
Everyone knows that you can get 20 - 30 % off the MSRP, right?
If you buy used, you can get awesome deals on used, check to see whether any warranties are still in effect AND if they are good beyond the original owner.
Unless you really, really know what you are doing, let a dealer (preferably one who sells your type of rig - not so much for competence as for pull with the manufacturer if you need it) or a certified tech do your repairs.
As long as you stay within your weight limits, take everything you think you will need and can store. You can always get rid of it later - and you will. :)
When driving and parking, take nothing for granted and go slow. Always work as a team. If we can do it, anybody can do it. :)
If deciding between a motorhome and fifth wheel, give the most weight to the opinions of the people that have owned both.
Get out here and join us!!! Remember the number one full-timer regret: "We regret we didn't do it sooner!"
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