Volume 2. Issue 44
Welcome to the Full-Time RVer Newsletter, published every other Wednesday by RVtravel.com. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and full-time RV living tips from the pros, travel advice, and anything else of interest to full-timers or those who aspire to be. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.
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This newsletter is sponsored by our friends at Wholesale Warranties.
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Quote of the day
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more” ―
Your guide to ‘upsizing’ after full-time RVing
By Nanci Dixon
I never thought I would need to upsize. Or that upsizing would be so very different from the years we accumulated lots and lots of stuff. Here’s what happened:
We got rid of virtually everything from a five-bedroom house and narrowed it down to two 5′ by 5′ storage units. Within a year, we got down to six Rubbermaid containers containing photo albums, my mother’s china and crystal, a box of knick-knacks, one box of memories and my photo portfolio. I kept one nostalgic rocking chair, a bedside table, and an antique bed.
I have only missed our green wicker porch furniture and my huge walnut and brass inlaid desk. None of which would fit in this house.
Did you miss last weekend’s RV Travel Newsletters?
If so, here is some of what you missed…
- 2023 “two-story” 5th wheel is enormous, but design is disappointing
- Cities around the U.S. begin cracking down on RV parking
- Preowned RV prices continue to dive. Are we heading back to “normal” territory?
- Beware the damaging dips: Our motorhome got stuck. Really stuck.
Features
Some of these articles are from past issues of RVtravel.com and have been updated for this newsletter.
How to conquer the fear of breaking down in remote areas
By Dave Helgeson
Do you have a fear of breaking down in remote areas with your RV? This question recently came up during a Zoom meeting among RVtravel.com writers and staff. Given the current shortage of repair parts, trained technicians, lack of qualified service centers, supply chain issues, labor shortages and problems with obtaining emergency road service, it was deemed a legitimate concern. Since remote areas (aka middle of nowhere) are my favorite places to visit, I agreed to pose the question and share my thoughts. … Read how to become self-reliant and prepare for emergencies here. We’re sure you’ll learn something new.
80% of RVtravel.com readers enjoy birdwatching. You’ll enjoy Project FeederWatch
Looking for a project that gets you involved in nature? If you’re one of the 80 percent of RVtravel.com readers who enjoys birdwatching, you might want to consider becoming a part of Project FeederWatch. This project turns your bird feeder visits into a citizen scientist event. Participation does not require a feeder. All you need is an area that attracts birds. You can visit nature centers, community parks, and even participate from your RV site. Learn more.
15 camping games and puzzles that are fun for everyone and make the perfect gift
Wondering what to give to the families on your holiday gift list this year? Face it! The kids already have too many toys, and gifts for teens can be rather tricky. Most adults buy what they want when they want it! So, what’s left? The perfect gift: the gift of time together. Every family can use it and you need not worry about getting the correct size or color. Take a look and see what we mean here.
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
The GhostBed RV mattress is 10” deep, crafted with gel memory foam for coolness, has 3 layers of luxurious comfort and is perfectly sized for your RV! Ahhhh… Wake up relaxed and rejuvenated. RVtravel.com readers now get an EXTRA 10% OFF a GhostBed Luxury RV Mattress! CLICK HERE and use code RVTRAVEL10. Watch RVtravel.com’s Tony Barthel’s RV mattress review here.
Reader poll
Quick tip
Saving for the breakdown
With most insurance policies you can either pay your insurance all in one annual payment or you can pay monthly. That’s the way to look at RV maintenance expenses. Things may go bad a little bit at a time, but you usually don’t know it until all of a sudden when something totally fails. In other words, most maintenance problems hit you all at once, but put some money in your maintenance account each month, and when something expensive happens, you’ve already paid for it.
Of course, this money is in addition to your emergency fund, which should be for a true emergency and not just for predictable expenses. Every mile you drive you’re using up your gasoline (or diesel fuel). You’re also using up your tires, but you pay for tires every few years, not a little for every trip. Even if you took a 500-mile trip and didn’t have to spend anything on maintenance, that doesn’t mean you didn’t get that much closer to having to spend some money on repairs. One RVer told me that every time he puts $100 worth of gas in his rig he also puts $100 in an envelope that he keeps for maintenance expenses. My maintenance doesn’t run to nearly that much, but his technique may not be a bad idea.
From: RVing: Less Hassle—More Joy: Secrets of Having More Fun with Your RV—Even on a Limited Budget. Available on amazon.
State residency and tax issues: Here’s how long you can stay in a state before you have to pay state taxes
READER DAVE T. ASKS: “We’re considering spending a summer in an RV park in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan, and were wondering if there were any tax issues to consider. Do these states charge income tax on retirees who are just summer visitors?” Read formerly full-time RVer Nanci Dixon’s answer here.
Wrinkles are much more than lines. They tell the story of adventures I am glad to have had
By Nanci Dixon
When I look directly into the mirror lately, I am startled by the person staring back at me. She looks familiar but nothing like the me I remember. She’s wrinkled, lined and sagging. When the heck did that happen? … Find out what Nanci said after her husband asked her if she would like to get a facelift, and why she responded the way she did, here.
Give experiences instead of traditional gifts this Christmas
By Mike Gast
If you haven’t already completed your Christmas shopping, you’re likely screwed. That might seem to be a bit of hyperbole. But it also may not be such a leap, considering what we’re hearing about busted supply chains and nobody willing to work at manufacturing the junk we usually cram under the Christmas tree. Maybe it’s time to take a lesson from all we’ve learned as RVers, happily traipsing around the country: Real gifts are the memories we make along the way. The whole “shop right now or forget about Christmas” line we are being fed by traditional retailers got me thinking. What if we all switched gears and made an honest attempt at giving “experiences” this year instead of just “stuff”? … Hmmm. Read more.
Your assignment
What advice would give an aspiring full-time RVer?
From the editors: We asked our readers this question. Here is one response:
“Be completely digital with banking and bill pay and start a mail service a year before you start.” —Jason Bell
Before you go… Make sure you read today’s Daily Tips Newsletter. Lots of good stuff here!
Featured recipe
Chili Sweet Potato Fries
by Mindy Sena from Burlington, IA
The combination of flavors in this yummy chili fries recipe reminds me of a chili cheese dog. Sweet potato fries are my favorite and I love using them as a base rather than regular fries. These would be great on game day!
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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We have been full timing going on 10 years. What we found was the need to know more on maintaining your RV and how it works. Many have posted in fields that they know nothing about slides, roofs or even dumping. My suggestion would be, if you haven’t already, join RVillage. It’s a RV site that explores all various things on RVing. We have been on this site for awhile and it contains groups of various things, from crafting to maintenance. There are over 500,000 RVers, of all kinds, that has joined. Good luck.
I thought about aspiring to be a full time RV er. But after 6 months realized one thing. I love my long hot showers and a warm place to sleep without worrying if the propane is going to run out. So I do 6 months on and 6 off. No down sizing here. Its good for others but for me? I think I found my niche.
Junk drawer? I don’t have any junk. Now, my wife……………
You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’ there, Impavid. 😆 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Junk drawer? Yup I guess. But it’s things that are used. Odds and ends. But I just don’t toss everything in it I might need some day. I’ve done that at the sticks and bricks and have tossed many plastic containers to recycle. That came from parents of never tossing anything away because “some day I’ll need that”. Some day came and that day left with others having to toss. I promised myself I’m not leaving my children with some day clean up except 2 small junk drawer to dump..