Dear RV Shrink:
We sold our house six years ago, bought a Class A motorhome and hit the road. We have had a wonderful journey. We have been all over North America. Having that experience under our belts I think we are a bit spoiled. But now it’s harder to get into campgrounds, and the price is skyrocketing on camping. It just doesn’t seem as enjoyable as I originally remember it.
I want to buy some property in the Southwest and spend the winters in one spot, but my husband wants to keep moving all the time. My plan would still give us all summer to head for cooler climes and even spring and fall for places we love in the southern tier states.
This has been an ongoing debate for more than a year now and we are still moving every 7 to 10 days. Can you shed some light on how I should approach this dilemma? —Stale Mate in Stanton
Dear Stale:
It happens. Life is like that. Remember when you were a kid and everything was a new adventure? Living life takes the polish off many new and exciting experiences. That’s a good thing. You need to spice up your life again. Shake things up. If you have done all the things you dreamed of in North America, why not park the rig next winter and rent one in Australia or New Zealand? North America has not cornered the RV market. You might want to try RVing Europe in the summer.
I think buying a piece of dirt in a warm climate is a great idea and a good investment. Many people find a little piece of paradise, build the camping site they always dreamed of and even a storage building for storing the RV while they are off on other adventures. You can also add a few sites for friends. I don’t have to tell you that you make wonderful friends while roaming. It’s great to have a place you can all gather on occasion.
So I don’t see a problem here unless your husband won’t bend at all. I think you can both have what you want, build some equity in a piece of real estate and see more of this glorious planet we live on. If foreign travel is not your thing, I think you are offering your spouse a workable option. He gets to travel a majority of the year and you get your nesting time in one spot during the winter.
Life is a compromise. I think if you two have survived in a motorhome for six years you have the right stuff. I am confident you will make the needed adjustments to continue your wonderful journey. —Keep Smilin’, Richard Mallery a.k.a. Dr. R.V. Shrink
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##RVT892
Pahrump NV that will be my home base. I just purchased a half acre lot. I recent’y spent 10 weeks on the road often staying only 1 or 2 nights along the way. As a solo that gets tiring so having a place to pull in and settle down for a month or so is very comforting. Then I found a cute little house on an acre and put an offer in on it. Lots of room for my RV and any family/friends that want to visit. I’ll be able to spend some time doing crafts that I can’t do in the RV due to weight limitations. Then when I’ feeling antsy I can hook up and go somewhere. By the way NV has no income tax so money saved there and some places have reasonable sales taxes.
Six years of moving every 7-10 days – I don’t think so. Tell your husband that part of RVing should include every once in a while of “digging in.” We are 12 year RVers with 8 years of fulltiming and spend a month at many RV Parks.
Before you buy land, try and make a deal with hubby. For next winter become a snowbird. Find a RV Park in the South and go there for 3-4 months during the winter season. You will be surprised at how many Canadians and upper Northern states folk you will meet that just “stay put” for the winter. Or, if hubby feels the need to move, then find 3-4 parks and move each month.
Keep one thing in mind, you need to make reservation a full year in advance. Good luck.
We have children in Georgia. We decided to put a pad in on their property. We stop there for 2 months in the spring and 2 months in the fall. That gives hubby time to fix things, and get in some fishing. We schedule doctor and dentist visits for then. The other 8+ months we travel.
I like the statement “WE decided to put a pad on THEIR property”. Was there any discussion about this? Ha.
I just spent a month camping (well actually parked I stayed in the house) in my sisters driveway in GA. Before I left we picked out a place in the side yard to put in a pad so next year I don’t take up her driveway…but I’ll probably still stay in the house. 🙂