How do fulltimers get counted on the Census?  Our South Dakota mail forwarding address is a place of business, so we did not receive the Census in the mail.  We picked one up in town, but not sure how to answer the questions.  We were on the highway on April 1.  So are we homeless? 

The government wants everyone to be counted but they make no concession for fulltime rvers. They want you to be counted where you were on April 1 but I'm not about to be counted as part of Az. when I'm from Al. with a Tx mailing address. I was at a park in Az. when we received a census form with the lot and park address. I crossed it out and put our daughters' home address on it. The questions are meant for people with a permanent address that you live at all the time. I answered to the best of my ability although it was not how they would have done it I'm sure. They will probably just throw it out because it does not fit their catagories. It would have simplified things if my daughter had included us when she filled hers out but she did not think of it at the time.

We continue to use my daughters address in Wisconsin for vehicle registration, health insurance, voting, etc. We just told her to add us to her form. I think your "home" is where you are registered to vote, not where you physically are at any particular time.

We should keep quite about this lifestyle!!! When the government finds out how many there are of us out having fun they will start taxing us!! We really just need to support our parks and recreation by staying in them and keep a low profile otherwise.

Speedhitch wrote:

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We should keep quite about this lifestyle!!! When the government finds out how many there are of us out having fun they will start taxing us!! We really just need to support our parks and recreation by staying in them and keep a low profile otherwise.

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No doubt!  I can't wait to maintain a low profile! 

 

If it weren't for wanting them to know where to mail the checks, I wouldn't care if the government knew I existed! LOL

Funny thing about the census is that with so much data mining that takes place nowadays, it is almost not needed. Proof in point, don't fill out the census and the feds will know you haven't and know exactly where you live to send someone to find out why you haven't filled it out yet!!!

Thanks everyone for the responses. This is one detail that never even entered my mind until a couple of weeks ago. I guess I will use a location in my hometown, even though I have only spent two months there in the last 3 years. Speedhitch, you are so right. Isn't it amazing how our government manages to make liars out of even the very best of us?

So where did you get the form? At the post office in the town you are near?

Go to this link, you can search by zip code for Assistance Centers. The locations vary, might be a fire station, job service center, even a grocery store. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php

We were in a KOA park a couple of weeks ago in Omaha and a census person was making the rounds of the campers in the park. I guess NE wanted to increase their count.

rjenkins wrote:

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Funny thing about the census is that with so much data mining that takes place nowadays, it is almost not needed. Proof in point, don't fill out the census and the feds will know you haven't and know exactly where you live to send someone to find out why you haven't filled it out yet!!!

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Lived in 3 different states and 40 + years old and have never been sent a census form or gotten a visit from census worker.  I don't usually volunteer personal information (at least not accurate info) to anyone unless it's absolutely necessary.  Too much information available on the web and @ the local mvd/dmv already.  I especially don't like to share info with Uncle Sam!  Privacy is a thing of the past IMHO.

 

We, too, had a visit from a census taker when we were at a campground. (Actually, it was a pair.) They said they were differentiating between "seasonal" (us- who still were living in a sticks house) and "full-time." Their first question was "do you live full-time in your RV?" I would bet, as Ken and Sarah said, that if we'd answered "yes," they'd have counted us as residents of Inyo County (we were in Lone Pine).

I really do not care to fill out a census form this time. I personally would just as soon they didn't know as much about me as they do already! I don't really have anything to hide but I do not trust what they might do with the information.

What I don't get is why they NEED to know all that information. It has nothing to do with a census. Count me and be done with me. I can't wait to retire. Then they have to find me!

Thanks, Howard, for doing so much research. You have helped me in understanding the bigger picture of the Census.