Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Introduce Yourself! -> First Post for Me! Thinking of Full-timing...
Post Info TOPIC: First Post for Me! Thinking of Full-timing...
Kitkatrobin


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First Post for Me! Thinking of Full-timing...
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So glad we found this web-site!  I have been reading for a week or so.aww

My husband and I are thinking about selling our house (we just bought it in 2008) and the contents (save for a few items), and becoming Full-timers.

We have experienced a "pseudo" full-timer lifestyle experience...for four years (2004 to 2008); I was a "travelling therapist" with a travelling company; I had 13 week to 6 month jobs in: Idaho, Florida (several), and Virginia (in the past also was a travelling therapist in California, Washington state, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida).  We stayed in our 35' Jayco Designer 5th wheel instead of taking the travelling company's apartments.  After each job, we did go back home to our sticks/bricks home in central Kansas.  It was nice to be able to 'go home' once in a while...so not sure how we'll feel about having no 'real' home.

My two biggest concerns:  another former (Fulltimer) RVer with whom we keep in contact, said that due to the downturn in the economy, that RV campgrounds have been closing down.  Do you find this to be true?  I don't want to sell our home, go out on the road only to find that campgrounds are closing (which might also affect my job prospects as a travelling therapist).

2nd concern:  how do you best manage health related needs while full-timing?  Do you go back to a 'home-state' and see your regular doctors? Dentists?  or just find doc/dentists on the road?

I feel the need to shed all the burdens a home and stuff entails, and be free!  But I don't want to trade some stress for even more stress!

Thanks for listening!  and for offering any advice or wisdom!

Robin and Don (and Stinky, the kittykat)confuse



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Don and Robin
Kitkatrobin


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I must add - that while I was working as a traveling therapist, my husband, Don, generally worked at the RV Campgrounds...we usually got our site for free in return. We (he) would love to look into Work Kamping also!



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Don and Robin
Trabuco


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Don and Robin welcome to the forum. As far as campgrounds, a few have closed but the goods ones are thriving. For annual medical appts. we will swing back by our homebase to take care of those.

Keep the questions coming.

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heyduke


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as with any businesses the weaker ones close down... cost have been rising in campgrounds but what else is new... as foe medical we have chosen to keep our doctor in our home town and also we visit the Mayo Clinics as needed as there is one in AZ, FL, and MN.

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road of happy destiny


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Hi Robin, My husband and I started our (almost) full-timing just about the same way.  I had a full time nursing job in FL and my husband was retiring, so we sold most of our stuff and I began taking travel assignments.  We went to TX, Missouri and then AZ--which is where we have been for several years now.  So, now I'm getting ready (in a year or so) to retire and we are gonna do this!  Right now we are Park Hosts in a county park. We have a FHU with all utilities paid. plus free laundry, propane and ice!  We each give 20 + hours a week...and it's awesome.  As far as parks closing--some of them need too. It is truly survival of the fittest.  There are so many wonderful places to work-kamp--whether you want to go w/ KOAs or find state, national or county parks to do it in.  For right now, we have medical insurance w/ my job...so I'm as curious as you are to see what options are out there.  Fran Hallock



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Technomadia


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We haven't seen that many campgrounds close up, actually. Sure, there are some - there always will be, like any business. But what we are seeing is increased campground fees since we started. The place we're at now was $30/night when we were through 2 years ago, and is now $35. A lot of state parks are also increasing their fees to beat state budget cuts to stay open, and some are closing or being passed on to other management.

For medical - we've actually not figured that out ourselves. I used to have a great doc in Florida that I would visit when we were back in town (where I originated my travels), and he was cool with supporting me remotely with e-mails, digital test results, etc. But he's since left his practice, so I'm back to square one in finding a health care provider to work with. So for now, we just use urgent care clinics for anything urgent as we travel and have forgone annual check-ups for a couple years now. We do need to fix that, as we're both approaching 40 soon.

- Cherie



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laurly


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Welcome to the forum! Lots of knowledgeable people here, so don't be afraid to ask questions. We are within 4 months or so of hitching up and going where the wind blows us. We too are researching the health insurance issue/medical issues. My DH is only 62, so is a few years ago from Medicare. I'm only 55. I'm hoping to stay on my employer's health insurance for awhile when I leave. We're checking into Esurance for quotes on George. Other than that, most places have urgent care facilities for the minor stuff.

Good luck in your endeavor to get to the point we all want to be!

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Kitkatrobin


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smile  Thanks, Kens, for your reply.  It sounds like keeping one's regular doctors would be best, if possible. :)

 

Robin and Don

 



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Don and Robin
Kitkatrobin


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Heyduke,

Thanks for your reply.  Sounds like a consensus growing in favor of home-based doctors wink

Robin and Don



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Don and Robin
Kitkatrobin


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biggrin Good luck, Fran,  on obtaining a good health insurance policy.  I guess we'll find out, too....



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Don and Robin
Kitkatrobin


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doh  Hi Cherie,  Thanks for your reply.  I didn't even think about fees going up... I guess that would be a natural progression. hmm

Good luck to you, also, in finding good health care options :)

Robin and Don



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Don and Robin
Kitkatrobin


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Laurie and George,

Thanks for the reply.  And thanks for the information about Esurance.  That really looks like a good place to start!  :)

Robin and Don



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Don and Robin
Speedhitch


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One thing you said makes sense...trading one stress for another. Check out all avenues and make a plan...Then work you plan.

Good luck




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Joe Sherri and Kris living in a Open Range Lite 308BHS. 2500 Dodge Ram Diesel  http://speedysgreatadventure.blogspot.com/
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