Some "professionals" don't know quite as much as they think they do!

Very well said Mike.  I am going to make a wild guess here and say I doubt the shrink is an RVer.  Your problem is that you do not conform to his idea of a structured life with all of the payments and gadgets that he thinks are necessary, shame on you.

Mike, your message is along the same lines as my philosophy: 

Judge not your fellow man until you've walked in his shoes and you know his story!

A professional what?  Mike, this counselor violated the basic "rule" in the helping profession, and that is respecting where a person is at, meeting them where they are at and then fully respecting what we call "self-determination"~ a term that basically means freedom to choose your own path! As a psychiatric nurse, I can tell you this "professional" or "counselor" was not doing anything to help anyone. Your hitting the door towards your own freedom - and teaching your son that valuable lesson - was excellent!

We will soon be proud fulltimers, joining you & all the Dreamers: houseless and proud of it!

"Houseless, not Homeless". I like that!

"Home is where the head is".

You know Mike, if you look on You Tube, there is a whole younger generation who is looking at this lifestyle not as a "last resort", or a luxury retirement, but as the goal in itself; high unemployment and housing prices are causing a lot of working age people to have a self sustaining RV and income as the ultimate goal. They're not even thinking "house" and "job".

130 fresh, and 160 waste? Are you driving around in the Titantic?

MarkS wrote:

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I read that the appropriate terminology used in the census was, "affluent homeless". I prefer "relaxed happy"

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The "professionals" can call us anything that they want.  Put us in any cubby hole they like, as long as THEY LEAVE US ALONE!

grandpalarry wrote:

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Look on the Washington DL web site and they say they will not issue a DL to anyone that declares they live in a motorhome or trailer, but reading farther they will issue a homeless persona DL and use the address (THIS IS TRUE) "Under a bridge".
If I'm Lying I'm dying==Right now that is my problem, I tried to change my DL address, after living here for 8 years.
We were told we had to have dirt under your feet that we owned, I tried to use the address for our mail forwarding and they told me instantly it was a business, my kids are not stable and don't have an address for very long at a time.
We are now proud owners of some dirt.

Larry

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 Where is the dirt located? Under a bridge? Sorry, could not resist. LOL

I just tell people (Doctors, Dentists, ect) that I live in my vehicle. They start to say how sorry they are until they notice I'm grinning! Thats when I let them know it is 40ft long with air, heat, stove and fridge. Most ask to come with me when I leave!

Hah!  When I told my professional "counselor" about our plan to become "houseless" and pursue our lifelong dream she nearly jumped up and down.  She noted that she was proud of the fact that, after a lifetime of worrying about everyone else, I had finally put my own desires and dreams first!  She promptly discharged me from her care and noted that I am finally "free"!  I can't wait to get started, right now the dream of being there in 2 years (or less I hope) is what is keeping me sane.  Lucky Mike for a reason!

Mike:

Even though your post is a couple of weeks old I wanted to comment for any who might be reading through this and thinking about full-timing. 

As many readers know, my Mom and Dad were full-timers, by choice, not economics, for decades.  They sold a beautiful home in South Florida and went on the road to “see the USA and Canada” for a year in an Airstream.  When they returned from that first trip, of many, they never built another house – by choice.

They continued to work, and travel, until they officially retired and naturally continued to live in the Airstream(s).  They had several. Back in the day a 34 foot Excella with a 2500 Suburban was the “New Horizons Majestic” trailer of its day.  They never considered themselves homeless by any stretch.  They and we with our children had Christmas, Thanksgiving and other celebrations in “the trailers” as Linda and I had RVs as well going back into the 70’s. The RV was just part of our lives. 

As I reflect on it and see today, as we just finished a trip up Pike’s Peak, where Mom and Dad camped back in the early ‘80’s by-the-way – as Mom told us, “we didn’t know you couldn’t tow and Airstream up there” – I reflect on just what this lifestyle has brought our family:  Many great memories and the opportunity to see God’s magnificent creation up close.  While there are bumps in the road, the road offers opportunities just sitting in a house doesn’t.  Wounderful opportunities for those adventurous enough to give it a shot.  However, it does take planning and the knowledge you will need to learn things as you go.

In all of this it must be remembered: RVing doesn’t negate the responsibilities of earning you way and planning for the future.  That is life, with its responsibilities and it does require money.  But it also allows for more freedom in many ways.  The life is not for everyone.  But for those that understand that RVing is not a “vacation” but a life choice, it can be a wonderful choice.  But you are not homeless.  As I told someone yesterday, when we go into the rig and close the door we are “home.”  Linda’s always said, “where your “stuff” and your mate are, that’s home.” 

My perspective

Bill