Wondering if I can live my dream - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Wondering if I can live my dream

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

if you have a little savings to purchase a semi decent RV and keep it going there is really no reason you cant......Ive done it on a 800 a month disability check and have friends out here that have been doing it for years........

its all budget and lifestyle....no different than a stick and brick , once you develope good habits and learn conserving and what you can afford to do its nice....

if your planning on coming out here and just driving around and stay ing a day here and another there you'll be in trouble fast but if your willing to just follow the good weather and find a couple spots and move slowly its a good life

being disabled gives you a great deal of discounts that if used is a great way to be out here.....good luck on your decisions......

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks Lucky Mike!!! I appreciate your response. I don't have any money saved - used all savings/401K during my illness/breakdown and subsequent SSD. My current lease is up in 1.5 years, I have credit card debit that I'm either going to consolidate or work very hard to pay off. I have tons of stuff to sell so hopefully will have a decent down payment for RV, unless I win PCH! Chuckle. But I will have a car payment as well as an RV payment.

I'm very excited about the prospect. Looking at options, etc., researching all things RV related, Medicare, receiving pain medication on the road ... there's so much!

My main concern is hooking up at night (the water things, dumping). Maintenance issues ... my health issues limiting my capabilities. Although some part of me thinks the whole process will heal me!

biggrin

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

well hooking up water and such is not to difficult......but if you plan to carry a note on your car and one on your RV plus have card debt before or when you come out here and are on SSD and its your only income with no savings ......I really would not suggest doing it....in a very short term unless you not going to move and just plan to move into the park down the street you will be in over your head with the first breakdown...........

(Please note: Im the guy that says anyone can do this , your the first Im telling to really look carefully at what your about to do......the videos are making it pretty for you.....you might want to see a few of what happens when all the sudden you break down and your broke...the wrecker comes and your RV is in the holding yard and your outside the fence wondering how your gonna bail it out)

I live out here on SSD and a small income generated from the coach.......in a normal case coming out here it is always suggested to do it debt free , but to come out here on ssd and create even more debt without means to carry it you will be doing yourself a severe disservice

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I was looking at the car/rv payments as rent which I'll have no matter what, but I see your point. My son lived in RV for short period years ago, site rental was high. Plus my other ex (chuckle) did travel trailering bacck. In the mid 70's with 3 other young families tracking work from FL to TX. Was an adventure but in both those cases there were mechanically inclined guys there. Perhaps not this life but the next I'll hit the RV trail earlier in life. I've not given up as yet, being a wing & prayer sorta gal, will see what I accomplish between now and lease end. Thanks for all the wonderful info and God bless

JonRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you are able to make rent currently (assuming it is around the national avg) you can probably make it out on the road if you stick to work camping situations. Give that a search on the forum. Lots of valuable information on here!

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks JonRV ... I will be working hard to sell things I've accumulated and as you said I'm currently doing rent, utilities, car payment, credit card payments. I'm very frugal. However, was lured into "saving" 20 or 20% by opening/using cards. I'll get them paid off. I think when I get debt free I can do it. Want to split my time between FL and NM ... I'm staying positive and will see what the good Lord brings my way!

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't want to but in here but there are work for site and utilities and some other perks. You can find them at Workamper.com; Work for RVers.com; Coolworks.com and many others. just google it. If you can eliminate some of the costs then your SSD may work toward a way to the RV lifestyle; of course depending on your disability. I was thinking on the means of camp hosting! State park; Federal parks; National Parks; etc. some time just want someone to keep a look out and call if there is problems.

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Pieere ... Great information! My disability is chronic pain, exhaustion ... But as now there are things I "have" to do. I would imagine that the simpler lifestyle would perhaps free up some energy I now use, at least that's my hope. However, the more research I do the more I realize that without savings (at this point) it'll be hard for me to accomplish it. I think I've overwhelmed myself with all the research I've been doing almost nonstop for the past 4 days. TMI has hit me hard and somewhat discouraged me. That said, I'm in a now or never place in life. 1.5 yrs till lease end ... I have much to do. ;+) I really appreciate the links you provided. I'm going to give my research a few days break (if I can! Chuckle, I'm obsessive). I value all the info I've received from everyone here! What a blessing.

-- Edited by Wishing63 on Saturday 2nd of January 2016 12:54:41 PM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would be heading the cautions relating to debt. You mentioned being a wing and prayer kinda gal, being well prepared financially gives you larger wings when the prayers are not enough to do the job as Lucky Mike pointed out in the possible situation described in his second post.

Debt appears the biggest threat to your hopes and plans for this dream and I cannot stress that strongly enough. The good news is that it is indeed possible though caution and realistic expectations are called for, but it will depend on what your aspirations are, what resources you can draw upon to get there and how you balance those two things. Being realistic is the first step.

Remember to not get caught up in the flowery imagery of the RV life thinking it is somehow simpler, easier etc. It is different to be sure, but you still have to pay the bills, eat, take care of your health, fix things etc............. as well as.........breathe.

For what it's worth, Brian

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks Brian, I appreciate your input. In the early 70's my husband, myself (3 mo pregnant) and my 3 yo son took off from Florida to Texas looking for work with 2 other young families. We had a 19ft TT and lived that way until about a month before I delivered my second son. I'm far from flowery when it comes to my experience of RV realities. Granted, it was only 6 mos but it is something my now ex and I talk about frequently. Was sorta the best time of our life in a weird sort of way. Me preggers, an active 3 yo & a 6'3" husband in 19'TT. And as we all know ,19' doesn't translate in interior space. Chuckle - the memory warms my heart. But the physical and financial end at 63 even on a decent SSD doing solo rving has realities and thus my research. I sooo appreciate everyone's input as it pushes me to do what needs to be done in order to achieve this dream. Instead of slogging along day by day, you know? I feel more empowered. I may be 65 before I do it, but I do think it's going to happen, especially with all the great knowledge, experience, etc from you and others!

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I wasn't rich either and I made it work before with less spendable monies than I receive from SS disability. If all she has is the payment for a good used RV and Insurance; food and don't mind living frugally then it can work! I never said never before my health gave up!

SuzieQ · RV-Dreams Family Member

You believe you mentioned that you are on pain meds. Do some research on the ability to get those refilled far from home and especially in other states. Some meds have severe restrictions on refills.

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Yeah, SusieQ, I thought about that a couple of days ago and started researching it as well as medicare plans that travel. There's so much info out there, I'm going to start writing it down so I can organize it better , rather than jumping between 10 different rving sites. You know how there's a link, then a link and another link ... I did read somewhere that a couple had figured out the wife's pain meds needs to accommodate rving, by that's when I was flipping too fast between sites. Thanks for the reminder tho, it made me realize I need a notebook for writing important items down rather than trying to remember the website or link! 8)

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Florida, you can get 3 months worth in advance of pain meds. They physically write a scrip for each month. I believe the are changing the laws here, so they can also be sent in electronically... but not sure.

Wishing63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hey Junkman,

That's good to know ... since eventually I will end up in Florida. I currently have to see my pain doc every 3 months, but have to get monthly script. I think I can get on the 3/mo mail order option thru my current insurance here in NM.

In the "dream" my friend in VA buys property in northern NM, builds tiny house to summer in - keeps her house in VA for winter months. We've discussed this. I park my RV on her land (she'll stump up necessary connections) during summer and during winter park my RV either on my son's land (once he gets) or at my ex's (he and I get along). Ideally, I pick up friend in VA and drive out to NM and drop her on way back to Florida. Oh yeah, my son, bless his heart, is a jack of all trades and can fix anything, so he's my maintenance solution. Anyway, as pipe dreams go it isn't a bad one ...

I'm researching if the 3 mo supply can be mailed to one of the mailing services. If so, you start out with your 3 mo RX then set up 3 mo mail order and it seems you could be OTR for 6 months, if doc relaxes to 6 mo office visit ... hmm, maybe. Heck, I'm obsessing about all this. Said I was going to take a few days HA ha ha smile but I've been non stop surfing via computer or cell phone ... chuckle. Can't you have a doctor at both ends? One in Fl and one in NM? Depends on ins I guess ... more food for thought.

Now the in between stuff which is best termed as "reality" ... that's still wavering around the periphery of my brain.

I did a quick tally of hard expenses I currently had for Dec 2015 (no food, medical, vet) comes to about $1500/mo (rounded up). That leaves me about $300 for food, medical, vet. Most of these hard expenses can be converted to rv traveling - rent = rv payment, utilities= occasional camping fees (I can/will boondock), cable/internet/cell might be same, etc., but there's the gas/diesel factor. Abq to Tuscaloosa to Daytona at 9 mpg @ $2.75g diesel is roughly $480 fuel (per some fuel calculator thingy on net). I'll only make 100 miles or so a day and I don't know that for sure because of pain, etc. This is be beauty of RVing ... I can just stop and hit the bed for an hour, then drive again. Altho, I can't drive at night ...

U-hauling my stuff towing car totals about $2300 (this is w/o gas!) ... pod shipping my stuff is about the same, then I will need 1st/last to rent a place, utility deposits. Seems it all balances out to about the same costs. Of course, if or when I RV I'll have gotten rid of all this "stuff" ... living in an RV means my furniture can go (except my lazyboy recliner - I've read that people have replaced current rv furn. with other.) I have 1.5 - 2 yrs to figure this all out, eliminate my debt and disseminate all memorabilia type items I have to appropriate family members.

Hmm, I guess I'm not supposed to use this section to ponder my goals. Although, it does give others here a bigger glimpse into my plans and thereby giving me more info to incorporate into the plan.

Gosh, I'm so appreciative of everyone that has contributed and opened up some of the things that really need to be considered. I must have a dream, otherwise, what's the point? My VA friend's dream is living in Northern NM, mine is to be mobile ...

-- Edited by Wishing63 on Sunday 3rd of January 2016 12:02:50 PM

-- Edited by Wishing63 on Monday 4th of January 2016 08:25:40 AM