Tell JoAnn for me that driving a motorhome like a Foretravel (envy on my part ) will be easier than driving an Airstream - - much better ride, visibility, handling characteristics in a motorhome.

We decided to purchase a park model at a park with like in Mesa, AZ a few year ago. OK - so I decided we should do this. This was after Dave had a series of "back out" problems during the summer - as in he couldn't get out of bed for days at a time. So I had to drive to move us (5 times that summer) from place to place while we waited for his muscles to quit the spasms and everything to move back into place. I just decided that if something should happen to one of use, the other needed some place to go for at least 6 months to sort things out. We were very lucky to be able to arrive in October, when few people were around, so it was a 'buyers' market, so to speak, and we got a VERY good deal on an older park model. Interestingly enough, once here, he had a few mornings of having to take it slowly to get moving, but his back hasn't gone completely out since then!

What I didn't appreciate was how much we would both enjoy the winters with space to spread out, a consistency about each day, and then enjoy the summers when we were back traveling again and going on adventures. Since we were here for an extended time, we transferred our health care to a local physician and new sets of eyes were able to catch some things before they had a chance to get really bad!

The six months doing each has been wonderful for our overall health - - the winter gives us time to recharge, and the summer gives us plenty of visiting with family, winery visits, beach, mountains, etc. that we look forward to the peace when we return to the valley each fall. At some point we will give up traveling in the summer and just spent all year here, to be followed by the realization that it is time for us (or whomever is left) to move to be near our daughter and son-in-law.  Right now I feel we have the best of both worlds.

 

When the time comes that I can't drive anymore I'll simply park my MH in a warm location of our choosing. That is assuming I have the opportunity and don't have a grabber before then. Like HD rider we plan on scouting our ideal fixed location beforehand. When life becomes a burden to myself and others I will choose the time and place to let it go and embrace the inevitable. If I do it right I can avoid the funeral expenses for my family too. I've never been on a cruise ship, so possibly a farewell cruise sounds good to me. I love to eat fish and as a sushi chef served up more than a few in my time, so feeding them would be a fitting end - giving back to the ocean, so to speak. Hopefully that's more than a few years in the future, but it's something we all must consider at some point.

Chip

"Exit plan" sounds so easy, but it is not. Having had families that moved around we were used to change and "planned" accordingly. We made sure to not shoot our nest egg as fulltimers, so we could afford to buy another home if needed. We knew we could handle change, having done so many times in our lives. I know that is not the case for many others, whose lives were more stable.

A couple years ago we realized that we wanted to stay put longer in winter and to do so at the RV park we are at in Mesa, Arizona, Val Vista Village. This is the same place Barb has a park model. The main reason for this place is because Diane is a quilter and is very involved with the quilters here. The park has a large building dedicated to fiber arts and its own long arm, which Diane uses and will be a monitor at this season. I am comfortable here and like the central location with easy access to stores, restaurants and places to walk. We also decided that for longer than 3 months, we wanted more room, etc., so we bought a park model with an Arizona room (addition) in April and moved in this October. Our current plan is to stay here 5 to 6 months a year and travel the rest of the year. We have the motorhome in storage. To buy we did not have to touch our nest egg, since my mother died before she ran out of money and we used my inheritance to buy and furnish the place.

Our long range plan is to buy a small place in the Pacific Northwest, our home area, and move there in summer. Neither of us handles hot weather well, so summers in Arizona are not appealing.

If you would have asked me before we went fulltime where I would settle when the time came, I would have said California or Washington state. The Washington state part might come true, but Arizona wins over California.

There are a few related comments concerning this subject in another current thread:

https://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t65112212/exiting-the-full-time-life/

But to comment here:

I agree with BillJ very much.  This is a bigger deal then some might think, especially at the beginning of the RV life, and much of it has to do with the word "money."  How much one has in reserve to come off-the-road and do whatever, wherever; especially in a short period of time unexpectedly.

I truly believe it is important, especially if one is in their 60's, to have some real clue as to where they might want to live if they want to, or more importantly, must exit the rig full-time.  Even Howard and Linda, now, have a home in Florida.  While they may not plan to use it right away as a residence it does exist and can be accessed within a reasonable period of time if required.  That's a big deal IMO.

Not everyone can, or wants, to maintain a S & B residence (or rental) in addition to an RV like we do.  But, like Neil and Connie, one can establish a domicile in specific location even if it is in a campground in a location where you would want to live.  That City / State location is the key, IMO.  To have things "arranged" in an area - including medical care - doctor's, etc., prior to needing them.  Should something happen "on-the-road" figuring all this out on the fly specifically can be problematic.  By "specifically" I mean one could actually, with little warning, move to that location without undo stress knowing what to do and moreover who to call.

"Wintering" in such a location is good way to set all this up and know what is required, etc.

I know some of the above takes a little of the "no reservations" and "no concreate plans" 'philosophy out of the picture.  But it is also prudent, especially if one is somewhat later in life. Each can define "later in life" however they choose.  Doing this does not keep one "off-the-road."  It does, however, mean one is not caught totally off-guard should something happen to require a change.

Most know when "its time."  When that time comes this makes the transition much easier; and maybe means more actual time RVing albeit, perhaps, not full-time on-the-road.  Just part-time on-the-road and part-time at home base however one defines "home-base."

Having been through this decision / situation twice in our family this path has proven to be a good choice.  As always, "It depends" but being prudent is always a good choice.

Bill

Echoing what Bill said...we’ve made the decision to get off the road whenever in the North Fort Myers area. Doctors, church/choir, Elks and American Legion lodges...and we’ve been here enough years so that we know the traffic patterns and where we might want to live. Haven’t really decided on what that will be yet...could be a condo or a small house in one of the many managed developments down here so there’s no yard work and a lot of amenities similar to what RV parks have. We set aside the remainder of our house sales proceeds from the S&B sale in the VA DC ’burbs after paying for the rig so that we can pay cash for it if we want to. We would probably rent over buying if we needed a mortgage because at that point in life the equity wouldn’t really build very much for typical lifetime remaining and monthly cash flow is more important at that stage of life...but are expecting to just buy what we want outright then. 

I could see us changing our minds and perhaps moving back to the Richmond VA area for the grandkid... it there’s snow and lousy winter there not to mention terrible traffic...neither of which is really an issue in North Fort Myers...although there is plenty down towards Naples way. Us we rarely go down that way. With friends, doctors and the like...it would be a change in plans to do that though. 

Weve given thoughts to a smaller rig for shorter term travels...and also thoughts to doing some other country and continent travels as well...having a small rig to visit Alex for a month at a time is attractive... it like Bill and Linda we arent interested in really small...we e about eliminated the idea that he and I had about a medium C...at this point a 24ish foot TT is more likely if we were to get another rig. 

Gosh... I haven't come to this forum for a long time. Probably more than a year. I recognize so many names who have now partially settled.

We fulltimed for 7 years. It got to the point that I just got tired of setting up and taking down. What put me over the edge were some minor health issues, RV breakdowns and near-misses. Hubby felt the same.

Where to settle? My sister is in NJ where I grew up. My one daughter lives near Hershey, PA and the other 35 miles north of Baltimore. Hubby has a son in north Alabama. A daughter in the Houston area and another one near Lake Charles, LA. His siblings are in SW Louisiana and Orange, TX.

I started looking online. Found our ideal place in Cullman, AL just 20 miles from where my step son and family live. Sort of mid way between the rest.

It's perfect. 4 acres out in the country. Perfect size house and a pond. We even put in 2 RV sites, one FHU and the other with 50 amp and water. We have frequent visitors. We downsized from a 43 foot fifth wheel to a 37 ft TT. We do projects with NOMADS (A mission of the United Methodist Church) so wanted to keep a rig. Also for when our granddaughters from MD visit each summer.

We have been here almost 2 years and love it. Instead of a RV it's a zero-turn mower and tractor. It's the life we want.

To all... enjoy your time on the road. Recognize when it's time to park at least some of time. Follow your heart.

Phyllis

RonC wrote:

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All plans are in jello, but at this point our plan is to put the fiver on the river for our kids to use and live in an apartment or assisted living facility (depends on our health). I have no interest in owning another house. In jello😜

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 I'm with Ron.  When we go full time I hope to never mow the grass, weed flower beds, trim trees or paint the deck again.  When we come off the road, I'm sure I will still not want to engage in those activities.  Renting is our most likely option.

Steve

LAcheron2010 wrote:

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There might come a day when the daily SPOT signal  does not go out to my loved ones. They let a day or two go by, and then call the RV park or direct people to my last reported GPS location.  They relay instructions on where to find the keys to the trailer and enter, to find me stiff and cold, hands poised on the laptop, or the Kindle fallen on my face in the bed.  Perhaps the dog has chewed on my finger.

Or they come get me and place me in some home, mind gone to the oblivion.

My exit plan is to keep going until I don't.

 

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 Love it.  Hope it works just like that!

I have been thinking about what my exit plan would be lately because now that I’m solo again I don’t know if want to travel alone but I’m decided to give it a couple years workcamping in Arizona next wnter and I would like to spend a summer workcamping in Yellowstone. Then I’ll have another discussion with myself about what’s next.

RonC wrote:

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So we have an update to our exit plan. We never wanted to get back on the home ownership treadmill so that is still true. I recently had an Aunt pass and we visited her in her assisted living facility, which was very nice ... that got our gears (what’s left of them) turning. We have chosen to enter a full life cycle facility. We’ll begin in a cottage with a garage (1,100 sq ft). Full maintenance, meal plan if you want it (there are 5 restaurants on the campus), house keeping once a week, etc. from there we can move as required thru all the phases of life that we might need (assisted living right thru hospice ... the is a memory care unit also. Doctors, Dentists, and a Pharmacy are all on campus. It is a beautifully maintained property that is near family ... so that’s the plan. The entry price is high and the monthly rate is equally high, but the facility and experience would be worth it (to us). The endowment will also provide sustainable income for life, so in effect we cannot run out of money. This seems to be the best choice for us.

We will execute this plan when we decide our traveling days are over.  Probably 5 to 10 years from now.

 

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 So, Ron, where is this facility?  That might be the type of place I look into eventually.

I had no Exit Plans! Was going to Work Camp until I dropped! But an acute heart attack left me with Congestive heart failure just before my 61st birthday in 2012. I also have COPD and degenerative disc disease! So from a Class C MH to a 5er in a RV Park in August of 2012 and being unemployable; I have had to find other things to replace my workaholic life!

Let me clarify a couple of things that I had wrong. The meal plan ($300 per month per person) is not optional. It is handled by giving you an account with your $300 in it and when you eat at one of the restaurants (on either campus) that money is charged to your account until the $300 is gone. That process repeats each month. The other thing was the health qualifier ... it’s an evaluation not to disqualify but rather to ensure you enter at the appropriate care level. For example, if I think I want to be in independent living, but medical evaluation suggests that I need assisted living, I’ll go into assisted living. So health isn’t a disqualifier more like an evaluation.