Would you live on the road in an RV?

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   Superman05posted 15 years ago

   Hey everyone,
   
   My girlfriend and I had a very interesting conversation today regarding RVs.
   
   We have been planning on getting married and purchasing our first home in the next three years (we've been together for five). We are very much into traveling. In addition, we both try to live modestly by reducing waste, requiring minimal living space, etc.
   
   Since my job allows me to telecommute most of the time, we talked about buying an RV as our first home and traveling around the United States for a couple years. It's a tempting idea and I need to think a little more about the ramifications of such a change in lifestyle.
   
   What do you all think? Does the idea of living in an RV and traveling appeal to you? What do you think are some of the setbacks?

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      mega1posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Would you live on the road in an RV?
      
      never again.
      
      
      altho' if I were your girlfriend I would be mightily tempted! :

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         Superman05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Yep, I didn't completely think about it from her perspective. Certainly we'd need to figure out how she can work part-time or full-time as a store clerk, waitress, etc. while we are traveling. Maybe short 1 - 2 month job assignments.

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            mega1posted 15 years agoin reply to this

            If you guys can't afford to go on the road for awhile without jobs, then I would suggest that you wait until you can - travelling is a 24 hour job in itself - and what's the point of being somewhere where you will be working instead of exploring?  Also, one reason I wouldn't travel for long periods of time anymore, besides the expense, is there are so many useful, meaningful things I haven't yet accomplished and time grows short for this life  - I want to have the security I need to do the work I need to do for my spirit's sake.  From my experiences of life on the road, there is no real security and time is taken up in trivial things that further no good cause.  truly.

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2. 82

   elayne001posted 15 years ago

   Maybe you could give it a shorter time limit - like six months to see how it goes. I think I could handle it for that long. I have an uncle and aunt that did that for a few years and really loved it.

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   TLMinutposted 15 years ago

   For three years I did this with my four sons. We traveled the U.S., stopped at all the tourist sites, visited friends and family, got lost which led to finding things we never knew about before, hit every science museum we could find, it was WONDERFUL!
   
   The bad parts? Hmmm, for me, none.
   For the boys? They each had their turn realizing traveling with mom was no way to get a girlfriend!
   Some places didn't have access to the internet, I don't think that's a problem any longer.
   
   Insurance can be difficult, you have to have a permanent address. I was called a liar for saying I didn't have one. Some states are better choices than others to claim as your home state; mail can be a problem.

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   kimberlyslyricsposted 15 years ago

   I've always wanted to buy and RV and cross here in Canada from the west to east coast, and was thrilled to learn It can be rented with a detailed showing of rest and RV areas.
   
   I hope you do get one !!!!!!!!!!!!  *jealous*

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      Superman05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Are there a lot of RVs in Canada? I would think that the cold weather would be an issue. We've spent time traveling in Canada and we would certainly like to take a larger tour of the country in the RV if we decide to get one.

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   Crazdwriterposted 15 years ago

   I wouldn't mind doing that myself...it would give me a chance to see more and be with hubby. But right now that would be impossible and I wouldn't want to live in an RV with kids...maybe way down the line after he is out of the military, I am still writing my books and retired frombeing a preschool teacher...but I don't know..
   
   would be intersting...good luck with your decision!

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   earnestshubposted 15 years ago

   We did it with two kids and an old Labrador for 6 months in Autralia. It was fantastic, the kids got to go to school in the tropics, we saw all our family and had a wonderful time.
   I have travelled a fair bit in America, and would love to do the same over there.

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      Superman05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I didn't even think of bringing a pet along for the ride! I think that would be amazing...

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7. 59

   TLMinutposted 15 years ago

   We're going to move again and my youngest is the only one left at home. He's begging me to get an RV. I don't have a house to sell to afford it this time so it's not happening. Besides, he's fifteen and traveling with me and only me isn't good for him. He's introverted enough as it is.
   
   Buying one was way more cost effective for us, the rental agreement and prices were ridiculous. The price of gas now is an issue to consider as well.
   
   I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

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   TamCorposted 15 years ago

   For my husband and I, that is our dream...
   
   After our youngest son finishes college, and the economy gets better, and we can bear to leave our grandkids....
   
   
   Still, it's our goal, someday, to do that, just the two of us!

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   TheGlassSpiderposted 15 years ago

   I'd love to...would anyone care to send me one?

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    kimberlyslyricsposted 15 years ago

    I remember my grandparents lived in an RV not anything else in a trailor park.  I do not know how they made it through the winters but I guess stayed inside.  Anyways it was then I started wanted living in an RV
    
    

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    TLMinutposted 15 years ago

    We stayed at a camp once in deep snow but had no problem, there are tricks to it. Definitely research the whole idea first. The people next to us in this campsite - the only other people there - were frozen in and had been for a week!

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    Lissieposted 15 years ago

    I camped around Australia for 6 months - if I'd had a caravan it would have been for longer. The weather would be the killer in the US -you owuld need to plan to be somewhere warm and out of the hurricane zone (don't even know if that's possilbe)
    
    You need to double check internet accessiblitiy - if you just need it from time to time then you will be OK - but if you need to be connected 24/7 you will need to  check ou some options. If my job depended on it I'd have at least 2 options (say 2 wireless providers) - if you can do it anywhere it would be the US (you'd need a satellite and big $$ in Australia!)
    
    An RV is not an house alternative though - its not an asset which will go up in value  -its a liability that will go down and will cost you $$ to maintain. Another option would be to buy a house and rent it out and then buy the RV to travel in - just a thought

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13. 59

    TLMinutposted 15 years ago

    I had a laugh when I was shopping around for a cell phone to take with us, back when cell phones were as big as house phone handsets. When I asked the provider about coverage, she assured me they had coverage almost everywhere...:
    
    REP: Yes, we have service throughout the U.S., very few places are out of our range. I mean, like if you're ... maybe way up in the mountains, somewhere like...I don't know, like in Utah or some place like that, you might not get service.
    
    ME: Really? Too bad, I LIVE in the mountains...in Utah.

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       Dao Hoaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       That's funny

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    Rafiniposted 15 years ago

    I would love it, in fact I intend to buy an RV and travel the states up until I'm too old  lol  Of course, RV's are expensive...but I'll figure something out, like a used one...

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       Superman05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for the great set of replies so far... you are inspiring me to have another conversation about it with my girlfriend and I have some food for thought as well. I would definitely need 24x7 internet connectivity.
       
       From her perspective, she will need to find work along the way as a waitress, store clerk, etc. Has anyone themselves or their partner had short term jobs like these on the road (maybe 1 - 2 months at a time)?

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    Dao Hoaposted 15 years ago

    I like to travel and plan to do that when my children are out of the house. I need them to have their own place so I can use their address for my mails and someone to read my mails.
    
    You need an address for your mails and the IRS. You also need access to the Internet for your work! However, travel is fun. Go for it if you can.

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16. 59

    TLMinutposted 15 years ago

    About working - Temp services worked for me, look for a service that's national like Kelly. That way you're already in their system. But when you're somewhere to stay for a bit, you can still look into more local ones and find some very interesting, even unusual jobs.

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       Superman05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Ah, that's a great idea TLMinut! I didn't realize that there are national temp services. Thanks for the tip.

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    TLMinutposted 15 years ago

    Keep close eye on weather conditions. Some roads are closed for the winter, some are closed temporarily for bad weather. It was a harrowing trip up and over the mountains through Aspen in a snowstorm!

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    TLMinutposted 15 years ago

    By the way, for your girlfriend, it doesn't look so great on a resume to have a long LONG list of jobs. Using one service may help with that.

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       Dao Hoaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Very true!

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