"Real" Fulltimers?

[bartonscafe]

Are there any others out there that actually TRAVEL full time? We are entering our fourth year as fulltimers, usually moving every 4-5 days. Most other "fulltimers" that we've met drive to a specific destination & park there for a few months, then go to another specific place for another few months. Where's the fun in that? For us it's all about finding what's around the next bend. Oh yeah, we don't travel interstates. Ever. Period. Unless there's absolutely no other way to get where we're going. I know there must be others like us out there somewhere, but we've yet to find any. Are you, possibly, here?

[donbar]

We were the "Fultimer" as you stated for two years, it was great.. but we found with the fuel going up, we needed to slow down our pace to maintain the lifestyle we wanted to keep, also staying in one locaton allowed us to make any great friendships on our route.

[jim01]

We've been "Fulltiming" for just over 6 years now, and like donbar, we have slowed our pace because of the rising fuel prices. We stay in one place for about 2 months during the winter, and 1 month during the summer, but the rest of the time we're on the road. We have been staying a little longer at campgrounds though. Mostly because if we can get a weekly rate, it helps offset the fuel prices

We also avoid the Interstates whenever we can. The only time we use them is to get through a larger city, or of we need to get someplace in a hurry, which isn't very often

[juljenki]

Hi! We are full timers and have been for the last 14 years & are going into our 15th year.We have been moving around every couple weeks for a long long time. We usually stay in a spot for a week or two so we get to see all that the area has to offer.We just bought a RV lot in Texas so when we are here we have a place for some of the winter months.We don't move as often as we'd like but the cost of fuel has slowed us down.If you move every few days you don't get to see all that is around you. Slow down as you have the rest of your life to see & enjoy it all. That's what full timming is all about. You don't have to rush around & get back for a job. Stop & smell the roses. Also when people just move from one place to another point A to point B & back to A they are called Snowbirds. They still have a home they go back to.Some folks just need the security of their homes & can't leave family for too long a time.Good Luck full timming & hope to see you down the road.ENJOY!!

[bigben]

We have been full timing since 1995 with th exception of 2 years we bought a house in Florida, and traveled just 6 or 7 months a year.
We spend about 4 months in the Ft. Myers area in the winter to catch up om medical stuff.
Un like the rest of you We tend to stay places for a month or 2 because of cheaper camp ground rates and fuel cost.
We have 2 ATVs we leave in Utah and a boat in Florida so we don't have to do with out toys. We have no plans of changing how we live.

[roamingnana]

We have been fulltiming for 4 years and don't intend to stop anytime soon. We have learned over the past 4 years how to do it right. We now stay in one place for at least a week or more because there is always something you wish you would have seen, gone back to or wish you would have bought because you can't get it anywhere else. If we are going through someplace that has nothing of interest then we will go on the next day. We also try to keep our driving to between 250 and 300 miles a day so we don't have to rush in the morning and can stop early enough in the day to set up and sit back, have a drink and relax before it's time to start dinner. We do spend most of Jan.,Feb.,and March in Fl. but not in one spot. Our doctors are there so we take care of all the necessary yearly stuff, we belong to a Chapter of the Allegro club that meets once a month at different campgrounds in Fl. and we manage to stay in different places. We are on the go the rest of the year and to heck with the gas prices. If we wait for them to come down I'm afraid the Hearse driver will reap the benefits. We are going to enjoy every dime we have. Sorry Kids.

[chuckoliver]

After several years of part time RVing we retired and went full time. Now, 7 years later we are still traveling and having fun. The main thing that has offset the fuel cost is putting on complete solar (860 amps of storage) and doing volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and the National Park System.
Do a little research and enjoy RVing.
We spent part of last summer along the Columbia River in Oregon. You can park for up to 14 days for nothing. At the John Day Dam area you can dump and take on water at the local Shell station for $4. We stayed 10 days and after dump and water, it only cost 40 cents a day.
We also use our ham radios for position reports to family, contacting other hams for space to park, and collecting E-mail when no phones or internet connection is available.
Since we don't have a lot or house, we are at home whereever we are.
Chuck, KC7CO

[trvlnthrds]

I have been a fulltimer for 9 years. The first 6 with my husband. He wouldn't boondock so we stayed 2-3 months in Fl in the winter and traveled the rest of the year. After he passed I boondocked 52 of the first 72 days I was widowed and loved it so much I had solar put on. My average cost of parking has gone from over $13/night (with hubby) to less than $3. I move every 14 days or less. Have a companion now and we share 50-50 the cost of everything so fuel is only half price. :) We have planned the next 2 years, going thru all of CA national parks this summer, back down to NM for the BalloonFiesta, then down to old MX 1400 miles south on the west mainland. Back up thru Brownsville, over the top of the Great Lakes and on to NE. Then down the east coast to FL to catch friends and relatives before heading back to AZ then up to Alaska summer of 2009. Phew. I am tired just typing that. But it's a great life....spending the kids inheritance and when it's gone they can PAY me to stay away.....

[industsparky90]

My husband and I have lived in an RV for 4 years. in upstate NY and Wyoming, my husbands work requires him to travel and it is cheaper and easier to live in our RV. some jobs we are there 6 weeks to 6 months. it is great we have all the things a person would have at home.. cept for the responsibility of yard work and maintaining pools.. and we get to see the country while we work..

[timkelmom]

Full-timers here as well. We have been on the road for over 4 years now. We travel 1/2 the year for my DHs work and the other 1/2 for pleasure. We usually stay in one place for 3 weeks to one month at a time.

I would love to say that we never travel interstates, but that is not the case. Sometimes we have to get where we are going by a specific time.

When we are not working, we travel at our leisure. I agree that sometime you need more than 4 or 5 days to see all there is to see in an area.

We travel with our children and our dog and are having the esperience of a lifetime. There is no end in sight. I can't wait to see what this year brings.

[annjacoby]

My house should sell pretty soon--I've researched a lot the rig I want to upgrade to--and am impatient to get started. I hear folks talk about making the decision where to go after they reach the crossroad--I can hardly imagine such spontaneity. Being single I'm not sure how fast and far I'll go--will just give it a try.

[firstchiefmike]

We are anytimers, we have a small home in So. Ca. We take off anytime we get the urge. Last summer we traveled 24 out of the 48 states. We left home base in May and returned in October. This year we have decided to be camphosts at California's oldest State Park. We will be at Big Basin Redwoods State Park just east of Santa Cruz. We won't have to worry about fuel as we get a state vehicle to drive including fuel and all maint. along with our space with FHUs and even a telephone furnished. we will be there for 5 months in all. This is something different for us, but the cost of fuel has gone to $3.529/10 per gallon and the overall cost of traveling has risen 15% from last year. so being on a fixed income we have to make changes. We have a 20 hr. work week with two days off. If you are in the area come visit us in person. Happy Trails.

[spur52]

We too, fulltime travel. We do RPI, Passport America, BLM land dry camping, rallies and Nascar races. One to two weeks and we're on the road. Try to keep trips to 3 to 4 hours. Some places have a lot of sightseeing, and some we just kick back and relax. We travel in the south in the winter and do our northern trips in the summer. Love the lifestyle.

Bruce

[katzmam]

Sounds like there are many different kinds of "full timers" and that's what is so WONDERFUL about the RV Lifestyle! We are 6 years on the road and each time we meet another RVer we enjoy their stories of travel and adventure. Doing what you love your way is what it's all about. We travel the interstates more than we like because we workcamp part of the year and must get to the job. We just purchased a slide In camper so that out of the way places and back roads could be our next adventure! Keeping the 5th Wheel for our "home on wheels". Happy Trails!