“In every homeowner lies the heart of the place they call home.”
"Home is where you park it."
If you're at that stage of RV living where you're trying to make a decision about keeping your home or selling it all and hitting the road, this blog entry is for you. Along with what kind of truck to pull your rig with, this HAS to be among the top debates amongst RVers.
Let's talk about it.
Look, I get it. I get the allure of the adventure. I get the rush of selling it all and hitting the open road. I really do. I was a firefighter for nearly 24 years. I've felt the rush of entering a home with ambient temperatures at the ceiling of 800 degrees fahrenheit, or more. It was SO exciting! But here's the thing. I never went in without backup or a RIT team standing at the ready. So, before you sell it all and hit the road, let's talk about some questions to ask yourself. It's imperative you be honest.
1. How old are you? Assuming you're retirement age or older, how much longer can you unhook, crawl underneath the rig, or even walk up the stairs to your rig?
If you're still young, this is less of a factor than someone my age (65). If the unforeseen happens, you have time to recover physically or financially. For me, I'm one wrong step away from breaking a hip and being unable to drive our Class A. Where would we go?
2. What will you do with the funds from selling it all? The obvious answer is that you'll invest it in something that promises decent returns. If your plan is to use those funds to finance your travel, then refer back to question 1.
Here's the financial thing to consider and I'll use an example. We met a couple in South Dakota who had sold their house and belongings in California to RV full time. They invested the money and told us they'd use it to buy a different place when they were done on the road. BUT, and be sure you're honest about this question, will your investment keep up with the appreciation of the housing market? If you know it will, go for it. If you're not sure, you're going to leave RV life with a mortgage. However, it's a fact that some folks have a long-term care facility already picked out. We don't.
Obviously, if you're still young and/or working, or rich, this is a moot point. You can do what you want and be safe. If you're living on a small fixed income the way we are, I encourage you to think longer term.
3. Can you afford to do both? We're blessed in that we CAN do both. We can keep our safety net, but only because our modest house is paid for and so is our Class A. (An older model, low mileage diesel we got for a song).
4. How is this going to fit in with your family life? The kids still going to come visit? The grandkids? Are they all supportive?
When it comes to this "debate," we easily see both sides of the aisle. There are SO many mitigating factors.
It's becoming more and more common for people to choose RV life as a means of survival. Mortgages and rents are ridiculous and, as we've discussed in other blogs, there is a way to travel on the cheap. Likewise, our world continues to become seemingly more stressful and divided, and living on the open road has so much appeal, it's difficult to put into words.
There's just one more thing I want you to consider, especially if you believe RV life is cheaper than home ownership. (It can be, but it isn't always). Imagine putting your brick and mortar on a trailer and pulling it down the road. Imagine what that would do to it. In essence, every time you move your rig, you're putting your house through an earthquake. Eventually, you will have damage and you will have costly repairs. Remember, it's a good idea to be handy and/or rich.
Even if you decided to park your rig permanently, don't make the mistake of thinking you'll be able to cool it in the summer or heat it in the winter like you can a brick and mortar. You're living in a tin can with paper-thin insulation and it will NOT be the same. Obviously there are exceptions to all of this, but in my experience, very few. People get caught off guard with this last one all the time.
It's a decision clearly left to the individual and no one can tell you what's best for you. I can tell you the conclusion we reached, and if possible, we'll never be without a place to come back to. We're happy to be a resource, but we certainly can't tell you what's best for you; only what's best for us.
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Stay safe, Be smart. See ya on the road.
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