Seniors & Boomers Living a Simpler Life in RVs
Older Adults Who Choose Retirement in a Traveling Home
Aug 3, 2009
Older adults have the choice of living in an Recreational Vehicle (RV). This involves organizing to simplify, yet folks who decide on the RV lifestyle love the traveling life no matter where they live.
Senior and Boomer RVers Stay in Touch With Family and Friends
Older adults who are not rooted in one place can use an RV to spend as much time as desired with family and friends, going wherever their family members live and staying as long as they want. They might stay a while, then take a grandchild with them on a side trip, returning a different way to see more sights.
Senior RVers Who Like Traveling Any Time of Year
RVers can go to off-season tourist destinations and see sights they've always wanted to see. Even workshops or Elderhostel events are a great way to include family members or friends.
How Senior RVers Can Be Self-Supporting While on the Road
There are a number of ways to keep income flowing:
- Sale of primary residence (only to be done after final decision is made about a RV lifestyle)
- Social Security
- Pension
- Savings, including IRA's or other retirement funds
- "Work camping" offers a way to barter for free camping while working, and usually provides a small stipend (available in some national parks, various types of jobs)
- Contract work doing what one knows how to do (AARP sometimes provides info about this)
- Temporary work at a local store or business
- Since internet businesses are not restricted to one place, some people work at online endeavors.
- The very portability of their lifestyle makes consulting jobs attractive and more potentially profitable since funds don't have to be spent on air travel, etc.
Since Recreational Vehicles are fairly affordable, there is usually enough left over from the sale of a home to fund a simpler lifestyle for quite some time.
Organizing to Simplify Material Possessions for RV Living
A person doesn't have to commit to the RV life at the expense of owning a home. It is good to try it on for size. After a trial period, seniors usually know whether they want to be part-time snowbirds or full-time RVers.
However, if the decision is for the RV life as a preferred lifestyle, it will be time to start the organizing process. Time to simplify by giving away to family, charities, having a yard sale, etc. There are preliminary steps to take:
- Sort everything in a room into piles (heirlooms can be given to loved ones now for Christmas or other occasions; inheritance items can be marked clearly with name of heir on them, or even a photo with heir's name on back to be stored with end of life papers). Items for heirs can be wrapped with names on them and stored till one's death.
- Furniture: Nicer pieces can be given away or sold if loved ones don't want or need.
- Clothes: After sorting and a yard sale, give the remaining items to Goodwill or similar charity.
- Trash: Some items actually need to go to the trash. Be brave.
It is preferable to make decisions about possessions rather than putting them all in storage for two reasons: (A) storage costs money that could be used for living expenses. (B) Avoiding may make the task of organizing loom larger than it really is. Spend the time needed to go through items and only use storage if there is a compelling reason.
Usually after finishing one room, the next room to be tackled comes to mind. (And of course, items will seem to jump into the piles from other areas, which reduces work later.) This whole process may take several months and often leaves the person feeling blissfully unfettered and at peace with growing older. Some senior RVers call this freedom at its best!
One Happy Senior Who Lives in a Recreational Vehicle
One senior started enjoying travel trailers and backpacking earlier in life. After meeting an older couple who relished the RV life, she decided on the RV lifestyle, and found it to be effective way for her to conduct her business as well as stay in contact with friends and family. Julie Donnelly is a muscular therapist and published author who specializes in sports injuries as well as preventing and relieving chronic pain.
She enjoys staying as long as she wants in a particular area taking photos as desired at either travel sites or spending time with her grandchildren. She noted that in this economy people often look at what's lost; maybe it's time to look at what's possible.
Seniors can simplify their life in an RV while staying in touch with family and friends and traveling any time of year. They can organize their possessions and be self-supporting on the road. Julie Donnelly is a shining example of how it can be done.
Source: Interview with Julie Donnelly, July 15, 2009, north of Houston, Texas.
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