Fighting the High Cost of Retirement

[vantexan]

Might not be bad if your 30, but 60? You have fragile health no insurance then you have a costly medical emergency. The question then becomes even if you can make contact with emergency services.....will they even be able to find you in time?

Going through all this just to save a few dollars per month? Sitting out there with the rednecks rocks and rattlesnakes?

My next door neighbor Jack and his wife tried this. As Jack said, you needed an RV just to have a reasonable measure of comfort and security while traveling. But the time it takes to finally get there, get leveled up, set up, unpacked and finally in place you're worn out. Then a few days later when your time there has ended you have to go through the entire tiring process in reverse. They're clumsy, slow and a holy fright on gas.

They came back after a few months sold the damn thing then spent their final days sitting out on the back porch...in peace.

If you're traveling constantly that could be true, and expensive. A large segment of RVers are snowbirds, driving from the northern states and Canada to primarily Florida, Texas, and Arizona in the winter. They either tow a car behind their motorhome or use their trailer's tow vehicle for local transportation. Set up in a RV park and pay by the month which is much cheaper. Many say it's cheaper for them to do that than pay for heat in the winter where they're from. Enjoying much milder winters. If what you said was true of everyone then few would do it. But there are millions of RVers and well over a million fulltimers. They follow the seasons enjoying cooler temps in the summer at higher elevations then head south for the winter. Or stay all year in a park they like.

I've met really good people in New Mexico. Better them than the snobs and snakes back east.

 

[Thebrownblob]

If you're traveling constantly that could be true, and expensive. A large segment of RVers are snowbirds, driving from the northern states and Canada to primarily Florida, Texas, and Arizona in the winter. They either tow a car behind their motorhome or use their trailer's tow vehicle for local transportation. Set up in a RV park and pay by the month which is much cheaper. Many say it's cheaper for them to do that than pay for heat in the winter where they're from. Enjoying much milder winters. If what you said was true of everyone then few would do it. But there are millions of RVers and well over a million fulltimers. They follow the seasons enjoying cooler temps in the summer at higher elevations then head south for the winter. Or stay all year in a park they like.

I've met really good people in New Mexico. Better them than the snobs and snakes back east.

Snakes and snobs back east? I think. @UnionStrong moved west.

 

[IVE GOTTA PACKAGE 4U]

Snakes and snobs back east? I think. @UnionStrong moved west.

He's stinking up the whole country

 

[UnionStrong]

If you're traveling constantly that could be true, and expensive. A large segment of RVers are snowbirds, driving from the northern states and Canada to primarily Florida, Texas, and Arizona in the winter. They either tow a car behind their motorhome or use their trailer's tow vehicle for local transportation. Set up in a RV park and pay by the month which is much cheaper. Many say it's cheaper for them to do that than pay for heat in the winter where they're from. Enjoying much milder winters. If what you said was true of everyone then few would do it. But there are millions of RVers and well over a million fulltimers. They follow the seasons enjoying cooler temps in the summer at higher elevations then head south for the winter. Or stay all year in a park they like.

I've met really good people in New Mexico. Better them than the snobs and snakes back east.

Plenty of snakes here in the Southwest

 

[Brownwind]

He's stinking up the whole country

Stay away from the four corners

 

[IVE GOTTA PACKAGE 4U]

Stay away from the four corners

Tell him,not me.

 

[UnionStrong]

He's stinking up the whole country

You mother!

 

[Brownwind]

Tell him,not me.

My bad. Sorry about that. I was reading the post while tramping back thru the woods. (Scary creature was paying attention to us while hoofing it out)

 

[UnionStrong]

My bad. Sorry about that. I was reading the post while tramping back thru the woods. (Scary creature was paying attention to us while hoofing it out)

Bigfoot?

 

[Brownwind]

Bigfoot?

Big cat.

 

[UnionStrong]

Big cat.

Much worse.

 

[bacha29]

Just so we're clear my wife seriously started smoking pot about 8 years before we got married at 51. Kept that from me but became an issue. Her daughter and her smoke it about every day. It's not a lifestyle I want to be part of. So there's that conventional life just sitting there for the taking but there are two women in that house who are angry and vicious when they aren't high and silly like giggly teenagers when they are high. I'm in no position to help her and maintain another home somewhere else. But that's ok because I happen to like fulltime travel.

Wow man. At least you'll never need to bother watching the movie " Misery" because yours is a real life version of it.
Too often people become afraid of being left alone and forgotten so they take marriage partners despite obvious economic an character issues, often believing that what they are taking as a marriage partner was the only thing they could get....and often come to regret it.

Cut all ties with them and move on but don't leave behind you a paper trail that they can use to track and find you.

 

[bacha29]

If you're traveling constantly that could be true, and expensive. A large segment of RVers are snowbirds, driving from the northern states and Canada to primarily Florida, Texas, and Arizona in the winter. They either tow a car behind their motorhome or use their trailer's tow vehicle for local transportation. Set up in a RV park and pay by the month which is much cheaper. Many say it's cheaper for them to do that than pay for heat in the winter where they're from. Enjoying much milder winters. If what you said was true of everyone then few would do it. But there are millions of RVers and well over a million fulltimers. They follow the seasons enjoying cooler temps in the summer at higher elevations then head south for the winter. Or stay all year in a park they like.

I've met really good people in New Mexico. Better them than the snobs and snakes back east.

What you're saying is the truth but I don't think it involves as many people as you might think. In the desert Southwest if the pattern of severe drought continues water is going to be a real challenge. But, if you and the others can safely navigate your way through a worsening climate I commend you....However , one inescapable reality always wins in the end.

Father time is undefeated. And an ageing body always loses.

 

[vantexan]

Wow man. At least you'll never need to bother watching the movie " Misery" because yours is a real life version of it.
Too often people become afraid of being left alone and forgotten so they take marriage partners despite obvious economic an character issues, often believing that what they are taking as a marriage partner was the only thing they could get....and often come to regret it.

Cut all ties with them and move on but don't leave behind you a paper trail that they can use to track and find you.

LOL, thanks for the advice.

 

[vantexan]

What you're saying is the truth but I don't think it involves as many people as you might think. In the desert Southwest if the pattern of severe drought continues water is going to be a real challenge. But, if you and the others can safely navigate your way through a worsening climate I commend you....However , one inescapable reality always wins in the end.

Father time is undefeated. And an ageing body always loses.

And I'll still be able to get in my car and very small trailer. We all die at some point. No one gets out alive.

Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico's biggest, was less than 4% full 6 months ago. It's now sitting at 13.5% and filling up slowly and we haven't got the Spring snowmelt yet. Been a good winter for snow.

 

[UnionStrong]

No one gets out alive.

Jim Morrison

 

[trickpony1]

Jim Morrison

....and Elvis and Hitler.

 

[qdg2]

You're oblivious to the obvious. You can't stand the idea of anyone living or doing anything different from the norm. You have to attack it and denigrate it. The original point of this thread is there are alternatives if you can't afford retiring in the U.S. in the conventional sense. You're essentially saying that no, one must continue to work or take government assistance rather than fulltime travel. I guess you're against living overseas too. And yes, folks like you do measure, as demonstrated by your posts, how well you're doing against how others are doing. You've done well, more power to you. I haven't. But I refuse to accept my only choice is to spend half my income on rent and be strapped all the time. Others feel the same way and are breaking away from the keeping up with the Jones attitudes. Enjoy your retirement and I assure you I will enjoy mine.

I'm not against anything.

You have a money problem.....

I OFFERED SOME SOLUTIONS.

Whenever I had money problems(not enough)....I worked harder or/and got rid of/fixed whatever was the problem.

"But I refuse...." there ya go.

Consider: The thread title says "Fighting...." That's you! Fighting....why are you fighting anything? Fighting?

I'd suggest lubricating the squeaky wheel....instead of moaning about it....money sure helps make "things" easier....

But you are strapped all the time and even more in a few years....demonstrated by your posts....if you are living in a Prius and tent....you are strapped. Can't imagine anyone challenging that....

Go for it dude!

BTW, if you've been on BC for awhile(I have) and have read even a small amount of the hate that has been thrown my way....about how I would never retire and with 42 years blah blah...there must be something wrong with your finances....

Well, I just defended myself with facts.....no matter.

 

[vantexan]

I'm not against anything.

You have a money problem.....

I OFFERED SOME SOLUTIONS.

Whenever I had money problems(not enough)....I worked harder or/and got rid of/fixed whatever was the problem.

"But I refuse...." there ya go.

Consider: The thread title says "Fighting...." That's you! Fighting....why are you fighting anything? Fighting?

I'd suggest lubricating the squeaky wheel....instead of moaning about it....money sure helps make "things" easier....

But you are strapped all the time and even more in a few years....demonstrated by your posts....if you are living in a Prius and tent....you are strapped. Can't imagine anyone challenging that....

Go for it dude!

BTW, if you've been on BC for awhile(I have) and have read even a small amount of the hate that has been thrown my way....about how I would never retire and with 42 years blah blah...there must be something wrong with your finances....

Well, I just defended myself with facts.....no matter.

Nope, you can't stand anyone doing something you would never do yourself so you crap on their choices. Wherever one finds oneself in life one can choose what works best for them with the resources they have. Not necessarily what you think they should do.

There comes a point where some people can't work or don't want to if they can help it. I was going to take a temp job in Minnesota in March that would have required me to be on my feet on concrete floors 8+ hrs a night. Have been walking to try to strengthen my feet. I have neuropathy in them. I threw in the towel. Walking a mile really hurts. Instead I'm looking at a driving job in Missouri. Catch? I have to pass a DOT physical. Working towards getting my blood sugar at an allowable level which I should have been doing anyways. I'm a diabetic.

If I have to I will go back overseas. Only "strapped" if I stay in the States and pay rent when I'm down to just Social Security.

 

[vantexan]

For those not familiar with nicer RV's available today: