1 registered
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and 9 anonymous users online.
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#97213 - 05/04/08 11:20 AM
Anyone work/live in an RV?
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jlg
Member
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 470
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I'm not talking about temporarily while you are vacationing somewhere. I mean full time. We are going to have to sell our house for financial reasons, and we will end up having to use the cash from that sale to purchase our next living quarters. And I am beginning to wonder if this may be an option (a fifth-wheel). It's just me and DH. I think we are being called to simplify anyway, but of course this would be DRASTIC simplification and downsizing. And perhaps we would just drive each other bananas. But I am sick of THINGS. There's a possibility for some land we could place it (it's in a flood zone, but we would have ample time to know if flooding were to take place, and it's a rare occurrence). Just wondering if anyone has done this. And the last time I camped was as a child. I just am weary of money being tied up in property taxes, maintenance, landscaping, etc. Oh, and we have 2 dogs.
Edited by jlg (05/04/08 11:21 AM)
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#97221 - 05/04/08 12:32 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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meri
Member
Registered: 09/08/01
Posts: 8728
Loc: Murrieta, California
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I hope Essensia sees this thread. She did it for quite a while when she moved and was waiting to get into her house. She would have some good pointers for you. I would email her, and in fact I was just thinking of her yesterday and wished I could do so, but I have lost her email address!!
So, I hope she comes on and sees this!
Meri
ETA: If anyone goes over to the Andrews School board, will you leave a message for her to come to this thread? Thanks! I don't even have that address book-marked anymore. (love computer crashes)
Edited by meri (05/04/08 12:34 PM)
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#97294 - 05/05/08 08:03 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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chattyMT
Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 26
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Yes, I lived in a 5th wheel--twice. The first time was for about 2 years--me, DH, DS, and cat. The second was for 3 years--me, DH, dog, and cat. You learn very quickly that everything has a place--and everything MUST be in it's place, LOL. You don't collect "things" that you don't need because you have no where to put them. It really does simplify life on a lot of levels. I still have my RV--just in case 
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#97329 - 05/06/08 10:02 AM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: chattyMT]
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jlg
Member
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 470
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Thanks for the information! That's what I figured: that things must be stripped down to bare minimum, but I believe it's what we are being led to do anyway (my DH has been without a job since last July and the financial struggles are driving me bananas). I am also SICK of JUNK! In the past 14 years we have lived in this house, we have TWICE rented one of those big dumpsters to get rid of junk that's accumulated. That is just ridiculous. I remember my dad saying, when he found out we were building a house with a basement: "Well, you'll just end up using it to store junk you don't need." BINGO!
So were you able to work in that environment?
Thanks again for posting!
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#97441 - 05/07/08 07:54 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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chattyMT
Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 26
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I wasn't working as an MT when I lived in the RV--but I could do it in a heartbeat with the way my RV is set up. It's really just like a house. It's not the amount of square feet that really matters--it's the layout.
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#97651 - 05/10/08 09:11 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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fostermama
Junior Member
Registered: 04/06/08
Posts: 49
Loc: Podunk
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Have you ever thought of building a yurt?
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#97738 - 05/12/08 01:22 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: fostermama]
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jlg
Member
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 470
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A yurt? OK, I know what it is but the possibility of my DH going for THAT idea would be practically nonexistent. I am not sure I want to get that back to nature either. It's HOT in the summer here and can get COLD in the winter. He's less hardy than I am in those areas. I am having trouble just getting him to help paint/patch to get our house ready for sale LOL. So that would be out of the question. I am thinking a park model home might be the best option. There are a few manufacturers in our region. What I am exploring now is the septic and water supply issues. There is a home on the acreage that has a well, so not sure if we could somehow tap into that. We have water rights to the river, but I am not sure about water purification systems that would be viable. I noticed you can get composting toilets for the "black water" septic system portion, and gray water shouldn't be much of an issue because of the amount of land we have and I think it's sufficient distance from the river itself.
My DH isn't even sold on THIS idea. It would not be cheap to do all these things, but in looking at land values in our area and home values, it would still be cheaper than that, and if we are allowed to build on that land (it is in a flood plain, but if we pay cash, no lender would be involved), it sure would be much more pleasant than other places for the same or greater price. He mentioned the possibility of renting, and I told him that that can be expensive too (of course we could just have our principal from our home sale go to that) plus the fact that you can have the house sold from under you and have to move yet again. We have 2 dogs too. I can't quite picture myself in a yurt at this point, but who knows???
Edited by jlg (05/12/08 01:23 PM)
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#97750 - 05/12/08 04:41 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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fostermama
Junior Member
Registered: 04/06/08
Posts: 49
Loc: Podunk
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They can actually be made quite a bit more "livable" these days, with the new materials for the skin, insulation, stovepipe, etc., although that can get pretty pricey which, to my way of thinking, kind of defeats the purpose unless you are comparing to the price of a new RV.
We built a small one last year, with some misgivings. About five feet in diameter, to use as a "shed". It held up just fine through the No. Missouri winter. Not livable of course, but actually kind of cozy.
I have been stripping 2 x 4s into lathes for the last two months to go ahead and build something larger. Thinking of using solar to "electrify". I'll have to get used to living with no "walls" but plenty of places to hang things.
Anyhoo, didn't mean to write a book. I just thought your "alternative living" question was very interesting. Best of luck on getting off the beaten path. It is well worth it in its own way.
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#97760 - 05/12/08 07:19 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: fostermama]
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jlg
Member
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 470
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Wow. You are really going for it! We aren't that industrious/adventurous I'm afraid. I would actually mostly like to see how we do stripping down to the bare essentials as far as material goods.
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#97769 - 05/12/08 10:26 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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jlg
Member
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 470
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Here's an article you might enjoy. It was originally written in 1976. It's kind of fascinating: Possum Living
http://www.f4.ca/text/possumliving.htm
I don’t think I could kill the bunnies and turtles, though. The moonshine sounds interesting!
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#97836 - 05/13/08 03:56 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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fostermama
Junior Member
Registered: 04/06/08
Posts: 49
Loc: Podunk
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That's great. I'm going to bookmark that one to peruse at my leisure.
I can say right off the bat that the "foreclosure/back taxes" option is a bit of a hoax. I'm sure each state has different statutes, but in Missouri you have to wait 3 years to take possession, and all this time knowing that the "taxee" can redeem at any time in those 3 years. We pretty much abandoned that option.
I have to agree with you about raising animals to slaughter, I don't have much stomach for that. Not much of a meat eater at any rate.
Regarding the moonshine, I reckon if the roof were falling in but you had enough moonshine, you might not care much, huh? Yikes.
I bet you could figure out a way to convert your riding lawn mower to run on moonshine though.
It is so true that you can live well in an "alternative" fashion. Especially since they make little solar doodads to charge your Blackberry these days!
Don't know that I would care too much for having no "job" but I guess the definition of a "job" is in the eyes of the beholder. Wouldn't mind not paying half my "take" to Uncle Sam, that's fer sure. I do farmer's markets, and I barter for a lot of things too. But now, Uncle Sam wants you to get a tax ID to do the flea markets. Jeez.
I'm all for solar. Give me a tax break on solar and I'll jump in with both feet.
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#97842 - 05/13/08 04:16 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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fostermama
Junior Member
Registered: 04/06/08
Posts: 49
Loc: Podunk
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We're not all that industrious either, took four months to get the little one built; so the bigger one . . . is a work in progress, although have to admit my SO seems a bit more motivated toward one to "live" in.
So you're on a flood plain, but if you would have plenty of warning . . . you could just hook up your "house" and move to higher ground. We have a little pull behind stashed out in the woods that we run on solar, so it is definitely do-able! I guarantee you won't miss the "junk".
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#97940 - 05/14/08 02:24 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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typinggal
New Member
Registered: 03/06/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Pennsylvania
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I have a long-time friend who lives in a camper trailer with her husband up in Pennsylvania, just outside of Milton. They had gone through a bankruptcy down in West Va. due to a contractor running away with their building money so decided to live in a camper until they can clear things up. I believe the camper is about 25-30 ft long and is set up at a KOA Campground for year round renting. Her husband is in tech support for a chemical company and utilizes satellite phones and has high speed internet to boot. While the digs are small they have been there for a year and just (finally) were able to buy a lot to build another small cabin. They have lot rent and utilities and actualy enjoy their lifestyle for now. Good luck!
_________________________
If you're having trouble putting one foot in front of the other, try jumping up and down...
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#97941 - 05/14/08 02:24 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: jlg]
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typinggal
New Member
Registered: 03/06/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Pennsylvania
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I have a long-time friend who lives in a camper trailer with her husband up in Pennsylvania, just outside of Milton. They had gone through a bankruptcy down in West Va. due to a contractor running away with their building money so decided to live in a camper until they can clear things up. I believe the camper is about 25-30 ft long and is set up at a KOA Campground for year round renting. Her husband is in tech support for a chemical company and utilizes satellite phones and has high speed internet to boot. While the digs are small they have been there for a year and just (finally) were able to buy a lot to build another small cabin. They have lot rent and utilities and actually enjoy their lifestyle for now. Good luck!
_________________________
If you're having trouble putting one foot in front of the other, try jumping up and down...
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#97959 - 05/14/08 08:02 PM
Re: Anyone work/live in an RV?
[Re: typinggal]
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jlg
Member
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 470
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I found out (after emailing the building department for the county -- wow, they really DO answer emails!) that our land is zoned agricultural for 1 residence and that the pasture land is in a flood zone/flood way. So a park model home is out of the question (even if on wheels) BUT now I am wondering about my original thought: To "camp" there with a trailer (a nice big one). Neighbors might turn us in, I guess, but it's actually pretty far from anyone's line of sight so not annoying that way. Not sure how the utilities part would work. But it's fun to brainstorm.
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