Retirees Kay and Steve Parish have taken downsizing to the extreme. Earlier this year, they sold their 1,575-square-foot house and moved full-time into an Airstream trailer one-eighth that size.
They then set off to explore the country, with Steve driving a Ford pick-up that towed their new home behind them.
“You’re home, yet you get to open the door to a different place every few weeks,” says Steve, 72. “Once you get tired of where you are, you go somewhere new.”
The couple is among the small yet passionate population of retirees who have embraced the nomadic life.
RVing has long been popular among retirees, with this demographic comprising a third of owners, says the RV Industry Association. Yet only a tiny fraction of all RV owners, retirees included, embrace the nomadic life. A record 11.2 million households own RVs, but just 1.5 percent travel full-time.
But thanks to technological advances and the proliferation of online community groups offering inspiration and advice, this lifestyle is attracting more people. Full-time RVers are one of the fastest-growing membership segments of the Escapees RV Club, an RVer support organization.
Thanks to satellite internet and solar power systems, travelers now have more reliable connectivity and electric charging even when off the grid. Advanced navigation tools let them cruise along scenic routes while avoiding low bridges or sharp turns. And with a few taps on an app, RVers can find restaurants, banks, gas stations, grocery stores and overnight parking options. Amazon and other retailers will even deliver to the RV.
Yet not everything about RV life is idyllic. It also brings its share of complications and costs.
“Traveling in an RV full time is not inexpensive,” says Laura Lynch, a financial planner in New Mexico and founder of the Tiny House Adviser, a firm that specializes in helping people plan for nomadic lifestyles.
While rig prices can vary depending on size, layout and features, the ones well-suited for full-time travel can come with a hefty price tag. Towable Airstream travel trailers range from $46,900 to $191,500, and Airstream’s drivable touring coaches cost up to $312,900. Adding extra features and amenities can also raise those prices. The costs for even higher-end coaches from other manufacturers can climb into the mid and high hundreds of thousands with some custom-crafted models exceeding $3 million.
As Lynch notes, full-time RVers not only need to factor in the purchase of the rig itself, but also other expenses such as gas, maintenance, campground fees, insurance, tolls and parking fees.
Of course, some challenges go well beyond money. There’s no local barber, dentist, doctor or mechanic to rely on. Explorers need to be able to make basic RV repairs, keep track of water and propane levels and manage the sewer tank. Full-timers must also plan for voting, paying taxes and receiving mail.
RV groups such as Escapees RV Club help full-timers with these logistics. Some businesses and support groups provide RVers with a physical street address they can use, such as one linked to a physical building with mail facilities—often in states without income taxes. Rules vary by state, but full-timers can typically vote absentee or by mail.
