Camper/Caravan/RV living

[chickenstrip]

Thoughts on this?
Anyone got any experience, stories, know of others who do it/have done it?
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Polarbear]

[chickenstrip]

I'm talking about a nomadic life.
I'm in a peculiar spot where I outright own a house, but I can't find work - I'll leave the reasons for that aside for now, but there it is.
I have a small steady income for life, but it's not enough to live in this house.

I have lived in a tent, twice for a month at a time, and once for 2 months. I consider those times to be some of the best, if not the best of my life. Nowadays, tent living for long periods is probably a bit too extreme for me, but how I'm living in a house right now - well, everything is pretty stripped down. Food is simple and cheap, I don't really buy anything else anymore. I don't miss buying stuff, don't need most of it, don't want it.

I'm going nowhere right now. I need a big change.

In my mind is also the fact that the UK is probably not an easy place to live the nomadic life once you go beyond tent living. I wonder about going to the US to do it. I know there would be all kinds of barriers about getting in legally and all the rest, but I have no real knowledge of these, and how I might overcome them, if they can be at all. I have no connections to people who might be able to ease a path through any of this. So I sit and I think, "probably, I can't do this." But I wonder all the same.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Diggs]

The retired couple over the road from me spend most of their time in a camper travelling from site to site in southern Europe. Apparently there is a large 'middle class' travelling community down there. Personally I think they are camp site swingers...

Not sure this option will be available post-Brexit though.
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[chickenstrip]

[Polarbear]

If you are talking the US and their type of RV then yes, easily doable.

Bloody great motorhome with all mod cons. Huge land area where you can just about pull over at the side of the road anywhere outside town. No stigma, at least, no where near as much as in the UK.

I take it you are thinking of renting your house out to fund yourself while you do it?

Oh, one other thing, those huge RV don't come cheap, have you got 40 grand to chuck at (a reliable) one?
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

Unless I can find some kind of work meanwhile, everything would have to come out of the sale of my house. If there is any possibility of doing it, I have to think about it now, because I'm already in debt with the bank (just to eat), and time isn't standing still.

There would be all kinds of barriers for me to overcome to get there, but once there, I just think it would be a much more sustainable way of life for me. I read about people overcoming all kinds of problems, some worse than the ones I face, and yet they do it. I wonder if I could too.

It wouldn't be a "bloody great motorhome" - something a little more humble than those the rich go on vacation in (vacation - already getting the mindset ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg37Cbx-kak
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[linuxyeti]

We haven't used ours as much for the last couple of years or so, do to various things, however, whilst it has improved somewhat in the UK, I don't think i'd fancy the nomadic lifestyle over here, also, bear in mind, November - March there will be very lean pickings as far open sites go over here in the UK.

However, have spent a good long time traveling round France, Germany, and Holland especially, and over there, motorhomes are very well catered for, sites fees are cheap, if not free. Look online for France Passion, or the french Aires sites, which are dirt cheap, and are specifically for campervans/motorhomes only, to get you started
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[Polarbear]

It's the old story, if you can afford to take the hit, then why not. You might be dead next week.

I've spunked a large portion of my retirement fund on a new boat and a (relatively) expensive car. Wifey was not impressed but i have heart problems and people with what I have do not normally live 5 years beyond their first attack so fcuk it, why not do what you want to do.

I'm sure there are organisations out there that can help. It's quite amazing what groups there are even on FB if you dig deep enough.

Oh, and the American ladies love a British accent.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

[Diggs]

Could a way to look at be to decide what view you want to have whilst you are being philosophical? Texas sky or frozen food isle at Tescos?
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[Polarbear]

If I was single I'd flog my house and spend the rest of my life on the boat exploring the waterways. It something I want to do and could live relatively well with no house costs.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking, you are no spring chicken are you
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

[Diggs]

If you haven't read this, you may find it both relevant and enlightening...
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[Tracey Suntan-King]

OK, no surprise but I'm going to suggest moving to Cyprus and staying with bricks and mortar, by keeping your house in UK and renting over there.

Great weather, relaxed lifestyle, cheap living costs. Healthcare available.
Great roads for biking, beautiful countryside for walking, coastline for everything else.

English spoken nearly everywhere although you could exercise your brain by learning Greek.

Here's an example, our house there costs 80% less to run compared to the cost of our house in the UK and it is comparable in size etc. Council tax there is less than a twelfth than here. Utilities are way cheaper and obviously, you use far less gas & electricity.

Food costs are comparable or cheaper if you eat fresh, local produce.

You could consider renting your current place out, then renting in Cyprus. Your UK costs would be covered with some to spare to supplement your other income to fund your life in sunny Cyprus.

Finally and most importantly there is a great support network and social life (including bike groups) for ex-military types
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Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right

[Lord Percy]

An American lad interned at my office for a couple of months last summer. He seemed to think that Brits would have quite an easy time if they tried migrating to the US, regardless of whether that was done via legal means or just by overstaying a tourist visa. He seemed to imply that it would be possible to enter the country then just get on with life, and most people would leave you alone because Brits aren't really treated with much suspicion. I don't know how true that is though. His words, not mine.

If you have a guaranteed steady income for life, I don't think there's much to lose really.

Maybe get the 90 day tourist visa and see how it feels. A quick bit of research tells me you can stay in the US legally for up to a year, which is surely ample time to figure things out.

If I were in your shoes, the one and only thing stopping me would be the legal aspects of staying long term in the US. That issue aside, it sounds like the most amazing adventure waiting to happen. In fact I absolutely want to do similar at some point in my life. Maybe we'll bump into each other on the road someday

[Polarbear]

The problem with health is however irrelevant it is now, it will become very relevant especially if you want to go exploring the world.

You do have to factor in if you need medicines and doctors and costs like that.

OK, a totally over the top example but when I was flown back from West Africa in a hospital plane after a boiler explosion on a ship, the cost was in excess of 1 million. Then 60 grand a month in Cheltenham burns unit.

Now obviously I'm not saying something that bad will happen to you but think America, think health insurance, think repercussions if you fall down and break you leg in the middle of nowhere.

At your age you could afford medical insurance for a holiday, for long term insurance I very much doubt it except for the very basic.

Unlike the UK, they want their pound of flesh if they treat you.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[One Ball 1971]

[P.]

I'm tempted with moving to Canada right now... I'm literally a french test away from entry... unfortunately they don't tend to want retiring parties heading there, otherwise I'd have said move there to Muskoka and enjoy.

Going with the 'age' bit, Florida is a great place to fuck off to, but might be a bit to Yank like.

Go Cyprus.

[-]

What makes you think living in a camper will be cheaper than a rent free house?

My mate lived in a caravan for 2 years. It cost him £400 in pitch fees alone. He did it for the same reasons as you although he had a mortgage to pay. Even if you stealth or wild camp, you’ll need fuel and gas.

I built a VW LWB Transporter Shuttle into a full in tin top camper. It has 200w solar hidden out of sight in between the roof bars. In the summer this provides enough power for everything and everything from compressor fridge to tv to laptop adapter is 12V. In the winter though...no chance.

Space will be your biggest issue. I use my bus around 15 weekends a year and even in my own, it’s cramped, but well insulated for sound and heat, so I get a good nights sleep in it.
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[Pigeon]

[Shaft]

I've lived in a touring caravan for over 3 years now, so I have some perspective about what it's like.

First of all, not everything about it is cheap; the rent is sensible and I don't pay council tax, TV licence or water rates, plus my rent includes electricity, so I've never bothered with gas, I just made sure I could do everything electrically.

This was cool until my onboard heater packed up, followed by the fridge; these things are designed for holiday use, not 24/7 365 and as soon as you put "caravan spec" in front of any piece of equipment, it triples the price.

This is important because camp site hook ups typically supply half the current of domestic mains, which means if you use domestic appliances, you have to be careful about what you have on, in case it trips the main circuit breaker.

Replacing my appliances like for like would cost me over £1000, so I got a small fan heater and a table top style fridge (which there is no room for in the van, so I have it my awning, which presents another problem, more of which later) but I can't have everything on - in winter months, when you want to heat, light and cook, you have to decide which is the priority, because doing all of them will trip the breaker; my solution was to change all the bulbs to LED (less draw) and, when I come home from work, 30 mins with the heater to enable me to take my coat off, then shiver a bit while I was cooking.

The "another problem" is that domestic fridges and freezers (I've got one of those too) work in a different way and they really don't like operating in very high or very low temps, both of which you get in awnings - this time of year, I often come home to no electricity and the only things that are left on all day are the fridge and freezer.

In other news, it's 3 steps from my door (next to the bed) to where I sit, passing by the bathroom and through the kitchen and, when I get to the seating area, it's not very comfortable - again, the seating isn't really designed to be 'lived' with on a long term basis.

The shower is substantially more cramped than a telephone box and I have never got used to carrying a container of my own turds to the emptying point twice a week (that costs as well, you need chemicals to break it all down, cheap stuff doesn't really work, you need the expensive gear) plus I don't think I've had a really good sleep in all this time, because the bed is a put you up, not really designed to be lived with - there's a theme here............

Be aware that if a caravan is cramped (there are bigger, better equipped models than mine) then a motorhome is worse, unless you build it yourself or can afford a Winnebago style gin palace, but then you have to run it - think single figure fuel consumption, so regular touring will put a major dent in your income.

This reads like a damning condemnation of caravan life, but I still enjoy the sense of adventure I get from coming home every night (that's very hard to explain) and I'm still very happy that I feel like I'm getting out of the rat race, every time I leave work.

But now I'm thinking I want to move to renting a static - same sort of money, same sense of wellbeing, but more space, proper plumbing, domestic type electricity and I might actually feel like I've walked from the sofa to the bed!

Oh, and I started out with a tourer because I had this notion that, if I fancied a break from my surroundings, I could up sticks and go somewhere else for a couple of weeks - I quite quickly realised that if I wanted a break, I wanted a break from everything, so a hotel would be best

Edit: Nearly forgot, have a think about the consequences of not having an official postal address and how that might impact your life - it's caused me a few problems.

**Tef mode off**
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[chickenstrip]

[chickenstrip]

[Shaft]