We did this for two years, and it was a fantastic experience! We saw so much of the country, and it was terrific. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if we could get rid of our mortgage! Of course, selling a house (or in our case, a large commercial building in a historic district of a small town) is not nearly as easy as we'd like!

We have a paid for trailer and a paid for quad cab ram to pull it. We could live in it

for around $400.00 per month for space rent and insurance for trailer and truck.

We haven't pulled it out in a couple of years but in an emergancy that's where we are headed.

Could I do the house to RV swap- yes- short term. The lifestyle advantage would be appealing. But, a wise home purchase, even in these challenging times, would seem a better long term strategy. That truck and trailer won't be worth much in 10 years. As they say, the 2 happiest days in an RV owners life are the day they buy and the day they sell (at a big loss no doubt). A brief look at high mileage trucks/powered RV's and 10 year old travel trailers on E-Bay will tell the story.

Already retired and spouse could work four more years and then retire. I am retired military and just traveling around would be a good ideal. I would not have to worry about paying property taxes and other taxes. Just the up keep of the the RV.

With housing being so expensive in California in the recent years I have seriously looked into the RV full time life. However with numerous calculations I have found that living the RV is almost expensive as living in a small home, even in California. If you don't know already, an RV of almost any size is a job in itself to maintain and when it's a motorhome you now have an engine to maintain also. And where do you stay? Well if you head to the State parks your going to find a $35-$50 a night fee, plus your food, water, gasoline, insurance. And then you can't stay at most campgrounds for more than 7-14 days unless your the host or a long term tenant and then your just renting a spot. So if you do the above it's hard to get away with spending less then a grand a month, nontheless I just bought a cute little home here in California for approx $600/month piti. So RVing would really cost more, specially if you have kids. Without kids and if your living cheaply using the BLM boondocking offers then ya you could live much cheaper. So a family on the road, not for $400 bucks, that's what the gasoline would cost in a monster vehicle like we see above!!

this story is such bs. people like this don't know what it is like to fall on hard times even if they have lost their jobs they were always making enough money to put some away for a rainy day. these are not the people suffering because of the economy they are just taking the opportunity to do what they've always wanted to do. write a real article about the people who lose their jobs and "chose" live in a box under the highway.

We've talked about this for a long time. The first person who offers enough money to pay off house and enough left over to get a RV and we will be on the road. Spent many years in occupations requiring being on the road and enjoyed almost every minute of it. Kids are all grown and out on their own, family is scattered all over country so what better way to enjoy life.

I spend $200 per mo for an RV space in N. AZ. at 6500 feet . Nice town of 3000 people with all amenities. for 5 months per yr. $200 per mo for an RV space in a VERY nice mobile home park in Phoenix for 7 months in the winter. Side trips to Vegas, San Diego, and Laughlin, along with visits to kids and G-kids. Life is good in my 5th wheel with 3 tip outs!!

"We full-timed for 2 yrs as we looked for jobs. Finally found work & settled down again, but we're glad we had the RV for a lifeboat!"

I just wanted to add that even though those 2 years were very tough times for us- we pretty much lost everything but that ten year old motor home, the belongings we had in it and the little vehicle we towed behind it- but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. We lived and worked at State Parks, we traveled as we looked for work, we spent a lot of time together and saw some beautiful countryside. It took some time to finally find an area with a lucrative job market, but we did land good jobs at last and have started to put down roots again.

And, we found out that RV living wasn't bad at all. Our 36' motor home was an older model, but it had all the comforts of home, including a washer/dryer. We had LOTS of storage and it was quite comfortable. I wouldn't hesitate to take up that life-style again, if we had to. In fact, I'd love to do it again, only under happier circumstances!

I actually plan on doing this with my family regardless of our financial situation. I think giving children a positive life experience outside the norm will help them grow into compassionate interesting people. Watching the Ken Burns' "National Parks- America's Best Idea" was especially inspiring.

I'd do it in a flash. Am retired military so I have a stable monthly retirement check. started working as a DoD contractor with a very lucrative income so I'm in a rat race environment. I expect budget cuts to threaten the current stability of my job. If that happens my only challenge is to talk my spouse into a nomadic lifestyle for at least a short while. Can't pry her from home with a shoehorn. However the travel lifestyle has always been my dream

My husband and I have actually discussed doing this. We don't have a mortgage (we still rent) so that wouldn't be a problem. Our issue is generating income while on the road. No money? No food, no gas.

And buying an RV seems a little expensive to us.

I've dreamed of being able to do this, however, being a home owner and not being able to sell my house is a major stumbling block. I've lost my job, and thus health insurance along with the fact that the State (Ca) denied me unemployment benefits, doesn't make it any easier to leave one type of living for another, except for tenting it in the middle of the desert somewhere. I am alone, so I guess I don't have to worry about anyone else at least. Stress is bad and so the only thing I have right now is the imagined ecstasy of having the wind in my face and many road turns behind me. Until I can manage that, I read other people's adventures and stay positive that this rotten economy will turn around soon.

In 1970 my wife and I and our 9 year old daughter hopped into a 22' trailer and traveled the country for apx a year. We sold our house and all of the furnishings, packed up about 15 boxes of personal items and put them into storage, and unfolded the map and took off. For us it is remembered as a highlight in our lives. I recommend it for all that have a sense of adventure in their souls.

I'm 33 now. I was a full timer in a 37 foot Bounder Class A motorhome from 24-28. Great lifestyle...only I couldn't afford to drive the thing anywhere and with my job (Info Tech) I seemed to be working all the time so couldn't take time off. Those times when I was able to go somewhere..it was a blast!! Own a house now...but sometimes miss the full time RVing as you're not tied down anywhere. Maybe next time I'll live aboard a small yacht or Cabin Cruiser boat since I haven't done that yet! :)

I want to do this regardless of the economy! I own an RV and I already know people who do this. I'm STUCK in an office job and I have health benefits which are tied to my employer. Some day when I do not have to rely on having a corporate job cover most of my healthcare costs I will hit the road - no question about it. For those of you who think it's like living in a trailer park or being homeless - you are way way off base - it's nothing like either of those scenarios. RV's have all the comforts of home and then some.

Oh and to all you Real Estate Agents and Mortgage Brokers who are posting on here about what good investments a "nice home" is - give it up - those days are over kids - the gravy train has left the station and I feel real sorry for anyone buying a house today who might find they need to move and sell it 8 or 9 years from now because they'll be lucky to be able to pay off the bank. I know you folks have a living to make, we all do, but you might as well be trying to sell us some swampland in Florida.

I see the pros and cons. I do think it might be healthy for a family to be close and considerate of each other. I think you need to maintain a schedule for schooling. I can see if they sold their house and other assets they likely have the resources to make this work. Most people, when losing their job, don't have an RV to turn to nor the money saved to go with this lifestyle. It would be nice to not be restricted by your possessions. The big thing for me that would be the killer is health insurance or lack thereof.

In a heart beat, and I would not even think twice. This is my planned retirement in 4 more yerars. To see that it can be done, check out www.rv-dreams.com. Howard and Linda Payne has been doing this for several years now and have not look back once.

Too Bad?? So Sad?? lets get real folks a 25-40k trailer and a 35k - 50k truck!!

these folks are not hurting for a thing, don't spend my tax $$ on them. I would love to be able to afford this lifestyle with my kids in tow.

if the story had not started by a job loss EVERYONE would say THAT sounds so wonderful, I wish i could do that!!

no get back to work!!