Living in an RV

[itchmesir]

So the other half wants to do the whole "traveling" nurse show once she's done with school.. and the thought of living out of an RV has been brought up numerous times.. I'm sure there is plenty of things that need to be thought out.. But I'm wondering what are some key things we need to take into account if we make this move? Besides the obvious where to camp/dump the RV when need be.. or gas.. I figure most transportation could be handled with bikes or a scooter/moped? But what are some things folks don't take into account when trying to make this move?

[upnorth]

5th wheel would be my choice. Park and then you always have a vehicle, trailer well and fairly easy to setup once you get the hang of it. Easier to find someone to work on a truck when it breaks than a motorhome.

[itchmesir]

Ah yes! I totally forgot to take that into account

[Powerstroke]

I prefer the 5th wheel idea also. You've got one vehicle instead of two when compared to an RV towing a smaller tag along for running around town.

Most RV's are not designed for full-timing. Consider where you plan on traveling and if you will need your rv to be 4season compatible. FInding fuel and dump sites is fairly easy with the proliferation of truck stops now. I would be more concerned with storage space and making sure you've got the ability to be off the grid for a couple days. Having a generator and adequate storage tanks can make a huge difference.

[chasineyes]

What's a traveling nurse? It sounds like an aweseome plan though. Kind of my thought of retirement.

My sister in law said that clinics in South Dakota and North dakota are paying HUGE money for nurses!!! I guess if you have an RV might as well make some serious money before settling down.

[itchmesir]

Traveling nurses is exactly what it says.. There are different agencies that deal with traveling nurses.. basically they send you wherever nurses are needed at the time.. think of it as a "Manpower" or other temp work agency.. except it's only for nurses and its nation wide.. and then instead of getting laid off.. you just get relocated to another nursing job

More or less it could work out well for both of us.. I've got cooking experience for the past 15 years or so.. including running a restaurant.. Me getting the in on a cooking job shouldn't be an issue wherever we may go.. and people are always gonna be too lazy to cook for themselves.. So it's not like there's a shortage of jobs for me as well

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Sounds like a fun adventure, enjoy! My in-laws are work campers. They live in Florida, but take work camper jobs other places to escape the hot summers. They have worked many places, some of the best are Tetons, Grand Canyon and Alaske. Last year and this year they are at a fishing resort on Kentucky Lake. The big draw there is the crappie fishing they say.

[Stick in Mud]

Hmmm...the Tetons and Alaska vs. Kentucky. All for some crappies?!?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

It's a long drive to Alaska from Florida!

They are home for a few weeks. My father-in-law had surgery for a detected retina. Amazing they can fix something like that.

[zamboni]

My brother bought a brand new 5th wheel and lived in it for 2 years in California until he retired. Thing has 2 LCD flat screens and a fireplace in it. Thats living if you're gonna do it in a camper.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

My brother bought a brand new 5th wheel and lived in it for 2 years in California until he retired. Thing has 2 LCD flat screens and a fireplace in it. Thats living if you're gonna do it in a camper.

Wow, what does he call retirement? Sounds like that would be retirement to me

[Down Deep]

My daughter is a traveler. As with any job it has its good points and there is a downside. First of all it's hard to get the pick of the pulm jobs because all the traverlers want them. More often the jobs they offer are in areas where no on really wants to live like the oil fields of the Dakotas or some costal outpost in Alaska. If you don't work you don't get paid and they take back you expensense money. It provides a lot of flexibility and pays for your rent.

She does it because she is not married and has no kids. She works her time as a traverler and then has a part time job at the same hospital. She builds up her cash then takes off for 3 or 4 months. Right now she is working in what she terms as the shoot em up trama hospital in downtown Oakland, CA.