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Are you considering traveling around in an RV to see the country after you retire? We think traveling in an RV is a very exciting thing to do. And if you are considering RV Travel after you retire then our list of 10 Great Reasons to Travel in an RV After You Retire may be just the thing to get you off the fence!
People of all ages make the decision to uproot their life to move into an RV for months or even years at a time. Even if you do not want to stay in an RV full time, it is still enjoyable to take it out for a week, a weekend, or for extended RV Travel.
There are so many things to do and see that it can really change your outlook on life. However, many people do not think to retire and RV travel, which is unfortunate. If more people took the leap of faith and decided to retire and travel in an RV, they would have an amazing experience.
10 Great Reasons to to Travel in an RV After You Retire!
When you retire, you have an unprecedented amount of free time. People work their whole lives to get to the point where they can retire, and then when they get there, they do not know what to do. There might be lots of choices available to retirees, but many great options are overlooked.
One of those options is to retire and travel in an RV. There are several benefits to enjoying your retirement in an RV. Here we will take you through 10 reasons to retire and start traveling around the country in an RV.
1. You Can Live on a Modest Budget
When you retire, there will be many adjustments you need to make to your day to day life. Most notably, the amount of disposable income will probably go down. This will not be the case for everyone, but naturally, when you stop working, you can expect a dip in income. As a result, it is important to find ways to save money where you can. Fortunately, when you live on the road, it is easy to live modestly.
Many of the places you will travel to have free parking. Many places like Walmart and Cracker Barrel welcome campers and invite them to park in their lots. There are also senior passes for national parks that provide great value when you are traveling full time.
The biggest expense when you want to start an RV lifestyle in your retirement is actually purchasing the RV. RV prices can vary significantly. They can be as cheap as $6000, and they can reach prices great than $100,000 in some cases. This might seem expensive, but if you are traveling full time, it will be a replacement for your house. So, you can sell your home, purchase an RV, and have plenty of money leftover to spend as you wish.
2. You Can Volunteer to Give Back
After you retire, it is common for people to have a feeling of emptiness. For over 40 years you will have something that takes up your day from Monday to Friday. Now that thing is suddenly gone, and you might not know what to do with yourself. As a result, many retired people turn to volunteering to keep themselves busy. Now only does it keep you busy, but it feels good to give back and help people in need.
When you are on the road, you can help out multiple charities around the country. You will not be limited to the charities in your local area. So, you can pick and choose which organizations you want to support, and you can have it help you plan out your travel schedule. It will also allow you to stay in one place for an extended period of time if you want.
It is most common for RVers to volunteer at national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. They do this because they are normally compensated with free parking. So, you will not be paid as it is a volunteer based system, but you can save a little money while giving back.
3. You Will Buy Fewer Things
Another great reason to live on the road after you retire is to stop yourself from buying useless things. Since retirees do not always have a lot to do, it is common for them to accumulate many things they do not need. You will go out to the mall more often, and you will find yourself purchasing things and then never using them once you bring them home. It is instant gratification that is not required to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
When you live on the road, you will be keeping yourself busy, so you will not feel the urge to purchase unneeded things. Additionally, since you will have less space than in a house, you will not be able to purchase as many things. So, you will only buy things you actually want or need. Buying extra things will also make your RV heavier, which can be problematic in certain situations.
4. You Can Do Whatever You Want
When you are retired and, on the road, there is no need to get from Point A to Point B as soon as possible. Instead, you can take your time and smell the roses while you travel around the country. This is a luxury RVers do not have before they are retired because they usually have a shorter trip planned. There is always the knowledge that you need to get back to your regular life after a set amount of time. Fortunately, that is not an issue when you are retired. So, if you are traveling somewhere and you see a forest you want to explore or a mountain you want to climb, you can do that before proceeding to your intended destination.
5. You Can See More of Your Family
When people retire, it is common for people to relocate. That is why warm states like Florida and Arizona have higher percentages of retirees. Unfortunately, when you do move, it means that you will get to see your family less often. However, that is not the case when you retire in an RV. Instead, you can travel around the country and visit your kids and grandkids however much you want. You can live in the town where your kids live for a while, and then you can stay near your grand kids for a time.
Since you are living in an RV, you can make any town your home if you want. Additionally, since you can sleep in your RV, you do not need to worry about overstaying your welcome. Normally, family members will not be happy if you stay with them for too long, but if you are living in an RV that will not be an issue.
6. You Will Eat Better on the Road
Having a balanced diet can be difficult for people of all ages. However, after people retire, it is common for them to eat out more as an excuse to get out of the house. That being said, RV retirees say that they dine in more and eat out less. Not only will this save you a great deal of money, but it will also help have a more balanced diet.
Additionally, since you will be traveling around the country, you will get to try a variety of fresh food and regional specialties. This should give you a more diverse palate, and help you stay healthier long term.
7. You Can Go Wherever You Want
Throughout life, there are so many restrictions in place that keep you from doing what you want. Not having the freedom to do what you want is the biggest tragedy of life. So, once you retire, it would be criminal to not take advantage of all the free time you now have. Getting an RV when you retire will allow you to do just that.
You can travel around the country, visit your family, and see every state, city, and attraction that you want. A problem many retirees have when they retire is that they need to live on a budget. Since they have a house that they need to maintain and pay for, you cannot travel as much as you might like. However, when you have an RV, you will not have that problem. You can go wherever you want, and live whatever life you want to live.
8. You Will Meet All Kinds of New People
Often times in our lives, it is easy to get stuck in our own social circles. There is nothing inherently wrong with that as most people gravitate to likeminded people. That is how you make friends and form long lasting relationships. However, you are also subconsciously restricting who you interact with by doing this. Everyone does this, and it is not a problem. However, it can be very fulfilling to branch out and meet new people.
Fortunately, when you make the decision to move out of your house and into your RV, you are making the decision to meet new people all around the country. You will not just be seeing new things and eating new foods; you will also meet different types of people. People at RV campgrounds are usually very friendly, so you can strike up a conversation with them with ease. Pretty soon you will know more about them then did about a co-worker you had for a decade.
9. You Will Stay Active
When you get older, it is easy to start to slack off on physical activity and exercise. However, this is the last thing you want to do when you retire. Most experts agree that staying active prolongs and improves the quality of life. Since you no longer have a job to worry about, there is no excuse to not get your exercise in. However, despite that, many people still fail to stay active.
Fortunately, when you start retirement by purchasing an RV, you will automatically be choosing to be more active. When you live in an RV, you will spend a lot of time driving, but you will also spend a lot of time outdoors. You will go on hikes, explore forests, and walk around national parks. All of these will get you moving and keep your blood flowing. Not only will you have a more engaging life, but you will also have a healthier and longer life as a result of RVing.
10. You Do Not Need to Clean as Much
After you retire, you will want to avoid work as much as possible. After all, you will have just spent over 40 years working towards your retirement. The last thing you want to do is spend your retirement working. However, if you own a home, you will know that work is unavoidable. You need to mow the low, take care of the plants, and do all kinds of yard work.
The work does not stop in your yard; you will have plenty to do in your house. Since you are retired, it is fair for your kids to ask you to babysit your grandchildren more often if you live in the same area. Having kids again will inevitably cause a bigger mess. As much as you might love having them around, you will not enjoy all the cleaning. Even if you do not need to worry about that, you will still need to clean your house fairly regularly.
You can cut back on the amount of cleaning you need to do significantly by living in an RV. There will only be a couple hundred square feet for you to clean. So, if you keep on top of things, cleaning should only take a few minutes. Finally, you will not need to mow the lawn or take care of a yard when you live in an RV.
Enjoy Life in an RV After You Retire
After reading, we hope you have all the information you need to prepare your life in an RV after you retire. Deciding to sell your house and purchase an RV is a big decision to make, but it is an excellent one.
Living in an RV gives you the opportunity to do so many things that you would never get to do otherwise. You will get to see new places, do new things, and meet new people.
When you retire and start your life on the road, you will be starting your life’s next great adventure. So do not hesitate, gather your things, and get on the road as soon as you can! Even Kiplinger’s has a great article on this subject!
When do you think you will be able to retire? What appeals to you most about a life on the road? What will be the first thing you do after you start your life on the road? Let us know in the comments!
Great article Mike & Susan:
10 Great Reasons to Travel in an RV After You Retire
Thanks Dan!
Glad you liked the article.
Mike