In a prior post, I addressed some of your questions about how we manage business affairs while living this nomadic lifestyle. However, there’s one question that people don’t ask because it is so personal: How in the world can we afford to do this? After all, we retired in our late 50’s, bought this fancy bus and are traveling the US full time. How did we get here, financially, to enable us to live the dream?
We saved early and often. We were blessed to be able to obtain college degrees and good jobs which provided a good income. But, we never spent all of that income. Neither of us came from moneyed background, so our needs and wants have always been modest. Beginning in our 20’s, we saved a significant percentage of our paycheck and increased that percentage with every salary raise. We worked very hard to achieve success in our professions which helped the income side of the equation, but we always chose to spend significantly less than what we made. That difference went to our savings.
We invested for the long term. Jeff became a student of investing and placed our savings in a range of investment vehicles that would perform well over the long term. We took full advantage of any benefits offered by employers such as tax deferred 401K plans and, over time, worked up to the maximum allowed annual contribution. We didn’t touch our savings for short-term gratification items such as vacations or new cars. We also made it a priority to eliminate debt, never carrying credit card balances and always paying off any loans (car / home) earlier than scheduled. Jeff ran annual net worth statements so we could monitor our progress and keep us on track. By our early 50’s we were completely debt-free. Jeff also took the opportunity to invest in a business partnership, which proved to be an excellent decision.
We set a goal. As we evaluated retirement options in our 40’s, we solidified around the concept of fulltime RV travel. It was a vision that really excited us and we knew it was achievable. So we began a 15 year (on and off) process of research to learn all we could about what we would need, and what it would take to accomplish this goal. We went to RV shows, read books, and surfed the web to study all of our options.
We crunched the numbers. As we hit our 50’s, we started getting serious about retirement timing. I am fortunate to have a pension coming from Motorola, but we won’t draw it until we hit 65 and our full Social Security retirement age is almost 67. For a successful early retirement, we had to have sufficient savings (or income) to pay the bills until those pension income streams kick in. So, we calculated our estimated annual budget for life on the road. We made key decisions, such as not keeping a home base or storage unit, which would help reduce our spend. We figured the savings we would need to fund an early retirement and started driving toward that number.
We received an unfortunate windfall. We received a sizeable insurance settlement as a result of our son’s accidental death. Frankly, I didn’t want it at first. It felt wrong somehow, like blood money. I wanted Nathan back. I’d still give it all back in a heartbeat if I could have him instead, but I can’t. Over time, I’ve come to see it as his parting gift – a mechanism to give us the freedom to move forward into the life we had dreamed about. The windfall allowed us to buy a nicer bus and go sooner than we’d originally thought possible. I figure we owe it to Nathan to live this life with all the gusto we can muster.
We executed the plan. We sold the house. We gave away all of our stuff. Jeff quit his job. We bought the bus, left our place of security, and moved forward. It’s all good to plan and save, but actually doing something this drastic takes quite an effort. It’s worth it, though!
So now, 7 months in, how are the finances working out? Pretty darned well. Our actual spend is fairly close to our previously estimated budget. We have a modest income stream from my part-time consulting work and our two rental properties. And Jeff’s business stock sale is paying out over 10 years, so it’s like getting a monthly paycheck. Essentially, our income is covering our current expenses, so our savings can continue to grow against future needs. Sweet! We’re doing just fine.
Check out my new bicycle – ain’t she purdy? I had been riding a 15+ year old mountain bike handed down from the kids. It just wasn’t set up properly for me. My hands quickly went numb, I was constantly slipping forward off the seat, and it was awkward to mount and dismount. It wasn’t a comfortable or fun ride and I found myself simply not riding it. Fixing the geometry would require a fairly complex retrofit (it couldn’t be adjusted far enough without parts changes), and frankly I was over it. I wanted a new bike. The last time I got a new bike, fitted specifically to my needs and size was, well, never. I think it’s about time, don’t you?
So, I researched and selected a Trek Verve 2 hybrid bicycle. I’ve had really good experiences riding Trek hybrids on bike trips and it’s a highly reputable brand. This model has upright riding geometry and a step-through frame, making it much more comfortable to mount and ride. The hybrid tires work great for the kind of casual biking I do on roads, bike paths, gravel roads, and non-technical trails. I added ergonomic hand grips, a rear rack and a tinkle bell. This is the SUV of bikes – versatile for sightseeing, fitness rides, and transportation both on and off road. [Other tech specs: XS lightweight aluminum frame, 24 Shimano gears, suspension seatpost, and adjustable stem]
To test it out, we took it to 
When I talk to folks about our life on the road, I often get questions about logistical issues. Questions like: How do you get your mail? What about doctor’s appointments? How do you handle banking and other business items? Here are our solutions!
Campground Review Summary
Campground Review Summary
Our back-in asphalt site was over 80 feet long, more than ample for our parking needs. That site had sufficient maneuvering room so that backing in wasn’t a problem. We had a shaded patio area with a picnic table and plenty of space around us. The full hookup site included 50/30 amp electrical service, water and sewer. Since we were under the trees, our satellite dish couldn’t connect and we were far enough out to have exactly zero over the air TV channels. There was a Direct TV connection provided by the campground which was free since we had our own Direct TV box, but we would have had to awkwardly run the cable through our slide seal and connect it directly to our box. We decided just to do without TV for the week. The campground has an extensive free DVD lending library, and we took full advantage of that! Our ATT signal was essentially unusable, but the campground internet wifi was surprisingly robust. Not enough for streaming or anything heavy duty, but it was adequate for checking email and casual gaming.
Amenities are basic. If you are looking for a pool and mini golf, this isn’t the place. The bathhouses are converted trailers with one commode and two showers in each of the men’s and women’s facilities. They were dated, but clean and serviceable. The managers and camp hosts were friendly and incredibly helpful. At check in, we were given a packet of information and maps to local sights. The aforementioned DVD library was a nice resource. The campground even is connected to hiking trails – you can stroll out your door and onto the trails. Awesome!
If you are into nature, this is a fantastic location. Crater Lake National Park is about a half hour away, and nearby are great motorcycle roads, hiking/biking trails, and ATV trails.
Summary
Have you ever heard of Lassen Volcanic National Park? I hadn’t either, until we planned our itinerary here! This underappreciated park has examples of all four volcano types: shield, cinder cone, plug dome and composite. If you don’t want to Google that, I’ve posted the definitions below. The main feature is Lassen peak, which blew its top only about 100 years ago. The park landscape was shaped by the upward push of volcanos, and carved into deep valleys by glaciers. Fire and Ice.
The park isn’t huge by Western national park standards – we drove the main road through the park in only a couple of hours. But there was a lot to see in that relatively short space. Due to Lassen peak’s height (10,500 feet) and profuse winter snowfall, the main road had opened only a few days before our arrival, although giant snow drifts were and alpine lakes were still in the process of gently melting.
In the valley, wildlife is abundant. During our 2 mile stroll around one of the lakes, we saw squirrels, ducks, geese families, and the occasional saucy chipmunk. We walked under tall fir trees that shed very large pine cones! It was one of those beautiful, cool spring days – the air was so clear it was difficult to take a bad photo.
saying “active”? Hot spots are scattered through the park with steam geysers, sulfur vents, and bubbling mud pots. Although it can’t compare with Yellowstone’s scale and scope, this little brother park to Yellowstone is a beautiful place to visit.
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost 