Turbo Turtle
see above
New Member
Joined: 10/23/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hey there,
So, another question. We are looking to go FT next fall, and want to hang out in MD where our kids are located. Problem: no parks (the regional ones and state ones close in the fall), or RV parks at all nearby. What to do? Would any of these ideas be something you've tried/heard of?
1. Could we get a friend to let us park on their property... if so, how little could we bother them? For instance, I know there are public dumping stations, and we'll need to run the diesel engine every week or so anyways. And filling with potable water can't be hard either. So, that leaves electricity and heat. The generator's there... pulling off the diesel reserve (for heat and light). If we add solar cells, how much auxiliary power would we need?
2. What other options might we have, except buying a piece of land to boondog on? (That's a step backwards from "freedom" and it's expensive.)
TIA!
|
tandkj
Full timer
Senior Member
Joined: 08/04/2003
View Profile
 Online
|
Full timing to us does not mean locking yourself into one place full time. Full time to us means traveling and seeing things full time. But, to each his own.
08 Camelot
07 Ranger Toad
One Golden Retriever at the Rainbow Bridge
|
avan
Sioux Falls, SD & Livingston,TX
Senior Member
Joined: 11/02/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
That problem can and does occur in many major metropolitan areas. Land is too expensive to be just dedicated to a private RV park and between tight budgets and cold weather, public parks are surely not going to stay open longer, at higher cost, to handle small or negligible demand. Our kids live in a major NE city and our commute to their homes from the nearest park ranges from 3/4 of an hour to 1.5 hours depending on time of day. We are not disposed to cold weather and are happy that the parks are not open during the winter - we can use the unavailability of a park as our excuse not to visit during the winter months.
We are traveling FTers though and if my read of your post is correct, it sounds like you are merely moving into an RV but want to then be by your kids all the time or nearly so and are looking at how you can 'live' near them rather than camp near them. You might look into mobile home parks nearby - probably won't make much difference to them if they rent an annual pad to you with an RV vs you with a mobile home.
Maybe we are different and maybe our friends are different but we would never think of imposing ourselves on a friend, running our generator on their driveway, exercising our diesel next to their and their neighbor's homes and traipsing in and out of their garage, basement or wherever filling potable water bottles. Don't think the friendship would wear well after a month or so of that.
Also don't think I'd want to have to run every week or so to some remote location to dump and don't think my friends deserve to have a propane truck come to fill my tanks every few days nor would I impose on them to have a larger tank put above ground on their property so as to minimize my need to get refills as often. Then again, our kids have grown up and started their own families, have their own lives and are busy taking the girls to ballet and the boys to whatever and don't need us near their doorstep either - nor did we retire and go full time to become built in babysitters.
We do spend several weeks with them in the spring as we come out of our snowbird haunts and again several weeks with them in the fall before we head south, and now that the grandkids are too old (in school) to take time off in the winter to fly down with the parents to see us wherever we are in warm country, we also fly back north at Christmas time and spend a hotel week there enjoying the festivities. We, and they, think we all get plenty of good and quality face and family time.
So other than a longer commute to a park that is open or using a mobile home park, I wouldn't have much else in the way of suggestions.
Click for more pics of our FT home, our snowbird digs and our summer trips
The puller - International 4700LP (530E) - Wiers Towmaster; Trailer-Saver Air Hitch
The pusher - 40' Travel Supreme Fifth
|
Turbo Turtle
see above
New Member
Joined: 10/23/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks! Let me clarify: we're only planning on being near our kids in the fall. It would be nice if they were in a warmer spot, but we're going "FT" because we plan to spend 4 months on the road in late spring/early summer traveling/working a conference circuit each year, and because we are at a transition point where we are tired of owning all the stuff that a house needs, plus the expense. (We sold our house just before the economy tanked, used the proceeds to save our business, and are nearing the end of a two-year lease on a TH. The question for us has been, "What's next?")
We're only 51; but six kids spread over ten years. While we have two grandkids, our baby's only halfway thru college so being around for at least one season of the year is important to our immediate plans. And then, we plan to visit elderly relatives in the New England area in the summers. While we're not PRIMARILY thinking of FT RVing just to travel, as our kids are fully launched we plan to do more and more of it.
So... thanks for the above clarifications. I think hearing your perspective on neighbors is helpful... I didn't know we'd need to fill up propane that often, and was more thinking of a hose to the water and never going into their home. But, you've a good point about the diesel smell.  This is why we're sweating the small stuff before making a decision.
* This post was
edited 10/26/09 07:55am by Turbo Turtle *
|
shoreman
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 12/27/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Cherry Hill in College Park is open all year and sort of centrally located in MD. Elk Neck State Park full service loop stays open but you are limited to two week stays.
Whaland and Susan Clark
2007 PF36SK Paradise Pointe fifth wheel
2006 3500 Duramax/Allison Chevy dually
|
|
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
shoreman wrote:Cherry Hill in College Park is open all year and sort of centrally located in MD. Elk Neck State Park full service loop stays open but you are limited to two week stays.
Those are good options. What part of MD are you trying to be close to?
01 PSD X,06 Trailvision 31BHDS Edge Evolution
4"exhaust,AFE,C-Betr,Tornado
Bodiak,air bags,TomTom,Atwood 3500
Hensley,Prodigy,exhaust brake,Swift Hitch
14'PortaBote9.9hp,6"PVC,Thule,Combi-Cam
Toppoprails,16"wheels,Sherline,Maxx Air
Subaru 4300is w/Gen Box
|
Turbo Turtle
see above
New Member
Joined: 10/23/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Our center of gravity (church family) is Frederick, MD. My mom lives in Silver Spring, and some kids are in Gaithersburg. We'd have a toad to go and visit them with. Thanks for the College Park idea; it's not ideal tho. Anything near Frederick, MD?
We had a new idea: part of our need is fiscal. There's a lot in Frederick upon which we'd be glad to build a house someday of the economy or our health warranted it; meanwhile, it's a good investment as a desireable lot to acquire in a down economy. It's got no covenants, town water, and access. Surely paving a pad on the lot and bringing electricity to the RV home wouldn't be that hard? (We'd still need to go to a dump station about once a week, and ship on propane and gas in order to run the heat and appliances.) How does that sound for fall months?
|
DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
Moderator
Joined: 03/19/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
We did fall and winter in MD volunteering at a state park. Full hookups and we loved it. You might consider doing something along that line as well.
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
DataStorm
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2005 Teton 39' Frontier Grand
Life Member Good Sam
Escapees
Geocache..."RVcachers"
RV net Blog
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Turbo Turtle wrote:Our center of gravity (church family) is Frederick, MD. My mom lives in Silver Spring, and some kids are in Gaithersburg. We'd have a toad to go and visit them with. Thanks for the College Park idea; it's not ideal tho. Anything near Frederick, MD?
We had a new idea: part of our need is fiscal. There's a lot in Frederick upon which we'd be glad to build a house someday of the economy or our health warranted it; meanwhile, it's a good investment as a desireable lot to acquire in a down economy. It's got no covenants, town water, and access. Surely paving a pad on the lot and bringing electricity to the RV home wouldn't be that hard? (We'd still need to go to a dump station about once a week, and ship on propane and gas in order to run the heat and appliances.) How does that sound for fall months?
Trying to stay on a lot may get you into zoning issues. Be sure to do your homework on this idea.
Ramblin Pines is about 20 miles east of Frederick. I believe they have some year around sites.
|
leaddog
All over the USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/11/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Turbo Turtle
There is a small RV park right behind Lowes Hardware store. Not the greatest spot for "camping" but should work for what you want. Full hookups. I don't know their prices or much about the place other than checking it out a few years ago when it looked like we may need a spot in that area.
I think it is called Evergreen or something like that.
2002 Southwind 36T
8.1 Workhorse chassis
|
|
|
|
