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Home study course: RV Volunteers Make a Difference

RV volunteers can do much more than be a camphost. Take this new home study course and find out the many possibilities. Here's the press release from Workamper University:

Workamper News and Workamper University are excited to offer another home study course on CD from Workamping expert Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak with RVLifestyleExperts.com. This new course is called RV Volunteers Make a Difference, and will spell out why RVers volunteer and what they gain from it.

Have you thought about volunteering on the road? An AARP study found that helping out others in some form or other is something 80 percent of Americans age 45 and older do. They are an important force in our economy, volunteering 8.2 billion hours a year, which is worth more than $147 billion. RVing broadens the horizons and opens up many new possibilities. In addition to volunteering in communities, RVers volunteer at national parks, state parks, wildlife refuges, and for Habitat for Humanity, among others. They help out during natural disasters. If you thought of volunteering as being a camphost, you were right—AND, it can be much more than that.

Volunteering has many rewards and can have a positive impact on the budget too. The 60-minute course shows you where to find these opportunities and how to go about getting them. Even more important, it helps you ask essential questions before accepting a position. This CD is available in the Workamper News Store online for $29.95.  Visit the Workamper News Store for more information and to purchase.

Instructor Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak is a seasoned RV Workamper and volunteer and the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road and other RV books.  Along with the audio visual classes you will receive a PDF file with a complete list of resources to get you started finding the right volunteer position for you.

If you are interested in purchasing this class or other courses on CD, visit https://store.workamper.com and click on the Training link. You can also call the Workamper News office to obtain information, 800-446-5627, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, M-F.

Tax considerations in choosing a domicile

RVers are unique in that it is very easy for them to choose a new domicile when they begin full-time RVing. Many pick a no-state-income tax state: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. A few pick Oregon because it has no sales tax, a bonus when you purchase a new RV.

Smart RVers look at the whole tax burden and not just one aspect. An article in the Chicago Tribune is worth reading if you are in the process of choosing your domicile or rethinking your choice. The article asks: "Would relocate in retirement for better tax laws?" Most people would say no. RVers can easily do so. The article referred to CCH, a tax information provider. Its article, "CCH Outlines Tax Considerations for Retirees Searching for Tax-friendly States," has excellent information for retirees plus a chart that details how each state taxes social security and pension income.

Another good resource for looking at the overall tax burden of all 50 states is Retirement Living Information Center's "Taxes by state."

And, finally, download the free booklet, "How to be a real Texan," available at the Escapees RV Club Web site. While it is specific to Texas, most of the information on establishing a domicile will apply to anyone. RVers can easily be tempted to have legal documents in several states - a will here, driver's licenses in another, vehicles registered in a 3rd. This can cause major financial repercussions down the road. You can access the download by going to the Web site, clicking on Members, then Resources/Links and then on Booklets. Having known and heard of a couple of RVers who have gotten socked by assessments in a state they did not consider their domicile, it's worth a read and lining everything up in your chosen state.

I initially chose Texas and used the Escapees mail service. Escapees RV Club has fought for RVers' voting rights and Polk County is very RV friendly. Since George is a South Dakota resident, I transferred everything up there after we married. We spent time in Sioux Falls getting my driver's license and having wills written.

What is the best domicile for one RVer is not necessarily the best for another so do your research and find out what works for you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Life in an RV resort

 When we were in Tucson, we stayed at Voyager RV Resort. RVers come for one-night stays or short stays, but many come each winter. Some have leased a lot for their RV; quite a few have purchased a small park model and lease the lot. Another option at Voyager is to purchase a house in the adjoining community.

We talked to several people who had come once, liked all the people and activities and have been coming back for years ever since. It is a whole different way of life than the one I’ve experienced RVing. We would call this group “snowbirds,” people who live somewhere north in the summer and spend winters in a warmer climate in a southern state like Arizona.

What appeals to them about Voyager and resort living? The short version is: facilities and activities. Voyager provides active adult living like many retirement communities. Compared to purchasing a house in a place like Sun City, an RV resort is less expensive and more compact. You can stay all year round, but the lower price makes it affordable for some people to have a summer and a winter location. They can create a permanent RV lot (see below) or buy a park model.

We were drawn to Voyager for a short stay because of location and their two hot tubs or spas! For winter residents, the resort has tennis, pickleball and bocce courts plus shuffleboard and exercise room. Each morning there was at least one exercise class in one of the three pools. Winter residents can do all sorts of arts and crafts in designated shops and scheduled classes.Games and entertainment load the calendar.

Voyager has a restaurant and store too. Don’t feel like cooking? You can ride your golf cart to dinner rather than take the car!

You could stay at Voyager (and  probably other RV resorts as well) the entire winter and only have to venture out into the city once or twice! You’d need gas for your golf cart, stock up on food now and then and perhaps see a physician if you are under treatment for a condition. (The Wellness Clinic can treat many medical problems.) Other than those, you could spend every day being as busy as you like. You might want to leave now and then just so you don’t feel obligated to participate!

While we talked to people enthusiastic about this way of life, we also met two couples who have been coming for several years and are selling their park models. One will be going on the road full-time; the other is now running a business in Phoenix. Neither couple could justify spending so much money leasing a lot when they were only here for a short time in the winter. Perhaps it is the current economy; perhaps that happens to a percentage of residents each year. Some turnover would be natural.

For us, Voyager was an excellent choice for a week’s stay, even if a bit on the expensive side compared to other RV parks. We wouldn't become winter residents, though. It’s most likely our stage of life. We're not ready to settle down in a retirement community, though I can see how easy that would be. Tucson itself has so much to offer. The cultural and recreational opportunities are plentiful and unique to the city. Sorry Voyager, but most activities at a resort you could do anywhere. In Tucson, for seeing native species, there are the Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park; you can hike in Sabino Canyon or up on Mount Lemmon. Numerous museums and galleries are downtown. And there is so much to explore within easy drives: Kitt Peak Observatory, Tubac and Tumacacori, Madera Canyon and many historical sites. You could spend years and not see it all of Tucson's special features.

It’s nice knowing that options like Voyager Resort exist for people. If you are done with driving and seeing sights, resort living could be for you. Certainly you can live a productive, active life.

If you do want to explore this option, I recommend:

• Stay in the resort for a winter or even two in your RV before purchasing a park model. Make sure you like it. You will lose money if you try to sell a park model and may have difficulty finding a buyer.
• During stays, talk to lots of residents to find out what they like and dislike. Others may have lived elsewhere, giving you information on additional resorts.
• All resorts are not equal. Compare prices, facilities and activities. Large numbers of activities are fine, but you may need to only find a resort that offers the things you like and not need to pay for such extensive facilities.
• If you want to also participate in community activities, see if the resort provides transportation and at what cost.
• Check out community offerings and activities too. Will there be enough of the kinds of things you like to do if you do want to do something in town?
• Besides basic prices for living there, what activity fees or extras that you pay for? Include these in your comparison between resorts as well as budgeting.

So there you have it. This is another aspect of RVing. It is one answer to a question you might have: Where will I live when I can't travel any more or want to get off the road and will I be able to afford it? A resort like Voyager could fit the bill for you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George and Jaimie Bruzenak

RV living together 24/7: two key elements

Do you think you and your spouse or partner can live together 24 hours a day, seven days a week in only 240 to 300 square feet of space? Put that way, it seems daunting, yet thousands do so happily in an recreational vehicle or RV!

When you consider, that for many of couples, one or both have been working and out of the house for years until right before retirement and they take off together in their RV. So, it means two adjustments. Not only do they adjust to living in a tiny space, they are also adjusting to living together constantly. Either one can be a big adjustment. Adjusting to both together is a lot. A little knowledge and planning can ease the way into all this togetherness.

At first, it may seem like you are on vacation. And, you are. That is familiar and you have past behavior to draw on. As the days move on, it may feel like too much togetherness. How do you cope? While there are a number of techniques that can help (we'll cover those another time), there are the two key elements for success.

1. You and your spouse must like each other.
2. Both you and your spouse must want to live this lifestyle, even if only for a certain period of time.

If you are missing one of these, it isn't likely that this lifestyle will work for you. Either the marriage or partnership is not going to last or you'll find yourself getting off the road. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Does AARP have it wrong?

In The Journal (West Virgina), an article states that "the golden years (are) not what they used to be." According to several recently released reports from AARP, they state, "Americans are rethinking the way they spend their retirement, and how they're preparing for it."

The AARP reports show that the days of a guaranteed pension - and the chance to pack up the RV and travel across the country to visit the grandchildren - are over for the majority of America's workforce.

Omitting the guaranteed pension aspect, retiring to an RV may not look exactly like the picture AARP describes, but it is possible and feasible. Most full-time RVers have found this lifestyle much less expensive than maintaining a house. Yes, you could get sick or have an accident, but that can happen no matter where you are. Since your life will undoubtedly be less stressful, you can, in my opinion, lessen your chances for this type of thing happening.

You can reduce budget expenses

It does help the budget if you can purchase your RV and not have an RV payment. We recommend purchasing a used RV so you don't take that big hit in depreciation. Using some of the cash from selling your house can usually buy you a nice RV and you'll still have money left over to add to your nest egg.

What more RVers are doing in this tough economy is working or volunteering as they travel. That way they usually get a free RV site and even some extra money. We are staying at Voyager RV Park in Tucson, Arizona. We met a couple last night who will be taking their first volunteer position next spring at LBJ State Park in Texas. They also "volunteer" in the mail room here. Voyager is now an Encore park, and at least at other Encore parks I've been to, guests who do spend a certain time helping get reduced site rent. Reducing expenses can be as easy as that.

For those who have adequate funds, getting an annual rate or seasonal rate at an RV park in the south for the winter also keeps expenses down. Voyager is not the best deal, but you do save when you stay for longer periods of time. And Voyager has enough activities right in the park to keep you busy without ever venturing into Tucson. There are exercise classes, arts and crafts and a nine-hole golf course and three pools. We met a gentleman who does lapidary work all winter in their lapidary shop and sells his work at the craft market they have every two weeks. Other friends stay in an RV site at a mobile home park in Tucson for a much lower monthly/seasonal rate but with few amenities. However, Tucson is loaded with free and low-cost cultural activities too.

Keep your dream alive

The dream that AARP describes perhaps included keeping the house and visiting family for part of the year. You could add working or volunteering to that mix too. If you can't park in the driveway, volunteer near there and visit on days off. If your family is spread out over the country, instead of doing the grand circuit each year, visit one area each summer.That keeps fuel costs down.

Is your dream to travel in an RV? You can make it happen. The economy does not have to stop you. It all depends on how much you want it to happen.

You might want to check out our CD/ebook Taking the Mystery out of Retiring to an RV and Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

PERKS - the new retirement

Traditionally, people have relied on a combination of employer pension, Social Security and personal savings for a secure retirement. That model isn't working as well these days.

John Nelson, a retirement researcher and lecturer and developer of the Retirement Well-Being Model, says a five-prong approach is now needed in an interview at Forbes.com. PERKS is the acronym. P is personal savings, E is employer plans, R is real estate or residence for most people, K is keep working, and S is Social Security.

In addition, he advises to take good care of your health and to simplify life. You don't really need all that "stuff." Sounds like an advertisement for full-time RVing!

Full-timing is an excellent way to simplify. Where in your RV do you put that knickknack? What do you need that fancy outfit for? Or 20 pairs of shoes? In an RV you can stay in a national park or national forest or on other public lands where your recreation is practically free.

Full-timing along with working or volunteering is the "K." You postpone drawing from retirement funds and maybe even add to them.

Working on the road or volunteering reduces expenses plus can give you some cash in the case of a paid job. If you like the outdoors, there are plenty of jobs in or right near public lands. Like a little more excitement? Right now in Arizona, hiring is taking place for spring training. Or work a NASCAR race or at Disney World or an amusement park like Adventureland.

How does working or volunteering help you save money?

• When you work at an RV park and some other places, you usually get a free or low-cost RV site.
• Volunteers at federal or state public agencies normally get a free RV site.
• You may get other perks such as free or reduced-cost propane, meals, laundry.
• When working in tourist areas, you could get free admission to area attractions.

These are but a few of the many benefits. For more, see my book, Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road. But, in the meantime, it could help stabilize your retirement. Think about it. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

What part of RVing should be a MAN thing?

I just read a post, "Camping breakfast. It should be the MAN thing." The male author explains that even in an RV, the man should cook breakfast outside for his family. In the writer's case, RVing is a weekend thing so he treats it like a giving his wife a vacation from cooking - at least for breakfast. I'm sure it is appreciated!

Do you have MAN things and WOMAN things? Or, are they more JACK and SUE things, based on interest, talent, ability?  Are they the same as they were before you began RV travel? Since full-time RVing is life in an RV and not a vacation, many couples bring the same roles to RVing as they had before. They aren't always traditional.We know several couples where it is the woman who washes and polishes the rig and makes sure the RV gets serviced. Many men enjoy cooking.

Sometimes illness changes things. When George's late wife was ill, she didn't have the energy to cook dinner so he took over that task. Fortunately for me, he still loves to cook! Bill (my late husband) was the outside guy in our marriage but as he became weaker, I dumped the tanks and did other "outside" tasks he normally had done. Betty, now a widow, also took over all the tasks her husband had done. (He liked to cook, so she misses that.)

What probably changes things most is living together 24/7. If both have been working up to this point, there is an adjustment to living in a tiny space and retirement. Each by themselves present challenges! We'll talk more about that another time. In the meantime, if you have comments about division of labor if you are a couple or how this has changed on the road, I'd love to hear them. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Oprah says to RV couple, "I want your life."

Ten days ago we were asked by one of the producers to find an RV couple to guest on the Oprah Show. They did find a lovely couple on their own. We were disappointed they didn't use one of our couples, but appreciated the opportunity to try to help Oprah. The show was broadcast on Tuesday, Sept 23.

Suze Orman, the financial guru, was the main guest whose purpose was to educate Oprah's audience about what they need to do now. In her down-to-earth but very knowledgeable style, she also gave advice to a young family who are $90,000 in debt and to the retired RV couple concerned about their travel future.

Orman scolded the young couple for getting themselves into their unfortunate position because they had been unrealistic and living beyond their means. It worked (sort of) until he lost his job. Orman compared their experience to the current American disaster. She gave them practical advice to sell their home and said she would continue to help them through this period to get back on their feet.

Orman smiled copiously and told the RV couple, Jose and Jill, they did everything right. They started five years before they ever hit the road and carefully prepared for the RV lifestyle (as Jaimie and I preach all the time). They read about the lifestyle, went to RV shows, created a budget, put it on a spreadsheet, considered costs of fuel, campgrounds, rig, repairs, food, etc. For your own planning, see the budget sheet on our Web site.

Jose and Jill lived on his salary for the five planning years and invested her salary in growth investments. Orman's only advice to them at this time is to change some of their growth investments into ones that provide dividends. One interesting tidbit that is relevant to all of us: Since one bill for $100 took a long time to catch up to Jose and Jill as they traveled, they paid it late. As a result, their FICO score was lowered, which has now raised their vehicle insurance rates. They will get that straightened out, but check your own FICO score and make sure there are no issues that need resolution.

Oprah and Suze Orman spent part of the time in Jose and Jill's immaculate 40-foot rig, which prompted Suze to say that debt leads to clutter and good financial freedom leads to neatness. [Ed. note. I must be in SEVERE trouble.] J and J's description of their traveling life, going wherever they want, led to Oprah's comment, "I want your life."

Oprah then described true freedom. When she played the slave in her movie Beloved, her character was free for 28 days but then was enslaved again on Day 29. "But for those 28 days," Oprah said, "she had had true freedom--to wake up in the morning and decide for yourself what to do with the day."

And that is the story of the RV lifestyle.

Will Suze Orman tell YOU you're doing great? What kind of preparations did you make or are currently making if you haven't taken the leap yet?

Safe travels,

Alice Zyetz

Retirement: nirvana or a new chapter?

"For many, retirement is seen as the ultimate finish line, a nirvana at the end of a long life of work," states the article, "The Expectations of Retirement," at Newsday.com. Author Rubinton goes on to say that retirement doesn't always work out as planned. It could be a money issue or one of not enjoying it. Some retirees go back to work as a result.

What is your idea of retirement? Do you have a purpose to life after retirement? Or is it to be years of relaxing and enjoying life? (I probably gave away my bias on this subject!)

Full-time RVing is a good way to enjoy your retirement years. You can add in Workamping or volunteering or a passionate interest or hobby to add purpose and structure to your life. You can live less expensively than in a stick house and can control your spending more easily. You can earn money to supplement your income if needed. And you get a change of scene whenever you like! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

A SEPP might set you free

Chuck Saletta, writing "The real reason to invest for your retirement," at the Motley Fool Web site, says, "Your retirement is far more than simply no longer showing up to work. It's about having the freedom to do what you want in life, and enough control over your personal finances to enjoy that freedom." By using a SEPP (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments) plan, you can start withdrawing your retirement money early, without getting socked by penalties.

What he suggests is that, if you have $400,000 saved, you can use the income from that to pay expenses like health insurance and take a job you really love - even if it pays less. He goes on to say that an estimated $2 million is needed to finance a full retirement, but the lower amount will allow you to switch careers. Not said is that you would want to continue to add to your retirement account if you plan to fully retire some day. There are also some drawbacks to using a SEPP, mainly that once you start you must continue the payments for five years or until age 59 1/2, whichever is longer.

This could help you begin full-time RVing before retirement if you plan things right. You'd want to have your RV paid for and be out of debt. Then you could use the SEPP payments to cover health insurance and hit the road, taking jobs that pay less but are fun. While working in an RV park would probably not generate enough income to support you, there are plenty of opportunities that do pay more. You can find many ideas for making money on the road that pay more than an RV park will in my book, Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road.

If health insurance is an issue for you and keeping you from full-time RV travel, then read the article to see if this might be a solution. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak