Escapees July-August 2024

In an Xscapers Facebook group discus sion (https://tinyurl.com/XscapersPoll), answers re fl ected similar attitudes about owning property and full-timeing. A poll I started showed that roughly 56% of full-tim ing Xscapers own some type of property, while 44% are property-free. That’s about the same split as shown in the Escapees Discussion Forum topic. These approaches to full-timing unite RVers across the gener ations, because for those of us fortunate enough to own a house or other real estate, deciding what to do about the property is a huge part of our transition into the lifestyle. “I’ve always had a rental property over seas, the rental income has contributed to my ability to stay on the road full time for ten years!” says Kirsty Halliday #15499. A native of Scotland, Halliday’s father offered to manage the historic Edinburg fl at for her when she moved to the U.S. for a three year position in 2004. “I’ve been here almost 20 years and he still manages it!” she says. “I threw money at the mortgage while in my corporate life here on an ex-pat salary. It then continued to be a nice income stream as a rental when I decided to RV full time.” For now, she has no plans to sell the prop erty. Halliday says she has great tenants who take good care of her fl at in a market place where most rents are considerably higher than what she charges. Alternative Currency The type of property you own while full-time RVing can also make a difference in how you feel about keeping it. Not all properties need to generate income to make keeping them worthwhile. Some properties simply pay you back with happiness, a concept often referred to as “alternative currency.” The RV park lot that Thomas and Dawn Lavka #169389 own is a perfect example. After a longtime friend offered to sell them one of several RV lots that he owned in Quartzsite, the Lavka’s jumped at the chance to have a winter home base in a place that they enjoy. “We fell in love with Quartzsite right away. The dry desert climate appealed to our West Texas roots. We jumped at the chance. It is one-quarter acre with two RV sites and full 50-amp hookups for both,” says Thomas. He and Dawn are enjoying this location far more

than a previous RV lot they purchased in Galveston, Texas. “You can’t beat the weather in winter,” he explains. “We have had so many full-timer friends passing through Quartzsite and staying with us for a week or two. It is wonderful. We only plan to be in Quartzsite October through April each year, but it is a fun place during the high season.” He says that for now, this property serves them well as they continue ro RV full-time, “I think we would eventually want a traditional house someday, when we are no longer healthy enough to RV full-time. Hopefully that is 20+ years away.”

“…for those of us fortunate enough to own a house or other real estate, deciding what to do about the prop erty is a huge part of our transition into the lifestyle.”

As full-time RVers, it’s almost a certainty that at some point we will be ready to set down roots somewhere. If the cards are in our favor, we will be able to buy real estate again. Some of us will pick a spot near family, others will set down roots in a favorite location, like Stephanie and Bryan Fritz #139208. “We consider ourselves in our “go go” years but approaching “slow go” years so we will start thinking about an RV spot,” says Stephanie. The couple is approaching their eighth year as full-time RVers, which has given them plenty of opportunities to hone in on locations that make them happy. “If we purchase a lot it would be in the Florida Keys. Otherwise we are open to the Escapees parks. Community is our number one consid eration and proximity to an airport. We don’t necessarily need to own property again (or want to) but we love the community of Key West and also our Xscapers!” If there’s anything she’s learned as a full timer, it’s that the concept of “community” becomes fl uid as you travel around to fi nd people and places you enjoy. “I think people are people no matter where you are. You know if you have a connection with a partic ular community, once you’ve gotten involved and put yourself out there.”

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July/August 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine