Welcome to: RV Retirement Redesign Digest

Author

Robin Stephenson
January 07, 2025

Welcome, Friend, to the inaugural edition of our newsletter, crafted specifically for stationary RV homemakers! My name is Robin Stephenson, and I am excited to share my journey as a retired educator, previous small business owner, entrepreneur, and a proud stationary RV homemaker for the past five years.

In this bi-weekly newsletter, you will find a wealth of resources, tips, and inspiration tailored to enhance your RV lifestyle. Whether you are new to stationary living, are contemplating the opportunity, or have been embracing this unique way of life for a while, my goal is to become a useful and time-saving resource and create a supportive community where we can learn from one another.

What You Can Expect:

  • Practical Tips: Discover essential advice on maintaining your RV, optimizing your space, and creating a cozy home environment.

  • Community Stories: Hear from fellow RV homemakers who share their experiences and insights.

  • Resource Highlights: Receive a list of our weekly favorite YouTube RV & home-making videos, and stay updated on the latest products and services that can make your stationary RV living easier and more enjoyable.

Join me on this exciting adventure as we explore the joys and challenges of stationary RV living together. I look forward to connecting with you and would greatly value a quick response letting me know your thoughts and desires for this type of resource. Just reply to this email or send it directly to [email protected]. My goal, and I hope yours as well, is to foster a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who cherish the freedom and simplicity that come with making an RV their home. Welcome aboard! ~Robin~

Why Retirees are Choosing the Minimalist Lifestyle
of Full-Time Stationary RV Living

Stationary RV Living in Retirement: Is It Right for You?

The Why???

Why are over 1 million retirees choosing to live full-time in an RV rather than a traditional sticks-and-bricks home in their senior years? The simple answer is the growing desire of seniors in their retirement years to live a more minimalistic lifestyle that allows for tiny living, requires smaller financial obligations, and provides an opportunity for a much simpler estate to settle.  However, there’s more to this story so let’s dive in a bit and explore the attractions of this unique retirement choice. 🦳 

Cost-Effective Living

Many people still believe that people who live in an RV full-time must be doing so because they can’t afford anything else, and there is a population for whom this statement is true. However, the idea that retirees are looking for a way to live cheaply (i.e., the trailer trash stigma), is becoming increasingly antiquated. According to recent Federal Reserve data[i], American Baby Boomers (about 20 % of the U.S. population), have accumulated approximately $80 trillion in wealth which represents more than half of all household wealth in the nation. The reality is that this generation worked hard for their money. In this season of life, they now want the opportunity and the choice, to experience joy in their retirement years, and over the years, they’ve learned to spend their money wisely to achieve their dreams. 

A Community of Like-Minded Individuals

Senior RV’ers have the option to join a variety of communities. From traditional RV parks offering long-term sites to 55+ Resorts and SPA-type environments, the RV community is known for its camaraderie and support. Retirees often search for communities with those who share similar interests which may include organized activities and social events geared toward seniors. Others chose to live in an environment that allows for multi-generational interactions. There truly is something for everyone and new communities are popping up in RV-friendly states that offer the opportunity to actually purchase your RV space!

Living in an RV can often encourage Retirees to live a more active lifestyle. Nature is often just outside their doorsteps, where retirees are enticed to engage in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and fishing. This connection with nature not only promotes physical health but also contributes to mental well-being by reducing stress and increasing happiness.

Freedom and Flexibility

One of the most compelling reasons retirees choose to live in an RV is the opportunity to literally pull up stakes and hit the road. The freedom to travel, should the desire to do so and finances allow, is an exciting dream for many retirees. The options are wide open, whether it’s stationary full-time living in one place, becoming a full-time nomad, or a hybrid mix of both options, senior RV’ers find joy in visiting national parks, scenic byways, and family members across the country and especially attractive is the opportunity to travel at their own pace.

A great benefit experienced by many RV’ers is the opportunity to park their RV home at a relative’s home, where they can spend quality time with family members without imposing on their space or incurring hotel costs. This gives family members a sense of closeness during the day and personal privacy at night. Many retirees find that this lifestyle enables them to maintain closer relationships with grandchildren and other family members more easily than if they had settled permanently in one location.

The allure of full-time RV living for the baby boomer generation lies in the opportunities it brings in their retirement years, cost-effective budgets, close to nature, flexibility for travel, and a minimalistic lifestyle. As more seniors embrace this lifestyle choice, it becomes clear that living in an RV is not just about traveling or about living cheaply, it’s about creating a fulfilling season of life filled with new experiences and cherished memories.

If you are considering the option of living full-time in an RV, you might find this video series valuable:

More blogs to be found on our website: RV Retirement Redesign.net

A New Home Management Focus for the New Year:
As we step into the new year, creating a home management system for your RV is so helpful in ensuring a clean and well-maintained living space for your tiny home and giving you more time to enjoy your RV lifestyle. An effective system not only enhances your RV living experience by promoting organization and efficiency, but also helps you stay on top of routine maintenance, cleaning schedules, and inventory management. With the unique challenges of RV living, a structured approach can prevent clutter, streamline your daily life, and foster a welcoming environment wherever you’ve parked your home on wheels. Embracing this proactive strategy will allow you to enjoy your senior years with peace of mind, knowing that your RV home is in top shape for this season in life.

The Value of Routines:
Establishing daily and weekly routines for maintaining an RV home is crucial for several reasons. First, regular cleaning and organization help prevent the buildup of dirt and clutter, creating a more pleasant living environment. This is especially important in the confined space of an RV, where mess can quickly become overwhelming. Second, consistent maintenance routines allow for early detection of potential issues, such as leaks or mechanical problems, ensuring that your RV remains functional and safe for living. Lastly, having a structured approach to upkeep fosters a sense of stability and comfort, making your RV feel more like a true home, whether you're parked in a scenic campground or on the road.

Developing an effective cleaning plan for your RV home can be both manageable and efficient by allocating just an hour each day for general cleaning and dedicating two hours on the weekend for deeper cleaning projects. Start by breaking down daily tasks into specific areas, such as dusting surfaces, wiping down counters, and vacuuming floors, ensuring that each day covers a different section of your RV. This approach keeps your living space tidy without overwhelming you. On weekends, focus on more intensive tasks like deep-cleaning the bathroom, organizing storage compartments, or washing windows. By consistently sticking to this schedule, you’ll maintain a clean and inviting RV environment while enjoying your travels.

Adopting a Home Management System: Create your own or join our RV Home Management Challenge coming soon!.

Color Choice & Option for Customized Photos

You can create your own RV Home Management System binder, or sign up for an early-bird announcement on our first RV product, the RV Home Management Binder coming soon! Regardless, your objective should be to have a comprehensive tool to help you organize and streamline various aspects of RV life, ownership, and maintenance. Depending on the amount of information you choose to track, you may want two binders, one strictly for information and the other for tracking purposes. It’s your home so you get to decide. Key sections you might want to include are:

  • RV Home

    • Cleaning Routines: daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, annually, etc.

    • Meal Planning: rotating meal plans, grocery lists, best price lists, etc.

    • Inventory: pantry items such as food and cleaning products, as well as what’s in the fridge and freezer, etc.

    • Service information and contact numbers for home services such as internet, electricity, propane, etc.

  • Personal Health & Safety Information

    • Phone number for the closest hospital, your doctor’s office, and pharmacy

    • Current medications you and/or your family members are taken

    • “File of Life” card for emergency responders, etc.

  • Personal, RV & Vehicle Insurance Information

    • Health Insurance Information: Type and contact info

    • Contact & emergency numbers

  • Pet Information

    • Veterinarian contact information

    • Health record & microchip information

  • Finance Tracker and Budget Planner

The purpose of the RV Home Management binder is to serve as a centralized resource to ensure that all critical information is easily accessible and organized for efficient RV management.

You can follow my journey with the RV Home Management System each Wednesday on YouTube.

What’s Cooking in the RV recipes at https://rvretirementredesign.net/cooking-in-the-rv

Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli

1 lb. sliced beef (I use leftover roast beef from Sunday dinner)
3 tbsp avocado oil
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup Coconut Aminos
3-4 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1 freshly ground clove of garlic
1/8-1/4 tsp of powdered ginger or 1/2 tsp of freshly ground
1 tsp sesame seeds
1/2 tsp sesame oil toasted
3 cups broccoli cut into size pieces
Salt & Pepper to taste

Prepare:
Cover sliced beef with cornstarch until well coated.
Mix aminos, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds and oil in a small bowl.

Cook: Stir constantly
Add avocado oil to a large skillet on high
Add beef, and quickly fry until crispy 3-5 minutes
Add broccoli and stir fry until crispy and tender 2-3 minutes
Add sauce and cook until it thickens to the desired consistency 1-2 minutes

If you are an AARP member, be sure to take a look at the “Out Smart the System” article in the December AARP Bulletin. There are quite a few good tips in this issue for instance, did you know that if you have a Medicare Advantage program you could end up paying $200 to $300 per day out of pocket for a hospital stay? This may not be an issue for you, however being aware of the potential concerns regarding your medical coverage is information you need to make the right decisions for your care. The article covers around twelve subjects of which one or more may be of interest to you. The AARP Bulletin is a membership benefit that is published monthly.

An RV hot water heater anode rod is a crucial component designed to protect the water heater tank from corrosion. This rod is typically made of reactive metals such as magnesium or aluminum. Its primary function is to become corroded itself, instead of the RV hot water tank, a process known as sacrificial protection. As water flows through the heater, it contains minerals and other corrosive elements that would otherwise damage the steel tank. The anode rod attracts these corrosive elements, effectively sacrificing itself to prolong the life of the tank.

Importance of Changing the Anode Rod

Regular maintenance and timely replacement of the anode rod are essential for several reasons:

  • Corrosion Prevention: The rod is designed to corrode over time, and if it becomes too degraded (typically when it has lost about 75% of its original mass), it can no longer protect the tank effectively. This can lead to rust and potential leaks in the water heater.

  • Water Quality Maintenance: A functioning anode rod helps maintain the quality of hot water by preventing contamination that can occur from a corroded tank, which may also lead to unpleasant odors, such as a "rotten egg" smell.

  • Cost Efficiency: Replacing an anode rod is significantly cheaper than repairing or replacing a damaged water heater tank. Regularly checking and replacing the rod (approximately every two years) can save RV owners from costly repairs down the line.

Once you have replaced the anode, be sure to note it in your RV Home Management binder!

Great perspective on the difference between nomad full-time living in an RV and stationary living: Our Moving Castle: 7 HUGE Differences Between Stationary and Traveling RV Life

Fulltime stationary RV living is “Tiny” living: https://www.youtube.com/@TinyHomeTours

 

Are you interested in telling your RV Story? We’re looking for folks that are willing to share! Send me an email at [email protected] and share a few bullet points about your story. I’ll contact you as soon as I get your email!