The key to success is to run your personal finances much like a business . I am interested in RV travel (not parking, at least not yet!), and I am If you live in a park with retired or snowbird type folks they will look out . Quit watching “Law and Order” and the news. I am a woman alone with a dog and cat.
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Thanks for the blog. My guess is that the problem is similar to liveaboards in marinas. One could imagine that people start piling up their stuff all over their plot and ruining the appearance if it gets too permanent. Ohhh those blanket laws. It was easy to find a nice RV park that allowed year round residents in Arizona. There are so many snowbirds and after a while they get tired of travelling and just stay here. The year round rent was half of the month to month rent. Mobile home parks were scary. But Jacob is right that it is easy to move out if the place is bad, much easier than owning a house or renting an apartment.
I would recommend asking the police to find out how often they have to visit. I considered buying a mobile home in a park once. It looked nice during the day. If I had bought that mobile home I would have had a very hard time getting rid of it. Leaving my house and considering options for living less expensively. Alternatively, one could walk around to the back of the house and be relatively unobserved. Our RV has an additional tumbler lock on the door. If you are not hooked up to power and water and you have a class A or C not a fifth wheel or a trailer , you could simply start the engine and drive away if you get hazzled.
Also, RVs are closer to the neighbors than houses. Jacob, I have been living in my RV for about 8 years now. I bought 15 acres and put in my own utilities and dug some ponds and cut some trails for riding and am living the life. I also cut several areas out for friends to park theirs when they come in. Oh, and you can never believe the wildlife, how they just adopt you with a little food CajunPro.
As a single female I was concerned at first but like Jacob said, my RV had an additional RV deadbolt lock and the windows are higher and the crank-out type. If you live in a park with retired or snowbird type folks they will look out for you some have nothing better to do. There was also some security that drove a golf cart around the park. Walking in the early morning or late at night was not scary because the park was well lit and many others were out walking their pets. And the RV spaces being so close together fosters a family-type atmosphere.
Maybe we should be buying our own land instead. Any problems with zoning regulations? My husband is one of those working and living in rv in trailor park.. This park is family ouned and has downsize entertainment…above ground pool, Ohio River is less than a mile, cookouts every nite and volley ball.. My cousin sold home and lives in motor home in winter in Fla.
Sells pumpkins in Oct and Christmas trees in Dec.. Has smaller Salem camper in the north. Would like anyone to touch their living expenses.. They invented the word frugal. Sorry , have another story. Brotherinlaw single and very money smart. Bought the rv that has to be stationary. But does not have to pay realestate taxes on.
Brand new and had extra room built on side. Perfect for single or 2 people. Hey Jacob, RV living sounds appealing to me.
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Place to sleep, place to cook, internet connection. If you add RV payments to the picture it may change. It has begun to get warm and I just pulled out the old carpet and the dinett seats and table moved the couch from one side to the other had a mechinic help get it started and we will get the breaks bleed this weekend. I was not looking for an RV, but when I saw it I did a Google search and found that this brand of RV A Travco , a 27 footer with full head, shower, stove-oven, full size refrigerator and a huge 5. It was built of a dodge truck frame and looks like a classic Airstream trailer but is a fiberglass body on four wheels with a big V-8, and the truck frame is designed to travel 1 Mill.
After I install new carpet, an ext. I can over time replace anything that needs replacement when I want to and purchase the best parts as I do not have a payment on the RV. I will own it the rest of my life for only the cost of maintenance. At 40 years old now it is built to last, is not like the new junk people pay way too much for. I will post how it goes and how I like living in an RV later. This is my newest pet peeve. I hate all the emphasis our culture puts on the dangers facing single women.
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Unless someone has been casing your rig for a period of time, how would they know a single woman was living in it? Statistically, women face the most danger from men they know: However, our culture emphasizes the danger women face from complete strangers attacking them in the streets, which is statistically a lot less common. Some men think that women are like dogs. You could always wear a wedding ring. That might discourage any potential unwanted suitors. If you lived in an area where you could buy a solid year old, sq. But just curious, thx. Strick — The RV is just a convenient choice based on the overvalued housing market in California.
Should be a blast. One of those memorable, yet affordable vacations! Just when I thought that I had imagined all the options for my soon to come early retiremment along comes a radical new idea. I am 47, single woman. My main concern is maintenance, what things do you need to do to to clean the toilet and what about water and stuff? I basically, like somebody wrote, need a place to sleep, cook, watch tv and work online. I am a woman alone with a dog and cat.
My dog is big and black so he looks like my bodyguard but realistically he only rescues boats. I lived very comfortably for 9 months in a 24 foot Class C full time. I have recently upgraded to a 5th wheel with slide outs and life is downright luxurious. Bottom line is I lowered my costs significantly and lowered my carbon footprint.
The deer and other wildlife have accepted me and my dog ignores them. Check out the membership campgrounds and then look at their annual sites. I am at a horrible point in my life, struggling because change is not coming, but HERE. I have to move and rent out my house because of finances. Life changes have come fast and hard. I live in a small city in Colorado and would prefer to not have to go too far.
I have lots of animals a miniature horse and dogs so a campground is probably out the question for me, right? I need to live frugally for at least a year. Any suggestions as to what should be my plan of action? Whatever I do, it must be done quickly. I mean, this is a miniature horse that kisses on the lips, does the wave, says please and thank you and picks up my cane in her teeth when I drop it and hands it back to me.
Why people choose trailer living over a traditional house
She is NOT a horse. How I do blather, huh? Anyway, are there people with land and hookups that would do a lease-type situation or something if I construct semi-perm fencing? Is there even a way to do such a thing and still have elec, waste disposal, etc.? How do I find people that might let me do that? Do any of these have attached boarding facilities for horses? I have to admit that most Realtors have been less than helpful after hearing my needs.
DustyRose — Sounds like boondocking might be a solution. This may be an issue in terms of hauling water in and out of the site. I suggest asking in forums for more ideas. My wife and I have been in a 5th wheel now for 4 years. We started out wanting to go to Florida where our daughter was , but they are not to favorable to Fultimers on their own property. So, We came back to Missouri. We had a lot in Mo in a small village,and as soon as they saw us set-up on our own land on a permanent basis they tried to run us out of town. After six months of fighting they had to give up.
Next we sold that lot and bought six acres with an unlivable Mobile home, but the property had no restrictions. Mobile Home gone, had everything we needed. They set out to rescue over dogs, accumulating 25 and at times more along the way. In they decided to move from Los Angeles to Maine and a logistical nightma I just fell in love with 25 dogs and I actually prefer cats and David Rosenfelt. In they decided to move from Los Angeles to Maine and a logistical nightmare ensued.
This book covers not only the organization of the trip across the US and the journey with 25 dogs how exactly do you get 25 dogs out for a potty-break,and more importantly, who wields the scooper? The trip became known as "Woofabago" google Woofabago and Facebook for photos. This book was charming but I have to admit it was sometimes difficult to read as I seemed to have tears of either laughter at Rosenfelt's Dave Barry-ish humor, or emotion while reading the backstories of the dogs' rescues, brimming in my eyes.
And what I liked best about David and his wife was their preference for rescuing large older dogs, even those that only had a few months to live [sniff]. David Rosenfelt has become one of my favorite people on this planet and he is my hero. This book would make a wonderful gift for any animal lover. View all 5 comments. An amorous journey of wit and "poop" known as "Dogtripping.
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View all 3 comments. Jan 01, Manintheboat rated it did not like it Shelves: Except it's all the same story and he repeats it over and over and over again, "We got a call from Shelter, there's an unwanted dog there, so we picked it up, took it to the vet, and it lived its life out here. Yup, we know you are an author. You told us that in the Intro, then in chapter 3, and chapter 5 etc. View all 8 comments. Jul 22, Michelle rated it it was amazing. Dogtripping is a real life story about David Rosenfelt and his wife's journey to rescue dogs and move across the country.
The Rosenfelt's are moving from Southern California to Maine. When they do this they have to move 25 dogs in the process. After much thought has gone into this plan they decide the best way to do this is in 3 RV's with 11 other people who volunteered to help. David talks about this move and in between talking about the move he introduces the readers to the various dogs that h Dogtripping is a real life story about David Rosenfelt and his wife's journey to rescue dogs and move across the country. David talks about this move and in between talking about the move he introduces the readers to the various dogs that he and his wife have rescued and kept.
This was one of the best books. It's hilarious and warmhearted. Thank goodness for people like David and his wife. Oct 23, Patricia rated it liked it Shelves: Cute book, cute vignettes of the various dogs in his life, way too much trying-to-be-funny-sarcasm that got old after a while. For a light read it was OK but it was far less engrossing than I expected. Also, I dislike main characters that are helpless, as Mr. Rosenfelt proclaimed and proved himself to be throughout the book. Aug 21, Orsolya rated it liked it Shelves: Having moved cross-country from Ohio to California for 5 days in a U-Haul truck with a cat; I know the difficulties of relocating a pet.
David Rosenfelt can and DID: They have volunteered at numerous animal shelters and pet rescues and Having moved cross-country from Ohio to California for 5 days in a U-Haul truck with a cat; I know the difficulties of relocating a pet. They have volunteered at numerous animal shelters and pet rescues and run their own rescue , having saved thousands of dogs plus have previously owned upwards of 40 dogs at a time in their own home. I laughed, I cried, and laughed some more… And that was only within the first 15 pages!
Rosenfelt writes in a hilarious and friendly tone which heightens the tale and results in laugh-out-loud comedy. His sarcasm is heavy and yet translates easily through text which is impressive. Rosenfelt could have a great career as a stand-up comedian. The chapters alternate between stories of dog rescues and the actual dog relocation. This feels choppy and abrupt, with the dog rescue chapters being short and somewhat irrelevant. It would have made sense to singularly pen the book on the account of the relocation which were the more interesting chapters, anyway.
Oddly, the dog trip chapters are presented in italic font which makes it appear like reading a memory, dream, or letter which is quite distracting. The chapters concerning the stories of dog rescues become quite repetitive slowing down the pace, while the dog relocation chapters leave unanswered questions.
Did they move their belongings? Sep 16, Rhonda Sparks rated it it was ok. I liked the concept for this book. I have to admit I didn't finish it, though. The reason for that was because after a while I got tired of the agenda of it. I am a fan of rescuing animals. All my pets come from shelters, and I only adopt adult animals, figuring they have a lesser chance than the cute kittens.
That's why the preachy "all people who take their animals to shelters are bad, bad, BAD people! I agree that it's awful to get rid of a dog or cat bec I liked the concept for this book. I agree that it's awful to get rid of a dog or cat because you get tired of it. I agree you should take responsibility for your animals. It just seemed like he was hitting the reader over the head with his opinions.
It is as though the author assumes you can not possibly agree with his sentiment, so he repeats it over and over I never did make it to the trip I only got halfway through , because it seemed to take a loooong time to plan everything and give backstory, and preach to the choir , so I truthfully got tired of it. A good concept for a book, but it was just too much anti-shelter system, and I felt he didn't care a fig for anyone who was even ambivalent about animals.
Dec 26, Tracy rated it it was ok. I got this sound recording for the family to listen to on a recent car trip. My husband and I were entertained by about the first quarter of the book. We enjoyed David Rosenfelt's brand of self-deprecating humor and the idea of this cross-country road trip with 25 dogs just seemed too insane not to be funny.
The kids never really got into the book - it was not engaging enough for them. After the first quarter by husband and I started to get bored with the repeated stories of he and his wife goin I got this sound recording for the family to listen to on a recent car trip. After the first quarter by husband and I started to get bored with the repeated stories of he and his wife going to a shelter, bringing home dogs and adding them to their existing brood.
He goes into great detail describing many perhaps all of the dogs who made the trip, but after a few dogs' stories that got a little old too. Eventually he began to talk about setting up the logistics of the trip and finally in the last quarter of the book talked about the actual trip across country. Unfortunately for the reader but I guess fortunately for the Rosenfelts the trip was pretty uneventful. My husband made the comment that this would have been better as a 4-page magazine article, and I have to agree.
Jul 26, Bethany rated it it was amazing Shelves: I loved this book. Through the whole book I was either giggling at the author's sarcastic wit or the antics of one of his many rescue dogs, or I was sobbing uncontrollably. Part of being a dog lover is learning to let them go, but that never makes it easier. I get emotional thinking about dogs being put down This is a must read for dog lovers.
You will love it from start to finish, just like I did. I also got to see David Rosenfelt speak recen I loved this book. I also got to see David Rosenfelt speak recently. He's entertaining to listen to, so if you have the chance to go listen to him, go. Jul 30, Jami rated it it was amazing Shelves: I absolutely loved this book! I like his mystery stand alone books and the Andy Carpenter series, and this was a pleasant treat to learn more about the author. I had no idea he was so into dog rescue and the focus of this book is the dogs.
What is not to like about a guy who has one word for those who mistreat animals: His humor, love of dogs, and personality really comes through in this book and I was thoro I absolutely loved this book! His humor, love of dogs, and personality really comes through in this book and I was thoroughly entertained. If I had known about the trip back then, I also would have volunteered to go along for the ride! Jul 03, Ashley rated it really liked it Shelves: No worries here, though: Rosenfelt, an award-winning mystery writer, and his wife, Debbie, have been involved in dog rescue for many years, since their golden retriever Tara died of cancer.
The rescue problem in the Los Angeles animal control system is simply a function of supply and demand; there are many more great dogs than there are good homes that want them. There are a great many people who possess what in my eyes is a disturbing mind-set toward animals. They view them as possessions, as discardable as a piece of furniture.
Scratch that—David and Debbie are self-professed dog lunatics, God bless them. Because as they visit shelters to rescue dogs with a death sentence for their foundation, they also end up personally taking home many dogs who have zero chance at getting adopted by someone else—seniors that have only a few months to live, dogs who suffer seizures or need other medication something few potential adopters want to take on.
This means that at any given time, the couple has 25 or 30 dogs living in their home. The way Rosenfelt tells it, that makes perfect sense. When you have two dogs, getting a third is a big decision. For instance, the vet costs increase by 50 percent. It also means the book is full of charming lines like this: Several days of limited showers, little sleep, and lots of stops to take 25 dogs on bathroom breaks Because ultimately, these are stories of hope.
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These are stories of dogs who have been through difficult situations and, even if only for a short time, are properly valued and wonderfully pampered at the end of their lives. These are stories that remind us that dogs are not possessions, and that people who have dogs are not so much their owners as their guardians, a privilege that comes with responsibilities.
I read most of this book while snuggling on the couch with our two spoiled-rotten rescues View all 4 comments. Oct 23, Victoria rated it it was amazing Shelves: I have since purchased and read all of his mystery novels - both within the series and his standalone thrillers. And what a terrific experience it was! Morning traffic - once the bane of my commute - suddenly became a welcome thing. Some chapters focus on one particular dog in his family and because the Rosenfelts tend to adopt only the most unadoptable of dogs the elderly or terminally ill , these sections evoke tears.
And the books is also filled with a lot of love - not only for the dogs golden retrievers in particular , but also the very obvious love for his wife. It is a wonderful book and I was genuinely disappointed when it ended - I wanted more stories! I really enjoyed this book, but I need to say it.
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The badly photo shopped cover does not accurately reflect the story within. When Brooklyn-based realtor Lori Mendelis and her husband Mark, a successful copywriter, need to escape the city they retreat to their trailer in the Catskills. Virgo, suffered a fatal heart attack while the two were trailer shopping for an early retirement gift to themselves. A few weeks after burying Mr. Virgo, McKinney bought a foot camper trailer. After selling her house, she moved into her trailer full time. She can certainly afford a nicer place, but she likes to live modestly.
She does sleep in thread count sheets on a memory foam mattress. Katie Jackson is a travel writer. When she's not working, she's chasing after a Leonberger named Zeus. Home Improvement Why people choose trailer living over a traditional house.