Mention Travel Trailers and RVs, and folks instantly think of retirees. Gray-haired seniors plugging along in a 40-foot rig towing a little car, headed to Arizona or Florida for the winter.

You know what? The stereotype is all wrong. People are no longer waiting to get old to buy an RV. In fact, many of us 20, 30, and 40 somethings are finding living in a travel trailer a GREEN alternative to expensive rent or high house payments.

According to the RVIA, in 2006 there were over 390,000 RV units shipped, the fifth straight year of sales increases. The growth for 2007 and 2008 looks steady.

How can this be, you ask? What about high gas prices? Those big rigs sometimes struggle to get 6mpg. And what about the cost? Doesn't a person have to work 30-40 years to be able to afford a big RV?

Well, a half million dollar Prevost could be out of reach - but how about fully self contained travel trailers like a Keystone Passport Ultralite (photo above) for less than $20,000?

RVIA says an analysis of potential fuel cost increases shows that fuel prices would need to more than triple over current levels to make RVing more expensive for a family of four than other forms of travel. Airfares and hotel rates are rise rapidly as fuel costs increase. "While fuel costs are a component of the overall vacation cost, fluctuations in fuel prices aren't significant enough to affect a family's decision of whether or not to take RV trips over other types of vacations."

Travel trailer ownership is affordable for many more people than once was the case. And as for high gas prices, there are many tradeoffs people are willing to make to compensate for the price at the pump - besides, it really is cheaper than property taxes, HOA fees, property insurance, and utility fees.

Think about it. Living in an travel trailer could be the greenest option available

You might want to read this guide first -

RV Buyers Guide

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1. We tend to better conserve resources. For example, my showers are shorter, I wear my clothes more before washing, I use a small TV, a small, microwave, and I wash my own dishes (no dishwasher).

2. Solar powers many electronic gadgets. Like my computer, my TV, my music, and my lights.

3. We use clean burning propane for cooking, heating hot water and furnace and the refrigerator.

4. When I drive my trailer from place to place, I drive 55 - my fuel lasts longer that way.

5. I use less water and electricity. I don't have a place to store a large garbage can, so I don't buy prepackaged, and reuse what I can.

6. I don't buy "stuff" - just to buy it. If I buy a new shirt, the old one has to go. There's room for everything I need - not everything I want.

7. My fuel consumption on a yearly basis is MUCH less than when I owned a home and drove everywhere.

8. I live on a small lot.

9. When it's cold, I move to a warm location. When it's hot, I do the reverse. Heating and A/C bills are nonexistant.

10. I get to live where other people are only vacationing. When I owned a home, I had to hop on a plane and travel many hours to get to such a beautiful spot.

PS. I'm healthier, because I live where I can walk out my door and take a hike - how great is that?

If you like the idea of a greener life you will definitely want to read 10 STEPS TO RV FREEDOM!

OK, I know that you probably have a great job that brings in enough money for you to live. So you are wondering how you could just up and move into a travel trailer.

Well, you would actually SAVE money. As you can tell by the list above, your expenses would drop drastically.

You might even find that your old J.O.B. (just over broke) doesn't fit your new lifestyle.

Employers just don't understand that a morning cup of coffee in your lawn chair in front of your RV while the sun comes up is a religious experience - one that just might make you late to work on occasion.

So you might want to take a look at different kinds of work. First if you can telecommute, you can move immediately. But there are other ways to work on the road.

Check out these websites:

Women's Fortunes
Coolworks
Workampers