RV Life - Travel Trailers You Can Live In

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

Traveling and keeping in touch can be difficult. We've found SKYPE a great help when we can''t be there in person. It's all in the detail. Make High Quality Video calls on Skype - free

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!

So you may be wondering why you should just up and move into a travel trailer.

Well, for one thing, 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 job 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:

Recession Proof Your Life
Coolworks
Workampers

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Pelecanos (Drama City) delivers a dignified, character-driven epic that succeeds as both literary novel and page-turner. In 1985, the body of a 14-year-old girl turns up in a Washington, D.C., park, the latest in a series of murders by a killer the media dub "The Night Gardener."

I have 5 copies of The Night Gardener- to give away to my readers.

The contest will end June 20, 2009.

PLUS EVERYONE that enters will be sent a coupon for up to 25 days RV camping to be used whenever you like.

1. Please read this lens , then in your entry comment below, create a funny t-shirt slogan about RVing, trailer life, or camping. (Do NOT use RV There Yet?- But on the same order.)

2. For a second entry Follow me on Twitter.

3. For a third entry - Become a Member of Squidoo and rate this lens (between 1-5 stars)

YOU MUST Follow the Rules Above - leave a comment for EACH entry AND leave an email address in the message - so I can contact you if you win.

All of our giveaways are selected by random.org

Good Luck.

PS Check out all the great giveaways at the Bookcase Flying Circus