RV Lifestyle – Baby Boomers Go Full Time

Baby Boomers unite!   There are now over 76 million baby boomers in the U.S.  Aren’t you glad they all aren’t into RV’ing? Baby boomers are defined as being born between 1946-1964 and make up the second largest demographic in the U.S.   According to the website seniorliving.com a Boomer turns 50 every seven seconds in America.   The 2011 census in Canada, revealed they are the largest generation group.  Canadian Baby Boomers also make up a large part of seasonal RVers in the U.S.

What is it about this generation that loves RVs? One thing is for sure, those of us born during this time enjoy the freedom that an RV brings.  Within this lifestyle, it can run the gambit from luxury parks to boondocking on BLM land.  I’ve been to a “few” RV parks since we started part-time, and there are still places that you can go if you want to get away from it all.  For the more sociable,  there are many year-round resorts that provide an abundance of activities including tennis, golf and health spas.  A high concentration of these sites is located in southern Arizona and Florida.

Visit Canada at least once. They are great neighbors.

Where do full-time Boomers hang out?  Statistics shows that most choose campgrounds with full hookups.  State and national parks follow in popularity, most with dry camping sites. With over 16,000 campgrounds to choose from, every state in the union has something to offer.  Many people choose a stay-cation and camp close to home.  A summer stay in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada revealed just that.  Most campers we spoke to lived within 30 minutes of the campground.

With so many “old timers” on the road, can you still get away?  Heck yeah, it’s a matter of finding the right place at the right time.  Avoid the popular tourist spots in the summer and on holiday weekends.  We enjoyed our visit to Glacier and Yellowstone at the end of the summer season.  Most families were heading home to put their kids in school.  The end of the camping season (late Aug-Sep) is often the most rewarding and the fall colors are amazing.   In the mountains, many roads are not plowed until mid-May, but it leaves a couple of weeks before school gets out.

RVers get to see our beautiful country. Eastern Sierras.

Some full-time Boomers love boondocking.  The term is used to describe dry camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or other public lands for free or with a minimal fee.  Many prefer the solitude and escape from the crowds.

We love to take our pets.  Pets don’t complain, are always happy to see you and are excellent companions.  Many Boomers are empty nesters and enjoy their fur babies.  We use this carrier to keep our pets comfortable when traveling: Sherpa Delta Deluxe Pet Carrier Medium Black

Still young enough to enjoy life.

Some of the challenges that our generation can face on the road:

– Healthcare.  Review your plans and make sure they are portable.  Google “health care for full-time RVers”.  Use a mail order service or pick nationwide pharmacies for prescriptions.

– The urge to see it all in the first year or two.  Take your time, kick your feet up and stay awhile.

– Finances.  Many are on a fixed income, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do this.  Some supplement this lifestyle by workamping.  You may earn a free site and a small income.  Do your research, set up a budget and have an escape plan.  You may not be able to RV forever, so find a soft place to land one day.

Take your time, it’s a big country 

The baby-boomer generation has a lot to offer other RVers.  We have many life experiences that can make for great campfire stories.

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We recently replaced a carbon monoxide detector with this one: Kidde KN-COPP-B-LPM Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display