theboondork's RV blog

Living my dream

2/14/2018

These are all left over pictures from Plomosa road

I made the 10 mile move over to La Posa, Tyson Wash LTVA this morning, paid my 40 bucks, went to an area I had scouted out yesterday and settled in for a two-week stay.

I've got a nice view because I'm closer to the mountains than I was before and there's lots of ATV trails running in different directions so the little Beta will be right at home. I'm only three or four miles from town but I'm about 10 miles farther from Parker so it will be a longer drive when I have to go to Walmart.

It's good to have a place to take my trash now, I have three Walmart bags full of trash stashed away that I will now be able to get rid of. I didn't dump my tanks and take on some water like I'd originally planned because I decided at the last minute to keep boondocking till everything is full or empty. And that bit of information will be useful in the future. But I wouldn't try that in less I knew I could dump whenever I please.

It was requested that I post some numbers on what it costs for me to live this boondocking lifestyle that I write about in my blog, and I'm more than happy to do that since it might help others who are thinking about full timing, and wondering what it costs.

First of all this is not all of the money I spend in a year. I've tried to put down the expenses that almost anyone would have and left out expenses that may not apply to anyone but me because that just skews the results.

So these expenses are for just 2017 and there's not a lot of detail about the expenses, I have details but remember I'm lazy and I didn't know if they would interest anyone so I left them out. If you would like to see particular details about something just let me know and I'll get them for you.

Camping--- $1100--- this is the category where boondocking really pays off. With serious boondocking you can do much better than this, but it doesn't bother me to pay to stay every once in a while, after all that's what I'm doing right now.

truck--- $2300--- this is fuel, maintenance, any repairs, insurance, and things like that. Off the top of my head I would say that at 10 miles per gallon towing the Arctic Fox, a lot of that is fuel.

grocerys--- $2500--- I don't try to save money on groceries, I don't use coupons, and I buy a lot of snack foods. I seldom drink alcohol, and I don't smoke, but I try to shop at Walmart whenever possible because it is cheaper.

eating out--- $450--- I obviously don't eat out very much and when I do it's almost never at a fancy restaurant... inless someone else is paying.

trailer--- $200--- this is not what I spent on the Arctic Fox last year this is about what I spend in an average year on the Arctic Fox. Last year I bought thousands of dollars worth of lithium iron batteries and a new inverter and that skewed my expenses way out of proportion to what someone else might spend a year.

utilities--- $3200--- this includes my outrageously expensive Verizon phone bill, storage room, propane, and any other thing that might look like a utility

You'll notice there's a lot of expenses that are missing like health insurance, which is so variable that what I pay may be of no use to you. Laundry, which is minuscule. Personal expenses, there again it doesn't apply to everyone. Hobbies, in less you buy motorcycles every once in a while that won't apply to you either.

So like I said I just put down things that most all of us have to spend money on every year, and the other expenses are so variable, that even though they might be interesting there really not going to tell you what it will cost to live YOUR boondocking lifestyle.

theboondork

Purple mountains majesty

Black and white sunset boondocking Quartzsite Arizona

Sunsets just don't look as good in black and white

25 Comments

W&J

2/14/2018 05:22:18 pm

Thanks for the cost breakdown.

theboondork

2/14/2018 06:20:52 pm

You're welcome. Glad to do it, I hope folks finds it useful.

Tom

John link

2/15/2018 07:00:32 am

Have been enjoying the blog. The cost breakdown is useful. I only pay 1200/year for 4 people now for phone, so the utilities part was a surprise to me. But we do't use much data now. I suppose that will change on the road.

2/15/2018 09:10:39 am

Thank you John. Yeah my phone bill was around $175 a month and that was mostly because I had a 30 gig per month data plan and because Verizon is kind of expensive, but my experience has been they have the best coverage all over the country. But I would say that if the Internet is not your primary form of entertainment then you shouldn't need anywhere near that much.

If you going to boondock that amount probably will change for the worse. If you stay in a lot of RV parks most all of them now have Internet, even though in some of them it's so slow it's almost unusable.

But if you're going to do ordinary things on the Internet, check your email, look at the weather, write a blog, you won't use much data. It's the movies that kill ya.

Tom

Tim

2/15/2018 08:24:48 am

Hi Tom,

Thanks, that's great information. I have a few comments and questions, if you don't mind:

- Is your insurance for the Arctic Fox captured in the trailer costs (or somewhere else)? I have no idea how much that will run per year.

- I'm really pleasantly surprised on how low your truck costs are running. I had budgeted twice that amount, but I do know it will vary a lot depending on how much traveling you do that month, price of fuel, etc.

- My eating style is very similar to yours - for example, I hardly ever buy or drink alcohol. I try to keep my junk food to a minimum, but it continually finds it's way into my shopping cart. I also shop at Wal-mart quite a bit, so I'm assuming my costs would be similar. I had budgeted twice that amount, but I live in a high cost of living area, so I'm assuming that food prices are lower there than here, which will be nice (they are definitely lower where my Dad lives down south than here).

- I'm assuming that my cellular phone bill will be really high to stay connected, so that's about what I expected for utilities.

- I'm guessing my camping costs will be higher at first then slowly come down as I feel more comfortable boondocking and find the places where I like to camp. Are you seeing your camping costs coming down over the years?

- As we've discussed, it's tough to go too crazy on hobbies because of the smaller space. Do you find that because you have more free time that you have the desire to participate in more hobbies? I'm hoping I don't go crazy with hobbies and end up with storage units all over the country. BTW, even though I don't have a storage unit now living in an apartment, I think I will end up with one going from here to an RV (although I hope it's a small one).

Thanks again Tom! This is great information. Overall, I'm surprised that your actual costs are lower than what I had budgeted; I was worried that I wasn't being realistic. Of course, if I end up staying in high end RV resorts (as an example), my budget would be busted fast.

Also, great photos! Your photography has always been excellent, but it just keeps getting better. One of the hardest things is to convey a mood in a photo, but your's really do an excellent job.

2/15/2018 10:51:38 am

The cost of Insurance for the truck and the Arctic Fox is one of those expenses that I left out, looking back on it I shouldn't have said that was part of the truck expense , but what can I say I'm lazy and I had been moving to a new site that day. I figure that expense would vary so much from person-to-person that what I pay wouldn't be applicable to anyone else. But the Truck and the full-time insurance on the Arctic Fox is about $2000 a year and that policy is with Geico.

The truck just keeps running and running, its biggest expense is putting tires on it every once in a while. And even though I'm living on the road it doesn't mean I'm constantly driving, just glancing at my records, I put less than 5000 miles on the truck in 2017. In Colorado the cost of your tags is based on the value of the vehicle, since the truck is 10 years old now my tags are only a couple hundred dollars a year, a new truck would be substantially more.

Food prices vary considerably even from Walmart to Walmart. But the big difference will be if you shop at small town local grocery stores, they can get very expensive. But sometimes that's all there is.

My camping expenses has absolutely come down over the years. Before I was afraid of not finding a place to stay so I spent more time at crowded overpriced RV parks. But now with a little experience and checking ahead for Walmart parking lots that allow overnight parking and boondocking areas where I'm planning on going that day, I've always had a place to stay. But in a worst-case scenario I can always fall back on an RV Park, but that's my last choice.

When you're in a location that a new hobby would fit right in there is that desire to get a kayak if you're on the Gulf Coast, or buy a bow if you're living right next to Ben Avery's beautiful archery ranges, or get a metal detector if you're in the desert where lots of folks are looking for and finding a little gold. And you can succumb to that if you have the space and the financial abilities. I have neither so I can't live a champagne life on a beer budget. But I do have a metal detector.

My storage room is 8 x 10 and it has more than enough room for all of my junk.

Just remember I spend more than that, those are the things that I feel you have to spend money on. Again just glancing at my records, in 2016 which was the last time I bothered adding it all up I spent a total of about $26,000 for the year, but I bought the Yamaha WR450 that year, so I figure knowing all my expenses for that year doesn't really help anyone.

Thank you for the compliments on my pictures. Photography is one of the few hobbies that I have left that I can afford, doesn't take up much space, or add much weight. And the only mood I try to convey is the joy and contentment I have in my life every day.

Tom

2/16/2018 09:02:28 am

Thanks Tom! That's more great information.

That puts me in the ballpark with the insurance. Soon, I'll need to speak with an agent on a new truck and a fifth wheel. I'm sure I'll be in for a shock on both insurance and taxes, since my current car is 14 years old and the rates are relatively low, but other costs will come down to offset it (for example, I have to pay renter's insurance now, which will go away).

I'm going to have to ease into boondocking, although I did some dry camping with the Class C. I hate those RV parks where you're packed in. I stayed at one where we could barely get our slides out.

Where I live now, groceries are expensive no matter which store you go to, but Walmart seems the best. So, anything has to be a little better.

Hobbies could bite me if I'm not careful, but I have been enjoying the last year or so with a limited number of hobbies and hope to keep downsizing until venturing out. But, I'll need to be on my guard against acquiring new hobby equipment (metal detecting sounds fun - arrgghh, this is how it starts).

An 8X10 is about what I'm thinking. Just trying to decide which state I want to keep my stuff in. I want it to be fairly convenient during part of the year so I'm considering Arizona, Texas, or New Mexico, but haven't made a decision yet.

If I could keep my costs to $26,000 a year, I should be fine (barring some major issue - knock on wood).

That is the mood that is coming through in your photography, so you were successful!

2/16/2018 10:24:17 am

Give Geico insurance a try. I've had their insurance for so long that I remember when it used to be called Government Employees Insurance company, and I was working for the government so I was qualified to have what was fairly inexpensive insurance. I guess they finally figured out their customer base was too limited.

RV parks are what caused me to try boondocking. As a businessman I can understand why they need to get the highest and best use out of their piece of property, but a lot of them seem to leave the customer out of the equation and build strictly based on the maximization of profits. And now that a lot of them are charging near motel prices for their nightly rates I just refuse to participate. Having said that some of them are fairly tolerable by the week or the month especially the escapees parks, so I will use them if it benefits me in some way.

Since you're used to buying groceries for one you probably already know it cost almost as much as buying for two, and I think living on the road makes it even more expensive because it's hard to buy in bulk and save a little money. There's not much storage space for extra food and the refrigerator's are usually smaller than the residential ones, so you end up buying everything in smaller more expensive quantities.

You can actually have all the hobbies you want you just have to give up something else to have them. I could have more hobbies but I decided that I needed to carry a great amount of tools with me. Since I like to modify things and keep my own things running I try to carry tools for every occasion, figuring that if they save me a trip to the dealer every now and then there well worth it. But the price I pay is less places to put more hobby stuff.

And of course it all depends on your choice of hobbies, building hot rods is pretty much out of the question as is your extensive collection of antique boat anchors, and your 500 gallon saltwater fish tanks. But stamp collecting, coin collecting, metal detecting, and other things of that nature don't take up much space and their fairly lightweight. So you're allowed to have all the small lightweight hobby you want.

As for a location to have a storage room I would suggest one that's easy, safe, and convenient to get to anytime of the year. My storage room in the Colorado mountains works out great in the summer, but is very problematic in the winter. Southern New Mexico is not too bad in the winter if you have to retrieve something out of storage, although not as warm as southern Arizona. Southern Texas is good to. I would be happy with any one of those three states you mentioned.

It's those major issues that everyone worrys about. But since worry is not in my vocabulary, I try not to do stupid stuff, carry insurance, depend on a lot of luck, and enjoy my life. After all in the end what else can you do?

Tom

2/16/2018 12:14:28 pm

I had a really bad experience with Geico many years ago in my early thirties. I was down south and was crossing a bridge that was surprisingly iced over (I say surprisingly because I had even called the State Troopers before leaving and they said no ice on any bridges; we were in a cold snap) and hit the guard rail of the bridge. There were at least a dozen wrecks on that bridge while I was waiting on the tow truck. That was the only accident I had ever had and it wasn't my fault (they closed the bridge after those dozen wrecks and I didn't get any kind of ticket), but Geico canceled my insurance. I talked to them and tried to convince them to change their mind, but they wouldn't budge. So, I won't say that I'll never use them, but they're not high on my list.

When I was married, my wife would way overbuy on food. When I became single again and could control my cost and spending easier, I was amazed how much cheaper my food bill became. I can look in my fridge and pantry and think I have nothing to eat and still whip up a pretty good meal (but my standards for a good meal are pretty low). I did have to wean myself off of bulk buying though - it just doesn't work out to be cost effective (since I tend to waste too much) and now I don't have as much space for storage (and even less for an RV).

Most of my hobbies don't require a lot of space, except for one. I hesitate to discuss it, since it will totally reveal my true dorkiness; although I don't think there is much doubt that I'm a dork, based on my past comments. My storage unit will primarily be for that one hobby (so it's not salt water fish); if it wasn't for it, I might not need a storage unit. (And it's not hot rods - that's way too cool for me).

I'm actually thinking that I might pick Deming, New Mexico for storage. It's along a route I'll probably frequent, is in a drier climate (so don't have to worry about mold as much, although I would get a climate controlled unit), is about 3,000 foot higher in elevation than Phoenix (so maybe a little cooler in summer), their storage prices are good, and is close to an Escapees Park and a couple of state parks.

I had a ton of tools at my house. I did a lot of remodeling and something was always breaking. It was painful, but I whittled my tools down to three Rigid stacking tool boxes. I would probably have to think hard about which tools to bring and which I'm lacking for RV life.

Thanks again for all the information - it's incredibly helpful!

2/16/2018 02:45:40 pm

I'm sorry to hear about your Geico experience, mine has been the exact opposite. Even though I've never had an accident my wife and my daughter have both had accidents, in both accidents they were at fault, no one was hurt but my wife totaled her car. And Geico paid for everything and treated us like we were their favorite customers. It's hard to figure what goes through the mind of an insurance company but sometimes there decisions have nothing to do with the accident.

Your secret hobby that requires a storage room has piqued my interest and I've been trying to think of dorky things that require a storage room that no one would want to talk about and here's what I've come up with.

A lifetime collection of My Little Ponies.

All of Miley Cyrus's underwear, which would explain a lot about her performances.

Liberace's pianos.

A large safe containing Obama's real birth certificate.

Jimmy Hoffa's body.

Bill Clinton's Little Black Book. You'll need a bigger storage room.

Every priceless collectible the Franklin Mint ever made.

The actual flying saucer recovered from Roswell New Mexico.

That's all I can come up with on short notice and if any of those are it I can see why you don't want to go public.

Deming's a good central location but can get pretty cold and windy there in the winter but not nearly anything you're used to. And I've stayed at that Escapees Park, its not one of their better locations but it's okay. It's basically a giant parking lot next to a big motel.

It's impossible to figure out what tools you will need on the road, I brought just about everything but the table saw and I had to go out today and buy another tool. So just bring what you think you need and buy others when you need them.

You're welcome, Tom

2/16/2018 03:06:48 pm

So, here's another clue for you to think about over the weekend:

My truly dorky hobby could include any of those themes that you list, although at this point in time, my specific collection doesn't have any of these exact themes, but may in the future.

Sounds pretty dorky, oui?

I figure for Deming, I would just be passing through and stay a night or two and move on. Hopefully, I would visit the storage unit when it's not too hot or cold (but that might be hard to plan).

I could probably build a house with the tools that I have now, but I'm sure there will be some specialized RV tool that I'll end up needing - at least that was always what happened in my house.

2/16/2018 04:46:26 pm

Well that is a conundrum, because the only theme I can think of is there all oddball weird things that sprang from my addled mind.

I was hoping you have the Roswell flying saucer but that would be very cool so it doesn't fit.

Tom

2/19/2018 02:19:13 pm

Okay - be prepared to behold my full dorkiness. I have and play board games, primarily wargames (World War II, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Napoleonic Wars, etc.) and European style games (basically newer games on steroids). So, they could be about anything, including finding Jimmy Hoffa's body to capturing UFO's. I also teach them at conventions and gatherings, so part of the RV experience would be going to several of those out West and the Midwest. Although it's dorky, it's a lot of fun and I've made a lot of friends through this community.

I won't be able to take them all with me, so some will be sold, some given away, storing some, as well as taking a few with me in the RV. The plan is to stop by the storage unit periodically and swapping them out.

So, there you have it. Doesn't get much dorkier than that! If I didn't have these, I could probably get everything I want to take with me in my SUV.

2/19/2018 03:17:57 pm

Well I never would've guessed that. Actually I didn't realize there was such a thing. I knew there were boardgames like, Sorry, Monopoly, Chess, and things like that, but I didn't realize there were board games based on wars. I know there's Dungeons & Dragons but I don't know if that counts as a board game because I don't know anything about D & D either.

I just have to ask. Wouldn't videogames be more fun where things actually blow up? I'll have to look those games up on the Internet because I haven't the foggiest idea how they work.

The next question would be, you have an entire storage room full of them? Either you have a whole bunch of them or there mighty big boards.

Well since I have so little knowledge of these board games I feel that I'm in no way qualified to determine the true dorkiness of your hobby. But I would say that its not as cool as having a collection of 1957 Ford Thunderbird's. And not as dorky as having a collection of Beanie Babies. So I assume you must be somewhere in between.... There are actually conventions?

Tom

Tim Barnes

2/19/2018 05:35:03 pm

Here is the website of one of my favorite companies that sells wargames (GMT Games): http://www.gmtgames.com/default.aspx They are headquartered in Hanover, California and have a convention there once or twice a year. They also have a smaller one here on the East Coast that I've been to - lots of fun. Don't worry, my war and board game friends can't believe that someone actually lives fulltime in an RV, so they are as confused as you are when I talk about RVing.

As a matter of fact, one thing I find interesting in life is that people in one hobby can seldom believe that another hobby exist, even when they are closely related. When I used to shoot 3D Archery, Bullseye Pistol, and Airgun Field Target, they each thought I was imagining the other disciplines.

You would think that it might be more fun to play on the computer, but there is nothing like sitting down with a group of friends and playing one of these games; it's a great social activity. When I play on the computer, it's just not the same. Plus, they help keep my mind sharp (well, as sharp as it's going to get anyway).

Yes, I have way too many. I have games for many different reasons; for example, one of my photographs is in one of the games, so they sent me two frees games for that. Here's a link to information on that game (as an example of these type of games), which is about running an art studio: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125153/gallerist. Other games I've won in tournaments or have bought. Yep, they would take up a storage unit, easily, but some of my friends have way, way more than me.

Here's one of the biggest conventions in the country that I've been to twice with a group of friends and had the time of my life: https://www.gencon.com/

And yes, it's dorky - very dorky. I don't have a 1957 Thunderbird, but I do have a game about the "Thunderbirds" (the 60's British TV show) if you remember that. Okay, after having said that, it might be one step below having a Beanies Babies collection.

2/19/2018 06:56:17 pm

I looked at a couple of the websites and didn't see anyone that looked like they were once a Hells Angel. If the guy in the first video tutorial I looked at had a pocket protector and some white tape holding the middle of his classes together he could've played a nerd on television. but at least now I understand what you're talking about when you say board games.

Yeah I think people get caught up in their own hobbies and not only have no space in their mind to think about other hobbies, but don't have the money to get involved in any more hobbies than what they're doing at the moment, so they don't pay attention to anything else, after all no since raising the ire of the wife even further.

Yes you're gonna get some dorky points for the whole gameboard thing but your archery and firearms hobbies will mitigate that.... Up to a point.

By the way there is no step below collecting Beanie Babies.

Tom

2/20/2018 07:12:22 am

I'm shocked that you found a tutorial video where someone didn't have his glasses taped and a pocket protector! If you did, he's probably just an impostor and can't be seen as a viable representative of this hobby.

I've played games with a wide spectrum of people, from doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, Uber drivers, teachers, accountants, landscapers, construction workers, business owners, and just about anything else you can imagine (in fact, one of my friends that owns an upscale home remodeling business e-mailed me this morning about gaming). In one game, I had an MMA fighter threaten to beat me up over a game. I took him really seriously at his word and there was no doubt he could do it. Later that night, I ended up eating dinner with a group that included him and we just laughed about it (although I was sweating when he sat down next to me at the table).

I'm cool with dorky points; I've learned that being happy and being cool may be mutually exclusive in some situations.

2/20/2018 08:45:33 am

I guess like beauty dorkyness is in the eye of the beholder.

I imagine boardgames can get pretty serious if professional fighters threaten to beat you up over them. I remember when I was a little kid the family would sit around the dinner table at night and play the board game Sorry, and that game almost led to the breakup of the family several times.

As I had mentioned before a lot of RV parks especially Escapees have a big community room where they have their happy hours, their potlucks, and hobby areas available to anyone who wants to participate. And I've seen four or five women sitting in a corner talking and knitting, or a few people sitting around a big table putting very large puzzles together, so I would think your board game hobby would fit right in to those scenarios.

Another thing you will find is that most RV parks, and even at this boondocking area I'm staying at now, there's a bulletin board. Where, among other things, you can put messages to locate other folks that are interested in your hobbies. I've seen chess players wanted, and various card game participants wanted, so it might be relatively easy to find some like-minded board game players.

That will be more difficult while boondocking because most folks don't stay around very long. But at the boondocking LTVA that I'm at most people are gonna be here for at least two weeks but mostly several months so that's why there's a bulletin board here.

Those things don't really appeal to me because I'm mostly a loner and tend to agree with what Groucho Marx once said, "I don't want to join any club that would have me as a member".

Tom

2/20/2018 09:55:19 am

We used to play "Sorry" when I was a kid as well. We learned you better not slide your pawn on my Mom's pawn if you knew what was good for you. I just watched an old skit on YouTube from the Carol Burnett show were they were playing "Sorry" and it was great.

I've always identified with being an introvert, but it never quite fit me. Recently, I've discovered that there is a middle ground between being an Introvert and Extrovert called an "Ambivert" and think that's exactly what I am.

I found these "9 Signs You are an Ambivert" and I can answer yes to each of these:

1. I can perform tasks alone or in a group. I don’t have much preference either way.

2. Social settings don’t make me uncomfortable, but I tire of being around people too much.

3. Being the center of attention is fun for me, but I don’t like it to last.

4. Some people think I’m quiet, while others think I’m highly social.

5. I don’t always need to be moving, but too much down time leaves me feeling bored.

6. I can get lost in my own thoughts just as easily as I can lose myself in a conversation.

7. Small talk doesn’t make me uncomfortable, but it does get boring.

8. When it comes to trusting other people, sometimes I’m skeptical, and other times, I dive right in.

9. If I spend too much time alone, I get bored, yet too much time around other people leaves me feeling drained.

As an example, I enjoy being around people if we are all participating in a hobby or activity we enjoy, but I hate parties where the whole reason for the party is to chit-chat and small talk with people you have nothing in common with - I'd rather go muck out horse stalls or even dump the black tank on an RV.

It's really easy to find any type of hobby or activity these days on "Meetup.com". Don't know if you've ever checked it out, but it's a place for like minded people to meet to go hiking, golfing, play board games, kayak, speak French, you name it. I'm not the least bit worried about finding people to share hobbies with on the road, if that's what I'm in the mood for; probably more worried about getting overextended.

BTW, Groucho Marx is one of my favorite comedians. Over the last several months I've been watching a lot of his stuff, including his old "You Bet Your Life" TV show. One of my favorite quotes of his is (or close to this) "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

2/20/2018 01:38:09 pm

I answered all the questions and the answers reinforced what I already knew, that I'm an introverted, unsociable, reclusive, hermit.

And taking that into consideration it's easy to understand why I've never heard of meetup.com. looking back at my life all of my hobbies were always things I could do by myself and never a team sport. I think the closest I've come to doing things with others is hunting, because it's really not very safe or smart hunting by yourself, and skin diving and scuba diving, it's kind of a requirement that you dive with a buddy. Other than those my hobby's have always been something I could do by myself.

Groucho's always been one of my favorite comedians also. Even though he was technically "before my time" I did watch his TV show when I was growing up but by then he was no longer an "A" lister and was on his last legs as far as the entertainment business was concerned. But nonetheless him and his brothers made a lot of people laugh during some pretty tough times.

Tom

2/22/2018 08:45:01 am

I wonder if I'll become more or less reclusive when I go fulltime. I'm forced to be around a lot of people now for my job (for example, yesterday was meetings all day long), but sometimes on a weekend, I can very happily go all weekend without talking to anyone, but right now wouldn't want to do that every weekend.

Meetup.com can be a great resource. For example, there are photography groups that many times will have world class photographers come in and give really interesting talks. I've sat in a few of those and really learned a lot about some advanced photography techniques; for example, one talk I learned about "focus stacking" for macro photography and "light painting" for landscapes. The talks opened my mind to other possibilities in the hobby. And to be honest, for those, I interacted very little with the others in the class, just went to listen and learn.

2/22/2018 11:45:11 am

There's almost no chance that you will become a recluse. I'm that way because I was born that way and have to force myself to be otherwise. I would say that being a full-time RVer will put you in as many if not more social scenarios than living in a house.

Yes boondocking does limit social encounters more than staying in State Parks or RV parks because your generally farther away from your neighbors while boondocking, in less your in an RV mecca like Quartzsite where people are generally parked closer together, or you can join one of the many groups that come to Quartzsite.

Like I said before RV people tend to be very sociable people and love sitting around a campfire with 10 people they just met this morning and yet they're talking like their old friends. And I can guarantee you if you walk up you will be invited to sit down and join the group. So you will only become a hermit like me if you want to, full timing gives you that option.

Macro is arguably one of the most difficult disciplines in photography and can be a frustrating and humbling endeavor and that's why don't do much of it. In Colorado last summer I took a picture of a fuzzy black and white spider that I had to use focus stacking on to get a halfway decent picture of the little critter. As for light painting, my flashlight batteries are usually dead when I need them.

Tom

2/22/2018 12:20:05 pm

When I was in my house, I had a 7x-90x trinocular microscope with a camera attachment. Talk about a tiny depth of field. Focus stacking was mandatory and it required tons of shots to get acceptable results. I got a few decent final photos, but none that I was really happy with. I figure to get good at it would take many, many hours of practice and tedious trial and error. It was one of the items that I sold, since there are many other areas of photography I would rather focus on.

Light painting is fascinating to me. When I explain to people that you leave the shutter open and can actually walk in front of the lens when the light is off (if it truly is pitch black dark) and not be on the photo, it blows their minds. It's hard for people to understand that all the camera sensor is doing is recording light photons.

Well, being an ambivert, I can happily be a recluse or more social and tend to fall into patterns that I have to consciously break. It'll be interesting to see how my life develops in fulltime compared to now. My guess is, based on the way I am now, that I'll go through spells of being really social and other times, really reclusive (and everything in between). I can't maintain a super social atmosphere without time to recharge.

2/22/2018 12:40:54 pm

It sounds like you've already got a photography hobby. And I think a photography hobby is one of the best things you can have as a full-time RVer. Traveling, visiting nice places, and meeting new people is the kind of thing that cameras were made for. So I would definitely continue and maybe even expand on that in your full-time lifestyle.

There again since you're an ambivert living a full-time lifestyle is perfect, because you can not only choose how many people you want to be around at any given moment but when you want to be alone you can hitch up and move, and the people you've been around aren't going to be insulted, because moving is what full timers do.

Tom

Timt

2/22/2018 01:07:40 pm

Yes, the kernel idea of a full time lifestyle started many years ago when I was driving around my state doing photography and started thinking "wow, wouldn't it be great to go around the country and photograph amazing locations". That was before I had even heard of YouTube or started following RV blogs.

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