re: How many of y'all camp with RVs?

My parents went on the road when they retired for about 15 years. They were camp hosts and went places a couple months at a time. They kept their house and would do like 2 or 3 months out then 1 month at home.

As far as maintenance went, everything thing that breaks over time in a house, breaks in an RV. Appliances, AC, etc.

RVs also depreciate pretty hard. They paid 250k for their RV and sold it after 15 years for 25k and it was in good condition with everything working.

I have owned:
2007 29’ KZ Spree RLS
2010 32’ Forrest River wildcat 5th QBSS
2019 Stryker toy hauler 2916

KZ was probably the best made. The wildcat lasted 10 years before it had delamination issues. The Stryker is my favorite layout but probably the worst quality. They are all lipstick on a pig with no regards for durability they make it look fancy but it’s only an illusion. Something will always be broken whether you are in a $20k trailer or a $1million dollar Prevost

My in-laws always had some kind of class a motor home. Their last one had a washer dryer.

We’d hang with them at the lake.

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Comes in handy for hurricane evacuations.

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We don't get hurricanes up in DFW, but we seem to get yearly ice storms that shut everything down for a week. With a travel trailer I could hook up and have it on the beach of South Padre Island within 10 hours.

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Bought a Forest River Vibe 14 months ago.

Used it twice.

Now, I’m about to sell it because it collects dust.

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Is this because you don't enjoy it as much as you thought you would, or because you lack the time? I'm on a school schedule, so I get a week at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, Spring Break, a few 3-4 day weekends scattered throughout the year, and the entire summer off. To be honest I get kind of bored. I already enjoy tent camping as long as the weather is nice. With heat and A/C, my traveling/camping/exploring windows would be a lot wider.

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Went to Gatlinburg last October and I will say that I could do a month there in the fall.

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This is definitely on my list. I've heard it's amazing. I used to date a woman that had taught at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and she said that the Blue Ridge Mountains were awesome too. Arizona and California have some breathtaking views as well. I guess the RV lifestyle just represents freedom. I started my career, got married, and had kids within 2 years of graduating from college. Since then it's just been work, kids, bills, repeat. I've lived my adult life largely in the service of others who depend on me. I'm only 50, but I've already lost friends to natural causes and my wife is terminally ill. I guess that really put things into perspective for me and nailed home my own mortality. Retirement will be here in 4 years and I'd like to enjoy some time to myself to go where I want to go and see what I want to see without answering to anyone for it while my body is still able.

I will be 49yo this year and I have lived a similar life as you. Giving to others eventually takes its toll on a marriage as i recently divorced. My kids are grown and gone and this big empty house grows tiresome.

Freedom. You are correct.

Blue Ridge Mtns I hear are amazing. Have a former officer friend who owns a cabin up there but never took her and her husband up on the offer to go and stay for a few days.

So many places and so little time.

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How many of y'all camp with RVs?

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Pretty much everyone that camps now days.

Bought one last year, stays on deer lease so far.
That's my cool story.