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Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jasonw560 on February 14, 2013, 07:32:30 AM

Title: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Jasonw560 on February 14, 2013, 07:32:30 AM
Old story from 2011,.but for the second year in a row, I live in the cheapest place in the country to live.

 http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43540398/ns/business-us_business/

Granted, have to put up with border violence, and the town with the most people on welfare per capita is 35 miles east, and the wages are 28% less than the national average....

But the white tail and dove hunting are great, and the salt water fishing even better!!!
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: longview on February 14, 2013, 08:12:26 AM
Congratulations.  The fishing would be a big plus for me, too. 
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Alpha Mare on February 14, 2013, 08:23:32 AM
When my dad first moved there, there was nothing there but retirees and golf courses.  Then came NAFTA. 
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on February 14, 2013, 08:29:35 AM
Quote
Cheapest place to live

"In a van...down by the river."

 :lmao:
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: 17 Oaks on February 14, 2013, 09:15:15 AM
Actually there is a growing number of people living well and living cheap and living BELOW the radar.

Wife and I sold our company and full timed RV'd for a year, for us that was enough and we sold our motor coach of 45 feet got back where we had dirt under our feet.  Several years later we bought a camper for our F 350 truck, we lived in it for about 3 mo when we bought our ranch while we were doing work on the house.  Over the year + the 3 mo living full time in RV parks we met a lot of nice and great folks, still friends with some of them 10 years later.  The following are some observations:

Truck camper living was costing us about $400 per mo, total, you can get you mail there also.  Met no shortage of people living full time in RV parks, moving based upon weather or family.  They are semi retired.  They work as handymen, maids, McDonalds and many have various small businesses that are straight cash only.  Many of these folks are flying below the radar of life and want it that way.  Many are drawing SS which covers their base costs, food etc.  Some work a legit 'W-2' job, but many work for cash and are making $1000 or more per month.  Often gross income is $30k per year with no taxes or taken out at all, all cash.  These folks are living quite well, they only pay cash and get paid in cash.  They are quite happy and glad to have the freedom of no govt in their life.

So what is like to live in an RV.  Well our motor coach was big and about like living in a small apartment.  The truck camper:  We LOVED IT.  Not kidding, we have 4 dogs, one weighs 85 lbs, the other are small <14 lbs.  We have fridge, AC, central heat, tempurpedic mattress, microwave, walk in bath, cable TV/satellite TV all in a neat package that slides into the bed of my F 350 crew cab, long bed truck.  We arrive, I push a button the camper lifts, I drive out from under, push a button and sit it down and we use the truck to drive around town, shop etc.  In fact I know a lot of folks with truck campers and none of them think its too small.  They are very well organized, lots of storage and really a lot of fun.  In fact there are a lot of full timers TC's and its a rapidly growing segment for those that want to get off the grid under the radar.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Dori on February 14, 2013, 10:07:54 AM
I've never lived in an RV, but I could...easily.   :)

I love traveling/camping in one and had a camper for years.  Met a lot of very nice people too.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: CG6468 on February 14, 2013, 10:12:11 AM
I've never lived in an RV, but I could...easily.   :)

I love traveling/camping in one and had a camper for years.  Met a lot of very nice people too.

I've found that people who camp are among the friendliest and most cooperative in this country and in Canada.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: DefiantSix on February 14, 2013, 10:24:51 AM
"In a van...down by the river."

 :lmao:

Lived for 4 months in a tent last year.  It's not as cheap as you might think.  Now I kinda understand why the chronically homeless are also aggressive panhandlers.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Alpha Mare on February 14, 2013, 10:53:44 AM
I've never lived in an RV, but I could...easily.   :)

I love traveling/camping in one and had a camper for years.  Met a lot of very nice people too.

I keep telling my kids that's what I'm going to do. They can call me, but they can't find me!  :tongue:
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Chris_ on February 14, 2013, 11:08:02 AM
I thought about it... kit out a minivan like a small camper and use it for vacations.  Sounds like fun.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Dori on February 14, 2013, 11:42:16 AM
I thought about it... kit out a minivan like a small camper and use it for vacations.  Sounds like fun.

Good way to travel on the cheap.  Most campgrounds are decent with a table, fire pit and many have showers, pools and laundry.  You save a lot on not having to eat out too.  California has hundreds of great places to RV in.

here are a few of my favorites

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=yosemite+lower+pines+campground&FORM=HDRSC2

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=silverwood+lake+campground&FORM=HDRSC2

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=doheny+state+beach+camping&qs=SS&sk=&FORM=QBIR&pq=dohene%20state%20beach%20camping&sc=7-26&sp=1&qs=SS&sk=

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=humbolt+forest+campground&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=humbolt+forest+campground&sc=0-17&sp=-1&sk=

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=elk+creek+california+campground+&FORM=HDRSC2

Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Jasonw560 on February 14, 2013, 12:52:25 PM
"In a van...down by the river."

 :lmao:

Actually, a close family friend of Mrs W560 let us live in a mobile home rent free (still payed utilities) until we got enough to start our house.

As a canal was across the road from us, we  semi-jokingly called it the van down by the river.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: diesel driver on February 14, 2013, 07:33:38 PM
The misses and I are leaving this Sunday to head to Daytona Beach for the Daytona 500.  We bought a travel trailer 2 years ago, this will be our first BIG trip with it (previously we just hauled it about 100 miles down the road to Bristol for the fall races).

We plan on being gone about 10 days, stopping along the way in Savannah, maybe, or just wherever we feel like.  (She wants to take the Savannah Food Tour.  BIG Paula Deen fan!)

Question:  Has anybody stayed at any campgrounds in the South Carolina/Georgia area along I-95 that they would recommend to a friend, or even visit again themselves?  The only firm commitment we have is the KOA at Daytona Beach, but we don't have to be there until Wednesday afternoon.  Other than that, we are wide open to any suggestions or comments.  Feel free to PM me or leave a comment here.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Chris_ on February 14, 2013, 07:36:20 PM
Good way to travel on the cheap.  Most campgrounds are decent with a table, fire pit and many have showers, pools and laundry.  You save a lot on not having to eat out too.  California has hundreds of great places to RV in.
This is the one I had in mind.  This guy did a great job.

http://cheaprvliving.com/howtoconvertavan.html
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: rich_t on February 14, 2013, 07:37:04 PM
"In a van...down by the river."

 :lmao:

Mom's basement.
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: 17 Oaks on February 15, 2013, 08:38:16 AM
The misses and I are leaving this Sunday to head to Daytona Beach for the Daytona 500.  We bought a travel trailer 2 years ago, this will be our first BIG trip with it (previously we just hauled it about 100 miles down the road to Bristol for the fall races).

We plan on being gone about 10 days, stopping along the way in Savannah, maybe, or just wherever we feel like.  (She wants to take the Savannah Food Tour.  BIG Paula Deen fan!)

Question:  Has anybody stayed at any campgrounds in the South Carolina/Georgia area along I-95 that they would recommend to a friend, or even visit again themselves?  The only firm commitment we have is the KOA at Daytona Beach, but we don't have to be there until Wednesday afternoon.  Other than that, we are wide open to any suggestions or comments.  Feel free to PM me or leave a comment here.
In our travels, albeit not in the SE US, we have mostly used catch as catch can for RV parks.  After having done this for a year across the SW here is my take:  They run the gamut from good to great.  Word travels fast in the RV community and a bad park will fade away.  Number 1 thing that makes the good or bad?  Bathrooms and how clean they are.  While our rig has a walk in shower I am a big guy at 6'2" and most showers I can barely stand in.  So I opt for the park facilities.  They have all been clean, some have as few as 2 for the men and 2 for the women making you wait in the morn or eve.  Some have water savers in the shower head making it difficult to get wet etc, but overall no real complaints.  Some parks are difficult to get you rig into, makes you wonder who the hell laid them out etc etc.  All little frustrations but across the board never ran into anything I would not stay at again...
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: RobJohnson on February 16, 2013, 01:22:04 AM
Old story from 2011,.but for the second year in a row, I live in the cheapest place in the country to live.

 http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43540398/ns/business-us_business/

Granted, have to put up with border violence, and the town with the most people on welfare per capita is 35 miles east, and the wages are 28% less than the national average....

But the white tail and dove hunting are great, and the salt water fishing even better!!!

Great article sounds like a nice place to live.  :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Dblhaul on February 18, 2013, 08:55:23 PM
I have a basic 8ft truck camper with the over cab bed. Bought it new 10 years ago. It has traveled to Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Wyomimg. I do tend to fish a bit... It sits on a HD 3/4 ton truck and I pull a drift boat behind it.

Not a bad set up for me when I was a single trout bum for a few years. Now though, I am married and yes we still enjoy the small camper (no bath or toilet) yet tend to spend more nights at campgrounds rather then riverside pull outs
As we get closer to retirement we are thinking a small pull behind camp trailer, 19' to 24', a slide out or two. Leave the boat at home and wade fish or hire a guide as needed (always nice to have someone else row!)

Either way, it's a great way to meet good folks that love life and our country!
Title: Re: Cheapest place to live
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 18, 2013, 09:16:28 PM
I have a basic 8ft truck camper with the over cab bed. Bought it new 10 years ago. It has traveled to Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Wyomimg. I do tend to fish a bit... It sits on a HD 3/4 ton truck and I pull a drift boat behind it.

Not a bad set up for me when I was a single trout bum for a few years. Now though, I am married and yes we still enjoy the small camper (no bath or toilet) yet tend to spend more nights at campgrounds rather then riverside pull outs
As we get closer to retirement we are thinking a small pull behind camp trailer, 19' to 24', a slide out or two. Leave the boat at home and wade fish or hire a guide as needed (always nice to have someone else row!)

Either way, it's a great way to meet good folks that love life and our country!

As a ham operator, I'm a member of a group called the Old Man International Side Band Society (OMISS). There is a retired fellow that operates on our nets that lives in his RV and travels the country. I make radio contacts with him as he roams the country.