On a warm October morning in Gold Canyon, Jim and Sandra Miller gently eased their 34-foot fifth-wheel RV out of the driveway of the home they just sold. As the Superstition Mountains glowed in the sunrise behind them, they waved goodbye to neighbors of twenty years. It was a bittersweet farewell to the “sticks-and-bricks” house where they raised their kids. But an electric excitement hung in the air – after months of downsizing and planning, the Millers were officially becoming full-time RVers. Their new address? Wherever the road takes them.
Jim, 71, and Sandra, 68, are part of a growing number of East Valley retirees choosing to trade traditional homeownership for life on wheels. In communities like Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and Queen Creek, it’s no longer unusual to hear of longtime residents hosting a moving sale, handing over house keys to a buyer, and rolling off in a motorhome or travel trailer. What’s fueling this leap of faith? A mix of practical economics, a thirst for adventure, and a desire for a simpler, freer lifestyle in one’s golden years.
Why Sell It All? The Mindset Behind the Move
For many of these retirees, the decision boils down to freedom and flexibility. “We realized our big house had basically become an expensive storage unit for stuff we rarely used,” Sandra says with a laugh. The Millers found themselves at home less and less as they edged toward retirement – taking longer RV trips to the Grand Canyon, the California coast, even up to Montana. “Every time we came back, we felt a little more confined by the routine at home,” Jim adds. They started to wonder: What if we didn’t come back?
That mindset – why not keep traveling? – is a common spark. With children grown and 9-to-5 careers behind them, retirees often feel a new “itch” to travel that’s hard to ignore. Some, like the Millers, have tasted RV travel on vacations and want more. Others simply crave adventure after decades rooted in one place. The open road beckons: no lawn to mow, no daily routine, and the promise of waking up to a new backyard whenever you please.
“You’re home, yet you get to open the door to a different view whenever you want,” Jim says, describing the appeal of RV living. “Once you tire of where you are, you just move on. It’s a very liberating feeling at our age.”
Beyond wanderlust, there’s an appealing simplicity in shedding the excess. Many retirees find minimalist living in an RV to be cathartic. Letting go of years’ worth of possessions – furniture, closets of clothes, all the stuff that fills a house – can be daunting, but also freeing. “Untethering” is the word one Mesa couple used to describe the process of paring down their life to what fits in a 28-foot camper. Life on the road boils things down to essentials: a cozy bed, a small kitchen, a few favorite personal items, and the company of your spouse (and maybe a pet or two). Everything else is optional.
The Promise of Adventure and Community
Adventure is at the heart of this lifestyle. Full-time RVers from the East Valley aren’t content to sit on the porch – their porch is on wheels, and it might overlook a New Mexico desert one month and the forests of Oregon the next. Retirees report that their world has grown larger since moving into an RV. They take the time to drive the scenic backroads, visit national parks on a whim, and stay longer in interesting towns that they used to just pass through. There’s a feeling of being a traveler in your own country, with endless chances to learn and explore.
Staying active and mentally engaged is another motivation. Every day is a learning experience on the road – whether it’s figuring out how to back into a tricky campsite or discovering a love for hiking new trails. “We’re doing things we’ve never done before, and learning new skills,” one retiree explains of her RV life with her husband. “At our age, that’s valuable. It keeps us from getting mentally sluggish.” She notes that figuring out how to hitch up a trailer or navigate by GPS to a remote campground were challenges at first, but now those tasks bring a sense of accomplishment.
Despite leaving a hometown community behind, full-time RVers often find a new community on the road. Across Arizona and the Southwest, RV parks and campgrounds are filled with fellow travelers who quickly go from strangers to friends. In Apache Junction’s many RV resorts, for instance, winter visitors form tight-knit groups – organizing potluck dinners, morning hikes, and game nights under the stars. The RV community is famously welcoming. Neighbors at camp will chat over coffee, share travel tips, help each other with mechanical issues, and often caravan together to the next destination.
Sandra admits one of her fears was leaving her social circle in Gold Canyon. “I worried about feeling isolated out there,” she says. “But it turns out we’ve been more social since hitting the road than we ever were in our neighborhood! We’ve met people from all over – and we keep in touch on Facebook and plan to meet up down the road.” Many RV caravans and clubs cater to full-timers, from general interest groups to niche communities (for example, there are clubs for solo women travelers, for retired military veterans, and more). The sense of camaraderie eases the transition; as Jim puts it, “We sold our house, but we inherited a huge community on wheels.”
Counting the Costs: Financial Freedom or Trade-Offs?
Beyond the romance of adventure, there’s a very real financial angle to selling a home and living in an RV. For some retirees, full-time RV living offers a path to stretch their retirement dollars; for others, it might simply shift expenses around. So how does life on wheels stack up against life in a house when it comes to cost?
First, by selling their house, the Millers eliminated some hefty bills: no more mortgage, property taxes, or costly home repairs like replacing a roof or AC unit. “Our property tax alone was $4,500 a year, and homeowners insurance another $1,200,” Jim notes. “That money can now fuel a lot of miles on the road.” They also no longer pay city water bills or high electricity bills for a 2,400-square-foot home. In an RV, utility costs are minimal – propane for cooking and heating, maybe $50 a month, and electricity is often included in campground fees or significantly less due to the smaller space.
RV living, however, comes with its own set of expenses. As financial advisors are quick to point out, it’s not as simple as trading a house for a freewheeling life rent-free. “You have to create a realistic budget for full-time RV life, just like you would at home,” says Karen Lopez, a Mesa-based retirement planner. “Often people underestimate costs like campground fees or RV maintenance. The expenses are different from a house, but they are still there.” For example, you won’t be spending on lawn care or home maintenance, but you will be budgeting for gas, RV repairs, and overnight parking.
Budgeting considerations retirees should keep in mind include:
RV Purchase and Gear: The upfront cost of an RV can range widely. Whether it’s a towable travel trailer or a drivable motorhome, you might spend anywhere from $30,000 for a used smaller rig to well over $150,000 for a newer, luxury model. Some retirees pay cash from the proceeds of their home sale; others might carry an RV loan (so budget for those monthly payments). Don’t forget extra gear too – from solar panels to tow dollies, it can add up.
Campground Fees vs. Utilities: Staying at RV parks isn’t free (though boondocking on public lands can be). In Arizona’s East Valley, a modest RV park might charge $500-$800 per month, which often includes water, sewer and maybe electricity. High-end resorts with pools and clubhouses (popular for snowbirds in Apache Junction) can be $1,000+ monthly. The upside: this replaces many home expenses (electric, water, trash, maybe even cable/internet) and you can choose cheaper or free options when budget is tight by camping off-grid.
Fuel and Maintenance: Gasoline or diesel to move a house on wheels is a significant cost if you’re covering long distances. Many full-timers budget hundreds of dollars for fuel each month, especially when touring across states. It pays to travel slowly – linger longer in each spot – to save on gas. Maintenance is another inevitable expense: oil changes, new tires (a big RV may have 6-10 tires!), fixing the wear-and-tear that comes with constant motion. It’s wise to set aside an emergency fund for surprise repairs – a blown transmission or leaky roof can cost thousands, just as a home repair could.
Insurance and Healthcare: Full-time RV insurance is a must. It typically covers your vehicle and also the equivalent of “home” coverage for your belongings and liability. Rates can be lower than a house+car combined, but it depends on the rig and your driving record. Health care is another budget item that doesn’t disappear; retirees on Medicare should ensure their plan covers them wherever they travel. Many opt for nationwide provider plans or know where to find clinics on the road. Travel health insurance and roadside assistance plans (for towing that big rig in case of breakdown) are also smart investments.
Everyday Living Expenses: Groceries, dining out, prescriptions, cell phone and internet – these day-to-day expenses follow you into RV life. Some find they spend less dining out because they cook in their small RV kitchens. Others might spend more exploring local eateries in each new town. Importantly, reliable internet may mean subscribing to multiple cell data plans or satellite internet if you plan to boondock in remote areas (a consideration especially for those doing remote work or just wanting Netflix on a dusty highway!). Include a line item for fun, too – national park passes, museum entries, or the occasional tourist attraction. This is retirement living, after all.
On balance, many East Valley RV retirees report that their monthly living costs are equal or a bit lower than owning a home used to be. If an RV is paid off and they favor free campsites or long stays, a frugal couple can live on perhaps $2,000 a month. Those who enjoy resort-style RV parks, dine out frequently, or rack up the miles might spend $4,000 or more per month – proving that RV living can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. The real financial advantage, according to planner Karen Lopez, is flexibility. “In a house, a lot of costs are fixed. On the road, if money gets tight, you can adjust – stay put longer, seek cheaper parks or volunteer for free campsites, and travel shorter distances,” she explains. The key is having a cushion for the unplanned: an RV breakdown, a spike in gas prices, or a medical issue that requires a hotel stay and treatment.
“We Did It!” – One Couple’s Story of Life on the Road
Tom and Linda Watkins felt the tug of the open road after Tom’s 2019 retirement from the tech industry. The Queen Creek couple, both in their mid-60s, realized they had spent most of their lives working long hours and maintaining a big suburban home. “We loved our house, but we started to ask, is this where we want to be for the rest of our lives? Or do we want to go see all those places on our bucket list?” Linda recalls. They decided to take a leap: they sold the house (cashing in on a hot real estate market), held a massive yard sale to whittle belongings down to a few storage bins, and bought a 2015 Class C motorhome.
That was two years ago. Today, the Watkins are seasoned nomads who have traveled to 22 states. Linda’s eyes sparkle when she describes watching the sunrise over New Mexico’s White Sands, or spending a summer volunteering at a campground in Yellowstone in exchange for a free RV site. “Every day is different. I step out of our RV with my coffee and I might be greeted by a mountain vista, a forest, or the sight of hot air balloons drifting over the desert. It’s magical,” she says.
Any surprises or regrets? Tom chuckles about the challenges of RV maintenance. “Our third week out, in Colorado, the RV’s furnace died on a freezing night. I’m not a handy guy by nature, but I became one fast!” He describes learning to fix a lot of minor issues himself, from sealing a roof leak to replacing a water pump. The couple also learned to pace themselves. Early on, they zoomed through six states in a month – and felt exhausted. “We learned this isn’t a vacation, it’s our life. Now we slow down and spend two, three, even six weeks in one spot if we like it. We’ve ditched the itinerary,” Tom says.
Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the friendships. “We expected to sightsee. We didn’t expect to make so many friends,” Linda says. The Watkins connected with a group of fellow full-timers they met at an RV park in Utah. By happy coincidence, they kept bumping into each other at different stops. Eventually, they coordinated travels. “Now we have a loose caravan of six couples,” Linda explains. “We plan to meet up in Yuma this winter. It’s like we have a roaming neighborhood – we call ourselves the ‘wheel estate’ club!”
Not every moment is picture-perfect. The Watkins admit there are hard days: getting lost down a narrow road, or feeling a pang of homesickness when missing a grandchild’s birthday back in Arizona. Linda keeps a small bulletin board in the RV with family photos and mementos. They schedule regular video calls with family, and occasionally fly back to Phoenix for the holidays (parking the RV in a long-term lot). “RV life doesn’t mean you stop being a grandparent or friend,” Linda says. “It just means home is wherever family is – sometimes we drive to them, sometimes we come ‘home’ to visit.”
In spite of challenges, they wouldn’t trade their new lifestyle. “We feel healthier and happier. We’re outside more, we’re active. And we’re finally doing all those things we talked about doing someday,” Tom reflects. “If you’d told me a decade ago I’d sell my house and live in a motorhome, I’d say you were crazy. But here we are – and it’s the best decision we ever made.”
Road Bumps: The Challenges of Full-Time RV Living
Life on the road isn’t endless summer and easy living all the time. Retirees who’ve done it candidly talk about the pitfalls and adjustments required. It’s important for anyone considering this path to understand the realities behind the romance.
Maintenance & Repairs: If you think owning a home involves a lot of upkeep, an RV is a house and vehicle combined – hurtling down bumpy highways at 65 mph. Things will break. It’s a guarantee. From engine trouble to leaking slide-outs or fried electrical circuits, RVers must either learn basic repair skills or be prepared to hunt down mechanics in unfamiliar towns (and foot the bill). This can be stressful and costly. Regular maintenance, like checking roof seals, changing oil, and repacking wheel bearings, becomes a part of the routine. Some retirees actually enjoy the tinkering and upkeep; others say it’s a necessary downside. “We’ve had more ‘adventures’ in repair shops than we’d like,” jokes one full-timer. Having a roadside assistance plan and a trusted mobile RV mechanic in your contacts can be a lifesaver. And when your home is in the shop, you might be sleeping in a motel for a few nights – an extra expense to plan for.
Living in Tight Quarters: Adjusting to a significantly smaller living space can test even the best of relationships. Going from a spacious East Valley house to a 200-square-foot RV means you’ll be spending a lot of time in close proximity to your spouse or travel partner. There’s less personal space and virtually no privacy at times. Couples report that communication and patience are key. “If one of us needs alone time, one takes a walk or sits outside for a bit,” says Sandra Miller. “We’ve learned not to bump into each other (literally and figuratively). It took a few weeks, but we found a new rhythm.” Storage space is also limited, so you have to be mindful of new purchases (one souvenir in, maybe one shirt out). On the flip side, many retirees say the coziness becomes comforting, and it forces you to spend quality time together exploring rather than sitting in separate rooms on screens.
Isolation vs. Connection: Being away from longtime friends, family, and a familiar community can lead to bouts of loneliness or feeling uprooted. Some full-time RVers combat this by maintaining a home base in their community (perhaps keeping a small condo or renting a storage unit and mailing address in Queen Creek, for example) and coming “home” for part of each year. Others schedule family visits into their travel plans or invite family to join them on the road for a week of camping. Technology helps – it’s easier than ever to video chat with grandkids or share travel photos on social media to stay connected. And as mentioned, the nomad community itself provides new friendships. But there can be holidays or special occasions that feel hard. One expert suggests “set expectations with loved ones – you might miss some birthdays, but perhaps you’ll host the family at a fun destination instead.” The freedom of RV life means you can be there for important moments – if you’re willing to drive cross-country for a graduation or a new baby, you can. Still, not everyone is prepared for the emotional aspect of being untethered from a hometown. It’s something to consider seriously: will you feel adrift without a permanent neighborhood, or invigorated by the change?
Address, Bills, and Logistics: Practical challenges abound, too. What do you do about mail when you have no fixed address? Many full-timers use mail forwarding services or have a family member act as a mail drop. You’ll need to choose a domicile state for things like driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance – some Arizona RVers keep Arizona as their home base, others shift to states like Texas or South Dakota that cater to full-time RVers with friendly laws. Managing finances on the road is mostly digital now, which helps. Doctors’ appointments and prescriptions require planning ahead to be in the right place or using national chains. Even finding reliable internet can be a challenge when you’re camped in a gorgeous but remote locale (satellite internet and cellular boosters are common solutions). Retirees say none of these obstacles are deal-breakers, but they do require adaptability and a problem-solving mindset. “The learning curve was steep in the beginning,” Tom Watkins admits. “The first time our mail forwarding service overnighted a bundle of our letters to General Delivery at a post office, I thought – wow, this is really different. But now it’s routine.”
Financial Surprises: Earlier we talked about budgeting, and it’s often the unexpected costs that catch people off guard. Maybe it’s a sudden spike in campground fees in popular areas (supply and demand can drive nightly rates up to $80+ in tourist hotspots). Or the price of diesel fuel doubling during a particular year, straining the travel budget. Or discovering that fancy RV resort with the great amenities – the one you really want to stay at for a month in the winter – charges resort prices that rival a mortgage payment. The best antidote is keeping a financial cushion and building flexibility into your plans. If costs run high, a willingness to change course can save the day (perhaps spend a month boondocking on BLM land for free to balance out a month in that pricey resort). Financial experts advise full-timers to keep an emergency fund and track expenses carefully, especially in the first year on the road, to adjust the budget as needed.
Expert Advice: Preparing for the Leap
Before listing the house and packing your life into an RV, it’s wise to do some homework and soul-searching. Experts – from financial planners to seasoned RV lifestyle veterans – have plenty of advice for retirees considering this unconventional path.
1. Try Before You Buy (or Sell). “Don’t go all-in without a test run,” urges Mark Douglas, a Phoenix financial advisor who has helped several clients transition to RV life. He recommends renting an RV for an extended trip or trying a season as a snowbird first. “Live in that small space for a few weeks or months. Experience the lifestyle in practice – driving, cooking, sleeping, the works – to make sure it matches your dreams.” This trial run can reveal whether you love the mobility or feel claustrophobic, and whether any deal-breakers arise. It’s much easier to change course before you’ve sold your home and bought an expensive rig.
2. Know Your Numbers. Douglas emphasizes making a detailed budget (and padding it for safety). “I have clients list out all expected expenses: RV payments, insurance, fuel, average camping fees, healthcare, food, entertainment, phone plans, you name it. Then add a healthy contingency for the unknown. If the total still looks comfortable within your retirement income, that’s a green light. If not, you may need to adjust your plans or spending.” A common piece of advice is to budget at least 10-15% over what you think you’ll spend each month. It provides wiggle room for surprise repairs or a special excursion opportunity. Also, consider income opportunities on the road if desired: some retirees pick up gigs at campgrounds (known as “workamping”), seasonal jobs at national parks, or even remote part-time work to supplement their funds and stay busy.
3. Downsize Deliberately. Letting go of a longtime home and most possessions can be emotionally challenging. RV lifestyle experts suggest taking it in stages. Start paring down belongings well in advance – sell, donate or gift items and keep only what truly matters or will fit in the RV. Some folks keep a small storage unit for items they can’t part with (family heirlooms, photo albums or furniture they might want if they ever “re-stick”). Keep in mind the weight and space limitations of your RV; every item must earn its place. The process can actually be refreshing. “Think of it as curating your future life,” says Elaine Carter, who runs a retiree RV living blog. “You choose the best and leave the rest.” And yes, you can always buy things on the road if you find you miss them – there are Walmarts everywhere! The takeaway: don’t rush the downsizing, and involve your family if you can (adult kids might want some of the furniture or memorabilia you won’t take with you).
4. Plan for Healthcare and Insurance. Before hitting the road, sort out how you’ll handle medical needs. If you have doctors you love in the East Valley, ensure you can still access care – maybe through annual check-ups when you swing through town, or using telemedicine services. Make sure your health insurance (Medicare or otherwise) is portable or consider switching plans to one with a nationwide network. Prescription refills can be managed by mail-order pharmacies or national chains like CVS/Walgreens which you can find nearly anywhere. For insurance, talk to an agent who understands full-time RV living. Policies should cover personal liability (as a homeowner policy would), comprehensive vehicle coverage, and often “loss-of-use” coverage which pays for lodging if your rig is in repair after an accident. These details are important for peace of mind on the road.
5. Embrace Flexibility – Mentally and Logistically. Perhaps the biggest advice from those who’ve done it is to maintain a flexible mindset. Even with all the planning, things will go wrong or plans will change. Weather might derail your route (e.g., a hurricane heading toward the Gulf Coast might mean you quickly reroute west). You might hate a campground you thought you’d love, and decide to leave early. Or conversely, you might fall in love with a town and want to stay longer (if so, do it!). Rigorous itineraries can cause stress; it helps to have a general plan but be willing to pivot. Also, emotionally, be prepared for an adjustment period. “Give yourself a few months to get your sea legs,” advises blogger Elaine Carter. “The first time you’re sitting in your RV in some unfamiliar state and realize ‘I really don’t have a house anymore,’ it can be weird. But soon, the RV is home.” Many full-timers report that after about six months, they fully acclimate to the new lifestyle and can’t imagine going back.
Not Just for Retirees: A Growing Nomadic Trend Among Younger Folks
Interestingly, the appeal of the nomadic life isn’t limited to retirees. In recent years, a number of younger professionals and families have been taking what some call “micro-retirements” or sabbaticals to hit the road long before traditional retirement age. Instead of waiting until their 60s or 70s to travel extensively, people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are embracing a bit of the RV lifestyle now, often in the form of van life or extended RV travel.
These younger nomads might take a year off between jobs, work remotely while traveling, or save up for a multi-month cross-country journey. Their setups are often smaller (think converted camper vans or travel trailers) and their term on the road shorter, but the motivations echo those of older RVers: a craving for freedom, adventure, and a break from the conventional grind. Social media has popularized this trend — with hashtags like #vanlife showcasing images of mobile tiny-home living in exotic locales — and made it more accessible through shared tips.
Some even refer to it as taking a piece of retirement early: instead of grinding away for decades and hoping to be healthy enough to travel later, why not sprinkle life with adventurous intervals? For example, a young couple from Gilbert might rent out their home, take a 6-month unpaid sabbatical from work, and explore the country in a camper van, treating it as a mid-career “reset.” They gain rich experiences and memories, then return to jobs or new careers recharged. Employers are slowly becoming more understanding of sabbaticals and extended travel breaks, especially after the rise of remote work in the past few years. This mini-retirement movement shows that the nomadic spirit has no age limit – it’s about the mindset of valuing experiences over convention.
For retirees considering full-timing, seeing younger families and professionals out there on the road can be a bonus: it brings diversity to the RV community. At many campgrounds, you might find retirees in big motorhomes parked next to a 30-something digital nomad in a tricked-out van, and end up swapping stories over the campfire. The intergenerational mix adds a new flavor to the classic retiree RV scene, proving that the lure of the open road spans generations.
The New American Dream?
Selling your home to live in an RV isn’t a decision to take lightly. It’s a profound lifestyle change that comes with trade-offs. You exchange a fixed address for endless horizons, a foundation for a set of wheels. You let go of a lot of material things, but you collect experiences and memories by the mile. For many East Valley retirees like the Millers, Watkins, and others, the equation balances out in favor of freedom.
In Apache Junction, you might notice more “For Sale” signs in front of homes owned by recent retirees, and not far away, more shiny RVs pulling out for parts unknown. It’s a trend born from a combination of practical financial reasoning and an adventurous spirit. Financially, it can make sense: cash out on a high home value, reduce monthly overhead, and travel while you’re still healthy enough to enjoy it. Emotionally, it fulfills that lifelong dream of adventure – turning the retirement years into a grand road trip rather than a rocking chair on the porch.
This lifestyle certainly isn’t for everyone. Some retirees try it for a year or two and decide they miss the stability of a home, opting for a happy medium (maybe becoming snowbirds who RV part of the year and have a small home base for the rest). Others dive in and never look back, finding that home was never a building, but a feeling you carry with you.
As the sun sets over the desert, Jim and Sandra Miller park their fifth-wheel at a scenic overlook near Sedona, their very first stop as full-time travelers. They set out a couple of camp chairs and toast with coffee mugs as the sky turns orange and purple. “Can you believe this is our life now?” Sandra whispers, giddy and content. Jim smiles, “Home sweet home,” he says, gesturing at the vista in front of them.
For these retirees-turned-nomads, home is where they park it – and tonight, that’s a red-rock vista in Arizona. Tomorrow? It could be a mountain meadow in Colorado or a beachside campground in California. The possibilities are as open as the road ahead, and that’s exactly the point.
If you’re considering the full-time RV life: take stock of your finances, talk it over deeply with your partner or family, maybe test the waters with a long RV trip. There are as many stories as there are RVers – each with challenges and triumphs. With the right mindset and preparation, the road can indeed be a path to an exciting new chapter in retirement. Safe travels!
Images by Freepik.com
