Retirement on the Road: The Growing Trend of Grey Nomad RV Camping

Everyone looks forward to hanging up their hats, taking a step back and enjoying all the things they’ve worked so hard for. The mortgage might be paid off, and grandchildren could be running around in the garden. But is this really what all that hard work has been leading up to?

An increasing number of people are beginning to view their retirement as a time to reconnect with the freedom of their youth by joining the Grey Nomad RV camping community. Unburdened by the 9-5, more and more retirees are discovering the open road and the community that it brings. Strap on your seatbelts and join us as we explore the growing trend of retiree RV camping and the enrichment it can bring to those golden years.

Finances

Most people aim to be financially stable by the time they reach retirement age with mortgages and large loans paid off to enjoy time to themselves. For some, it is a time to focus on some long-overdue home renovations or finally get around to building that extension. What else are you going to do with all that spare cash all of a sudden? 

There are also people who reach retirement age and might be experiencing financial difficulty. Whichever camp you fall into, RV camping could be the solution to your problems. More and more retiree citizens are realising the value of their tied-up finances by selling their houses and opting out of their rental agreements. 

A one-off purchase fee for an RV results in a space that you can truly call your own. When you fully commit to the road and become a 'full-timer' you can forget about your hard-earned retirement money being spent on repayments or rent. Fuel and insurance are your obvious costs but after that it is up to you, the owner, how cheap or lavishly you would like to live. You may spend a month visiting an area rich in vineyards for example and treat yourself to hotel accommodation. Or you may want to spend time alone in the bush reconnecting with nature. 

Some energy-conscious RV owners even install solar panels on their vehicles which makes them self-sufficient and removes the need to pay hook-up fees when camping at designated sites. Either way, joining the RV community as a retiree citizen gives you much more control over the money you have and where and how you spend it. 

Comfort

Do you have a favourite chair? A favourite hob? A favourite set of cutlery even? It's easy to accumulate possessions and attach value to them, but more and more retirees are realising that memories are worth so much more. Some retirees might find it difficult at first to give up their creature comforts, and they also might find the idea of downsizing daunting, but modern RVs really are fully equipped homes on wheels.

RVs at the higher end of the price range are even kitted out with solar power, full bathroom amenities, a washer and dryer, and even fireplaces. Not to mention, it is a much more compact space to keep clean and tidy. 

What about all my stuff?

• Sell it. Declutter. Just keep the bare essentials
• Put it into storage
• Digitise photographs 

What a comfort to know that all the things you need are right there with you wherever you go.

Community

The 2020 box office hit Nomadland brought the retiree RV community into the spotlight. When Fern, a middle-aged widow, decides to give up her menial day-to-day job and hit the road she encounters a community of like-minded individuals along the way that enrich her with their shared experiences. She learns an important lesson, that growing older does not have to mean isolation. As people get older, their circle of friends gets smaller and opportunities to socialise occur less frequently. In the past, this is a norm that older people have accepted as part of life. Not anymore.

The full-timer community is thriving. Older people from all walks of life have discovered the freedom of living in their RVs. Some arrange to meet up in towns somewhere down the track, others decide to pitch up next to each other for a few weeks and enjoy each other’s company. When camping up for the colder months, gathering around a campfire and sharing stories under the stars with friends beats spending time alone in an empty house any day.

Family

Being on the road does not mean that you have to leave your family behind. Quite often, RV owners will make sure to pass through their hometowns at least once a year to catch up with loved ones. They might even pick up mail from a private post box or family member’s address. 

But for those who don’t have much of a family in their retirement, it is the people they meet on the road who matter.

Discovery and experiences 

Why should retirement be a time to slow down? Vast countries like Australia are begging to be explored with hidden riches everywhere. Whether you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to remote places like the Bungle Bungle Ranges in Western Australia or spend time exploring metropolises like Sydney, owning an RV gives you the freedom to do so and most importantly, at your own pace. 

Has that bucket list been growing? Now is the time to tick off some of those experiences you just haven't had time for. The bungee jump? The Grand Canyon? The open road beckons. You needn't feel as though you are restricted to the roads of your home country. There are plenty of tried and tested RV rentals all over the world that are professional and reliable. You could have breakfast in France, lunch in Germany and dinner in Switzerland. The potential for exploration is endless.

Top tips

If you are seriously considering joining the Full-Timer RV community, there are a number of important things to consider for your own peace of mind:

• Make sure your insurance covers long-term occupation of the vehicle. Some policies do not include this, which can trip people up
• Make sure your insurance covers the contents of your RV, not just the vehicle itself
• Get a full up-to-date mechanical inspection before setting off, and make sure you keep your records. RV breakdowns can get expensive quickly, and some insurance companies demand proof of annual inspections.
• Make sure your health insurance covers you nationwide. Some policies apply only within the state or territory purchased, which can catch people out when they are travelling across big distances.
• If travelling around a new continent or country, make sure the area is safe and read up on local camping laws and restrictions.

What’s stopping you?

There are many reasons why the grey nomad RV community is growing; control of finances, freedom to explore and a community of like-minded people are just a few. So, if you think you’re ready to make the most of your retirement and join the growing full-timer community see what RV Parts Express has to offer. It could be the start of the rest of your life.