24/7 Chat About Anything

[maki2]

I will not be choosing to be on a piece of property as for sure I would not physically be able to look after it.

 

[user 22017]

Oregon, Washington and California all
have yurts available to camp in at some of the state parks. No need to go back to the ‘60’s to find them. They are very popular on the “left” coast and especially at the State Parks along the coast!

Yurts are everywhere, Maki. I've seen the option to rent them at state parks in the midwest.

This summer camp in southern Illinois has ten yurts: https://campmanitowa.com/camp-manitowa-properties

They're not just for hippies anymore

 

[vanbrat]

I will not be choosing to be on a piece of property as for sure I would not physically be able to look after it.

We are living in our supposed to be for ever home. A few years ago we thought we may have to be someplace else when we retired.... Then we got a reverse mortgage and Covid hit and we decided not to go on the road.... Just have some fun road trips.

Fast forward to this year and we are now facing the very real possibility that we are at the end of the time that we can take care of where we are, cancer is a bitch.

I have also had to think about if I am on my own I know I can not handle this place alone and I do NOT want to. I would go on the road, but first I would buy a small condo for when I am here, close to my family. Both kids have said I could move in with them and their other halves, but NO NO and a big NO. I would never do that to them, I am not that easy to live with. I would rather be the M I L who shows up holidays and has great adventure stories and who does not get in the way.... Lots of video chats and stuff like that. The one son has said he would be the mail guy and parrot sitter, the other the condo checker and maybe the fish sitter..

Nice to have a plan... even if it is just laughed at by the gods...

 

[Happy Camper]

What is love?
Oh baby, don't yurt me
Don't yurt me
No more
Baby, don't yurt me, don't yurt me
No more
What is love?
Yeah



I'll show myself out

 

[bullfrog !]

Additional dwelling units are beginning to be allowed as well as tiny homes in areas zoned for single family dwellings. Boxable has a handicap floor plan that is pretty amazing. A toyhauler trailer makes mobility issues less concerning especially if combined with an easy to get into or out of side by side. Having property that allows multi use in their zoning makes RV hookups in a side or back yard possible. Just keep in mind many seniors end up needing care due to falls and things like broken hips so take precautions and exercise to stay healthy. Hopefully there will be more facilities like Escapees Care Center in Livingston Texas in the furure.

 

[maki2]

i do not feel like I have to live in an RV to have a contented life. So for me I do not see myself wanting to live in an RV if I can’t travel in it. I can’t see myself wanting to live in an RV park. An efficiency apartment would be a lot more comfortable in my old age years than dealing with RV plumbing and electrical systems. Plus the insulation would be a lot better.

 

[user 22017]

i do not feel like I have to live in an RV to have a contented life. So for me I do not see myself wanting to live in an RV if I can’t travel in it. I can’t see myself wanting to live in an RV park. An efficiency apartment would be a lot more comfortable in my old age years than dealing with RV plumbing and electrical systems. Plus the insulation would be a lot better.

So true. And many are in RV's because the government stopped building enough affordable subsidized housing. One thing the government does exceptionally well is build structures. It's a shame what they (government officials) have done to HUD.

 

[bullfrog !]

^^^Problem is cheap apartments especially handicap accessible ones are maybe hard to afford and find. An apartment or condo in an over 55 community that may better accommodate an older persons mobility issues or assisted living are usually way more than the average person on Social Security can afford at least the ones I have looked into. One solution is to assist a younger person by buying a property and allowing them to live there in exchange for help maintaining the property with a rent to own type agreement. Another that I have seen work is a young widow who was about to loose her house was doing cleaning work for an elderly woman who through a mutual agreement, the elderly woman sold her house and build basically an apartment onto the house the cleaning woman was about to loose and move in. She lived there a few years comfortably until she passed and the cleaning woman inherited what the elderly woman had left which paid off her house which now had an apartment to rent and increased value. A good deal for both of them. Most RVs are not made to last but usually as long as you are mobile are the cheaper alternative. Many Escapees parks have become basic retirement communities but expensive as improved lots are in the majority of the openings. Cheap living near hospitals and in communities with elderly accommodations like medical transport and social services is difficult to find. More and more good friends are moving onto property together for mutual benefit.

 

[NctryBen]

I don’t believe it’s up to the government to build housing… it’s more their responsibility to not ruin our economy so people can afford to buy or rent a home. With the need out there as it is maybe make incentives to tax less for affordable housing to happen. But government owned housing? No! There are many assisted living opportunities that do this. And bringing in migrant people by the millions now is increasing the strain on housing which drives up costs. So… if your thinking you’ll be needing a sticks and bricks… I’d not wait til it’s to late to get into something. I assume anyone making those kind of plans are saving and positioning to get into such a place. Which could include a short stay with kids heaven forbid. Not sure… can you sell a reversed mortgage house for your equity? Personally, I’m up for croaking in my RV! I think bullfrog is right on a toy hauler as a viable type camper for a disabled person in ways. But I’m looking at when I have surgery… that big door in back isn’t something I’ll be able to operate for a few weeks… sure I can use my “good arm” but I’m guessing even doing that will transfer strain across to the other arm anyways… and with one arm it’s not easy. So it would have to be made easier for that to be an option for disability. Lighter door… possibly a motorized door… but really a great idea! And maki brings on a good point… insulation in a toy hauler is basically non existent. But a camper for a disability could use that concept and build it to accommodate. Which wouldn’t be cheap… cause first off campers are not made to live in. And you’d be needing to find places like typical nomads to cope with weather… very limiting in your typical camper.
I think there could be a nitch in building a quality RV… sellers like camping world as an example demand their cost be low… you sign a deal voiding the factory warranty to use their (camping Worlds) warranty which you buy. And they are in control of all that with the idea they can get you through the warranty period because your RV is just sitting waiting to be fixed in their lot during that period. And they are not alone… that is why buying a camper new today mirrors buying a house only a few years ago as far as price… oops gotta go, I need to up my trucks extended warranty… costing a little more now that it has 640,000 miles on it. But the poor salesman has 13 kids and they are hungry!
My remarks above are my opinion's and not always serious… I’m probably in left field, old fashioned and an idiot. But that’s who I am! Bottom line is we have to think ahead and make tough decisions. Like I say… government programs drive up property taxes forcing people out of their homes and landlords to have to sell houses because rent isn’t able to cover their costs anymore. Owning a home is a joke when you can be taxed out of it in the end! There is no easy solution!
Well, except keep jobs at home and keep people working… but there we go… government regulations make it impossible for that to happen.

 

[vanbrat]

It took my folks a few years to get into a senior apartment and it is subsidized and almost affordable. It is nice and they chose a bigger sized one that was a bit more$$. The amount of paperwork was crazy and pulling information from Mom was crazy and getting her to behave in interviews was not easy. I'm just glad they are now someplace safe and warm and with things that work.

They did the RV full time for a bit, but health issues popped up for Dad and then Mom's mind began to slip so they had to give it up. She did not like it (RV life) and he did not really want to go anywhere. They both have really healthy pensions and SS so they are fine money wise. But they don't do well otherwise. They had parked in son's driveway when things got crazy (covid). I live on an Island and on the side of a hill so they did not want to RV park here and they had been told to leave the RV parking lot as their RV was to old. It took 2 years and they just about killed my son's marriage. Mom's mind was not easy to live with. They moved in with us for about 6 months. And I know that both son and his wife tried very hard but it was just too much. It was hard on my marriage too. (Dementia is also a bitch). While dad was in hospital mom had to try to figure out the heater, she didn't, so pipes all froze. She tried to figure out the stove because she got cold, she didn't almost blew things up. Her dogs were a problem, her 'help' with housework wasn't and the final straw was when she sabotaged an interview for an apartment. Son always tried to get things taken care of and it was amazing how fast she was at undoing things. We joke about some of them now and understand it was just the dementia, but at the time it was terrifying.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is have a backup plan. Saying you're just going to die in RV is not really a plan. Poop happens and if there is not a plan it can quickly become someone else's problem, someone who doesn't deserve the problem.
Oh yea I have decided I am inheriting my brain healthy from my father he is in his 90's and still sharp as a tac.

 

[RonDean]

All of this has started to worry me. Many have laid out the sad facts, so I won't repeat those. Right now, I can afford my mobile lifestyle and I have a daughter that will take me in if I choose to go that direction. But none of us really know what the future may bring. But this time next year she may not want to do so. My accumulated wealth and SS income are not up to the cost of most (all?) senior facilities. Having a Plan B that does not depend on someone else to bail me out would be a wonderful thing!

 

[bullfrog !]

When wages don’t pay the bills for the majority of the working people and all the money is all in the hands of a few or government controlled it is time the government tax the top and redistribute it to educate and enable the bottom to be able to do better paying jobs and raise the minimum wage so people can continue to support those that need it in my opinion. It is not reasonable to abandon those that can no longer work or allow them to suffer in a country as wealthy as ours. Health, education and general welfare should be a given in this country with minimum standards guaranteed by the government as it represents our society and true freedom in my opinion.

 

[user 22017]

Like I say… government programs drive up property taxes forcing people out of their homes and landlords to have to sell houses because rent isn’t able to cover their costs anymore.

Well, except keep jobs at home and keep people working… but there we go… government regulations make it impossible for that to happen.

You should probably be more specific about "government programs" and "government regulations." Any examples?

 

[RonDean]

A couple of entries into this theme:
Todays' Atlantic has an article > The Friends Who Are Caring for Each Other in Older Age
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/...ving-friendship-dependence-elder-care/677410/
This could be applied to a "group" settlement for aging nomads such as many of us.

On the government program issue, we have occasionally touched on how Norway has one of the smallest homeless populations in the world, with only 0.07% of the total population being homeless. Part can be attributed to their "housing first" plan, but it has also been pointed out that this works because of the amount of housing is actually built or owned by their semi-socialist government. Personally, I think if that's all that is required to solve homelessness and senior housing, I'm all for it.

 

[Gr8ful]

Ron, Maybe it's the Oil Fund, Norway has $275,000 for EVERY CITIZEN or maybe Norway doesn't have a $34 Trillion debt like the U.S. does which means our share is over $98.000. each.


Do Norwegian citizens get oil money?
The fund is for the citizens of Norway. “The aim of the fund is to ensure responsible and long-term management of revenue from Norway's oil and gas resources, so that this wealth benefits both current and future generations.” Today the fund is worth nearly $275,000 for every citizen of Norway.Jul 24, 2023. t is considered one of the world's wealthiest countries with a GDP per capita of USD 106,148. Incomes are also more evenly distributed, making every person a consumer.Jan 20, 2024

Basic Info. US Public Debt Per Capita is at a current level of 98.83K, up from 96.49K last month and up from 92.62K one year ago. This is a change of 2.42% from last month and 6.70% from one year ago.

 

[RonDean]

Ron, Maybe it's the Oil Fund, Norway has $275,000 for EVERY CITIZEN or maybe Norway doesn't have a $34 Trillion debt like the U.S. does which means our share is over $98.000. each.


Do Norwegian citizens get oil money?
The fund is for the citizens of Norway. “The aim of the fund is to ensure responsible and long-term management of revenue from Norway's oil and gas resources, so that this wealth benefits both current and future generations.” Today the fund is worth nearly $275,000 for every citizen of Norway.Jul 24, 2023. t is considered one of the world's wealthiest countries with a GDP per capita of USD 106,148. Incomes are also more evenly distributed, making every person a consumer.Jan 20, 2024

Basic Info. US Public Debt Per Capita is at a current level of 98.83K, up from 96.49K last month and up from 92.62K one year ago. This is a change of 2.42% from last month and 6.70% from one year ago.

And yet when listed by total wealth, the US is 1st and Norway is 28th. Maybe that says something about how our wealth is distributed.

To be fair, when listed by GDP per capita at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), and Gross National Income (GNI) it is as follows. This still doesn't explain the disparity between the two different approaches.

8	Norway	82,236.12
9	United States	80,412.41

 

[bullfrog !]

I’m surprised and shocked at how little faith there is in the American worker. I understand the decline as education and training have been allowed to decline and big cooperations have been allowed to take advantage of the situation. Causing many workers not to be able to continue to make a decent livable wage. Many being laid off or discarded as they age. Americans have proven to be some of the most productive workers in the world but now are being crushed by poor management and regulation by the government concerning corporations. The future generation looks even bleaker as they lack motivation, education, training as well as good health and preventative medical care in my opinion.

 

[maki2]

Sometimes these comparisons of what one country can do compared to the USA is apples to oranges stuff. Reality check here please. Norway in terms of size is only a little larger than the state of New Mexico. It has about two and a half times the population of the not at all densely populated state of New Mexico. There is a very long North Sea oils coastline in Norway as much of the shape of Norway is long and skinny.

 

[Gr8ful]

Here's a good comparison of the U.S. vs Norway.
https://borgenproject.org/norway-qu...United States has a,by only Russia and Mexico.

 

[maki2]

The weather is now getting into the 70s up at Lake Havasu City. That means the Nomadic population in Quartzsite is continuing to downsize quickly. Not sure when I will head north but for now I am content where I am with this good weather and better cellular speeds.
Now that there is some excellent weather it is time for me to start tackling some routine outside maintenance's chores on my car and trailer.