Warm Place to Spend the Winter

[gcal]

After living in SE Florida for the past 20 years, I can't tolerate the cold very well. Unfortunately, there's no place to boondock here. You have to go to central Florida which is a bit colder and boondocking there, though possible, isn't easy.  I'm afraid that SW Arizona will be way too cold for me. Any suggestions for a warm place (nighttime temperatures in the 50's daytime temperatures in the 70's) to boondock for the winter? I would be willing to pay a minimal amount for a primitive campsite if necessary. Has anyone spent the winter in the southern Baja peninsula or elsewhere in Mexico? What are the pros and cons of that?

We lived in central Florida for over 20 years and are currently wintering here at an obscene $600 a month plus electricity so that we can spend time with family, get some medical and dental work done, and have access to Son's workshop to do some major RV projects. This is the cheapest we found, altho I remember a campground in Cedar Key a few years ago that was quite reasonable. If you are accustomed to southern Florida, this might not be the place for you. It was in the mid 30's last night. 

I don't know anywhere around the Tampa Bay area where you can boondock without being harassed and chased away. Even Walmarts are getting difficult as town and city ordinances are often enacted to discourage transients. Tourism is a major industry, here. If you have not got money to spend, they don't want you.

Do not sell your ability to acclimate short, tho. Even at our age, we quickly got used to the cooler weather when we traveled in the north. We were actually uncomfortable with the intense heat and humidity in Florida when we came here in November. Give your body a chance and keep an open mind. You may find that things that you thought would be extremely unpleasant are not unpleasant at all.

 

[NickTheoBennett]

This may be a little off the wall, but has anyone looked into shipping a van to Puerto Rico and spending the winter down there?

Regards
John

John,

Just for kicks I looked into it, and this shipping company says they will ship a vehicle from Jacksonville to San Juan, PR for just under $1100 US.  That's not nearly as expensive as I had imagined it. Of course, you still have to pay for your own transportation, so moving there and back would probably cost you around $3,000 round trip.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

John,

Just for kicks I looked into it, and this shipping company says they will ship a vehicle from Jacksonville to San Juan, PR for just under $1100 US.  That's not nearly as expensive as I had imagined it.  Of course, you still have to pay for your own transportation, so moving there and back would probably cost you around $3,000 round trip.

Hmmn.  Well, if you go for 6 months, that works out to $500 a month.  Might be worth it to be camping on tropical beaches while everyone else is battling cold and snow . . .

Regards
John

 

[becida]

Have you thought of Hawaii? They speak English & the Big Island is a big place. I don't recall what Matson charges to ship a van to Hawaii.

 

[Patrick46]

There's a tug boat company less than a mile from my house, and they have tugs bouncing back and forth from Hawaii just about every week.

It's about the same $3000 for a round trip to the islands.

(...or $1500 if you plan on staying! )

 

[gnarledwolf]

I just spent my winter in Quartzsite, in a tent. Lowest temp was 28, and it cost me nothing as I was on blm and generated my own power. I don't love Quartzsite.... wayyyyy too busy, but it did serve my needs very well and I'm told it's been much colder than it usually is.

-Matt

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Matt...I think you and your brother did pretty well. You scored jobs early on and made some bucks while living about as cheap as I've ever seen done.
I hope you find the place of your dreams.

 

[SoulRaven]

I have never transported my van overseas. Instead, I put it in locked enclosed storage, then either fly or take a cruise ship to my destination, then purchase a cheap van when I arrive. I quickly and cheaply convert it into a camper, and use it until I have had my fill. Then I sell it, usually for about twice what I paid for it, because now it is a camper van, so it has actually cost me nothing other than the trip to and from my destination.

When I get home, my trusty home on wheels is waiting for me, without any possible damage or pilferage associated with shipping it.

When I did Hawaii off and on for 3 years, I just put the van in storage over there when I wasn't there. Once I knew I wouldn't be returning any time soon, I sold it before coming home. I used it for 3 years, on and off, and sold it for $3k more than what I paid for it. The camper conversion only cost me about ~$400.

One time visiting Spain, I knew I only had 2 weeks, so I rented a van, put a cot in it, a bucket toilet, camping style stove & cooler, and dishpans for sinks and called it good. I'm sure it saved me money, but more importantly I was free to travel and never had to worry about finding a new place to stay each night.