If you "can't be a nomad", wouldn't that mean you are so weak or your health is so poor that you really can't drive or fend for yourself very well? I don't think a RV park or tiny house village is a viable answer. There are assisted living places, and nursing homes...
While health is a reason for being unable to live as a nomad, basically anything that makes you ineligible for a drivers license will accomplish the same thing... which could be a vision issue, narcolepsy, seizures, certain medications. Hopefully that is the kind of circumstance rather than a more severe infirmity...
rrruuff, Thanks for consigning me to a nursing home because I am considering an eventual end to my wandering ways.
And BTW, we will ALL need to stop wandering eventually. I'm just trying to plan ahead a little bit and consider possible options. .
rrruuff, Thanks for consigning me to a nursing home because I am considering an eventual end to my wandering ways.
So far I've done a pretty shitty of job of predicting what it's really like to get old... but isn't it really impossible? I think it's tough to manage the slide into oblivion, especially if alone (no designated help). Based on the experience of close family members who have passed recently, we tend to go from functional to dead pretty quickly. But plenty of people have long nursing home stays. I think if you need an interim "plan" that bridges the gap between being no longer able to drive, but still taking care of yourself, being in town and close to things is more sensible. A little off grid place may work for awhile, but those tend to involve more work and maintenance than being in town, plus if you can't drive, you're kinda stuck there. I see that becoming non-viable about the same time as vagabonding.Finding a "landing spot" with "easy walk and decent public transit" might be a challenge. I live in an inexpensive large midwestern city and, within 6-8 blocks, can walk to Kroger, Walmart, Walgreens, my doctor (GP), my dentist, multiple bus stops, Barnes & Noble, lots of restaurants (Five Guys, Great Wall, Panera, pizza places, etc), Trader Joe's, Aldi, banks, etc. I don't live in a "sexy" city but my social security covers all of my expenses (except for the help I give my kids, which is why I keep drawing down my retirement accounts). Within 50 miles are lots of small rural communities which are losing population and where one might find inexpensive housing. In these communities when someone dies and their house goes on sale, it often sells at a huge discount to its "fair value." Living in one of these rural communities leaves one within an hour's drive of medical specialists, Costco, Sam's Club, dental specialists and the whole "big city" service sector.rrruuff, Thanks for consigning me to a nursing home because I am considering an eventual end to my wandering ways.
Just an FYI, there are many possible steps before nursing homes. Without going into detail, my health is very good - for my age. Not without a few hiccups, mainly my eyesight and reaction time moving at highway speeds. But I'm not ready for a nursing home quite yet. And, on that subject, I might consider other more permanent options before I choose that one. Although I do worry about someday being consigned to some such facility against my wishes. Just saying...
As far as settling down where there is "easy walk and decent public transit" - that pretty much would lead one toward an urban environment where the cost of living is often sky high. In my experience, a lower cost of living is usually rural, if not really really rural, AKA off grid rural. but I'm not ruling that entirely out. No, my question was in the realm of "is there anything or any place I have not thought of yet?"
Perhaps Bob Wells vid concerning Caballo Loco. Maybe idea of an option. Or his vid about buying a small piece of land that will allow you to live full time on it. I'll be 75 in a few months and other nomad friends and l have been taking about getting adjoining parcels of land. Good luck friend.rrruuff, Thanks for consigning me to a nursing home because I am considering an eventual end to my wandering ways.
Just an FYI, there are many possible steps before nursing homes. Without going into detail, my health is very good - for my age. Not without a few hiccups, mainly my eyesight and reaction time moving at highway speeds. But I'm not ready for a nursing home quite yet. And, on that subject, I might consider other more permanent options before I choose that one. Although I do worry about someday being consigned to some such facility against my wishes. Just saying...
As far as settling down where there is "easy walk and decent public transit" - that pretty much would lead one toward an urban environment where the cost of living is often sky high. In my experience, a lower cost of living is usually rural, if not really really rural, AKA off grid rural. but I'm not ruling that entirely out. No, my question was in the realm of "is there anything or any place I have not thought of yet?"
I plan to be scattered. So long as there is wind and water, so I shall wander. It's that bit before between lack of self-mobility and being scattered that's tricky to deal with...
Illinois has inexpensive rural homes, too. Some as low as $15-$20K that don't need a ton of work. Most in good shape are $45-$50K.
This info on the USDA Rural Development may be one of the very best directions for anyone looking for a landing place. Thank you for sharing this. I wish every RV related forum would talk about this. Carla, do you happen to know how one would proceed with the USDA program?
Call any USDA office in a state where you want to live. If you know which area of the state, even better.
Carla, Thanks for the link. I did take a quick look and only saw references to Single FAMILY assistance and nothing about Senior Single Retired Person assistance. It doesn't mean it's not there. Just that the site seems focused differently. I'll look at it that possibility more though. I am also thinking that taking out a 30 year loan much past retirement age might seem a bit optimistic to most lenders. Even with gov backing. But who knows?
You shouldn't need a 33 year mortgage. From what I've heard they try to steer you into small ranch houses that don't need any work. Or much work. And rural houses (without land) are pretty cheap. $40-$50K. I'd want to make sure my kids can continue with the payments or buy it after I die.Carla, Thanks for the link. I did take a quick look and only saw references to Single FAMILY assistance and nothing about Senior Single Retired Person assistance. It doesn't mean it's not there. Just that the site seems focused differently. I'll look at it that possibility more though. I am also thinking that taking out a 30 year loan much past retirement age might seem a bit optimistic to most lenders. Even with gov backing. But who knows?
What I have seen are owner financed bare lots/acreage with 3-5 year pay off that might work for better for me. It's just the exact where and when and can I park and live in an RV there? Maybe build a storage shed and a 55 gal sewer tank to meet the minimum requirements. I really didn't want to go back to home ownership/financing/mortgage living. I know that often what someone wants doesn't always match possibilities. But I can hope. Maybe I could find a cheap and legal shack in some dying Midwest or Western town that I can hide an RV behind to live in? I would love to just find an out of the way inexpensive RV park I could just pull into and pay <$250. Dreaming...
Grants for 62-year-olds and up might just be for fixing health and safety issues in your house. Pretty sure the grant can be used in conjunction with the mortgage. It is for $10K and doesn't have to be repaid if you live in the house for 3 years afterward.
You could convert a two car garage into a living space. Lots of rural towns are lax on codes. I've seen several garages on big lots for sale on Zillow for Illinois. Priced from $9K to $19K and up
