Volunteering On The Road Part I – Why Do It?

A very happy Nina w/ puppies at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah in 2010

Given our new-found entry into RV volunteering I figured I would share a few posts about the whole process. Now volunteering is actually something I’ve always done in some form or another even before we went on the road. When I was a child I volunteered at my local school zoo (yes, we had one) and as an adult I continued that trend as an animal shelter volunteer, eventually ending up as a certified dog trainer volunteer. For many years I’ve also run a free online forum for cat issues and have done lots of other smaller volunteer jobs in between. In total I’ve easily logged thousands of volunteer hours over the years (amazing how it adds up). The truth is I’ve always enjoyed it tremendously and when we hit the road one of  my goals was to continue that trend.

Now, finding volunteer jobs while full-time RVing has it’s own set of challenges which I’ll write more about in my next post, but for this post I wanted to focus on the why’s. Why do I do it? Or why should you? Everybody has their own (very) personal reasons of course, but here are the top 5 that come to my mind:

Even a cranky old ICR can teach you something new…

1/ For the Love Of Learning

 One of the things I always strive to do in life is continuously learn and develop. It’s one of the reasons I’m so very fascinated by old stories and how things function (the whole reason I became a scientist too). Volunteering is a great way to do that. By immersing yourself in a job like ours you naturally learn alot about the place, the people and the history of the way things used to be. Other volunteer jobs teach you in different ways, but there is always a learning aspect to all of them.

2/ For the Love Of The Place/People/Animals/Wildlife

Volunteering is very simply a way of giving back to the community while doing something you care about. Whether it’s a historic place (such as our lighthouse), people, animals or wildlife there are groups and volunteer jobs that allow you to touch each and every one of those areas. My years as an animal volunteer was all about the animals. Here it’s about the place and the people who come to learn about it.

Paul shares a laugh with other volunteers at a 4th July potluck here at Bullards Beach

3/ For the Love of Community

Volunteering means being part of a community. Once you start the process you’re immediately part of a like-minded group of people who are all there for the same reasons. It’s the power of combined spirit and my experience with these things is that you always end up enjoying the folks you work with. Everybody is here to help and so they end up being a naturally friendly and helpful bunch! Within our first day here at we had already been introduced to all the other volunteers in the park, been invited to our very first pot-luck and gotten firm support for any help we needed. Many of the volunteers here have been coming for years, and the draw of community is one of the many reasons they keep coming back.

4/ To Have A Purpose

When you start fulltime RVing many folks struggle with a sense of purpose. Living in a fixed house with a fixed job is a natural framework for life progress. When you give that up, either in retirement or for travel on the road it can cause a real loss of sense of self and purpose. Now, I admit I’ve never personally had this issue (I’m a natural-born nomad), but Paul has struggled with this and I’ve met many others who have too. So, for some folks volunteering can be a way to regain that sense of productivity and ultimately, their sense of purpose in life.

Nina and a little slice of puppy heaven

5/ Because It’s Rewarding and Fun!!

One of the absolute best parts of volunteering are the rewards you get from folks you interact with. Whether it be the old history buff who’s come in for some stories or the young kid who’s eager to learn, it’s alwaysrewarding to share something and pass it along. Back when I volunteered with animals my reward was seeing those animals rehabilitate and get adopted as lovable pets. Here at the lighthouse my reward is passing on stories to those who come to hear them. And no matter what the volunteer job there are rewards inherent to the job. It’s one of the most fun things about doing what we do.

And the only reason you might not volunteer? For the money! The very nature of volunteering means you’re giving away your time for free. Most of the volunteering I’ve done in the past (animal rescue and my online forum) has been entirely on my own time and dollar. Here at the lighthouse we get the benefit of a free campsite (which would run around $720/month), plus we’re covered under workers compensation by the park while at work so there IS a definite $$ benefit, but if you work it out in absolute numbers it’s much less than minimum wage. For some RVers simply getting a free campsite is reason enough and if the volunteer job offers one, the budget savings in camping fees over the long-term can be significant (perhaps even enough to enable the lifestyle!). In our case we’re here for all the positive reasons above and we love the fact that we get a nice, free site, but we’re not in it for the money.

And that pretty much sums it up. For those of you who volunteer, why do YOU do it?

P.S. In my next post I’ll cover what kind of options are out there (there are MANY, many more than you think) and some tips on how to get your dream volunteer job, so stay tuned for the grippingly exciting sequel…..

5 Ways To Create Community & Friendships On The Road

 

Friends on the road. Polly poses with Matt & Bree's pooches on a hike in Eugene, OR

It’s been another busy week. Besides the RV repair (which is still ongoing) we’ve met-up with some awesome folks, done some fabulous hikes, even rescued a dog (found lost and wandering the streets AND safely returned to owners -> one gold star of good karma for me I reckon). But for today’s post I wanted to focus on the folks part.

Many people contemplating the full-time RV lifestyle worry about a loss of community. I’ve always been a natural-born nomad so this isn’t generally a concern for me, but I’ve met many who’ve brought it up as an issue and it definitely got my old noggin’ thinking.

Getting silly at our get-together with Bree, Matt, Sally, Ayo and Yair in Eugene, OR

Our own experience on the road has been very social, in fact extremely so. I’m the curious sort and so will often pick-up strange friends in campgrounds, but we’ve also met people online (through RV forums) and from blogs. This week we had an impromptu meet-up of 3 travelling young, cool RVers including Bree & Matt from Operation Tally-Ho, Ayo and Yair from Our Take On Freedom and us (bloggers artistic license allows me to very generously include ourselves in said category), and this week-end we’re off to meet our now well-established friends Alex and Ellen up in Portland. We’ve got even more meets planned down SW for winter. These connections provide a strong sense of community despite all the moving.

I’ve many blogger friends who’ve written about this phenomenon (technomadia did a particularly in-depth post), but I wanted to add-in a few of my own experiences for creating community on the road:

1/ Use Online Resources

We met Christy and Kali in New Orleans through their blog Technosyncratic

There are many great on-line resources for RVers including RV-specific forums that are incredibly active as well as RV bloggers. Not only do they provide tips and technical support, but they’re often a source of meetups too. We’ve met several people from both sources incl. a couple in Florida, some folks in Texas, meetings in Louisiana, Oregon and more.

2/ Attend Rallies, Events and Groups Meetings

There are hundreds of RV meetups happening all around the US every month. Communities such as Escapees have BOF (Birds of a Feather) groups that interact and meet. The online forums offer local meetups, and large national rallies are hosted by clubs such as Good Sam or Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). There are even alternative, hip events such as SXSW (for the techno-minded) and Burning Man (for a completely different experience). These events offer social interaction, lifestyle seminars, crafts and learning.

3/ Be Social In Camp

We met Marilyn, Jim and lovely Chester at a campground in Utah last year

This may sound kinda corny, but you can create great bonds by simply introducing yourself to your neighbour in camp. RVers tend to be a very open lot and often all it’ll take is a “hello, where are you guys headed?” and off you go. We’ve created many long-lasting connections from folks we met in camp on the road.

4/ Create a Winter (or Summer) Base

We’ve met many full-time or part-time couples who enjoy the change of “settling down” in one spot for several months either in winter or summer. Some go boondocking in popular winter spots like Quartzite, some will chose a particular RV park that they like while others might have a semi-permanent base such as an RV pad or flat/house. Either way, by going back to the same spot each year they re-connect with a community of people for several months before setting off again.

5/ Volunteer or Work On The Road

A very happy Nina w/ puppies at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, UT

Volunteering can be a great way to get involved in a community cause. Last year we spent a week at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah (a very tight community), but there are also RV groups that organize mobile volunteering such as RV Care-A-Vanners (RVers who work with Habitat For Humanity), DOVE (an Escapees BOF group that assist with various Red Cross projects) and NOMADS (an outreach ministry of the United Methodist Church). Workamping, camp-hosting or volunteering on public land can be another great way to get social with purpose. Good links are USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Volunteer.gov. Many of these will also provide a free camping spot in return for your time.

So with a thanks to Ayo for the inspiration to write the post, here’s hoping we meet up on the road. Don’t be shy now!

Free Overnight RV Parking = Finding “Freebies”

Gotta love free parking at Walmart!

So, we’ve been avidly planning our route to OR these past two days. As is typical in summer most of the public campgrounds are booked solid, but we’ve managed to find a few sweet spots that we’re really looking forward to. For the couple of nights where we can’t book we’ll rely on free overnight parking along the way. Most people who full-time RV know this trick, but I thought it’d still be nice to do a quick post on it for those who don’t.

Free overnight parking is a convenience many old-timer RVers know about.

I call them “freebies” and they’re spaces where you can park for free (no hookups) for the night. In my mind this is not the same as ”boondocking” (= camping out in the boonies/nature). When you “freebie” you don’t camp and you don’t stay for the views. It’s simply somewhere convenient to pass the night, usually right next to the road. We did one on the way to Grand Junction staying overnight at Walmart locally the night before our 7AM RV appointment. Not only did it give us the chance to stock up on some groceries, but it was safe and a perfect location for the night. There are lots of places who offer this wonderful service and a couple of rules that I follow each time we use them.

Who Offers Free Parking?

Parking at an abandoned lot off the I-10 in Texas.

I’m always amazed at the number of places that’ll let you stay overnight, even a “beast” size like us. Here’s a short list:

• Walmart - Most Walmarts allow overnight RV parking unless there’s a city ordinance that prohibits it.
• Casino’s – Many Casino’s have secure parking areas where you can stay for more than one night. Some even give you a discount on a meal. Live.Work.Dream wrote a great post about them here. Also check out www.casinocamper.com.
• Flying J’s - Many Flying J Truck Stops have a separate RV parking area where you can spend the night.
• Big Stores – Some of the larger stores (K-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, Camping World) will allow you to spend a night.
• Rest Areas – Some rest areas (in some States) allow you to stay overnight. The Interstate Rest Area Guide sells an e-book with all the details.
• Others - Plenty of other unusual spots allow one-night stays. You can find lots of additional listings at www.overnightrvparking.com and at the fabulous Escapees Days End Directory.

April 2012 Update – There is now a new service launched by the fine folks at Frugal RV Travel called Boondockers Welcome where you can connect with other RVers for the chance to overnight for free on private property. Another great resource!

What Are The Rules?

We always make sure we park in the very back of the lot where we won't be in the way.

There are really no “official” rules for free overnight stays, but there are a few unofficial ones which I always follow:

• Ask Permission - This is rule #1 and I think it’s critical. Unless you know for a fact that the spot allows overnight parking (i.e. it’s clearly marked), then the right thing to do is to ask for permission. Before we arrived in Grand Junction, CO I called ahead to ask Walmart if we could stay. There are actually 2 Walmart’s in the area and only one allows overnight parking (because of city ordinance), so the phone call was worth the trouble. If I show up at a spot without calling, I’ll go in and ask the manager on-site.
• Park Out of the Way – If you’re parking at a business chose a spot where you won’t get in the way of the regular daytime customers. At Walmart I’ll try to park at the very back of the lot.
• Don’t Set-Up Camp – These “freebies” are overnight parking, not camping. So, keep the slides in and the jacks up. We’ll sometimes put out one of the small slides (as long as it doesn’t hang into a parking spot) and we may run the generator in the early evening but I don’t push it further than that.
• Use Some Cash – This is not really a “rule”, but I like to spend some money at the spot I’m staying. It’s a way of giving back to the business for letting me stay for free.
• Be Courteous – Be nice to your “hosts” and your neighbours.
• Don’t Overstay Your Welcome - Most of these places are really just overnight parking spots. Some (like Casino’s) might let you legitimately stay more than one night, and others might allow it if you ask (and have a good reason), but for the most case it’s just a 1-night deal and it makes sense to support that policy.
• Leave It Spotless - It goes without saying that you shouldn’t dump gray water or leave trash at these spots. Leave it clean and spotless.

And the last thing, although it’s not a rule is more common sense. If you don’t feel safe don’t stay. Most of the big businesses are pretty safe, but there might be areas of town that are rougher (esp. in big cities). Overall I love ”freebies” and consider it a priviledge that I get to use them. Got any favorites of your own?

Fulltime RVing & Taxes – Making the Most of It

Drive Tax Friendly, no matter where

The middle of April is fast approaching. For most people around the world it’s a month of anticipation and hopeful touches of Spring, but for those of you doing US taxes it’s a big deadline that hangs like a lead weight over your head and reminds you the government wants its moolah.

Now, I’m one of those very strange people who do my own taxes and always have.  Hubby and I have had some really complicated situations over the years with multi-residency changes, foreign earned income, foreign tax credit, options, MLP’s etc. and I’ve always felt more comfortable knowing all the details myself.

The Magic of Turbotax

No country I’ve ever lived in has as complicated tax laws as the US (oh, what fondness to remember the 1/2-page tax form from Hong Kong), but with some study and time (and the magic of Turbotax) you can find your best deal. When we moved full-time into the RV, I immediately started looking for tax advantages that could help us out and found a few gems that I wanted to share.

Now, I must preface that I’m no tax lawyer and can’t give you specific tax advise, but there’s people out there who can. So, always do your own research and make your own conclusions. With that said here’s some ways full-time RVing can be tax-friendly:

1/ Establish Legal Residency in a Tax Free State - You can’t get away from paying Federal Taxes, but as a full-time RVer you can definitely break free of State Taxes, and it makes 100% sense to do so. We established legal residency (domicile) in South Dakota for exactly that reason. Texas is another popular spot. Choose your domicile carefully and make the changes to get you there.

2/ Deduct Interest on Your RV – If you took out a loan to buy your RV, you can deduct the interest on your taxes just like you would with a regular mortgage (IRS publication 936)

We took advantage of the Federal Tax Credit on our solar installation in 2010

3/ Take the Solar Credit - If you got Solar Panels installed on your RV (like we did last year) the Federal Government currently offers you a 30% tax credit on the total installation costs. It’s a huge bonus and is definitely worth taking (IRS tax form 5695)

4/ Deduct Home Office Expenses - If you are self-employed and work from home in your RV, you can deduct a portion of your home expenses (incl. repairs, camping fees, utilities, registration fees, depreciation etc.). This is a great bonus for mobile RVers with a business, but you do need to treat it carefully. It requires you to have a qualified home office area used exclusively for business in your RV. (IRS form 8829)

5/ Benefit From a HSA – If you decided to opt for a high-deductable health insurance like we did, it makes alot of sense to set-up a Health Savings Account (HSA) and take advantage of tax-deductible contributions. Anything you pay in is a direct write-off against your adjusted gross income. (IRS form 8889)

Those are some biggies, but there are many more. Some other posts with  great tips:

• Tax Issues for Full-Timers
• Establishing Domicile (choosing your State)

We finished our taxes a few days ago at the lovely Public Library in Junction, TX and are happily looking forward to another year of tax-friendly RVing.

Hanging Out & Day-to-Day Life in the RV

A heavy, but pretty day

We woke up to a rather grey day this morning with lightning clouds looming on the horizon, Initially we had planned to drive South today, but given the mood of the weather and our general laziness we decided to stay tight. There are days like this, you know, when you just hang out and those end up being nice days too. In the super-comfy “beast” we have everything to keep us occupied -> sofa, bed, warmth, light, Kindle, Satellite TV, DVDs (we bought our entire collection in a CD wallet) and Internet. We really are roaming luxury, and I haven’t felt want for either space or things since we started RVing.

Curiosity is a balm for the mind

In fact all in all, I’m surprised at  how easy this RVing business came to us. I’m not sure if it’s our core nomadic personalities (I’ve always been a bit of a roamer) or our love of nature (we spend oodles of time outdoors), but we slipped smoothly into this lifestyle without any real significant issues.

So today, since it’s kind of an indoor day, I thought I would share the RV, open our door to you and answer some of the most common questions that people ask us about our lifestyle:

Who me? Bored out here? Never!

1/ Do you ever feel cramped for space? Surprisingly, never! We went from a huge home (>4,000 sq.ft) to a 40-foot RV, but I’ve rarely felt constrained. We spend most of our time outdoors and deliberately stay in nature-abundant spots. I have yet to feel claustrophobic in the RV, and in fact I feel more than free when we have a wide view out the window.

Our gourmet kitchen

2/ Don’t you get bored? Again, never! The mind and body are amazing resources when you put them to use. Both Paul and I have very varied interests intellectually as well as physically. Paul spends a lot of time investing and reading/blogging about that. I’m interested in photography and blogging. I also run an online forum dedicated to feline health issues and we both read profusely (love, love, love my Kindle). Physically we hike daily and do Yoga, sprinting and other activities. We are also dedicated foodies and spend time researching and preparing gourmet meals.

Cat, Dog and Hubby all cuddle up for a good read

3/ Don’t you get tired of your partner? Once again, no! Now, we may be an unusual couple here in that we met at a company and worked together in that same place for over 12 years (many of those right in the next-door cubicle). So, we commuted, worked and went home together 24-hours a day, everyday almost since the day we met. But, we also keep separate interests. I like to photograph and some days I’ll go out and get lost in the woods for an afternoon on my own.

4/ Don’t you miss having a house? Honestly, rarely! I love the fact that the RV takes only 20 mins to clean and we can change our view anytime we like. I’ve never been particularly attached to “things” so I don’t miss that aspect of house-living. The only items I do miss are having a garden and a community. At some point those two things will probably draw us back into part-time RVing.

Well, the day is clearing up and the Texas winds are whipping the coulds into a foamy (and I should add photographically interesting) mass. So, I think I’ll take a long walk with pooch and see what new views will stimulate our eyes and mind.