I am poor as a church mouse but not a gutter rat. I am an
artist, a mother, a 30 year veteran teacher who spent her retirement after Ike,
a crafter, a writer with a series of ebooks called Learning from the Masters, a
college graduate, a veteran of the United States Army. I will be 62 in October and will get
approximately $743 a month in social security.
How will I live on that amount of money when I am no longer able to
work—pay rent, food, utilities, phone? I
am currently employed as an accounts supervisor with a call center for an
electric company for $9.50 and hour and the elderly call in needing help with
their utility bills, being disconnected for non payment, with heart breaking
stories and a loneliness that streams through the phone lines and often brings
me to tears.
In October, a group of ladies visited Buffalo Gap and
Abilene State Park in travel trailers---Sisters on the Fly. I was inspired. I began researching life on the road,
alternative lifestyles. I looked at
travel trailers. I needed a large car to
pull one and my car is old and falling apart, no heat or ac, and I have to roll
down the window to open the door. I
could not afford both another car and a travel trailer. Plus, where would I park it and could an old
fat lady really hitch and unhitch such a monstrosity.
Then I found some blogs about living in a motor home and
boondocking. Apparently 1.5 million
people thought of my idea first. I even
found a budget for someone with either $500 or $1000 in income per month. This idea began to grow, and I posted on
indiegogo. A really good friend donated
$9000, making it possible to purchase my new 1992 home on wheels. And now I am loading it with those items I
just can’t do without, and as a crafter/artist, I have to have my scrapbooking
supplies, sewing supplies, jewelry making supplies, paints and brushes, etc.
May 1, Mindy (my morkie pup) and I will be moving from the
Texas hill country, Buffalo Gap, to the
South Texas beaches. Not sure yet how it
will work. I know Walmart will allow
three days of free parking at a time. I
know there are a few free parking spaces on the Sea Wall. I know Bolivar Peninsular allows free beach
parking. There is an inexpensive state
park on the island. About ½ my facebook
friends live in Galveston. I am scared and excited at the same time.
The important thing about this entire adventure is that I
will not be in government housing in a ghetto.
I will continue to be independent.
I will work for as long as possible.
I will pay minimal rent when I need overnight parking in a park but no
utility payments. I know this is a
lifestyle choice that is not for everyone but it should be great for me once I
learn to use a generator, a propane tank, and how to dump sewage, gray water,
recharge batteries.
Sharing my story may be interesting to your viewers. Adding advice and suggestions from veteran rv
permanent residents may help other senior citizens think outside the box when
it comes to facing retirement years on limited budgets. Living in a tourist type community that are
small with lots of opportunities to interact with visitors and residents may
help with alleviating some of the loneliness.
