Spin-off boomers and downsizing

[sandandsea]

Dad is a dreamer. He and step mom bought a camper trailer they can’t tow and plan to sell their house and live in the camper “wherever” full time. Seems crazy, but they want to downsize as they’re tired of paying property tax and house upkeep.

So I really don’t know what to do, if anything, so what says WP? They don’t want my advice so I can’t really say anything.

I’ll dd details later.

[dglvrk2]

Hmmm....
Not hashing out unsolicited advice seems prudent here.
However, could you ask some questions that might get them thinking more long term? Eg. What will they do when they're ready to no longer live in the trailer? Depending on where they live, hazardous weather could be a factor to ask about too.

[waverly]

I would at least have a conversation about it. What is the why behind?

But as the daughter of an alcoholic who drank himself into disease, I totally understand when they don’t take advice and make questionable decisions. I say that because living in a camper is something he would have totally done. He was living in a hostel in a remote part of South America. But a camper in a remote location is really not a great place for the elderly as they age. He had zero self awareness though like frequently sending me vitamin recommendations while ruining his health with alcohol. This went on for at least 20 years.

[mommyatty]

So my mom and stepdad live in their camper for half of the year every year and seem to really like it. They’re “snowbirds”, but they live in what is basically a snowbird trailer park in South Texas. So it’s workable. The rest of the year they are in a fairly rural part of Oklahoma. So the camper doesn’t seem insane to me.

Also my old boss traveled the country in his camper after he retired and freaking loved it. My only question is why they bought one they can’t tow. That seems wacky.

[waverly]

mommyatty, my grandparents were snowbirds and lived in a 55+ trailer park in Florida which was very clean/ well kept and had tons of friends and activities. But I thought this sounded different because it wasn't an actual trailer more a camper they can't tow and the state park thing made it sound like it was remote, but hopefully it isn't as remote as I was envisioning.

[supertrooper1]

My Great uncle and aunt lived in a 5th wheel for probably 10 years before their health took a turn and they found another permanent place. They loved it. Their kids were scattered in 4 different locations, and they could visit each kid for a while plus be snowbirds. But they had a truck to move it whenever they wanted.

Beau's cousin on the other hand is in your parents situation due to some bad money choices. He bought a truck that could have towed his trailer, but then sold it for some reason. I don't think he could have afforded the fuel to travel anywhere with the trailer anyway. So the trailer is parked on his son's property and he feels stuck not having a real house but can't travel anywhere with his trailer.

Personally, I don't think I could live in a trailer for more than a month or two, although many can make it work. They always have issues and I would feel like I never had space for privacy.

[livinitup]

Cleaning out and selling a house could be a blessing to you. You won’t have to do it for them either during or after a health emergency.

It does fall into the “dreamer” camp to imagine that they can both live in a camper as they age. But I suppose they’ll just move into appropriate housing if they can’t live I the camper, right?

[186momx]

I know a lot of people who have bought large RV or 5th wheels and do the snowbird deal and are happy with it. sandandsea, if your parents paid cash for the trailer and have property available to keep it and live in it cost free then I would be okay with it. Not having a truck to haul it is weird. There are a few places on our coast that are trailer parks and tenants live in their 5th wheels and they have decks and green houses on their little strip of rental ground. Some live year-round and others come and go.

[sandandsea]

So I’m getting g more onboard with it. They will plan to keep it either at the remote family land or in the lot next to my elderly stepGM’s house as they are her primary caregivers and will move into that house once she passes.

Thank you for your support and wisdom.

[mommyatty]

sandandsea- if it makes you feel better, I was appalled when I heard my mother’s plan. I actually laughed to my cousin (she’s much closer to my mom than I am) and said “Yeah, we’ll see how long this dumbassed idea lasts!” And they’re in a 5th wheel.