From the desk of Firedude
Well after 6 years of full-timing, camp hosting and traveling I have gotten me an “anchor point”. It’s located on the central coast where I used to host. The weather is usually fantastic all year round and love the cool summers. I’ve gotten to a point where it feels nice to have that anchor point to return to any time I need it while traveling. I’ll be “moving in” the first part of January.
Looking out my rear bay windows I’ll have a view out over the ocean. My kind of view! There are only about 3 places that you can live year round on the central coast and I feel lucky. It took 6 years of being on a list to get it! It is about a 25’ walk to the laundry room and 20’ walk to my mailbox!
While some don’t need a so called anchor point after 6 years I felt it was time. Like I said it gives me an anchor point to return to whenever needed. In addition I have a lot of friends there I’ve met over the years hosting which makes it feel more or less like home to me. With the economy the way it is and not knowing where it’s headed it’s nice to know I have a resort like home on the coast. As long as fuel prices are down I can be on the go, but should they ever climb back up to a ridiculous price I have my spot on the beach. After 6 years of hosting it was time to quit. Yes you get a free site and all, but after 6 years off and on it became a job.
I have NO intentions on going to a stick home at all. It was just a valuable opportunity to have a place I could call home and drop my anchor so to speak if need be. It’s also close enough where the kids can bring their rigs over to visit as they did when I was hosting and a mere 3 hour drive from them to go visit. All this and ocean view I couldn’t ask for more! If I had turned the offer down it most likely would have been another 6 years or more so no way was I not going to take it.
Another plus is I’ll have me a storage building put up on the site where I can store a lot of stuff keeping the weight down in the rig when traveling. There is excellent security there so no worries there. Another cool part is my neighbors on both sides are occasional weekenders only! Another asset is our primary care doctors along with the dogs Vet are located there as well making life much easier. Mail forwarding is simple as the park manager will do it for FREE!
Now the part that really fits is the cost of it all. Considering the view out my big rear bay windows of the ocean, laundry and mail at my finger tips, great weather, great friends, quite crime free community and way more than I can list it cost me a whopping $350 per month (plus electric)! Equates out to just over $11 per night. Now that is hard to find especially in a touristy place and on the coast! Perseverance and planning paid off in a big way!
Places like this can be found, but it takes time, research and getting on a list. Most places in this area are at least $600 plus per month and most you can only stay 6-7 months and have to be out. That’s a hassle for me and being able to store things and be there all year round or anytime if I desire it can’t be beat.
I naturally looked ahead in life and decided that this would be a place I’d want to anchor to if possible so I began the process early on in my adventures and it really paid off big time. I was like most figuring I’d be hosting and traveling all the time so there would be no need for an anchor point as I call it however it was one of the few times in my life the foresight and crystal ball worked for me! Many such as my dear friend and co moderator Dianne OK and my buddy Terry (her hubby) looked as they traveled for that perfect spot and found it. I know many do and I got lucky, but only after a 6 year wait.
Everyone talks about the importance in research and planning to go full-time I also feel since the lifestyle is so dynamic and ever changing I’d keep the ball rolling as I went along and glad I did. I always kept tomorrow in the back of my mind and acted, planned and researched accordingly.
Just food for thought and good planning to look down the road a bit, It was for me at least. Guess you have to sit down and ask yourself the proverbial question. Will or do I need an anchor point now or at some time in the future? If so start planning and researching now! Had I waited until now it may very well have been another 6 plus years down the road to achieve it.
Pingback: ניסור בטון
Shelia
Congratulations! Hubby and I are just about to start the fulltiming life style. We have already thought about where we might land once we get off the road – probably in Texas since we are native Texans and the kids live in Austin and Houston. In the meantime hope to view other peaceful places to land a short time a month at a time. Safe travels when you hit the road once again. I have enjoyed your posts over the last year. I have had a few laughs along the way as well.
Shelia
Tony Cornett
Warren….
I hope 2009 brings you much better times and health and that you continue on your adventures. I too have experienced a few heath issues the past year and a half which has bogged me down a bit making having the anchor point even more of a convenience. In fact due to weather this weekend I have bumped up my departure for “home” to tomorrow. it’ll be nice to have the ocean view out my rear window!
Alpneliter, best of luck to you and now is the time to research and plan as your adventures will sneak up on you fast!
Brad,
I’m not aware of a specific book regarding anchor points. it will depend on the area you are interested in and then it’s a hunt and pick type thing. Make sure you do your research before jumping into a place. Make sure it’s right for you. I had to wait 6 years to get the spot I got, but in the end it was well worth it! Once you decide on an area you might want to be your anchor point then start looking at all possibilities in that particular area. In my case there is only about 3 parks you can live in year round so the wait is long, but again for me worth it,
Tony
http://firedude.thefiredude.com
Frank Scivally
My wife Lisa and I own Sagebrush Mobile Home and RV Park in Willcox in Southeast, Arizona. This is a quite and clean little park, located at 200 W. Lewis St. just two miles off Interstate 10 and you can walk to the El Ranchero Authentic Mexican Restaurant from our park. We are only an hour East of Tucson.
We have decided to do our part during the economic slowdown and are running a winter special for $12.50 per night for full hookups. We have paved streets, full hook-ups, a Rec Room with showers, laundry, Wi-Fi, and cable TV at every site. Monthly rates are $350.00 and with all utilities, including electric, included in the rate.
We love full timers in our park. We have several who stay from a few months to a few years. One of our residents stayed with us for over 10 years. If you like the high desert, 4,300 ft, and small town atmosphere, Willcox is a great place to call home, or your anchor.
Please feel free to pass this to all your friends. Contact numbers for Sagebrush are (866)-401-1861 or (520)- 204-1718, or you can send an email to [email protected] to check on site availability with the on-site manager.
Alpenliter
Thanks once again Tony for filling in another piece of the fulltiming puzzle for us. Am very happy you have found your place; in just a little more than 25 hours, I will be able to say: “We will be fulltiming next year!”. So our adventure will begin and part of that will be looking for an “anchor” spot. Thanks!
TXBrad
Tony: Great write ups. It is good that some folks fulfill their dreams & actually get their peace. Planning always pays off. Good luck.
All: I’d like to know of a web site/ book/etc. which listsdescribes “anchor sites”
Maybe RV.net might set up something. As more & more go full time.
Tx Brad
warren
I just recently retired, in Oct 2008, and took off full timing in a new Montana 37 1/2′ 5th wheel. I am single. First stop, Sam’s Town Las Vegas, emergency surgery the second day there, 3 months there, with My two cat’s !!! Got through that after 2 1/2 months and can’t say enough nice about Sam’s Town and how much They helped Me and accomodated Me during a medical crisis. This after 9 (!) major brain surgeries in 2008 & 6 months in the hospital. And then I took off for the “Hill Country” of Texas and am now here In Marble Fall’s at Sunset Point RV Park. This is a terrific Park $425.00 @ month & elect on top of that. They pick up your trash at your site each AM at 10:00. The park is spotless. Very well maintained, and right on Lake LBJ Website is wwwSunsetPointLBJ.com They have a store, laundry, rec room activity room, laundry. It is nice. I am not very well. So this is a challenge for Me. Being alone is somewhat nervewracking of course as I dont know how long I can do this fulltime. But I love it, and I am determined to do it as long as I can. I certainly enjoy the input I read on this site and the information I am able to derive from it. So keep up the goodwork and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
Maanpayates
Thanks for opening our eyes. Having a anchor never crossed my mind. We are just waiting to get on the RVing Hwy and fulltime it. Looks like our home might sell soon even in this slow market. Is there a site someone could go to for anchor locations and their requirements without going broke? Thanks Again
HarryWM
Congratulations Tony – It is nice to have a place to anchor. We have been fulltiming 10 years and in our first year put our names on the waiting list for the Escapees Co-op in Benson AZ. 5 years later we got a lot with our own building for storage, crafts, etc. It is nice to have a place to park some or your stuff and to return to and to hunker down in when the economic situation goes sour. And, the price is right. Don’t get lazy and quit traveling though.
Harry
Tony Cornett
Thanks Walt!!
The site is on the central coast of Calif. in Morro Bay for 6 years off and on where I used to host so it feels even more like home for me when I’m there. My view out my rear big bay window is of the ocean and Morro Rock. Just horrible lol! 😉 Lynne it is a nice place and small park and I already know most there so it feels right, not to mention the gorgeous year round weather! I guess for me anyway it is heaven or rather just short of lol.
Incidentally I’ll be moving from the central valley where I’ve been helping my 82 year old dad this coming Saturday Jan. 3rd. the blog on my website tells a a lot more…
Jay check your email buddy!
Tony
http://firedude.thefiredude.com
Walt Kaiser
Tony;
Glad to hear that you found your piece of heaven.
The old Narc, Walt
Jay Grigsby
Hey Firedude, it sure sounds to me as though you are up in Morro Bay. I live in Arroyo Grande and getting ready to retire and go full time RVing. If it is Morro Bay I may try to get up there and sit and talk to you about your travels, if you are available. I work at the nuclear power plant outside of Avila Beach and am getting ready to start working way too many hours during a refueling outage from end of January to first part of April but I would like to get by and talk with you (if you’re not on the road). I have really enjoyed reading your blogs and the links and ideas you have listed have been very helpful. Thanks for the great info and keep it up..Jay Grigsby
Lynne Caulkett
So where is this dream spot? Souns like your little piece of Heaven! Congrats to you. I enjoy reading your articles. Motor on!