I’ve been trying to understand the differences between these three groups.
Obviously, the idea is fairly similar, and there may be some overlap.
And does it make sense to buy permanent spots in an RV park, even if one is only there half of the year?
Do I understand correctly that Snowbirds tend to form communities, which move together? Is that as true of the other two?
I’m in the process of deciding where to move. I am retired, about 69 years old, and my income will come from Social Security, a small pension, and withdrawals from an IRA. I will likely eventually get an inheritance that will boost that a bit. I’m not a millionaire, but my needs are fairly simple. I like to do things like paddle, hike, skate, ski and maybe social dance. I don’t have enough money to pay for living in a managed care facility, so have decided that it isn’t worth living that long.
I don’t want to move full time to a state that has very cold or very hot weather. Which eliminates the usual states that Vanlifers make their nominal homes. And I want to stay legal. I don’t want to deal with natural disasters, like fires and floods.
I could simply move from Maryland - which taxes IRA withdrawals, and where homes cost a lot, to a state like Delaware, which has less expensive homes, and taxes IRA withdrawals less. Someone I conversed with who lives in Lewes, Delaware, suggested that area. (Some of the homes there are in flood zones, some aren’t.) Neither state taxes social security or inheritance. Maryland has higher property taxes and higher property values. In neither case could I afford a fancy home - might have to settle for a mobile home, though I’m concerned that mobile home parks sometimes substantially raise the cost of leasing the land.
I want to stay in the U.S., to continue to take advantage of Medicare Advantage plans. Though if I migrate, I guess I’d have to switch to Medicare Comprehensive, so I could get care if needed out of my official residence state - substantially more expensive, and I have pre-existing conditions like type 2 diabetes, so it might be a lot more expensive (I’m not sure).
The other possibility is to become a migrant. When I’m not skiing, I’d like to avoid dealing with a lot of snow and ice. And I’d like to avoid the hottest climates (like Florida) during the summer. Maryland near the Eastern Shore rarely gets much snow or ice - though that’s not true for the past several weeks. I guess Delaware, being a little further north, would get a little more - but hopefully not too much more?
As best I understand it, as long as I don’t stay more than 1/2 year at a time, I can legally live in Maryland or Delaware without being a legal “resident”. Though I’m already a legal Maryland resident. States like Florida might have even lower taxes, because they don’t tax any income, but I think they have higher sales taxes (& property taxes - but like I said, I don’t want to live there full time) than Delaware.
None of those three would tax inheritance at the level I would inherit.
A U.S. territory like US Virgin Islands is out - I have relatives in the U.S. I would like to drive to visit sometimes.
I originally thought leasing a home or apartment is cheaper than living 6 months at a time in an RV park or other long-term campground. But I’ve been looking at that and I’m not sure. A full scale RV might be too much for my budget, but maybe a small Class B Motorhome, or a van adapted to function like one is OK - though I’m not sure whether most RV parks allow them. I asked one, and they said they don’t allow vans (I’m not sure if they consider a Class B a van), or pick-up trucks with slide-in campers, not even if they have toilets and showers. (The truck would otherwise appeal to me. I don’t drive off-road, except for driveways and campgrounds, but I like the sturdiness, and being able to see over traffic.) I have no interest in stealth camping.
And I’d like to stay safe, and pick RV parks, etc., that meet that need.
But I’d like to be part of a community. I’m unmarried, and that can be pretty lonely. Does that mean the SnowBird community is better? Though, if one source is correct, I may be a bit old for that community… Plus I will eventually reach a point where I won’t be able to drive between states like Delaware and Florida, at least not quickly.
I guess one of my first steps should be trying to live out of my current vehicle (a station wagon) for a few weeks in campgrounds. I’ve done so on trips only for about 2 or 3 days. A van or small class B would be a little bigger, but I would still have to downsize my possessions a lot. I guess I need clothing, a cell phone, a computer (switch from desktop to laptop to save space), a TV, streaming box, headphones (I guess speakers would annoy others in campgrounds), a camping toilet and sink, and shower substitute (something that sprays), and a pop-up shower/toilet tent, a fridge/freezer, a burner, microwave and toaster oven. (For the test, I’d maybe make due with the burner. And basic camping goods for camping trips - e.g., backpacking gear, skis, a sea kayak. (Maybe have to give up on a white water kayak too.) A temporary A/C power source. Long term I would maybe want StarLink Internet - but I could test using my current Visible phone plan with T-Satellite. (Neither is supposed to be used to replace full time home Internet - but maybe I could get away with a few weeks…) Maybe a few things I haven’t thought of… Best not to test it in deep winter or the hottest part of summer, because my station wagon isn’t set up for climate control when it isn’t running.
Or maybe I could rent a Class B for a few weeks. Pretty expensive, but that would be closer to doing it for real.