Looking to start full timing fall 2012

[Addio]

Hello everyone:

I need your help!!!!

I just joined this forum because I found it on my ipad and I am finding it to be pretty useful. I have been staying up late every night reading the different forums and threads to soak up as much information as I can before I put together my game plan for an adventure of a lifetime.

First of all I live in PA with my wife and 3 children who are 9, 5 & 2. I have been talking for a couple of years with my family about traveling the country in an RV but my 9 year old has always been reluctant because he takes karate and enjoys playing baseball. Ironically last week he finally graced me with his approval to live in an RV so now I have everyone onboard.

Now starts the planning phase of this adventure and this is where I am looking for help.

School - We are planning to cyber school our children through the PA cyber school. Is there anything better out there?

Home base - We are planning to sell the house and just rent a small apartment so we have a place to return to once in a while and also to use as an address for cyber school. Do you need a declare a physical address for schooling and tax purposes?

Work - I have a home based business (safety training) CPR, first aid ect... that I manage and I am very successful with it. I do though have instructors who can maintain my training obligations and I just manage everything from a remote location. Does anyone out there currently offering this kind of service?

Additional work - I would like to do some work at campgrounds in trade for space. Are there any good websites where camp owners post these opportunities?

Camper - I am looking to purchase a used Class A RV and I need one with bunks. Being that I have 3 kids are there any RV's out there with 3 bunks?

Our goal is to start this journey around September/October of this year so I hope that will give me more than enough time to get everything lined up.

Budget - I am finding budgets out there but I'm not seeing any for a family of 5.

Kids - Now that the kids are excited I need to keep them excited. Are there any websites for RV'rs or forums geared toward kids?

Florida Keys - I would LOVE to take my kids to the Florida Keys and start their adventure there for the winter but I see its peak season and I cant afford that. Are there any work camper jobs that anyone knows of in that area?

Thank you all!!!!!

Addio

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by Addio

Florida Keys - I would LOVE to take my kids to the Florida Keys and start their adventure there for the winter but I see its peak season and I cant afford that. Are there any work camper jobs that anyone knows of in that area?

I read about Disney hiring workcampers once. Seems like that would be an awesome first adventure, if you can get on there.

[paz]

Hi Addio

I can't answer all your questions, but I'll take a crack at a couple of them.

Home Base - I don't know about needing a physical address for cyber school, but you don't need one for taxes. With new Homeland Security identification requirements, however, you may need a physical address for your drivers license. South Dakota, where we are domiciled, accepts the address of our mail forwarding service for drivers licenses and vehicle registrations, but they require a utility bill as part of the identification to meet the new Homeland Security requirements. As a "work around" for full-timers, SD will accept a receipt from a motel or campground (requires at least a 1-night stay) as a physical address for identification purposes with your mail forwarding service address appearing on the licence itself. You will need to find out what is required in PA. You can probably use the address of a relative, but that address will probably appear on your license and registration.

Additional Work - Workamper News is an excellent source for information on places that hire RVers. There are many campgrounds that offer a free site in exchange for your time. Some even offer additional pay over and above a site, but they usually require more hours.

Camper - I have never seen a motorhome with 3 bunks, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. There are some with 2 bunks, and there is a good chance you can find one of those with a sleeper sofa or a dinette that will fold down into a bed for the third child.

Good luck with your plans.

[okmunky]

Pardon me for correcting one thing. You don't HAVE to show a utility bill to get a SD driver's license. You need 2 items off the list on this site South Dakota Department of Public Safety: Licensing: Driver Licensing

I am going thru there next fall to get mine and you scared me a bit. I opened a savings account at the bank in Emery, SD where my mail forwarding company is located. I chose My Home Address because Emery is a tiny rural town so my vehicle insurance rates are low. For the second required residency document I will use a campground reciept.



Your wife will need your marriage license if her current name and other IDs don't match her birth certificate. That's what tripped me up when I went thru there last May.

Also, I had to stay in town overnight so the bank could do a background check on me to make sure I was who I said I was. Another post 9/11 snafu.

Your taxes and insurance will be cheaper if you change your state of residency to a no state income tax state. Florida, Texas and South Dakota are most popular with full-timers.

The thing you didn't mention is a tow vehicle, or toad. I started out thinking I didn't need one, but I was wrong. There is a wealth of info in the motorhome forums here. I can't imagine a family of 5 not having one.

Good luck