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Scott Burns / Syndicated columnist
The RV life suits frugal Texas couple

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Exit at Ruekle Road here and you're only a few hundred yards from the Hill Country RV Resort. The park has 350 spaces for trailers, fifth wheels, motor homes and park model RVs. It also has two pools, two large bath and shower rooms, a recreation room, an exercise room, and a crafts and wood shop. Like a number of the RV parks I visited in Florida, it has wireless Internet access. Residents can easily stay in touch with friends and family.

I've come here to visit with John and Lorraine Hay, a retired couple who has spent most of the last 10 years as "full-timers" — living the RV lifestyle year-round. Their Pace Arrow Class A RV, their third motor home since John retired in 1989, contains a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, a dinette and a sofa just behind the two big driving chairs.

John, now 72, retired from a 32-year career with the Santa Fe railroad. Bypass surgery notwithstanding, he looks younger than his years. So does Lorraine.

"We've met more new people here than you can shake a stick at. What you did before has no bearing," John said. Lorraine said she was the one who first wanted an RV, which is not the usual pattern.

"My theory was that you shouldn't own (one) because they depreciate," John said, explaining his initial reluctance. "But we can live in an RV much, much cheaper than we can live in a home. This park costs $225 (a month) plus electricity, which averages around $30."

In fact, winter Texans can live here for six months for a total of $1,235 plus electricity. A 12-month contract is $2,415 plus electricity. The basic rate includes cable TV. How much you pay for your RV is up to you.

John explained that he took early retirement because he had come to dread Monday. "When I started, it was a family-oriented company. A man who had worked his way up ran it. He had done every job. But as people retired, attorneys who knew nothing replaced them. The environment changed."

He took an early retirement buyout.

"You can live on less money than what you were making. Figure the cost of clothes, lunch, payroll taxes and whatnot. We found we were probably better off after retirement."

I asked if he ever missed work.
 
"I often wondered what it would be like, but (when it happened) it was no problem. I never looked back. You know, a lot of people die before they retire. I didn't want to be one of them."

Asked if he had concerns about the future, John smiled. "If we stop recognizing each other, then we'll know it's time to stop."

Questions about personal finance and investments may be sent to Scott Burns at The Dallas Morning News, P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265; by fax at 214-977-8776; or by e-mail at scott@scottburns.com. Questions of general interest may be answered in future columns.

Copyright 2004, Universal Press Syndicate