Movin' On: Living and Traveling Full Time in a Recreational Vehicle

By Chuck Woodbury
editor, Beginners Guide to RVing

On March 17, 1989, Ron Hofmeister retired as Deputy Director of Finance for the Michigan Department of Transportation.Two weeks later, he and wife Barb turned in their townhouse keys and started the ignition of their new "home" — a 24 foot Mallard Sprinter (Class C) motorhome. This was the culmination of one year’s planning, and the couple was excited to finally be getting on with their new adventure — full-time RVing. Ron and Barb had sold most of what they owned, put some in storage, and brought what remained along in their new mini-house. Even though the day they left town was a typically cold and dreary one in Michigan, they felt like children set free for a summer vacation.

What started out to be a brief adventure turned into three and one-half years, and the Hofmeisters still had no plans to settle back into a stationary life. In December of 1992, Ron and Barb bought a new 34-foot Bounder motorhome, which they dubbed their "Mansion." The new and larger RV was their "statement" that they were now committed to the rambling lifestyle. So, with that in mind, they sold everything in their storage locker and seriously hit the road.

Because so many people they met were curious and even envious of their lifestyle, the Hofmeister's started producing a newsletter, Movin’ On, which detailed their travels. They also wrote and published a book, An Alternative Lifestyle.

When the book's print run was exhausted, instead of just reprinting it, they revised it to reflect what they had learned since their first effort. They renamed it "Movin' On," and added the long subtitle "Living and Traveling Full-time in a Recreational Vehicle" to help define the subject matter. They also added more pages and pictures. Ever since, when the book is reprinted, Ron and Barb make minor revisions to keep the information up-to-date.

Contents
Introduction
Preface
1. Portrait of a Full-timer
2. It’s Not a Vacation—It’s a Lifestyle
3. Full-timers and their Families
4. Choosing a Home on Wheels
5. Get Ready; Get Set; Go!
6. Home is Where We Park It
7. Working and Camping at the Same Time
8. Volunteering For Full-timers
9. Taking Care of Our Investment
10. Finances For Full-timing
11. The Traveling Home Office
12. Medical and Dental Care on the Road
13. Unique Solutions for Full-timers
14. Potpourri
15. Experience Brings Changes
16. Stories From Our Back Yard
Glossary
Helpful Addresses
Index

In December of 1996, Ron and Barb traded motorhomes again, moving into their "Castle" — a 39-foot American Dream diesel pusher.

Their first book and newsletter are now history. In their place is the 370-page book Movin’ On — Living and Traveling Full-time in a Recreational Vehicle. In it, the Hofmeisters provide a vastly expanded view of full-time RVing and include subjects that they did not cover in the first book. They also include a discussion of basic full-time considerations.

"Movin' On" is basic enough for those who want to learn about the full-time lifestyle and sophisticated enough for those who want to maximize their full-time experience. It is also the Hofmeister's adventure story. For anyone contemplating the full-time RV lifestyle, this book should be essential reading.

Order the book online for $19.95.

Go to the RV Bookstore