Today I want to explain "why" we consider moving all the way
from Texas to Arizona/California.
On the first glance it seems to be a bit over the top, right?
Just because of the weather?
Why don't we just move to a nice RV park/ campground/ State Park and
sit out the nasty weather there?
It is like this:
What we thought it would be:
Stay for 4 month at this County Park in Texas for free.
Yes, it is free to stay here. (free city water, dump station, shower house etc)
Our solar panels would provide us free electricity as well.
Being outside and enjoying the sunshine.
That would have been the ideal situation.
What happened instead:
The weather is not as expected.
It has rained for a week, it is cold, it is windy.
The roads have turned to sticky mud.
We have been bound to stay inside for most of the time.
Consequently, the use of propane has gone up a lot,
in addition the amount of gas to generate electricity.
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| Gloomy weather |
The alternatives seem to either:
move in to an RV park
or
going to where the weather is nicer.
Would we choose to move in to an RV park,
with electric, water and sewer hook-up,
our costs would go up dramatically.
A decent park asks “an average” of: US $ 50/day.
Staying there for 4 month would up our expenses to US $ 6000!
A seasonal price might get us down to US $ 2500.
If we stayed only the rainy weeks, moving back and forth,
we might even cut it down to US $ 1600.
However, there are other obstacles to consider concerning campgrounds/parks:
Limited stay: State Parks allow a maximum 14 days only.
Most RV parks have “No Big Dogs “or “dogs limit up to 30 pounds” rules.
(Our dog Dixie weights 100 pounds and has a booming voice).
Often the park spaces are quite cramped, little space between the camper/rigs.
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| Dixie weighs a bit over 30 pounds. |
To get us from Texas to Arizona/California will cost us about US $ 1300 more in gas than planned.
The camping/boondocking in the desert for 4 month will run up to:
US $ 180 fee good for 7month (long term use of BLM land)
US $ 180 for water/ sewer service
US $ 240 for propane
adds up to
1300 +180 +180 +240= US $1900
The only other "biggy "are the gas prices.
It would be US $20/40 dollars extra per tank filling (Arizona/California)
compared to filling up in Texas.
So, the additional expenses we face are ranging from US $ 6000 to US $ 1600.
For boondocking, though, the weather is the most important factor.
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| Winter 2022 California |
Dixie will appreciate not being cooped up in the trailer
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| and not having to deal with prickly burrs. |
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| Field grass burr |
