There is a big RV sale going on in my hometown of Payson, Arizona which, if you don't know the area, is about 90 miles northeast of Phoenix and in the cool pines at 5000 ft elevation. RV fans from all over the country come here to camp and play in the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the world, natures lung we call it. The show is being put on by my friends at Star Valley RV and from all reports is doing quite well. It started last Thursday and will run for two weeks and is located at the junction of Hwy 87 and Hwy 260. If you are in the market for a motorhome, 5th wheel, pop-up camper, travel trailer or toy hauler - new or used, I urge you to go check them out - they have a huge selection of RV's to choose from.

As reported previously in this blog Star Valley RV is where I purchased my KZ Durango, 28ft fifth wheel. Ray Vela, the manager there gave me one heck of a deal and I encourage you to visit his website or call him before you purchase any RV.  His low-overhead, small town dealership allows him to make some great deals and his no pressure approach to sales will have you telling all your RVing friends.

But let's get back to the good news for baby boomers. In conversations with Ray and his staff not only is the sale a huge success so far with still another week to go but the general attitude out there is positive. With all the negative press we are getting about gas prices and RV manufacturers cutting jobs and even closing down facilities completely it's refreshing to hear some good news about the industry for a change. Boomers are buying RV's here, everything from class A motorhomes the size of a semi to toy haulers. 5th wheels and travel trailers. There doesn't seem to be any one particular type of RV that is selling better than others and most of those that are buying are experienced RVers. Gas prices don't seem to be a factor. As I have said before in this forum, baby boomers are not going to let gas prices get in the way of their RV dreams. As a boomer RVer I can attest to that myself. 

Let's face it, if you think about it, traveling in an RV for a vacation makes perfect sense. Sure - gas prices are high and likely to go higher but what would you rather do, roll the dice in an airport and hope your flight goes as planned and on time, luggage gets there as promised, no security alerts pop up and dang, I can be halfway to my destination in my RV in the time it takes before the plane even leaves the ground. Air travel is getting to be the pits and that's domestic travel, let's not even talk about international flights. A family of four, flying to a vacation destination is going to pay an average of $200. per person for just the plane ticket. Then you have hotels, meals, rental cars and a whole lot of other expenses. You have to burn a lot of gas to equal that and it's a heck of a lot more fun traveling in an RV.

Stay tuned for the consumer's perspective as BoomerRver.com's roving reporter goes on scene to the sale and talks to the folks that are doing the actual buying. We will be asking questions like: how will fuel prices affect your decision to buy an RV? Where will you travel to? What will you do if gas prices go even higher? How will you compromise your plans, if at all, to compensate for the high cost of fuel. And a whole lot more.

With the advent of disgustingly high gas prices now topping $4. per gallon and rising and with the media fueling gas rage by reporting that petrol prices could get to $8. per gallon by next summer (shoot, you guys, I am still trying to get used to the possibility of $5. per gallon, why can't you let us adjust to that figure first before you doom and gloom me again?) I am seeing a lot of cars like the Aptera on the drawing board with claims of super mileage. These kinds of cars that combine electric motors with combustion engines have been around a long time but only now are gaining widespread attention (and investment capital) due to gas prices going through the roof. As a baby boomer who just retired and is on a fixed income I hope things will soon stabilize or the feds will get involved and do something to help this situation. How about it Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain, any plans to do anything about this mess? Our great and wonderful capitalist society is to blame, but who can fault a company for trying to make as much money as possible - isn't that the way the game is played here in the Magic Kingdom? 

As a retiring baby boomer my timing could not be any worse. It's another one of those "just my luck" scenarios, after years of 401 K contributions my stock portfolio is worth an all-time low, gas prices are threatening to keep me at home, the housing crisis prevents me from selling the home that was to help finance my retirement and the cost of everything has gone up. You have to wonder where all of this is leading.

This is only a guess on my part but it seems to me that if gas prices go much higher, these alternative fuel vehicles will become more mainstream and the inconveniences of the past that kept people from buying them like charging batteries and smaller sizes just won't matter any more. People will find a way to buy them and will adjust their lifestyle to make them work. If that happens it just stands to reason that gas consumption will decrease and the record profits the oil guys have enjoyed (in the billions per quarter) will dry up.

I do not blame the oil companies for our current predicament, after all they have to answer to their investors, everyday folks like teachers, firefighters, cops and yours truly, people who depend on them to make their investment dollars grow. However, unless we are willing to compromise somewhere we are all going to suffer even more than we are now. Can you even envision a time when gas is $8. a gallon? Chaos! I am hearing things like auto dealers not taking SUV's in trade any more, anything with a V8 engine is worth 10 cents on the dollar and I don't see any electric SUV's on the horizon.

So, what are these guys prepared to do to help us out here? Whoever gets the nod as our next president whether it be Barrack Obama or John McCain has his work cut out for him, let's make sure that whoever he is, that we put some pressure on him to find some answers fast. Our very existence depends on it.

The Aeronautic Cowboy

Sky King - one of my favorite Saturday morning shows as a kid. It premiered on September 16, 1951 and last aired on March 8, 1959 and was about a former military pilot who, in this western adventure series, used his airplane ( a Cessna 310B called the Songbird)  to patrol the skies over his Flying Crown Ranch and wherever he was needed to rescue those in distress. Out of the clear blue of the western sky comes -  Sky King! He and his niece Penny had many adventures chasing the bad guys in the Songbird and I often wondered as I got older - how many of us boomers became pilots as a result of watching this show?

But did you know?

A lot of boomers remember seeing this show in the 60's (I was one of them) because while the show ended in 1959 it was shown in reruns for years later. Sadly, Kirby Grant, the actor that played Sky King, died in a 1985 automobile accident while on his way to Cape Canaveral to be honored by the shuttle astronauts for his achievements in encouraging aviation and space flight. He was also coming to watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Isn't life cruel sometimes? Here is a man that inspired millions of kids to become interested in aviation - who dies in a stupid car wreck - and a year later the Challenger blows up. Thank God the poor man didn't live to see that!

A surefire indicator of a luxury trend in RV's

I don't know much about trends and would never consider myself a trend-setter but I do consider myself an optimistic person and don't tend to run off screaming about falling skies, even when the newsies tell me I should. The way they go on about gas prices, housing woes, a laggard economy, you would think there was something wrong with this country. But hey, it's all about being an election year - because if the Clinton's, Obama's and the McCain's didn't have all these issues that needed fixing, just what the heck kind of platform would they be running on? With all this bad news a lot of us have hunkered down, waiting for the inevitable uptick in the cycle, when all we are really doing is plunging the economy into a worse mess. If people don't spend, people can't work and if people can't work they get subsidized. Well, us boomers are not going to fall for that nonsense. Let's tell all of those people who are hanging on to their nickels that we are glad for them to stay home, yes, glad! That means our RV parks are less crowded, the roads have less traffic, gas prices will drop due to lower demand and most of all - we won't have to listen to the whiners.

Choosing an RV where money doesn't matter

Anyone or anything that conspires to keep me from my beloved woods, including gas prices, is in for a big surprise. I would sacrifice much when it comes to the smell of clean fresh air. But get to the point you say? OK, I have a friend that owns a substantial RV storage lot. It's clean, secure, has covered stalls, lots of space in the aisles for turning those big rigs and a large and affluent boomer clientèle. This gentleman is also an RVer and is dialed in to the needs of his customers. Now, you may not find this as much of a sign as I do about trend indicators but get this - two of his customers have upgraded three times in less than a year. And not from pop-up to 5th wheel to class A motorhome - oh, no - they already had motorhomes and upgraded three times to get to the size they wanted - some 40-plus feet of raging diesel class A Motorcoach! 

How much more RV luxury is possible?

Now, all this takes money and I would be willing to bet they didn't really care about losing a few bucks with each upgrade. The point is they spent until they were happy. I don't particularly advocate that kind of lifestyle, that of keeping up with the mobile Joneses, I prefer a more compact way of travel with a vehicle I can still shop with or drive down the street in Old Town USA without taking out the parking meters. However, I do think that boomers are leading the way toward a more luxurious mobile lifestyle, whether it's for full time RVing or just an occasional romp in style. I believe this trend toward luxury motorcoach purchases will outsell most other RV markets, 5th wheels, travel trailers, pop-ups, etc, for the next five to ten years.

Older means happier

According to my sources at the University of Chicago (actually John Faherty of the Arizona Republic newspaper) the older you are the happier you may be. There has actually been a study going on over the last three decades where 28,000 people were interviewed and it was found that the odds of being happy increased 5 percent with every 10 years of your life.

Being content with who you are 

This research indicates that it is time to throw out the notion that older people are lonely and unhappy. People learn to be content with who they are as they grow older. And, speaking strictly for myself, I can tell you that this must be true because at this moment in my life I am happier than I have ever been. Being a baby boomer of retirement age I am enjoying new freedoms. The kids are grown and happy with kids of their own. Work is conducted at my pace with no one looking over my shoulder or second guessing each decision. I come and go as I please and I am blessed (so far) with reasonably good health. Ask me again how happy I am when I am 85 and you might get a different answer.

Staying socially active key to maintaining happiness 

A persons social circle can shrink over the years for many reasons, among them divorce, death, moves, etc. So it is important to maintain a socially active lifestyle if you want to maintain your positive attitude and happiness. One way to do this is to be a joiner. Get out and meet people who's interests mirror yours. Hiking, cooking, travel, crafting, volunteering are only a few ways you can meet others with mutual interests and make new friends.  

Pre-owned but perfect!

Well, it has taken almost two years of research, lots of shoe leather and some frustrated RV salespeople - but we have done it! Purchased our very first RV. And it's a beauty! It's a 2005, 28-foot 5th wheel Durango by KZ. Very gently used and maintained in absolutely pristine condition. It's not too big but it is roomy and very comfortable for our 1st RV. We couldn't be happier! We struggled mightily about buying new versus pre-owned for our first RV, I was in favor of new and my wife was leaning toward used. I wasn't too impressed by the used RV's I saw until I got lucky with this one. I could go on and on about our quest to find the perfect RV, the RV shows attended, the RV lots walked, the RV sales driven miles to see but it all came together at Star Valley RV, just down the road from Payson, Arizona and where we found our new home on wheels.

RV tips, problem solving and opinion from an industry insider

In the very near future you are going to hear much about this little country RV dealer because I have accepted part-time work there and will be writing about RV's and the RV lifestyle from an insiders perspective. Between RVing ourselves and actually working in the industry I hope to be able to bring you much good information, unbiased, behind-the-scenes, straight dope. I am expecting those less-than-perfect situations to crop up on the road from time to time, actually anticipating them, so that I can bring our readers relevant and useful information about how these issues get resolved. You may encounter a similar situation someday and find this information useful. I am not being paid to endorse this dealership,  I mention them only because my negotiation and purchase experience was pleasant and compared to others, very easy. I don't have any affiliation with a particular product, brand or manufacturer and will write about my own experiences, good and bad, both on the road and things I can pass on from what I learn from my colleagues in the industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Blame the Meltdown

I read an article in the March issue of Newsweek written by Daniel McGinn and Temma Ehrenfeld that addresses a baby boomer issue facing those of us who may have thought retirement was just around the corner only to discover that it may have to be put off a bit.  Retirement Postponed  tells the story of some unlucky baby boomers who had expected to quit work by now but discovered they couldn't afford it. Based on current economic conditions it seems as though some boomers are electing to stay on the job. The housing bust, tumbling stock portfolio's and the weakening economy are being blamed for this crisis now facing us baby boomers on the brink of retirement. 

Timing is Everything

They say that timing is everything and it's so true. I invested in a can't miss real estate deal in 2006 that has turned my retirement dreams upside down along with my home's value. To say this didn't work out as planned is a mild understatement. Similar situations has baby boomers concerned (panicked) about just when they can pull the plug. The Newsweek article sites several examples of boomers who were counting the days till retirement, people who worked decades and saved diligently only to discover their dream of selling the house and downsizing to that sun-belt condo has to be put on hold.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Happy Camper Club's directory lists more than 700 RV parks where RVers can enjoy 50% off at RV Parks Reviewed by none other than "Mr. RV" himself, Chuck Woodbury, this one seems to be the real deal. After reviewing many so-called discount camping clubs, when he came across the Happy Camper Half-Price Club he declared it a winner. The club is a family-owned and operated business that owns two private campgrounds. Just like savvy hotels, they realized that most of their fellow campgrounds owners would rather fill their extra campsites (rooms) at discounted rates than have them go vacant.

RVers joining the club can choose from nearly 1,000 private campgrounds including dozens in Canada. In most cases, a full-hookup space is less than $10, and sometimes even as little as $6! A one-year membership is $49.95 plus $5.95 for postage and handling of the comprehensive directory they send you. Members receive a membership card, plus an informative 270-page directory Campground Locations List that shows each participating half-price campground, its amenities, driving directions and even its rules about pets. Most of these quality campgrounds are operated by their owners, are in popular locations, many even lakeside or within sight of the ocean.

Memberships come with an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee and unlike other membership campgrounds like Coast to Coast and Thousand Trails, no contracts are required. And believe it or not with this club there are no hidden fees! The annual $49.95 membership is the total dollar commitment except for the (discounted) nightly camping fees.

The club is doing well these days partly owing to high fuel and RV park prices. People on a fixed retirement income will appreciate any legitimate discounts they can get, not just those where you might run into Clark Griswold and his family (remember the 1983 movie, National Lampoon's Vacation?) Clark pays a fortune to a guy spitting watermelon seeds (Brian Doyle Murray) host at Kamp Komfort.

Members of the club can camp at participating parks as often as they want and can enjoy half-price camping that very day! Campgrounds are located all across America and Canada.

Baby boomers launch RV Boom

Whether you realize it or not us baby boomers are right smack in the middle of an RV boom! Travel trailers like the McKenzie Lakota (Native American word meaning dialect of the Sioux tribe) pictured here are selling like crazy to those of us baby boomers who want to venture out and discover the world - one mile at a time. And thanks to RV manufacturers like the folks at McKenzie you can have all the comforts of home - on the road!

RV growing popularity with baby boomers no surprise 

Why it would surprise anyone, especially baby boomers, that RV travel is growing in popularity, is beyond me. After all it's the number one thing a boomer wants to do when they retire. You can read the article by Sharon OBrien in the Senior Living Section of About.com that inspired this commentary. It was written in July 2007 so it is relevant news that reinforces my views about a trend that I believe will not be too much affected by the current economic climate and/or the price of gas. I can only speak for myself as a soon-to-be-retired baby boomer that I have been looking forward to the purchase of my RV for a long time. I am less than four years away from retirement at age 62 (fingers crossed). After retiring I will not have an extravagant lifestyle, spending my days in a private golf club community, not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not my style. An RV of some kind is in those plans and it's going to be fun and challenging to find it, negotiate the price, and drive it off the lot.

Full time RVers or bust? 

Whether our RV turns out to be the kind where we sell the house and seriously downsize our knick-knacks, spending the rest of our days on the open road or a just a three-month romp with family and friends when the mood strikes, has yet to be determined. This is the one thing you need to figure out pretty quickly before you jump into any RV purchase. Is this case bigger is not necessarily better!

But even if I was retiring tomorrow I still wouldn't let the price of gas dictate where I go or how I do it. I am a baby boomer for pete's sake, I not only have money for gas to take me where I want to go but I like to eat out occasionally too! I don't intend to spend my money foolishly but I am not going the cheap route either. Am I going to be irrational like my mom and dad and do without so that I can save, save, save, and my kids can fight over it after I'm gone? No way, not this boomer! Read the rest of this entry »

Social Security welcomes baby boomers

Our Social Security Administration's Press Office kindly allowed me to borrow their "First Baby Boomer Files For Social Security-Online!" headline by way of announcing some good news and some bad news to our boomer audience. The good news is that it is now easier than ever to apply for retirement benefits when you become eligible. The bad news is you have to be almost 62 to apply!

A baby boomer dream or a boomer nightmare!?

Can it really be happening?, us guys and gals that grew up in the midst of a sexual and social revolution, vowed to never trust anyone over 30, can it really be true that we have grown old? We fought hard on so many fronts; Viet Nam, Kent State, JFK, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Civil Rights, Watergate, Nixon, The Beatles, anti war protesting, rock music, The Women's Movement and the rights of minorities. Can it be that we have survived the worst and now get to reap the rewards of a peaceful and fulfilling retirement? Baby Boomers hung it all out there, changed the world and made it a better place. Music, sexual mores, fashion, religion, politics and yes, even the scandals that kept us entertained, during the turbulent 50's, 60's and 70's all played a part in building our futures. I won't be the first one to play the "O" card because even at 58, I don't feel old, but I was a 19 year-old Marine in Viet Nam in 1969 so you do the math. Read the rest of this entry »