[Freeda]

It’s playing at the AMC Lake Square Mall in Leesburg. We plan to see it this week. Another somewhat similar theme movie, Land, is also showing there.

[PennyAnn]

I watched it just last night. It gave me a bit of trouble sleeping. Such a sad depiction of some, although I did get the impression that for others....they didn't fit the life that is considered the "norm". It seems some were forever outcasts, if only in their own minds.

[Tnbrewer]

What a great post. You see cheap rving and traveling Robert on YouTube and see the country from home in there rv.
It’s a great way to get away from everything now and then including a lot of things u don’t need.
When u get back home it feels really big ������������

[manaboutown]

The book this movie is based on is nonfiction and worth reading IMHO. It opened my eyes about how some seniors either must live or choose to live. I have stopped for fuel many time at Quartzsite, Arizona before crossing the border into California where fuel is much more expensive. At times the landscape was dotted with RVs of every description seemingly for miles. What's the Big Deal About Quartzsite? - RV LIFE

The book also delves into "stealth camping" in urban areas. The Villages has at least one "stealth camper" according to the "Some Kind of Heaven" movie. I imagine there are others. Stealth Camping Tips For Van Life In The City >> Building A Camper Van Conversion

[airstreamingypsy]

I watched the movie last night, thinking it was going to be about the adventures I had while I roamed the USA for 15 years, as a fulltime RVer. It wasn't about fun and adventures, it was about a woman who was broke and broken. Only 4 people, in the film, were actors.... the rest were all real people. I would like he movie to have been about the lady who went to Alaska, she was more representative of people who choose the RV lifestyle. Fern chose it, she had other options, but it wasn't the right life for her...... the movie was depressing.

[Grunt 1946]

We retired in 2001 and purchases a 40' diesel pusher towing a Jeep Wrangler. Traveled the country for a year and found there are two types of people that travel around as we did. Those with money that do it for fun (20%), and those without money that do it because they have to (80%). I couldn't tell you how many times I was approached by someone wanting to polish my wheels, wash my rig & car, or just give them some cash/food. It was sad on one side and dangerous on another. You best carry sidearms in the rig. We didn't care for it, and sold the Rig. Today I would just fly, rent a car, and stay in a Hilton.

[Linda Taranto]

I will watch this movie; it sounds like something I will enjoy. I've done a little camping in my lifetime, but nothing like this! I really enjoyed reading about all your experiences. Thanks for sharing!

[gpk111]

Originally Posted by paulat585

Back to the movie...It is free on Hulu right now. Watched it last night. Frances McDormand was great, but as a commentary on our society while probably accurate, was pretty depressing.

Looks like you have to be a Hulu member to get in.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

The book this movie is based on is nonfiction and worth reading IMHO. It opened my eyes about how some seniors either must live or choose to live. I have stopped for fuel many time at Quatzsite, Arizona before crossing the border into California where fuel is much more expensive. At times the landscape was dotted with RVs of every description seemingly for miles.

The book also delves into "stealth camping" in urban areas. The Villages has at least one "stealth camper" according to the "Some Kind of Heaven" movie. I imagine there are others. Stealth Camping Tips For Van Life In The City >> Building A Camper Van Conversion

I have done some "stealth sleeping" on car trips to avoid the high cost of motels. Most Walmarts allow it. The longest that I ever did that was for about 3 weeks during a trip from TV Land to Spokane and Portland, Or. I was scouting for possible areas to spend the hot summer months - thus avoiding Fl. summer heat and humidity. I also would check the prices for small fixer-upper houses while there. I did that for about 2 years in a row (about 10 years ago) when I was in pretty good shape physically. I was lucky both years and did not have any "run-ins" with police or any car problems. I got good at sleeping in the driver's seat. I made a game of trying to spend the LEAST money, while still enjoying myself. I spent time at a local college in Spokane where I could jog on their track. I would hit tennis balls against a wall. People would come along and ask me to play. People in Spokane were very friendly. I could take showers there. There was a senior center a little outside Spokane that had FREE table tennis available twice a week. I met many nice people there. And they sold lunch at a reduced price to seniors and it was delicious. I found a local beach to swim and nearby to fish. I stopped at a bike shop and got a demonstration ride on an electric bike. Houses were very reasonable in the Spokane area. I spent a little less time in Portland. They had lots of activities for seniors, but house prices were much higher. I ended up not purchasing any property out West, but I enjoyed the travel so much that I did NOT consider the time spent to be wasted. I did something similar traveling to Alaska after college graduation, but that is another long story!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

I watched the movie last night, thinking it was going to be about the adventures I had while I roamed the USA for 15 years, as a fulltime RVer. It wasn't about fun and adventures, it was about a woman who was broke and broken. Only 4 people, in the film, were actors.... the rest were all real people. I would like he movie to have been about the lady who went to Alaska, she was more representative of people who choose the RV lifestyle. Fern chose it, she had other options, but it wasn't the right life for her...... the movie was depressing.

Yes, on to Alaska. A worthy goal for seniors.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Grunt 1946

We retired in 2001 and purchases a 40' diesel pusher towing a Jeep Wrangler. Traveled the country for a year and found there are two types of people that travel around as we did. Those with money that do it for fun (20%), and those without money that do it because they have to (80%). I couldn't tell you how many times I was approached by someone wanting to polish my wheels, wash my rig & car, or just give them some cash/food. It was sad on one side and dangerous on another. You best carry sidearms in the rig. We didn't care for it, and sold the Rig. Today I would just fly, rent a car, and stay in a Hilton.

That is like a small example of most of life. If you stand out with a luxury home, or RV, or even wearing a gold chain, you open yourself up to people that are jealous of what you have and hassle you. When you are on your home turf or neighborhood you probably are surrounded by neighbors of equal wealth and display equal luxury - so, you feel safer, not perfectly safe, but somewhat safer. The younger you are the more you are prone to dangerous adventure, lifestyle, or travel. When you travel in a RV, you are more exposed to ALL the masses of society - the adrenaline of adventure is intensified along with greater danger. You at less bored than at home with the same old like-minded and economically equal people. As we age we have a greater need for stability and boredom can be better tolerated. .......happy trails to ALL

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by kpd3062

I have told my wife that I f something we’re to happen to me, I hope she meets someone and makes a happy life. I don’t want her to be alone.

That's so unselfish and noble.

[Villages Kahuna]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

I had a 26' Winnie back in the 1970s which we took down to Guaymas, Mexico, camping on the Beach at Kino Bay, Mexico for quite a while. We took it all over Napa Valley and stopped at wineries. I even drove it down the winding part of Lombard Street in San Fran. Also had a 22' Winnie for a while. Finally, my favorite, a '78 26' GMC which we drove up into Canada. We were a family of four and really enjoyed camping and fishing for many years in those motorhomes. We once stayed in a casino RV park in Las Vegas, NV for a few nights. Best hookups anywhere. I spent the month of June one year in Mesa, AZ and had to add a second A/C on the roof as it was so hot outside. Over the years I have met many interesting people and enjoyed some nice times in campgrounds - but I would not want to have to live in an RV.

This one is the color and model of what we owned but ours had a different floor plan. 1978 GMC Royale Motorhome. Charvet Classic Cars - YouTube

That looks like a beautiful GMC RV, much nicer looking than almost all of the current models. I’ve never even RV’d, but the looks of that ‘78 in the video is awfully tempting. But I’d be terrified to even mention the idea to the Mrs.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

That looks like a beautiful GMC RV, much nicer looking than almost all of the current models. I’ve never even RV’d, but the looks of that ‘78 in the video is awfully tempting. But I’d be terrified to even mention the idea to the Mrs.

It was one heck of a motorhome for its time. The Winnies were boxy, assembled atop truck chassis and drove like overloaded trucks. The GMCs were designed and built by GM using a front drive Oldsmobile Tornado arrangement. I towed a couple of different 18' outboard boats a couple hundred miles each way to lakes in NM. Due to the front wheel drive I put an additional trailer hitch on the front end just to launch the boats on steeper ramps.

Here is an old GM sales brochure. https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/upl...s-Brochure.pdf

[Janet1946]

A friend of mine (our age) lives in waaay northern New Hampshire. Almost every fall, she takes off alone in her van (just like in the movie) or her car (which she would sleep in) and drive....to Alaska or California and all points in between. A few years ago she went to Quartzite, Arizona during the rally. She only had one scary experience, at a campground in Alaska. I've always been in awe of her ability to travel alone that way. One thing: many join LA Fitness because it is (or was) all over the country and open 24 hours a day and is a great place to get a shower.