hello! My husband Richard and I are hoping to be fulltiming by late 2014. We'd planned to do this a few years ago, but decided that we just weren't ready at that point in time. We want to sell the house and just head out on the road. We've done a lot of research and even attended an RV Dreams Rally in Myrtle Beach a few years ago. We're excited and really looking forward to this next phase in our lives. I have a question though: What's it like to live in campgrounds? I have this huge worry about noise, lack of privacy, and just generally feeling boxed in at a campground where I can't escape rude neighbors with wild kids or yapping dogs. (I like both in moderation, but don't necessarily want them right outside my front door all the time!) We have both lived in the country the biggest part of our lives and really like our space, quiet, and boundaries. Is this going to be a big problem for us (especially me?) Be straight with me, am I just too much of a prima donna for this lifestyle? Thanks for your help! This is really weighing on my mind.
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
03:46 AM Mar 4, 2013
We can't give a complete answer, but can give some of one- Most campgrounds are busy on weekends in their IN season, but during the week they're pretty quiet. We just returned from Sycamore Lodge in Jaskson Springs NC which is a "resort" associated with Coast to Coast. There were 15 rigs in a 150+ space campground this weekend. That included the workcampers! Sidenote- we tasted the koolaid but didn't swallow all of it- (Sales Pitch to buy into the place) It is a nice park though. The flipside is we have been to another local park, which is Flanners Beach in the Croatan National Forest, during the summer when alot of colorful locals were enjoying themselves. We had loads of entertainment right outside the door. But Sunday at 5pm, the place was about empty and quiet until Thursday then started over again on Friday.
Rob_Fla said
04:38 AM Mar 4, 2013
I agree with Jim, some we have stayed at have been very busy on the weekends with lots of kids.
Takes a little research to find the the type of CG you are looking for but they are there.
We like the quite oens with lits of space between sites.
bigboomer said
07:45 AM Mar 4, 2013
Cindy T is right on the mark. Although we never had reservations to staying in a campground as we have been doing this for 12 plus years as recreational, we know every campground at any time of the year can change depending on the local attractions. The only issue we have right now is that there are limited true 4 season winter water camps in the northeast for us to stay at during the off season winter months so we deal with what is offered but we also know as Cindy pointed out that we can up and move when and if we want during the normal season.
Sue has taken a workamper position at Blackbear Campground in Florida, NY this spring/ summer so we will be relocating in about a month and will stay there (they have full winter water) until I retire from my full time employment in a couple of years (GOD willing and the creek don't rise).
Remember...you will not longer have the ball and chain (house) to worry about so you can move when you want to!
Good Luck,
Les
-- Edited by bigboomer on Monday 4th of March 2013 07:45:53 AM
GENECOP said
07:53 AM Mar 4, 2013
Remember Willow Tree in Myrtle Beach? How was that setting? While all places are not like Willow Tree, there are enough that should be able to give you the privacy and comfort that you are looking for.
Cindy T said
03:26 PM Mar 4, 2013
I was also worried about that before we went FT. Now that we've been FT for over a year, I've gotten used to campground living. I've found that it can be noisy if there are a lot of kids around, but they're not there all the time. Our rig has double pane windows & is well insulated so it's much quieter inside that I expected.
Also, your house has wheels, so if you don't like where you are, you can move someplace else!
Lucky Mike said
03:35 PM Mar 4, 2013
I have found that there is a park in every area that accommodates the type of living you want.....if it advertises a water slide, hay ride and such its going to be a kid friendly park.
MelinWV said
07:24 PM Mar 4, 2013
Thanks everyone! I've researched a lot of campgrounds and I'm beginning to understand that there are a lot of options. I'm just a very "noise sesitive" person and I find it difficult to relax in chaos. I think we'll be able to find our personal "heaven" if we just look hard enough though! Much gradtitude! : )
bjoyce said
08:10 PM Mar 4, 2013
You might find a "pink noise generator"/"sound soother"/"sound therapy" machine will help. These make soothing background sounds and drown out other stuff. Here is a cheap one off Amazon you can try - http://www.amazon.com/Conair-SU1W-Sound-Therapy-Silver/dp/B000F54AN8/. This one can run off batteries for dry camping.
Clay L said
09:29 PM Mar 4, 2013
As full timers we aren't campers and don't stay often in that sort of RV park. We usually stay in parks that cater to snowbirds and most are 55 plus parks. As a result we don't see many kids. If we do get noisy neighbors we find another park.
Right now we are in a RV park in Bouse AZ and there are no kids at all here. There were a couple back in December visiting grandparents but they weren't noisy. Everyone here are either snowbirds or full timers and probably have an average age of at least 65. They don't tend to be noisy.
The park has a lot of quads and the folks love to go out in the desert. We may hear them when they leave and come back but they are not riding around in the park much at all.
There is a lot of visiting and get togethers and if a bunch of folks are sitting outside in the next door site you can hear the people talking. If we have the windows open and want to listen to the TV, we put on our wireless headphones, or we just go over an join them.
When we started full timing we had lived for 18 years in a small town in NH where the smallest lot allowed was 3 acres. It was a heavily wooded area and we couldn't see the neighbors on the sides or the back. We did have a little adjustment period because of having people close by but we got used to it.
Dog Folks said
09:56 PM Mar 4, 2013
Generally, we have found campgrounds to be better than the neighborhoods we lived in when we had a regular house. Those neighbors weren’t “bad”, it's just that we did not really know them, other than to wave at when coming and going.
The neighbors in a campground share a common interest, camping. Yes, there is the occasional loud radio or screaming kids, but that is not the norm.
Last year we found a small campground to stay three months to overwinter. I had to have a major operation on my leg, in a hospital 50 miles away. A few days before a couple of neighbors knocked on the door and wanted to know when they should walk the dogs for us while my wife was at the hospital with me!!
The frosting on the cake came when I was home a few days, but still not on my feet. A knock of the door and our neighbor was standing there with a quart of homemade chicken soup. Yes, the folks in this park know your business, like a small town, but they can’t be any better.
hello! My husband Richard and I are hoping to be fulltiming by late 2014. We'd planned to do this a few years ago, but decided that we just weren't ready at that point in time. We want to sell the house and just head out on the road. We've done a lot of research and even attended an RV Dreams Rally in Myrtle Beach a few years ago. We're excited and really looking forward to this next phase in our lives. I have a question though: What's it like to live in campgrounds? I have this huge worry about noise, lack of privacy, and just generally feeling boxed in at a campground where I can't escape rude neighbors with wild kids or yapping dogs. (I like both in moderation, but don't necessarily want them right outside my front door all the time!) We have both lived in the country the biggest part of our lives and really like our space, quiet, and boundaries. Is this going to be a big problem for us (especially me?) Be straight with me, am I just too much of a prima donna for this lifestyle? Thanks for your help! This is really weighing on my mind.
Most campgrounds are busy on weekends in their IN season, but during the week they're pretty quiet.
We just returned from Sycamore Lodge in Jaskson Springs NC which is a "resort" associated with Coast to Coast. There were 15 rigs in a 150+ space campground this weekend. That included the workcampers!
Sidenote- we tasted the koolaid but didn't swallow all of it- (Sales Pitch to buy into the place) It is a nice park though.
The flipside is we have been to another local park, which is Flanners Beach in the Croatan National Forest, during the summer when alot of colorful locals were enjoying themselves. We had loads of entertainment right outside the door. But Sunday at 5pm, the place was about empty and quiet until Thursday then started over again on Friday.
Takes a little research to find the the type of CG you are looking for but they are there.
We like the quite oens with lits of space between sites.
Cindy T is right on the mark. Although we never had reservations to staying in a campground as we have been doing this for 12 plus years as recreational, we know every campground at any time of the year can change depending on the local attractions. The only issue we have right now is that there are limited true 4 season winter water camps in the northeast for us to stay at during the off season winter months so we deal with what is offered but we also know as Cindy pointed out that we can up and move when and if we want during the normal season.
Sue has taken a workamper position at Blackbear Campground in Florida, NY this spring/ summer so we will be relocating in about a month and will stay there (they have full winter water) until I retire from my full time employment in a couple of years (GOD willing and the creek don't rise).
Remember...you will not longer have the ball and chain (house) to worry about so you can move when you want to!
Good Luck,
Les
-- Edited by bigboomer on Monday 4th of March 2013 07:45:53 AM
I was also worried about that before we went FT. Now that we've been FT for over a year, I've gotten used to campground living. I've found that it can be noisy if there are a lot of kids around, but they're not there all the time. Our rig has double pane windows & is well insulated so it's much quieter inside that I expected.
Also, your house has wheels, so if you don't like where you are, you can move someplace else!
You might find a "pink noise generator"/"sound soother"/"sound therapy" machine will help. These make soothing background sounds and drown out other stuff. Here is a cheap one off Amazon you can try - http://www.amazon.com/Conair-SU1W-Sound-Therapy-Silver/dp/B000F54AN8/. This one can run off batteries for dry camping.
As a result we don't see many kids. If we do get noisy neighbors we find another park.
Right now we are in a RV park in Bouse AZ and there are no kids at all here. There were a couple back in December visiting grandparents but they weren't noisy. Everyone here are either snowbirds or full timers and probably have an average age of at least 65. They don't tend to be noisy.
The park has a lot of quads and the folks love to go out in the desert. We may hear them when they leave and come back but they are not riding around in the park much at all.
There is a lot of visiting and get togethers and if a bunch of folks are sitting outside in the next door site you can hear the people talking. If we have the windows open and want to listen to the TV, we put on our wireless headphones, or we just go over an join them.
When we started full timing we had lived for 18 years in a small town in NH where the smallest lot allowed was 3 acres. It was a heavily wooded area and we couldn't see the neighbors on the sides or the back. We did have a little adjustment period because of having people close by but we got used to it.
The neighbors in a campground share a common interest, camping. Yes, there is the occasional loud radio or screaming kids, but that is not the norm.
Last year we found a small campground to stay three months to overwinter. I had to have a major operation on my leg, in a hospital 50 miles away. A few days before a couple of neighbors knocked on the door and wanted to know when they should walk the dogs for us while my wife was at the hospital with me!!
The frosting on the cake came when I was home a few days, but still not on my feet. A knock of the door and our neighbor was standing there with a quart of homemade chicken soup. Yes, the folks in this park know your business, like a small town, but they can’t be any better.
Overall, I’ll take camping neighbors anytime.