We're not full-timers yet, so we have no personal experience.  From reading posts on the Escapees forum and from posts on this forum as well, it appears that folks think highly of the SKP mail service.  This link provides some info.:  http://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t39759451/mail-delivery-service.  There are other posts as well if you search "SKP mail service", but the link above is geared more towards your questions.  Hope it helps.

From the Escapees website:

"HOP = Head Out Program:  Attending a HOP does not mean just having fun, enjoying the sights of a particular area, eating delicious food, being bused around to the venues for that HOP (when applicable); it also means forging lifelong friendships and memories.

Each HOP is unique. Some involve touring and some involve concerts, while others consist of activities such as rafting or 4x4ing. HOPs also include cruises, usually one short cruise a year and one or two longer ones each year.

When meeting attendees from various HOPs, you may hear them talk not only about what a great time they had on the HOP, but also about a particular memory that they came away with, such as “Where’s the key?” from the Grand Canyon Train Ride HOP. Or standing in cold water and smiling at each other on the Extreme Rafting HOP, a necessity during seven days of rafting down the Colorado. Or the Hummer that couldn’t during the Creede Outdoor Adventure.

BOF = Birds of a Feather: A BOF group is a group of people who share a common interest. They are not a chartered chapter because they are in no specific geographical area, but they are similar in that they meet at each Escapade, they may hold rallies, and they generally have their own newsletter. They are more informal than chapters and do not require bylaws and officers, but must abide by directives and be approved by National. Some BOFs meet only at Escapades, while others also hold rallies between Escapades. There is no charge to join a BOF, although most require a small fee to receive their newsletter if they publish one. Certified groups require a minimal fee to join."

Escapees is a wonderful club. We do not see it as a 'discount camping club', we see it as being an advocacy group for fulltimers. If anyone is only looking for a discount camping club, look elsewhere. Escapees is waay more than that.

Like rvingft said, the magazine is informative. I look forward to it's arrival in the mail also.

Some people join solely for the mail forwarding service, which is the best there is, bar none. We used the mail forwarding service for approximately 6 months. LOVED it, but changed our domicile, and transferred it to our current service. Never had a problem with it. I cannot say the same for my South Dakota mail forwarding service, which we have had for 6 years.

Joe and Kay Peterson, founders of Escapees were visionaries. I have told Howard and Linda the same. I call them the "modern day Joe and Kay". :)

Kathy

-- Edited by Kathy Doin It on Monday 10th of October 2011 05:58:03 AM

Here is Howard's take, http://www.rv-dreams.com/home-base-selection.html, but it really does not answer the question.

A mailing address does not make you a resident or snowbirds with multiple addresses would be residents of multiple states. You get to choose one state to be a resident of but it does not have to be your main mailing address. We know multiple people who use the Escapees mail forwarding that get a small amount of their mail sent somewhere else since that other address is their "residence". That location is where they vote, have their vehicles registered and their health insurance is out of. They choose a relative or someone else trusted to forward this mail to their mail service. It is very nice to have "one address to rule them all", but not required. You don't even need to bank in the same state, in this modern age people often keep the bank they like when they move and use internet banking and direct deposit.

But Florida does have decent mail forwarding services. Good Sam is in Pensacola and some good friends have used one in Merritt Island for years.

If you own a place in a state and actually live there much of the year, you are a resident even if all of your mail goes somewhere else.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 10th of October 2011 12:39:54 PM

Hey Dick and Bill,

I also have questions about Escapees and Passport America. We are using "Your Best Address" in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for mail forwarding. Wonder if it is the one mentioned above that is not as good as Escapees?? We have not finished the process as we have not taken delivery of our RV yet.

A little off this subject but just wanted those that might be interested to know that we got an insurance quote on our tow vehicle and RV from one company that is supposed to specialize in best rates for RVers and was told that North Carolina rates were lower than South Dakota. I called Dougherty Insurance in Sioux Falls as suggested by "Your Best Address" and we are paying about half what we would have paid had we registered our vehicles in North Carolina. If buying new, get full replacement cost coverage.

Also, questions about reduced campground fees - Escapees v. Passport America. We are about a week or so from going on the road headed to South Dakota to get our driver's license.

Thanks,

Steve

I like their forum. Thinking of joining now. Only memberships are Good Sam and FMCA right now.