Is RV Nation at Risk?

[Crewleader]

Is RV Nation at Risk? (October 24, 2013)

by Charles Hugh Smith


A reduction in retirees' disposable income coupled with a global rise in the price of oil could crimp the assumptions underpinning RV Nation.

RV stands for "recreational vehicle," but it might also represent much of America's rural economy, which is heavily dependent on recreation and large low-mileage vehicles.

On a recent 10-day, 2,700 mile camping trip through a major chunk of the West (Northern California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah), I noticed a great many empty buildings in the small towns of the West. (This does not include the favored recreational haunts of the top 5%, of course, such as Sun Valley and Jackson Hole, which are booming.)

I also observed that much of the local economy in many areas was based on recreation: fishing, housing and feeding visitors to state and national parks, boating, etc.

Nowadays, a mainstay of these recreation-dependent sectors is the large cohort of retirees with the time and disposable income to travel. While some travel in sedans and stay at motels and inns, a significant percentage travel in large RVs and stay in RV parks or campgrounds.

http://www.oftwominds.com/blogoct13/RV-nation10-13.html

[gopiscrap]

1. o well

[Crewleader]

2. Here in Florida is RV Nation

Retirees work all their lives to enjoy their traveling trailers but I see a lot now stay in their driveways. It's really hitting those Seniors in RV Parks hold mobile homes that are closing and only giving two months advance to move, it's tough at their ages.

[Warpy]

3. I see people making few trips a year

and when they get where they're going, they plug in and settle down for weeks or months, following warm weather.

The days of being on the road much of the time and seeing the whole country are over. Those really huge, luxurious RVs are unbelievable gas guzzlers. Fifth wheels are a bit better but not much, even when the pickup pulling them is diesel.

I actually thought about this, but there's no way to shoehorn hobby equipment into one and my hobby is what keeps me from going nuts from idleness.

[Crewleader]

4. Hi Warpy

Glad to hear you enjoy your hobby.

[Warpy]

5. HobbieS

I'm a fiber junkie, buying wool right off the critter's back and processing it into yarn and then into finished items.

It keeps me off the street and out of bar fights.

[Crewleader]

6. LOL ! It keeps me off the street and out of bar fights.

Maybe you could show us your finished items. I bet it's quite craftsmanship your hobbies.