A Second Vacation Home a Good Thing?

[Danmar]

I agree with everything said in the last few posts (except nostalgia for LBYM "jokes"). I think we can stop talking about the mega rich (except in the abstact) as there wouldn't be any likely on this board. Define mega rich as >$100million net worth. Likely our diversity might max out at a few 10's of millions perhaps. This still leaves a lot of lifestyle differences but that is what makes things interesting as long as the discussion can be respectful and tolerant of all viewpoints.

 

[NW-Bound]

Hmm... I think LBYM technique discussions can be funny and entertaining. No more TP saving techniques please, or tricks that amount to stealing.

My point is that most people here are able to, or plan to retire early by scrimping on something compared to their peers who make the same income. We may exaggerate what we do to save, in order to laugh at ourselves. What's wrong with that?

 

[Bestwifeever]

Does this mean I can't tell anyone I've been stitching used dryer sheets together to make bath towels?

 

[W2R]

Does this mean I can't tell anyone I've been stitching used dryer sheets together to make bath towels?

I don't know, but I must admit that shamefully, I have never made my own laundry detergent and I never plan to do so.

Usually I *DO* use about 1/4th as much liquid detergent as is indicated as the proper amount by the line on the cap... ssshhhhh!!!! Don't tell anybody! After all, I do buy name brand liquid detergent (Tide) so that has to count for something.

Wait - - which are we supposed to do? Tell people how LBYM we are, or tell people how LBYM we aren't? You all have really confused me now. Oh well, I did both.

 

[FIREd]

How did I miss such an entertaining discussion?

My parents had several vacation homes. They had one home in the city for the week, one home in the mountains for the week-ends and winters (skiing), and one home on the beach for the summers. The mountain home was only 30 minutes away by car and was used heavily (at least once a week) and required quite a bit of maintenance (snow plowing in the winter, mowing in the summer, painting, etc...). In truth, that home required so much maintenance that I never thought of it as a vacation home. The summer home was much further away, so we went there only once a year or so, but it was heavily used by friends and family during the off-season. The summer home required much less maintenance on our part (we paid a fee to have someone maintain the property).

Now that I am in a position to have vacation homes myself, I find little enthusiasm for them. I will one day inherit either the summer or winter home and I am still unsure whether I will keep it or sell it. Personally I prefer to have the option to go to a different place each year and splurge on a luxury hotel rather than spend time and money on upkeep for a property I visit only once or twice a year. But to each their own.

 

[NW-Bound]

Wait - - which are we supposed to do? Tell people how LBYM we are, or tell people how LBYM we aren't?

Both. I don't know about other posters, but I like to brag about how I save money by being a DIY'er in home and car maintenance projects which occasionally involve tall ladders and scaffolds , then splurge that savings on travel. That way, I feel good about taking travel, having two homes (look at all the savings that I have made by maintaining them myself!), and still having money left to count.

PS. Forgot to add the savings I have made by maintaining and installing some upgrades on the RV that I only had for 2 months. I went to Camping World to buy some RV parts and cringed at what they charge for doing routine maintenance.

 

[RonBoyd]

I went to Camping World to buy some RV parts and cringed at what they charge for doing routine maintenance.

Yikes! Didn't anyone warn you about the Affinity Group?

 

[NW-Bound]

No.

As a place to get RV parts, its price is competitive with another local shop I went to, and in fact is sometimes lower. The labor charge (which I do not incur) is high, but to be fair, another local shop hangs a sign up front saying $120/hr labor, 1/2 hr minimum.

So, what's wrong with the Affinity Group (which is the parent corp of Camping World as I just found out)? There are always rows of RVs parked there, waiting to be serviced.

 

[RonBoyd]

No. So, what's wrong with the Affinity Group (which is the parent corp of Camping World as I just found out)?

And they are the parent of a bunch of other RV related enterprises. There is nothing inherently wrong with the organization, just be sure that "shop around" is constantly uppermost in your mind when dealing with them. They are sometimes the best place but not always... and when they are not, it does serious damage to the wallet.

Caveat Emptor, I think is the operating attitude to take. Once you are on their mailing list (too late) it is even more fun.

 

[Moemg]

Does this mean I can't tell anyone I've been stitching used dryer sheets together to make bath towels?

I'll go you one better ! I am weaving together dryer sheets and the lint to make a new dock and to make sue I'm LBYM I'm only buying no name dryer sheets and buying them at the dollar store when I have a coupon !

 

[Alan]

Does this mean I can't tell anyone I've been stitching used dryer sheets together to make bath towels?

I'd never even heard of dryer sheets before I found this forum.

Okay, I give up, what is your new avatar? They look a bit like Devil's Dumplings

 

[RonBoyd]

I'll go you one better ! I am weaving together dryer sheets and the lint to make a new dock and to make sue I'm LBYM I'm only buying no name dryer sheets and buying them at the dollar store when I have a coupon !

What about Thrift Stores? Surely, used dryer sheets would work just as well. (Wait! Was that you that asked me not to call you Shirley?)

 

[audreyh1]

No.

As a place to get RV parts, its price is competitive with another local shop I went to, and in fact is sometimes lower. The labor charge (which I do not incur) is high, but to be fair, another local shop hangs a sign up front saying $120/hr labor, 1/2 hr minimum.

So, what's wrong with the Affinity Group (which is the parent corp of Camping World as I just found out)? There are always rows of RVs parked there, waiting to be serviced.

Actually $100-$120/hour is kind of the going rate for RV techs. I think it's more like $105 or so down here.

But CW has several "fixed price" options for routine maintenance that other shops can't beat, so we go there for that (like annual maintenance on RV fridge - for example). Our experience with their RV service has been very good in general and their techs seem well trained and experienced.

By all means - do it yourself. But we are often glad to pay someone else to take care of more complex and messy things for us. Especially anything that requires putting the RV on a lift! or any major chassis repair. We do most of the "house" maintenance ourselves.

Audrey

 

[Bestwifeever]

I knitted up a big sail out of gently used dental floss for Moemg's boat to use when she gets the dock finished.

I actually did just now resuscitate some dry yeast with a label expiration date of 12/08 to make some focaccia. I'm going to sell it just outside the Hostess outlet store! Where in answer to Alan's question I purchased my day-old Hostess Sno Balls, featured in my avatar this week.

 

[W2R]

Just to take the other extreme (wouldn't want to let the LBYM overshadow the non-LBYM, would we? ) Frank and I actually briefly considered the possibility of getting an RV this afternoon.

We tentatively decided it is not for us at this time, but we THOUGHT about it, at least. We were trying to figure out a good way to get out of doing yardwork AND not deal with an HOA and/or fees AND not throw much rent into a black hole.

The closest solution that we thought of are some small doubles (=duplexes) down in the Faubourg Marigny built back in horse-and carriage days that have no side or front yards that would meet these criteria. Some even have off-street parking. But they seem a little pricey to us and there have been a few too many murders down there in the past few years for me to feel the warm fuzzies, even thought I love the architectural detail on these old structures (similar to the attached photo) and it doesn't flood as much down there.

Besides, we haven't really decided what state we want to live in, yet. Plenty of time to muse about the various possibilities. And no matter what, a Class A is out of the question for us!

 

[REWahoo]

Frank and I actually briefly considered the possibility of getting an RV this afternoon.

Very slowly, in tiny little steps, we're bringing you around...

 

[Kroeran]

SEC Lawyer, you are entitled to and owe no apologies for your second and third homes.
And yes, this board leans toward less expensive lifestyles. Nonetheless, a second home that sits idle much of the year is a luxury.

Sorry, but not so. This would mean that Bill Gates’ 66000 SQ house is “thrifty” because he has billions and lives beneath his means. It is instead a public display of opulence and conspicuous consumption.

Like you, he too is entitled to the house(s) of his choice and need make no excuses. But don’t call it thrift – especially when bragging.

I don't begrudge Bill his big house. He is giving away most of his fortune and has not fallen into the trap of spending money on alimony.

I wonder if there is a security concern. Those kids don't just wander over to neighbours to play, right? So they have to create a complete world within the family gate.

This reminds me of the story I heard, maybe its an urban myth, of Bill and the wife getting stuck with a flat tire halfway up to Whistler. A part was missing for the jack and they were stranded, no cell service. Guy in a pick up truck shows up, does not recognise him, switches the tire.

Bill tries to get the guys name but he is suspicious. Bill gives him his card and asks him to email him. No go. He did get the plates, and Microsoft legal was dispatched to find out who the guy was.

Next month his mortgage check was returned. He was told Bill Gates had paid it off.

 

[W2R]

Very slowly, in tiny little steps, we're bringing you around...

Scary, isn't it?

 

[DivinDave]

I guess if you can afford it, why not!

 

[Kroeran]

We were trying to figure out a good way to get out of doing yardwork AND not deal with an HOA and/or fees AND not throw much rent into a black hole.
!

I see a lot of yards being converted to no maintenance. Just replace the grass with perennials, slow growing hedges, brickwork, woodchips.

or this approach

 

[Moemg]

I knitted up a big sail out of gently used dental floss for Moemg's boat to use when she gets the dock finished.

I actually did just now resuscitate some dry yeast with a label expiration date of 12/08 to make some focaccia. I'm going to sell it just outside the Hostess outlet store! Where in answer to Alan's question I purchased my day-old Hostess Sno Balls, featured in my avatar this week.

When I finish the dock I am going to also use dental floss( only used once ) to make crab traps and also a volley ball net for our pool . We are really going Green !

 

[W2R]

I see a lot of yards being converted to no maintenance. Just replace the grass with perennials, slow growing hedges, brickwork, woodchips.

or this approach

Hmm! Now those are some good ideas. I'll bring them up the next time Frank and I discuss this. Thanks, Kroeran.

 

[RonBoyd]

Frank and I actually briefly considered the possibility of getting an RV this afternoon.

I knew it would work.

 

[Kroeran]

Hmm! Now those are some good ideas. I'll bring them up the next time Frank and I discuss this. Thanks, Kroeran.

this is what got my Florida juices going years ago and living on the water

The Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald

John D MacDonald's Travis McGee series

 

[W2R]

this is what got my Florida juices going years ago and living on the water

The Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald

John D MacDonald's Travis McGee series

I love Travis McGee! I think I have all of that series, or very nearly so. Haven't re-read them for 30 years probably, but maybe I should.