Whether you’re a part-time or full-time RVer, there’s an important RVer survey that needs your response. Sponsored by the Escapees RV Club, your input is critical to ensure that RVers are fairly treated when it comes to law, taxes, ordinances and other bureaucracies we all navigate on a daily basis.
Click to take the Escapees RVer census
Making All RVers Count
I’m passionate about helping the Escapees folks spread the word about the “Escapees RVer Census” for many reasons. For example, did you know that if you make the leap to full-time RVing without a legitimate, “real” physical address that’s recognized by legal entities, banks and other bureaucratic organizations, you will have trouble with life’s important tasks like voting and acquiring health insurance?
Many new full-timers are shocked to discover that the mail box they rented at the local UPS store will not be recognized for everything from vehicle registrations to opening new bank accounts. Some mail forwarding services used by full-time RVers fail to pass the “physical location test” by bureaucrats.
Because the Escapees organization knows how to advocate for RVers, the group’s mail forwarding service passes the muster of government officials and other entities. I use this service and Escapees headquarters has been my legal address since 2009. As long as I’m full-timing, I will always live at 240 Rainbow Drive in Livingston, Texas.
As a dues paying member I know Escapees is looking out for my husband and I, and all of our full-time RVing friends. As a bonus, there’s a real camaraderie among members of all ages, political beliefs, etc. Most Escapees are full-timers and when we interact with each other at the group’s awesome RV parks and co-ops, rallies and online in the Escapees Discussion Forums, there’s no secret handshake needed. We all get each other.
Why the RVer Census Needs Your Voice
Escapees RV Club is well-deserving of its reputation for being a leader in advocacy for RVers’ rights. Over the past 37 years, Escapees has fought to uphold full-time RVers’ right to vote; defeated unfair RV-specific taxes; protected overnight parking rights; and stood up to city, county, state, and federal regulations that threatened our personal freedoms.
In my eight years as a full-time RVer, I’ve seen some crazy laws enacted that would severely restrict full-timers’ abilities to continue living the dream. These include:
- A law requiring all Texas residents to physically travel to the Lone Star State for yearly vehicle inspections. Thanks to Escapees advocacy, that requirement is now waived for full-timers.
- Elimination of overnight parking in retail centers, rest areas and other locations. Escapees is continually working with officials to navigate this complicated issue.
- Most recently, many health insurance companies have dropped their PPO plans that enable full-timers to access health care anywhere in the U.S. Again, Escapees advocates are working on this urgent issue.
Your input for the Escapees RVer Census is vital. When working together, the RVing community has the ability to shape regulations affecting issues such as healthcare, employment, insurance, voting, and more. Participating in this survey is crucial to Escapees advocacy of your rights and to the protection of the RVing community as a whole.
Together we can let manufacturers, companies, employers and government agencies know that we are a powerful demographic.
Please share this survey with other RVers. There is no specific deadline for it, but I’ll let you know as soon as I find out the results, which promise to be very interesting.
Thank you, in advance, for making a difference!
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
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