Fulltime RVers haven’t always been the stereotypical grandpa in the powder blue jumpsuit. One of the biggest and oldest RVer support clubs in existence, Escapees, was founded by a 40-something couple with children, Joe and Kay Peterson. They hit the road in the early 1970s with two teenagers, long before “road-schooling” was in the home-schooler’s dictionary.
The Petersons founded Escapees with their peers and together the club became the most well-know resources for full-timers. But through the years as the founding members aged, so did the demographic of the entire club. Only within the last few years have current club officers noticed that things are changing in the full-timing community, namely that more younger, non-retired people than ever are hitting the road in RVs.
“The Escapees board reviews its statistics year after year, and every year the outcome is the same: 85 percent of Escapees members are retired and over the age of 65,” said President Cathy Carr in a broadcast press release. “While we knew we were not supporting everyone, we didn’t realize there was such a large community of RVers flying under our radar.”
Under the direction of Joe and Kay Peterson’s grandson Travis Carr, who full-times in an Airstream with his wife Melanie and young child, Escapees has recently launched a new segment of the club, Xscapers, which will support working-age members in many different ways.
“Xscapers is a support network geared toward a new generation of RVers who have not yet retired and who have already, or are aspiring to, hit the road pursuing a full-time or part-time nomadic lifestyle.” — Xscapers Mission Statement
With a brand new website, targeted resources to younger RVers and special outreach to organizations like Fulltime Familes and Workamper News, Xcapers is getting the attention of younger full-timers who previously assumed that Escapees was just a club for retired RVers. Anyone who’s already an Escapee can join Xscapers, and take advantage of benefits like:
- Finding great places to work on the road
- Choosing a residency / domicile
- Locating financial planning expertise
- Meeting up with other like-minded full-timers
In addition, Xscapers can also take advantage of normal Escapees club benefits like
- Mail forwarding services
- Discounted stays at Escapees parks and co-ops
- Discussion Forums
- Rallies and boot camps for RVers
- and more!
It doesn’t cost anything extra to be an Xscaper, it just means that certain members are seeking more comprehensive resources for full-timers who live and work on the road. Escapees club members can choose which website best meets their needs.
For more information visit Xscapers today.
Often called “The O.G. of full-time RVing,” Rene Agredano and her husband Jim Nelson hit the road in a fifth wheel trailer in 2007, after their dog Jerry lost a leg to terminal cancer. Sixteen years later they are still traveling and sharing their nomadic adventures at LiveWorkDream. As a self-employed wordsmith, Rene shares her expertise for many RV industry videos, publications such as the Escapees RV Club Magazine, and has authored numerous books, including the Essential RVing Guide to National Parks, and Income Anywhere, a guide to earning money on the road. She has been featured in global media outlets including the PBS documentary “NATURE: Why We Love Cats and Dogs,” The Guardian Sunday Edition, and the Dan Pink book Free Agent Nation.
Leave a Reply