Rolling Into Retirement One State At A Time

Living on the road isn’t everyone’s dream, but for a surprising number of Americans, it has become an idyllic, affordable way to cruise into their golden years.

- Paul Schrodt

For Al and Greta Boldt, a nomadic retirement has brought them solace.

“One of my objectives is to always be somewhere I’d be comfortable in shorts and sandals,” says Al, 69. “It hasn’t always worked out that way, but it’s a good dream.”

According to the RV Industry Association (RVIA), a million Americans live full-time in RVs (a.k.a. recreational vehicles, which include motor homes and trailers), and the data firm Statistical Surveys reported that RV sales saw a record year in 2017. More than 10.5 million households own at least one RV, a sizable increase from 7.5 million in 2005, per the RVIA.

The Boldts first hit the road full-time in their rig after selling their house in 2016, once Al had retired from his career as a computer programmer in Michigan.

“About five years before he actually retired, he said something about [becoming full-time RVers] to me,” Greta, 68, says. “I looked at him and said, ‘You’re crazy. We don’t even camp!’ He just said, ‘Keep it in the back of your head and mull it over.’ ”

After taking a while to see if Al was “really serious,” Greta came around. “I said, ‘Let’s do it while we have our health, energy, and wits about us.’ ” She wasn’t the only one who took some convincing. One of their sons warmed up to the prospect and now provides a home base for his parents in Michigan for doctor’s visits and hanging out with their grandson. Their other son didn’t react so favorably. “He looked at us and said, ‘You’re certifiable,’ ” Greta recalls, laughing. “I said, ‘I know. What else is new?’ ”