Senior Highlights....

RVing SENIORS LIVE LONGER AND HAPPIER

Seniors who travel via recreational vehicle (RV) claim to feel healthier, both mentally and physically, than they would if they led more sedentary lives, according to the first anthropological study of RV owners. David and Dorothy Counts, the husband-and-wife team who conducted the study, should know. They're devoted RVers themselves.

Dr. David Counts, professor of anthroplogy at McMaster University, and Dr. Dorothy Counts, professor of anthropology at Waterloo University, spent 20 years examining the society of Papua, New Guinea. In 1990, they turned their attention to North America and have since completed two anthropological field studies on the subject of RV travel and ownership. “What we have found in North America has stirred more interest than any of our work in New Guinea,” David says.

For more than a year, the Counts not only studied RVing, they became RVers themselves. They travelled extensively to havens of RVers, conducting extensive interviews and living like the people they were studying. “We began by looking at RVing as a retirement alternative, purely in an academic sense,” says David. “What we found was that RVing offers a great deal to retirees. They believe (and there is evidence to support their belief) that they are physically and mentally healthier, happier, and more alert than their retired counterparts who lead more sedentary lives.”

“The RVers we interviewed during our study feel they are healthier than they would be if they didn’t RV,” says Dorothy. “While not overly strenuous, RVing is a physically active process. RVs also allow people to go places and do things that are physically challenging, like hiking through a national forest. In addition, when RVing, you have your home with you and that means less stress.” When the stress of travelling is eliminated, seniors often realize the trip itself is an adventure, adding to their health and vitality.

“The constant exposure to new people, places, and events, and driving from place to place all help to keep RVers mentally alert,” David adds. “We found that RV ownership is not only means to an extremely independent and self-sufficient way of life, it’s also the common thread in a vast community. The RVers we interviewed are trying to rebuild American values of days past. They rely on the openness and trust that they say has disappeared from established urban and suburban areas. They're not sitting around remembering their past, however, they're planning their futures.”

Through their field work the Counts determined that there are three keys to successful retirement: have control of your life, have interesting and challenging things to do, and have friends outside the family. David says, “We found that RVing is an excellent way to accomplish this and provides all of these in abundance. We look forward to a time, after our academic careers are over, when we can enjoy the freedom of extended RV travel. We began this study with a bias toward tent-camping and expected to remain detached and unaffected by what we learned. Instead, we found ourselves drawn to RV travel for exactly the reasons that our interviewees cited."

The appeal of RV travel for seniors is easy to understand. Because lodgings, dining, and personal belongings are virtually self-contained, the freedom and flexibility is almost unlimited. Of course, when you compare campground costs of $14 to $18 per night to hotels, as well as dining expenses, the economy of RVing is also appealing.

Many seniors are concerned about the comfort of extended RV travel, today’s technological advances continue to make RVing more comfortable. Notable improvements in recent years include: central air conditioning; power slideout rooms; basement construction; diesel ‘pusher’ engines; wider bodies; push-button leveling systems; outdoor entertainment systems; and push-button ignition for water heating systems.

So where do all of these smart senior RVers go? More than two million RVers blaze a trail south to follow the sun in the comfort and convenience of the ‘home-on-wheels.’

According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) more than 25% of senior RVers head to warm climates for extended stays. Perennial favorite destinations include Florida (26%), Arizona (24%), followed by California and Texas. Popular pursuits at these ‘hot’ RV destinations include sightseeing/touring, socializing with friends, swimming/sunbathing, handicrafts, and golf. These seniors are obviously too busy and happy to worry about aging.

To receive a free booklet full of RV, campground, rental; and trip planning information, would-be and veteran RV vacationers can call (800) 47-SUNNY or write Go Camping America, P.O. Box 2669, Dept. 23, Reston, VA 22090. Freewheeling' USA (Fielding Worldwide, $17.95), by Shirley Slater & Harry Basch, (310) 372-4474, is another excellent resource. These freewheelin' seniors logged more than 50,000 miles on their RV to complete research for the book.