Living on the road on a pension

[ann]

Just wondering if it’s worth getting a new formal thread for people who are living on the road or interested in doing so. As you know I’ve got my caravan and could offer some titbits, I expect others could also. It wouldn’t be about renting a dwelling, it would be about being a nomad here in Oz. I’m stunned how many are doing this and have been for many years. I’m new to the life but daily meet people who are ‘nomads’. There is car camping (and many prefer that), caravans, car and tent, camper trailers, motor homes, campervans…… camping fees range from free to super expensive. I’m definitely the low end of the market and it’s stunning to me that I’m parked next to a caravan costing about $250,000 and we are both free camping or paying no more than $15 a night. Rent Assistance is also available when travelling. Just a thought for the ‘powers that be’. Maybe it would help people. It’s been a REALLY looooong time since I’ve slept so easily and safely since I bought the caravan - I own my own home - sure it’s a 1994 caravan, but it’s mine. I will NEVER be homeless or terrified of rent increases. Bonus is, if I don’t like the weather, neighbours, local district I hook up and move. Maybe a Nomad thread is perhaps helpful given these homeless times. I would contribute

[Banjo]

Done

[latindancer]

There are Youtube videos about 'stealth camping' that have interesting tips.

[bunyip]

if your on your own and dont need much room a van might be better then a cavavan, much easier to get around and you can easily park in the street, someone mentioned stealth camping, if your van looks like a normal van on the outside and not look like a  campervan you could park and sleep pity much anywhere and no one would know . YOu could put in a bed,small kitchen and maybe even a tiny bathroom and solar power

[ann]

There are lots of Facebook groups for Solo campers and I find them extra helpful. Also Showground camping app.

WikiCamps is the ‘bible’ when it comes to finding locations. It’s a once only fee of $7.99 and there is a free 14 day trial. I really HIGHLY recommend that app. There are reviews of sites by members and I scroll about three pages to get a fair idea of the location.

Remember it’s not always easy to get water and WikiCamps lists most of the water places. Some service stations will allow you to fill water containers. Ask.

Showers. Swimming pools, gyms and some service stations if you ask. The major ones on the highways usually have showers for truck drivers and will allow others to use them free. Just ask.

Toilets are another issue and many are locked at night. If you get a portable one then work out how you will empty it. They call them ‘dump points’ and most are free to use.

Swags are SUPER popular these days and used by singles, couples and families who car camp.

There was a time when car camping was looked down on, I don’t see that these days as anywhere I camp in the caravan there is a sea of swags over the weekend used by local workers having a weekend away.

[ann]

Backpackers are back. There are heaps of young backpackers around now, not as many as prior covid, but I see them camping almost daily. Most just have a car throw down a small tent or swag, table, chair, single gas burner, fry pan, saucepan and kettle.

I guess I’m trying to dispel the idea that camping is looked down on by some, it’s not the case now from what I see. People camp here every night, bloke next door just has a swag and car, he is out during the day and comes back and cooks on his table. Opposite is two caravans and I reckon they are about 200,000 each. They all get along, no judgement which I like.

WikiCamps lets you know how long you can stay at places, that’s useful. Nsw state forests are good for camping and are normally free.

[nomadic]

As a nomadic, it sounds good to me ann.

[Banjo]

Mar 27, 2023 16:46:44 GMT 7 nomadic said:

As a nomadic, it sounds good to me ann.

I noticed you get on well with the backpacking crowd Nomadic, that day I dropped you at the Chiang Rai bus station they seemed to accept you as one of their own.

[ann]

Keeping one city or town as your medical ‘head office’.

I am enjoying being ‘on the road’. I keep a spare $5.99 bottle of ALDI red and have so far spent pleasant evenings having a drink and chat with people from Italy, France, Cornwall and even Argentina. Heaps of Frenchies here, all ages, friendly people. It’s a life changer for me.

I’m around Port Macquarie at the moment and note that there are a few Seniors who permanently live in caravans and they keep Port as their medical head quarters and arrive back yearly for their health checkups. It’s been a real eye opener to see how so many people have adapted their lives given they are no fixed address. They love their lives.

Camping in the area is caravan parks, showgrounds, cheap caravan parks, national parks and free camping spots. They just wander from place to place till they get the medical all clear and hit the road again. Centrelink are ok with it all.

People seem to have one major city they keep as their medical checkup place from what I gather. Such a clever idea as their care is consistent and they keep the same medical team. It’s not just Port Macquarie, I’ve met a person who has Bendigo as their base for medical checks.

[ann]

Camper Trailers. These are really great, I love them. They can be super expensive but super cheap. Check out eBay and you will see they are available from a few hundred dollars. Naturally you need to check them out but they can be towed with a normal car as they are essentially just a trailer.

Have a look at a few Ads to get an idea of how to set it up for comfortable living. I do like them, they always look like a neat slick site with plenty of living space. EBay, marketplace etc have heaps for sale.

[ann]

Blood tests and X-rays on the road. This is what I recommend from my experience for what it’s worth.

I ALWAYS get bloods done with the company called Laverty as they have my records going back years. It doesn’t matter which branch I use they can all see my prior results and can make comparisons which is what’s needed. Their computer has all my history.

I ALWAYS get X-rays done with the company called I-med. they are massive and are buying up all the smaller companies from what I have been told. Again, because I keep with them they can see all prior X-rays and make comparisons which is important for me. I have recently learned that when they buy a smaller business they have not necessarily made the IT change that allows the small branch to see my older X-rays. That means I have to make sure the I-med place can ACTUALLY see my prior X-rays, I insist they look to find them and on two occasions they could not so I found anther I-med that could.

Also, just because the doctor gives you a lab request form and it’s on a company form you don’t have to use that company for the test, any company can do it for you.

Hope this makes sense as it is important because we need to make sure the new tests can be compared to the older ones SO make sure you use the same company AND that the new location can actually access your prior results. Don’t believe them if they say ‘yes’, ask them to actually view them right there and then, twice they could not for me.

[ann]

Some people don’t wander, they get a ‘circuit’.

I’ve noticed that quite a few don’t do ‘the lap’ or travel around as such. They get themselves setup and find about 2/3 camp spots around a particular area they like and just stay in those. Seems some places they can stay for a week while others are up to 2 months, rent free. It’s not in towns as such so you would need to drive for food, water etc but it’s free and many people do that.

I see quite a few Seniors doing that, see them daily. Those on a DSP are younger and not going to say they are on the DSP but I suspect quite a few are.

Most of these have toilets, but drinkable water not so often. A ‘circuit’ is quite common from what I see.

[ann]

Digital prescriptions or paper prescriptions.

I’ve tried the digital ones and had miserable success. For some stupid reason almost every time I’ve tried to get a repeat script the new chemist can’t do it because of something the old chemist did. (This is when I am not using the same chemist shop). Means I’ve had to phone the old chemist and they make some change to the computer and then the new chemist can process it. Problem is the name of the old chemist is back in the caravan with the label from the old Chemist so I’ve had to go back, find the old bottle, hopefully not thrown out, phone them, they correct it, then go back to the new chemist. I’ve given up.

Now I get the Doctor to send the script to me digitally and I show that to the chemist, they give me the tablets AND the old paper script which works perfectly every time.

I always show them my pension card, not sure if that means I get a discount but I show them just in case. If it’s a new chemist they want to see your Medicare card as well.

[ann]

Phone consultations with my doctor.

I use these which means I have the same GP and continuity of care. I use an app called HotDoc and make the appointment time there. I like the app, it’s free, shows me all the available times the GP has and I choose what I want. You can always just phone the surgery and do it that way.

At the appointed time the Doc phones, gets the job done, bulk bills and I’m done. Emails prescriptions, X-rays requests, blood requests etc. I find my preferred labs and X-ray people locally and just go from there, it’s all bulk billed.

They send the results to the Doc, Doc makes an appointment with me and we chat over the phone.

[ann]

I’ve also signed up for the Government - My Health Record

This means I can view all the X-rays and the actual report they sent to the Doc, not that I really understand it, but I like seeing them. Also means any local Doc can also view them with my permission, I especially like that as it means they can see the very detailed history.

Also shows all the blood test results, in hospital notes they did, hospital discharge report etc.

Sometimes the surgery don’t use that system and I phone and ask them to put my notes up as I travel. They just assume their patients are always going to attend their surgery so don’t bother. I need them on My Health Record so other Docs can work out what’s been going on.