Fernando and Ana, retirees from Spain, gave up their house, car and fixed commitments and have lived for three years in a seven-metre 1998 Fiat Ducatoⓘ Maxi motorhome they call "La Vaca". According to them, manufacturers of modern motorhomes reduce the weight of structures to compensate for the mass of additional equipment, which leads to a drop in strength.
They bought their motorhome with 84,000 km on the odometer; it now reads 127,000 km. The repair took five months and cost €1,631, including exterior painting, saving more than €3,000. After moving in, expenses for electricity, water, municipal fees, garage and internet disappeared; current costs depend on travel intensity. The couple are the third owners of the motorhome. According to them, part of their pension remains at the end of the month, which was not the case when they lived in an apartment. They advise carrying a small motorcycle for getting around cities. The specific pension amount and evidence of a forced move are not provided.
In Germany, according to ADAC, long-term living in a camper is in a legal grey area: a permanent address is required, and overnight stays on public parking lots are allowed for no more than ten hours to restore the ability to drive. In addition, long trips may interrupt the payment of basic old-age benefits after four weeks of absence.