Living in a Caravan Vs Living in a house

Are they living in a caravan Malcolm, I don't recall that news? 

My 95 year old mother has occasionally visited our van with help but she needs assistance to visit and can only sit and chat. She would not be able to run a van as we do now, no strength to do the usual tasks.

As the terraced property includes rates the only bills on top of £400 rent is probably around £100 for gas and electric. Oh, it also includes free broadband! 

As for location it is about 100 yds from a main village on a pleasant well kept residential street. fridge cooker, washing machine. simply furnished. 4 charity shops on main street including one selling furnishings. 

I could happily live without extras JVB. I could happily fill a skip if Fliss would let me 

You can be lucky enough to enjoy good health and fitmess when you're over ninety years old. You've only got to look at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to see that!

Could it be because they live in a bricked structure.

There is only one poster for living in the caravan, a few more for living in a house. Wonder why

I believe they have a daily in to do the dusting.

It's surprising the number who live in vans full time but I think some tour with them rather than attempt to stay in one area? I don't know how many permanent users are around who try to stay put and go to work. With sites closing in the winter and some closing down this is quite a tricky policy to pursue. 

Personally, if I didn't own a home I'd still prefer a cheaper rental in a less expensive area and take advantage of any benefits available for low income.

In Malcolm's case, if this is correct, he has to declare an income of over £18000 to support a non national spouse. 

For a couple of years in the late 1960's and before I got married I lived in a touring caravan. This was on the site of the company where I worked. It was a suggestion from the company's directors as they needed someone on site 24 hours a day. This was rent free with free electricity and, because of the nature of the site, was like living in a big garden. I even had a big vegetable garden. Financially it was a win/ win situation for all concerned.

However, looking at the same four walls every day became very tedious and I couldn't wait for the time when I knew I would be buying my first house before getting married. Storage became more and more of a problem as, like most of us I would suggest, I didn't get rid of an equivalent amount of 'stuff' when I acquired more. These of course were also in the days when many things were a lot bigger, the TV for example and there was obviously no room for a washing machine or similar essentials of today's living.

Whilst the idea of touring full time may have it's apparent merits, the practicalities of living in a tin box looking at the same four walls 365 days a year and not going stir crazy is probably the reason why I wouldn't do it again.  

The last time I took my mum to visit our caravan when we were at Baltic Wharf , she was 87. She managed to fall over in one of the toilet cubicals. We had all on rescuing her as she had fallen against the door. It is perhaps a bit different accessing facilities on a site than in house.

Personally the lack of any fall back plan. Such as a let out property or significant savings would be a constant worry. There is no way even at the age of 79 that my dad could have emptied and filled the water and toilet cassette, in all but the kindest of weather. If he had tried in the middle of winter it would have been a case of Titus Oates, I may be some time.☹️