A portion of the SKP property in Livingston is for purchase and use by members who want to have a "real" home base. Some park an RV, others build a small house, and others construct a shelter, called RV Chalets, to provide shade/protection for an RV.
When SKPs started building their own parks, they first used the "coop" fomrat. RVers would own one share in a non-profit corporation, and would be assigned a lot. Ameneties (hookups, etc) were actually built in by the owners. The 120 owners required to build the first park sold out immediately. Eventually 11 coop parks were constructed. But problems followed. The theory was that income could be generated by using lots when owners were away. But it turned out that owners didn't "vacate". They parked their big rigs at the coop while they ran around in a smaller vehicle; and others just refused to put them in rental pool. The 11 original coops are individually owned. They all have waiting lists. Because the didn't work out as intended, SKPs abandoned the "coop" format, and all subsequent parks are owned by a "for profit" corporation.
New memeber parks have become so popular that SKP are looking to build a new one. Land will be leased for 5 years by an individual who then owns his lot in the park. There will be a $50.00 per month maintenance ree assessed to cover the cost of security and management. If a kperson wishes to withdraw before his 5 years are up, he can get his money back if there is someone willing to take his lot. After the 5 year period, withdrawal equals a full refund.
These are the "Rainbow" parks. A typical fee is $ 8.50 night plus electricity. The current strategy is to buy existing parks, perhaps ones that are failing. FIFO (explained above) rule ensures you'll never have more than one night boondocking, as others will have to leave the day after you arrive.
As a full timer, you need an address. It becomes your "home". That's one of the main purposes of the mail service -- i.e., to help satisfy legal requirements of full timers. To get TX drivers license, need to physically go there for the first license issue. Thereafter, by mail is okay. Registration of vehicles in TX usually requires presence of vehicles, but if done through SKPs, the headquarters in Livingston, TX can help arrange for registration by mail -- i.e., without requirement that the vehicle be brought into TX.
[Note: Other courses which have focused on issues of "residency" for full timers suggest that this issue is extremely complex, with issues of state law differing among various jurisdiction. We believe each full time RVer should review carefully all circumstances which bear on a determination of residency.]
Email service is new, and www. escapees.com is the address of their website (there is a link to it from RVers Online). Although the email address if free, you'll still need your own ISP. By keeping same email address, RVers can retain the same email address even though the choose to change internet service providers.
Twice a year, SKPs hold "Escapades". These typically run from Sunday mornings to Friday mornings, and are dry camping. Here you can attend seminars, or shop in a craft market for items made by individual SKPers. Craft sessions are very popular -- they average 400 people a day in crafts. In addition to individual SKP chapters, they also have something called Birds of a Feather (BOF). At an Escapade, if someone thinks of an area of common interest, it will be posted. If 6 persons or more sign up, the area will be hosted. Areas range from birdwatching to nudism!
Escapees Care Center: Under this program, members can continue living in their own RV next to medical facilities. Fee is $450/mo, including hookups, propane, laundry, house cleaning, local transportation, 24 hr RN, making personal call to each person each day. Adult day care is $100 per month additional. Lunch program, $2 per meal, delivered to your rig if you choose. Food service is not done "in house" with the addition of a cook to the staff.
SKPs hold Health Fairs, with blood testing and general physical evaluations done by local doctors. This is especially beneficial to those who are still on the road, providing a place to go to get a routine check-up.