As told by Robert, 68, retired teacher | Olympia, Washington
Published April 2026
My wife and I have been retired for three years.
We planned carefully. Saved for decades. Thought we’d figured it all out.
We didn’t figure out $6 gas.
We didn’t figure out that our grocery bill would double.
We didn’t figure out that our fixed income would feel less fixed every month.
Our friends are struggling. The ones who bought big houses in the suburbs? They’re talking about selling. They can’t afford the property taxes. They can’t afford the upkeep. They can’t afford the gas to drive anywhere.
We’re not selling. Because we live in a mobile home park.
The Numbers That Saved Us
When we retired, we sold our house. A four-bedroom colonial in a nice neighborhood. We loved that house. But we didn’t love the property taxes. $6,000 a year. Going up every single year.
We bought a two-bedroom mobile home in a 55+ park near Olympia. Paid cash. No mortgage. Our only monthly housing cost is space rent: $780.
That’s less than a third of what we used to pay in property taxes alone.
When gas hit $6 a gallon, we stopped driving as much. We combine trips. We stay home more.
When groceries got expensive, we started shopping at discount stores. We eat less meat. We eat more beans.
We adjusted. Because we had room to adjust.
Our friends with mortgages? They don’t have room. They’re spending $3,000–$4,000 a month just to keep their roofs over their heads. Add in $600 for gas. Add in $1,000 for groceries. Add in property taxes, insurance, maintenance.
They’re drowning.
What We See Happening
Last month, we had dinner with our old neighbors from the colonial house. They’re in their early seventies. They’re thinking about selling.
“The market is still good,” he said. “We can get $700,000 for the house. Then we’ll rent.”
“Rent what?” I asked.
“An apartment. Something small. Something we can afford.”
They looked tired. Defeated.
“We thought about a mobile home park,” she said quietly. “But we’re not sure. What do people think?”
I told her what I tell everyone: People who judge don’t matter. People who matter don’t judge.
I don’t know if they’ll move to a park. I hope they do. I hope they find what we found.
The Peace We Didn’t Expect
We didn’t move here to save money. We moved here to simplify.
But the money savings turned out to be everything.
When inflation spiked, we didn’t panic. When gas prices went crazy, we didn’t panic. When the stock market dropped, we didn’t panic.
Because our housing costs are low. Because we don’t have a mortgage. Because we can afford to live on less.
That peace? You can’t buy it. But you can find it.
We found it in a mobile home park.
Thank you for reading.
Welcome home. Your neighbors are waiting.
Maybe this story warms you up?
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- The Light That Stayed On? Someone is watching out for you?
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