From our experience over the years, homesteading is done more at the campgrounds that allow you to reserve for 2 months right up front and then you can reserve for another 2 months if no waiting list; but how this can happen in the south in the winter baffles me. Reserving for one month and then having to move on would be fine by me so everyone has a chance to use the campgrounds. Seriously doubt spots would sit empty in the southern states under this kind of reservation policy as everyone would need to keep moving from one campground to another. We have an RV to travel and see new places, not sit for months and months at the same spot.

For years retired military and others have been trying to use the military rv spots as winter homes. They will do anything that works to get them a spot for several months. Key West was notorious for this even "selling" spots in the early 90's. This was illegal, of course. Cliques form, and they make it harder for others in any way they can to drive down there and have a nice stay. Tent spots used to be along the water, now you a re given a tiny spot near the water hidden from RV's and my last adventure trying that was horrific. They drank until all hours and kicked up their heels two feet from my head. They even went to turn over the porta potti with my husband in it. Then they ran when the police came. There should be no reservations so that everyone is treated the same. And they should clean up that tent area. At Tyndall there were special deals galore. The coffee guy, the sick wife guy, the exercise lady, and on and on. If you spoke up there was no spot for you.
WE paid for a tent spot at MacDill and the manager sent the SP's to chase us down at Lewis Lake because she said we stole a shower. No apologies from anyone ever. Now we have a big new RV and we do not know anyone so we are still at the back of any line.

We are currently camped at Panama City Beach (military camp ground off post). A neighbor camped next to us said that there was a fella here who just left about a week ago or less - he had been camped here for (7) seven years! This is a small campground and there are several others here either active duty or contractor camped here for extensive periods of time. Not just on vacation - they work here in this area and live in this campground. There are a few camp sites open - so this place is not full. I think if someone wants to use this place as their full time living spot they should have short term periods of rental and then take their chance of getting a spot like the rest of us. This neighbor said this long term resident got about $2300.00 from Uncle Sam for housing - he paid the $450.00 camping fee and keeps the rest. Instead of looking to cut veterans benefits maybe they should look into this abuse of their housing allotment.

Are you at the Tyndall off base famcamp? It is located across from the base. I am not sure of the one you are at but I think we looked it over a few years ago and it was full then. It was not near the base, and I forget now who was responsible for it.amazing the things some of us get away with and others do not huh? On government property.

For some reason we can not find the Navy Reg on RV parks, or FamCamps. Like I said before both the DoD and AFI say NOTHING about RV camping. Only the Army, AR215-1 pg 71 has any meat to it. Perhaps one of our Navy members can research this side. We all need to start bringing this to higher ups. the fact that service members are pocketing thousands of dollars is good for them, but could also be considered fraud by some. This is getting back to the Trailer Parks issue that we had years ago which ended up with trailer trash and caused the DoD to ban these parks and do away with them world wide. If this happened to our RV parks the same faith could be in the future.

Sat. 2-11-2012

We are camped off post at the Navy campground in Panama City Beach. The famcamp at Tyndell (? spelling) is Air Force. Small campground here but it meets our needs. Campground host Shelia - is very nice and has worked hard to line up activites for the campers here. We went to a musical show the other night at the Breakers - and it was very good. We probably would have just over looked this show - I am glad that we went. The entertainer did alot of impressions - Elvis - Johnny Cash and others. Very good show - not bad price and food was good too!. This show won't be in town long - will leave when spring breakers come in - in March. I guess the younger folk don't enjoy this kind of entertainment.

That sounds nice. I think I know where you are at but not sure. Which base manages the park you are at? That show sounds nice, I remeber the beach had many things like that and we did not go and see very much at all. Our daughter lived at Tyndall then so we mostly did things with her and the little grandkids. My husband liked Panama City and the PC Beach better than I. I liked Key west, Sigsbee rv park but have not been there for a couple of years. We try to go there every two or three years for a short while, not the whole winter anymore. Too many people, cruise ships and not as enjoyable since they closed a small beach on the Navy pier which we loved.

The MWR offers this opportunity known as a Family Campground not a trailer park and not to take away from others who want to get the chance to campout with their families or visit the areaMWR need to eliminate the Homesteading because if they want someplace to live GO Buy A House

Can they really do this? Maybe should sell their homes and move in.

I have mixed feelings on this. I do not think people should be able to keep a spot long term if it denies others who are traveling equal time. But..if someone is fulltiming and wants to stay long term if there are open spots why turn down their money? I object to people who fill up a spot and keep others from finding room at the famcamp. None of my business if someone stays a long time as long as there is room. And I really dislike MacDill AFB parking lot crowded sites. Yuck

Most of you will call me a trouble maker. I don't think you should be allowed to stay in a military campground for more than a month. You shouldn't have store bought patio furniture that you can't haul in you vehicles, refrigarators on your patio, junk piled under your RV, a grill to large to haul in your vehicles, pet pens, flower or vegetable gardens, permanent type wooden steps into your RV and anything else that makes the site look trashy. I get sick everytime I go to the Keesler and Hurlburt Famcamps and see what these places have become. I've found that most military campgrounds have cliches which include the hosts and if you are in this cliche, you can get away with just about anything. Now, after saying all this, I feel much better.

Thanks for saying it.

I agree with you completely Frank A. and when I read your review from Eagle Hammock I knew some of what you were talking about. The trailer came in one day before we left and this is occupied by active duty on base with a family. I also saw the furniture and fridge and wooden steps and had hoped someone would put a stop to the violation of rules. There are quite a few long term/homesteaders at this campground and the numbers seem to grow as bottom line is what is now the priority.

When the 100lb x 2 propane bottles and the winter wrap for the water lines the mobil home skirting goes on its homsteading.
Also we have seen the BHA discussions but forgot that there is also the rent plus programs in place. BHA + more $ to bring it up to average rent in the area.

Sounds right. If military families are allowed to live like that what about all of them in the base housing. When my husband was sent to SEA three times I lived off base on less money and pushed my babies in a stroller a heck of a distance to buy groceries because we could not afford a car. Now airmen get base housing. I sure wonder how come active duty needs to homestead in famcamps? I do not know the individual circumstance but have to wonder. I care about active duty getting benefits but I care about the eroding of ours as well.

If Homesteading is staying in a military recreational site for more than 1 year then Charleston AFB beats that. They opened a big new section and the old very shaded portion is reserved for rv'ers who stay 30days to 2 YEARS! Can you believe this, 2 YEARS. I was also told that the 2 Years thing was basically for when reservists arrive. I personally think that anything over 6 months should not be allowed. But, to RESERVE the most shaded spots for people who decide to stay 30 days to 2 YEARS should be banned. I agree that not everyone wnats to be surrounded by trees because of SAT TV problems or whatever but in the middle of the summer months to not be able to utilize a well shaded area even if empty because it is reserved for extended stay personnel is an outrage. I have been to various campgrounds and seen where homesteaders and such suck up the nice spots and the rest of us that pass through have to stay out in the open mostly. In my opinion no spot should be reserved for any extended stay and any stay over 3 months should be banned. These facilities should not be utilized as a place to live out a particular season.

You know, many retired military are full-timing now. Maybe military bases should have a full-timer area and charge appropriately. These folks often leave a lot of money and even volunteer to support bases. No one should create a mess, famcamps should be available to all and I mean all of us who need them. But it is important that government property be managed correctly. We once stayed off and on at a famcamp for years when we were trying to stay near our daughter since she needed some help. We are not into "buddying up" to the hosts or managers so we had it harder than some who were staying long term. But we were helping a military family then and being on or near a base was important. Many full- timers are on a strict budget. I agree that prime locations should not be tied up by long term rentals. That should be easy to manage.

I just spent 9 days at the Maxwell-Gunter Recreation Area (Mid-Bay) in Niceville, Florida. There is a guy there in Site #7 that has been there I know for the last three years that I have been going there. He is young so he is either active duty or works in the area. I'm not sure of the time limits but I read in their brochure that you can only stay there for 2 weeks in the winter.

One of the problems I see is that everyone knows about this, but no one is willing to put it in writting on a ICE issue. And if you get the run around from the ICE then elevate it to the next higher command. It appears that this is a services wide problem. I have brought it to the attention of the Army MWR now you all need to take care of the Air Force and possibley the Navy, but I really have not noticed anything wrong with the way that they run their RV parks.

I met a young guy at Sigsbee Famcamp several years ago in a pickup camper who was there all winter and he was a disabled vet evidently with a stomach condition. So, young is not necessarily active or working. I think working is frowned on at some famcamps, too. Why? Not sure, active duty types ate working and either traveling, pcsing or whtever. Should we question who people are? We should push for more spaces period.