When I moved to San Diego and married an active-duty military member, one of the biggest changes was moving onto a military base. My transition went from being a beach bum in the Guatemalan jungle to becoming a military wife living on base.
We decided to move into an RV to help speed up my husband’s journey to financial independence. Active-duty personnel receive a monthly housing allowance if they choose not to live on base. At the time, his allowance was about $2,500 per month, and he was renting an apartment for $2,000 a month, 30 minutes from work. Though the area was nice and walkable, it felt like living in Disneyland since it was new and far from downtown, the harbor, the beach, and cool neighborhoods.
Living in an RV added some adventure to our lives. In San Diego, military families have access to three military campgrounds, which are much cheaper than civilian ones. My favorite is on Naval Base Point Loma. It’s a five-minute walk to Liberty Station, which has a beautiful park, supermarkets, bars, and restaurants. The location offers stunning bay views and downtown skyscrapers, especially at night, all for just $20 per night. While staying there, we cycle to Liberty Station, run along the harbor, walk the dogs, and my husband’s work is only 15 minutes away by bike. The base gym offers free Zumba classes, and I enjoy going there. Plus, the library is great, and gas is cheaper on base.
Unfortunately, we can only stay there for 30 days at a time, so we usually spend another 30 days on Coronado Island. This spot has a more vacation-like vibe. The campground is not inside a base, so there are no identity checks or national anthem every morning. It’s right on the water with a marina and about 50 RV spots, compared to just a dozen at Point Loma. It costs $40 per night but includes full hookups, so we can shower and do dishes inside, plus it offers WiFi. Point Loma is dry camping, so we use the bathroom facilities and showers in common restrooms, and there’s no WiFi, but the USO lounge at Liberty Station provides free amenities like snacks, comfy chairs, WiFi, TVs, and games for kids.
Living on a base feels like Pleasantville. Neighbors are friendly and tidy, and the San Diego sunshine is constant. Today, I met a neighbor and had a social distancing walk on the beach while her kids chased my dog, who ignored the six-foot rule. It’s nice to socialize with neighbors more often. While I do miss the unpolished life in Guatemala, this new adventure has its perks.
The bases offer many amenities to give service members a semblance of normal life at affordable prices, such as free movie theaters, gyms with fun classes like Zumba and yoga, great libraries, and tax-free shopping at the commissary and gas stations.
Overall, we save a lot of money. The current monthly housing allowance for us as a married couple is around $3,100, and our average cost is about $900, split between the $20 and $40 nightly rates. Plus, we don’t pay rent when on vacation. We also have a $300 RV payment and costs for propane tanks and extra gas to move the RV, but our total RV expenses are about $1,300-1,500 a month. This allows us to save over $1,500 from the tax-free housing allowance. Yay for frugal living in San Diego!