Thinking About Where I Want To Live Or Take Hometime.

What is important to y’all when y’all are lookin for a place to live or deciding where you want to take hometime? Anywhere is good with me because I am a lone wolf when it comes to my hometime. I currently live in my truck and take “hometime” at my company’s headquarters in Cedar Rapids, IA. I currently have a PO Box a block away from the headquarters. When it comes to lookin for a place to live, I have thought about lots of cities that are in my company’s hiring areas.

My wildest dream cities: Cupertino, CA San Francisco, CA Portland, OR Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Bloomington, MN

Those however, the cost of living is way too astronomical to even fathom it so they are out.

My more realistic cities:

Cedar Rapids, IA Des Moines, IA Bettendorf, IA Walcott, IA Louisville, KY Madison, WI

Cost of living is reasonable in those cities however the ones in Iowa don’t have a lot of amenities that I am looking for with the exception of Des Moines. Madison the last I checked had the highest cost of living of those six but still manageable. The lowest cost went to Louisville and Des Moines. Louisville is 6% more expensive than Des Moines however has more amenities and no shortage of NICE housing at a great price plus low property taxes and lower state taxes than Iowa. Right now as I am writing this, Louisville is at the top of my list. What do y’all think I should do here? I am staying with CRST no matter what, however I really don’t care to live in the truck on hometime and don’t want to spring for hotels. I want to have a place to truly call home and still stay with CRST and I think Louisville may be it. I want to hear yalls opinions on this. What do y’all think I should do here?

What is it that YOU are looking for? What is important to YOU for where you live? What is it about those cities you listed that make you wish you were there? The idea of not wanting to spend money on a hotel for hometime is surprising as you'd likely only see your home a couple days a month and spend likely double (or more) than what hotel would cost. You even said your a lone wolf it's just you. I understand wanting a place to call home, just genuinely interested in reasoning. If you stay living in the truck you could always take hometime in those "wildest dreams" cities. I'm not sure if CRST has home daily positions or if you're interested in them but maybe that would influence your decision as well.

Too many people for me. I like my closest neighbors a mile away. Left coast....never. To each his own choices, though.

What is it that YOU are looking for? What is important to YOU for where you live? What is it about those cities you listed that make you wish you were there? The idea of not wanting to spend money on a hotel for hometime is surprising as you'd likely only see your home a couple days a month and spend likely double (or more) than what hotel would cost. You even said your a lone wolf it's just you. I understand wanting a place to call home, just genuinely interested in reasoning. If you stay living in the truck you could always take hometime in those "wildest dreams" cities. I'm not sure if CRST has home daily positions or if you're interested in them but maybe that would influence your decision as well.

Reasonable cost of living, low crime rates, nice scenery, the ability to actually OWN the home I live or will live in, close to all kinds of great stores and shops so I can easily obtain what I would need or want to have a satisfying life. In other words reasonable ease of accessibility to what I need within a reasonable distance. What appeals to me about the wildest dream cities is the scenery and the closeness of major companies I am passionate about. I really think Louisville KY would be the perfect balance between what I need and what I want. Now to save up and buy a place and also a nice car so I can truly get back to the life I had before I became homeless in 2016 except this time I am alone and won’t have to trust or live with anyone else.

What is it that YOU are looking for? What is important to YOU for where you live? What is it about those cities you listed that make you wish you were there? The idea of not wanting to spend money on a hotel for hometime is surprising as you'd likely only see your home a couple days a month and spend likely double (or more) than what hotel would cost. You even said your a lone wolf it's just you. I understand wanting a place to call home, just genuinely interested in reasoning. If you stay living in the truck you could always take hometime in those "wildest dreams" cities. I'm not sure if CRST has home daily positions or if you're interested in them but maybe that would influence your decision as well.

Reasonable cost of living, low crime rates, nice scenery, the ability to actually OWN the home I live or will live in, close to all kinds of great stores and shops so I can easily obtain what I would need or want to have a satisfying life. In other words reasonable ease of accessibility to what I need within a reasonable distance. What appeals to me about the wildest dream cities is the scenery and the closeness of major companies I am passionate about. I really think Louisville KY would be the perfect balance between what I need and what I want. Now to save up and buy a place and also a nice car so I can truly get back to the life I had before I became homeless in 2016 except this time I am alone and won’t have to trust or live with anyone else.

That makes sense. As you already stated Bloomington MN/Minneapolis is getting outrageous for pricing. I lived just south of st paul for most of my life before heading to Tampa/St Pete. Traffic and prices are outrageous in both of those places which led me to bring my family to Des Moines. I absolutely love it here. I don't do the nightlife/bar scene so I'm unsure how that is but I feel very safe. Despite having 2 major interstates run through you'd be amazed how little traffic I deal with on a regular basis. I'd say I've had to deal with traffic only a handful of times and usually it was due to a wreck. Last year when we moved here the news coverage was all about how they had 19 homicides that year and how it was outrageous. Everywhere I've lived was much higher. I deliver all over Des Moines metro and have had no issues with anybody. Although most violence is on the east side near state fairgrounds Its no where near as bad as other major cities. Downside is they're predicting population to double in the next 5 years which will likely skyrocket housing prices.

What is it that YOU are looking for? What is important to YOU for where you live? What is it about those cities you listed that make you wish you were there? The idea of not wanting to spend money on a hotel for hometime is surprising as you'd likely only see your home a couple days a month and spend likely double (or more) than what hotel would cost. You even said your a lone wolf it's just you. I understand wanting a place to call home, just genuinely interested in reasoning. If you stay living in the truck you could always take hometime in those "wildest dreams" cities. I'm not sure if CRST has home daily positions or if you're interested in them but maybe that would influence your decision as well.

Reasonable cost of living, low crime rates, nice scenery, the ability to actually OWN the home I live or will live in, close to all kinds of great stores and shops so I can easily obtain what I would need or want to have a satisfying life. In other words reasonable ease of accessibility to what I need within a reasonable distance. What appeals to me about the wildest dream cities is the scenery and the closeness of major companies I am passionate about. I really think Louisville KY would be the perfect balance between what I need and what I want. Now to save up and buy a place and also a nice car so I can truly get back to the life I had before I became homeless in 2016 except this time I am alone and won’t have to trust or live with anyone else.

That makes sense. As you already stated Bloomington MN/Minneapolis is getting outrageous for pricing. I lived just south of st paul for most of my life before heading to Tampa/St Pete. Traffic and prices are outrageous in both of those places which led me to bring my family to Des Moines. I absolutely love it here. I don't do the nightlife/bar scene so I'm unsure how that is but I feel very safe. Despite having 2 major interstates run through you'd be amazed how little traffic I deal with on a regular basis. I'd say I've had to deal with traffic only a handful of times and usually it was due to a wreck. Last year when we moved here the news coverage was all about how they had 19 homicides that year and how it was outrageous. Everywhere I've lived was much higher. I deliver all over Des Moines metro and have had no issues with anybody. Although most violence is on the east side near state fairgrounds Its no where near as bad as other major cities. Downside is they're predicting population to double in the next 5 years which will likely skyrocket housing prices.

Which will also in turn drive up the general cost of living in Des Moines to where the 6% difference in Des Moines and Louisville is even more negligible.

Definitely. Only YOU know what will be the best for you. Hope you're able to find somewhere that makes you happy man I know you love it with CRST, do they offer dedicated that would allow you to be home more, possibly daily? Or are you enjoying the OTR too much to give that up? Just curious

Definitely. Only YOU know what will be the best for you. Hope you're able to find somewhere that makes you happy man I know you love it with CRST, do they offer dedicated that would allow you to be home more, possibly daily? Or are you enjoying the OTR too much to give that up? Just curious

Well for right now I enjoy OTR 100% and the only thing I look forward to doing hometime like I do it now is getting better rest and getting what little mail I have in my PO Box. I take hometime after each student of mine is upgraded before I grab the next one. However once I move to Louisville that may change. Check back with me when it does and my opinion may just change on the subject. 😁 Local or dedicated jobs aren’t for me. I love to travel and I love this country too much to not travel all around her.

Just remember it's hard to find a CRST empty in CA. But you do end up there alot. Along with Jersey. Hotels are alot cheaper than owning and I would consider them until you can get great rates with financing from a good bank instead of renting AKA paying someone else's mortgage. And I hear you can now make over .46cpm without consent from management with CRST.

When I started with them it was in the contract that it had to be approved by management. I enjoyed my time with CRST but that kinda stuck out at me when I read it.

If you have friends and/or family in different parts of the country, why not just take your home time in those places? You can treat them to dinner or shows when you’re there and it’s less expensive than buying AND maintaining a home.

I did this a little for the first two years OTR. It was a great way to visit without being a nuisance. Also, this would allow you to save your money to eventually buy the home you can stay in when you do leave the road for good.

If you buy now, who will shut off the water if a pipe breaks while you’re gone. Who will care for the yard? Will you spend your entire home time getting the house in order before heading back out? Will you really be able to relax and enjoy the home time?

Good luck.