Full Time RV Living...To Be Or Not To Be
Last week our family took a trip to the Rio Vista park for some sun and fun, but along the way we stopped at Camping World to check out the RV's they had for sale. Why you ask? We have discussed RVing since, like, forever. One of the most precious times we share as a couple are on the road, as strange as it may sound. In fact, we usually make up from awful fights on the road. To tell the truth, we've dreamed about
exploring America since we tied the knot. It was our wanderlust that brought us together in the first place. We once traveled from Arizona to Indiana with our kids for two days, only stopping for gas and a sleep break and loved every minute of it. So, when we saw the RV lot on the way to the park we said, "Why not:?".
The RV Lure
Now, I had done a little research so I knew that there are different types and sizes and purposes for RV's. I knew there were Class A's, Class B's and Class C's to choose from. I didn't even bother looking at the trailers or fifth wheels because I just knew we wanted an RV, flat out. To someone who actually knows about RV living that statement would probably be funny. We got out and were greeted by a salesperson, but with so little to go on and just dreaming, we let him know we were only looking and would ask for his help if we needed it. It made me wonder just how many sales RV dealers make and how many young families come to buy an RV. It seems like such an untouchable
dream at this point in our lives.
Climb Aboard an RV!
At any rate we got an education.We climbed aboard large monstrosities that we couldn't imagine putting on anyone's road anywhere. We explored smaller beauties that didn't seem fascinating enough to spend months in them cooking, riding, sleeping...living. We ignored the fifth wheels until my boys, as curious as ever,
couldn't help themselves. This was at the end of our journey so I was sad at the outcome. I loved it! This particular fifth wheel had what I have come to know now is a bunkhouse and a bedroom. There was a super fancy kitchen, inside and out. And, the sitting area was beautiful. I thought, whoa, wait a minute, a fifth wheel just might be the ticket. I wished we had spent some time exploring these for the duration of our visit. We stayed for a short while and then continued on to the park, but an RV living seed was planted, for sure.
RV Web Research
Well, since that day I've been researching and learning more and more about RV's. What I've found is that there's a whole community of people out there who live in their RV's, not for months at a time, but indefinitely! They've sold all their possessions and traded in the fast-paced life for life in 400 square feet on the road. Some have parked in one spot permanently while others keep moving all over. There are conventions and resources and job boards specifically for travelers. These kind-hearted people publish their budgets and lifestyle blogs to inform people like me who have no clue. It's amazing that there are so many who have chosen to live this way out of pure sense of adventure. And what's more intriguing is that there is a great deal of lifestyle diversity. For some they dropped out of the hustle and bustle for financial purposes. For others it was all about simplifying life. Perhaps I saw no evidence of ethnic / racial diversity, but definitely full time RV'ers come from many different walks of life.
RV Roadschooling
Then, looking into it further, there are even roadschooler blogs! Families who live on the road obviously have to homeschool their children. They have provided all sorts of awesome tips and ideas for each other to support this life. That's fascinating. It makes sense because homeschooling families definitely have to find ways to pinch pennies most of the time. Living on the road offers a flexibility in budgeting that no other lifestyle I've come across offers. Food and fuel can be huge expenses, but even that can be modified to fit the lifestyle. And, what a terrific education. Talk about hands-on experiences and ample teaching moments!
Of course, it's a fascinating concept that I have no experience with and in fact, never even considered until I read some of those blog posts. Full time RVers seem so happy with their decisions. Yet, there are some stories of families packing it in and trying something different due to disillusionment. I suppose this would only be a welcome adventure if you're completely for it and have no reservations at all. If you feel forced into it by way of interference from an outside source it would not be a happy time. I suppose it's different strokes, but if our family had a chance to just try it out for a while I'd probably jump at the opportunity. When thinking about selling everything and going for it...well, I'm bold and courageous, but I don't know if that's what I really want, or what's best for our family at this point in our lives. We will keep praying and thinking...
Last week our family took a trip to the Rio Vista park for some sun and fun, but along the way we stopped at Camping World to check out the RV's they had for sale. Why you ask? We have discussed RVing since, like, forever. One of the most precious times we share as a couple are on the road, as strange as it may sound. In fact, we usually make up from awful fights on the road. To tell the truth, we've dreamed about exploring America since we tied the knot. It was our wanderlust that brought us together in the first place. We once traveled from Arizona to Indiana with our kids for two days, only stopping for gas and a sleep break and loved every minute of it. So, when we saw the RV lot on the way to the park we said, "Why not:?".
The RV Lure
Now, I had done a little research so I knew that there are different types and sizes and purposes for RV's. I knew there were Class A's, Class B's and Class C's to choose from. I didn't even bother looking at the trailers or fifth wheels because I just knew we wanted an RV, flat out. To someone who actually knows about RV living that statement would probably be funny. We got out and were greeted by a salesperson, but with so little to go on and just dreaming, we let him know we were only looking and would ask for his help if we needed it. It made me wonder just how many sales RV dealers make and how many young families come to buy an RV. It seems like such an untouchable
Climb Aboard an RV!
At any rate we got an education.We climbed aboard large monstrosities that we couldn't imagine putting on anyone's road anywhere. We explored smaller beauties that didn't seem fascinating enough to spend months in them cooking, riding, sleeping...living. We ignored the fifth wheels until my boys, as curious as ever,
couldn't help themselves. This was at the end of our journey so I was sad at the outcome. I loved it! This particular fifth wheel had what I have come to know now is a bunkhouse and a bedroom. There was a super fancy kitchen, inside and out. And, the sitting area was beautiful. I thought, whoa, wait a minute, a fifth wheel just might be the ticket. I wished we had spent some time exploring these for the duration of our visit. We stayed for a short while and then continued on to the park, but an RV living seed was planted, for sure.RV Web Research
Well, since that day I've been researching and learning more and more about RV's. What I've found is that there's a whole community of people out there who live in their RV's, not for months at a time, but indefinitely! They've sold all their possessions and traded in the fast-paced life for life in 400 square feet on the road. Some have parked in one spot permanently while others keep moving all over. There are conventions and resources and job boards specifically for travelers. These kind-hearted people publish their budgets and lifestyle blogs to inform people like me who have no clue. It's amazing that there are so many who have chosen to live this way out of pure sense of adventure. And what's more intriguing is that there is a great deal of lifestyle diversity. For some they dropped out of the hustle and bustle for financial purposes. For others it was all about simplifying life. Perhaps I saw no evidence of ethnic / racial diversity, but definitely full time RV'ers come from many different walks of life.
RV Roadschooling
Then, looking into it further, there are even roadschooler blogs! Families who live on the road obviously have to homeschool their children. They have provided all sorts of awesome tips and ideas for each other to support this life. That's fascinating. It makes sense because homeschooling families definitely have to find ways to pinch pennies most of the time. Living on the road offers a flexibility in budgeting that no other lifestyle I've come across offers. Food and fuel can be huge expenses, but even that can be modified to fit the lifestyle. And, what a terrific education. Talk about hands-on experiences and ample teaching moments!
Of course, it's a fascinating concept that I have no experience with and in fact, never even considered until I read some of those blog posts. Full time RVers seem so happy with their decisions. Yet, there are some stories of families packing it in and trying something different due to disillusionment. I suppose this would only be a welcome adventure if you're completely for it and have no reservations at all. If you feel forced into it by way of interference from an outside source it would not be a happy time. I suppose it's different strokes, but if our family had a chance to just try it out for a while I'd probably jump at the opportunity. When thinking about selling everything and going for it...well, I'm bold and courageous, but I don't know if that's what I really want, or what's best for our family at this point in our lives. We will keep praying and thinking...
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