RV Life: Celebrating Seven Years

It almost feels like a milestone. Don’t they talk about the seven-year itch? The only itch I have, is when I stay in one place too long and it’s time to go. The beginning of February is seven years of RV life.

Starting an RV Life

In February 2017, I sold my house and bought my 2002 Chevy Roadtrek 190 Poplar. Was it scary? Oh, my yes! The doubts about selling my house, the questions of how to live a nomadic life after living a sticks and bricks life for so long. The thoughts of can I do this?

It took a while to get adjusted to this lifestyle. Learning where to park at night, how to keep moving, and finding places to shower was definitely a large learning curve. That probably was my biggest issue to get used to. I have never been one for public showers. I had one at home, so I never needed to worry about it. Now I do not have a shower at home, well I do, but it is a pain in the butt. No matter how hard I tried, water would be everywhere. It is easier to go find one. Lol.

The Learning Curve of Living an RV Life

When you are starting something new, it is always a learning curve. When it is a complete lifestyle change, it’s a large learning curve. Nothing in my living environment was the same. In fact, it changed every day. Where I parked, where I showered, where I had dinner.

Getting used to that constant change was a little disconcerting at first. But like anything else, the 10th time is not as hard as the first, and the 100th time is not as hard as the 10th. In the beginning, there was always something new I would come across.

Getting Comfortable with Sleeping.

I was born and raised a country girl. The only thing I heard at night was the crickets chirping. I have spent most of my life living in the country and sleeping in the quiet. Sleeping in parking lots and the noise that comes from that took some getting used to. The cars and trucks that are coming and going. Car doors slamming and people talking. Getting cozy was easy in my Class B, getting comfortable and not waking up with every car door closing took some time.

I am very careful where I park at night, I have only got “the knock” once. It was about my second year of doing this RV life when I got my first knock in the middle of the night. That scared the bejeezus out of me. I was in a parking lot I had parked before. That week, a city by-law had been changed. The young man who told me there was no overnight parking allowed also told me that only Walmarts in the US allowed overnight parking. Hahaha! I thought Ya, no, but go on.

He then asked me if I was alone. I asked him if I said yes, was I going to die? He replied no. Phew! He also told me to stay the night but to know I could not park there tomorrow. So nice of him.

I can now pretty much sleep through anything. I do wake up quickly if my van is touched or moves, though. People have tried the doors in a few parking lots. That gives you the goosebumps a little and not in a good way.

When Home is in the Parking Lot

Having my home and everything with me all the time is fabulous. If I get tired, I just go home. Forgot something, I just go home and grab it and am back in moments. It is also a fun game with people who do not know.

When I was at work, in the middle of a project, I would put my handheld device on the table and announce that I was going home for coffee. I had had enough! Lol. Those who knew would say ok, those that didn’t, freaked out a little. “Where is she going??” I would hear as I walked away. My coworkers would laugh and say, “She will be right back.”

You get very used to traveling with your home. When I travel in my 1969 Econoline, I actually have to pack. It’s like going on vacation in a different van. Lol.

Taking Your Experience with You on the Road

The things you experience in your life can help you adjust to the change in lifestyle. I was 53 years old when I moved into my Roadtrek. Pretty settled in my ways, I thought. To some extent, I still am. The person you are, what you do for a living, what you do for fun. All of that adds up to a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. Stop and think about that. How many things have you done? How many things have you handled? How many things have you experienced?

A hint… it’s millions.

The person I am, my work and life experience helped me transition into a mobile lifestyle.

The Person I Am

I have always been a wanderer. Wondering what was around the next corner or down at the end of that street. Seeing pictures of landscapes and hearing of weird and wonderful things to see and feel in the world and wanting to experience that. I have always had that in me. Getting lost for me, is an art form. Thank goodness for Google Maps now. Lol. But even now and then, I will just turn it off, turn left and see where the road takes me. It is a fun game.

My Occupations in Life

I have done many things. From working as security on the docks in Hamilton, Ontario to being management for a Federal Corporation, my job was ever changing. I have never been one to be in one place for very long, but I did not move around as a child, as you would expect. I was living in the same house from the time I was 2 until I got married. My children were raised in the same house for over 20 years. While my children were growing, my jobs worked around their schedules. It allowed me to do many different things and adapt to many situations. To be comfortable with change.

Fun fact about me… I lived in the same house but went to 6 different schools.

The job I retired from really helped me prepare for my mobile lifestyle. Traveling was a big part of the job. Being on the road more than half the year most years gave me the confidence to step into a different place on a constant basis. Sleeping in different cities, engaging with different cultures, and dealing with an ever changing world.

The skills, both practical and functional, helped me move into this RV life.

My Hobby

Sleeping in a van was not foreign to me. I have owned and traveled in a custom van for over 30 years. Sleeping and traveling in a van I could stand up in. Well, that definitely moved things up a notch. It is important to remember that when I switch vans, do not stand up. More than once, I have forgotten and slammed my head into the roof of the 69 Econoline. Then you see stars, I will tell you.

All of my life experiences I have used to get comfortable in this life. Would you like to know the entire journey of moving from a sticks and bricks home to a mobile one? Check out my book From Housewife to Vanlife.

Seven Years Later and I Am Still Loving RV Life

Seven years have gone by, and I have learned to be comfortable and love this mobile lifestyle I have chosen. I have been to places I know I would never gotten to being tied to a house. Becoming so comfortable in my van that even when I am at friends’ places, I do not take the offer of the spare room. I prefer just to go home when the evening is done. Some people do not understand that.

My Roadtrek has become my transportation, my home, and my workplace. It is where I am most comfortable. It is where I feel safe and secure. Curling up on my couch to watch a good movie or working on my blog in a Walmart parking lot, I want to do it in my van.

A Lifestyle Change that Lead to a Dream Come True.

Writing has always been a passion for me. (Check out my blog For the Love of Writing for all the juicy details) I do not know if I had not moved into my Roadtrek that I would have wrote a book or have a blog. Publishing my book, From Housewife to Vanlife was a dream come true for me.

Sharing my adventures and bringing you all to the places I go with me gives me so much joy. Helping you with your journey and sharing tips and tricks I have learned on mine is uplifting. I love helping people, and if I can give you a little of my experience to help get you down the road successfully and safely, that makes my day!

It is the reason I am starting a bi-weekly newsletter. Coming soon to your email with fascinating RV travel destinations, as well as tips to make your RV travel safe and enjoyable.

Only those who have subscribed to my website will receive the newsletter. If you have not subscribed, click here. Don’t miss out.

Cheers to seven years and counting! May there be many more and we can meet on the road for coffee! ☕️☕️

Thanks for coming along on my Chipmunk Adventure.

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Love this blog! I can always use a coffee! 👇 Thanks for your support!