Many people say that I am living their dream, living, working, and travelling in my Class B RV. Am I, though? Living an RV life is a fluid lifestyle. It’s very different from a sticks and bricks home. Change is an element that is done every day.
Do I Love it? Yes, I do!
Would you love it? Come along and let’s look at the differences, the pros and the cons, and the ups and downs of living an RV Life.
The Fluidiness of RV Life
Living in a sticks-and-bricks home has the stability that you will not get living the life I live. When you go to work, you come back to the same neighbourhood, the same lawn and the same environment every day.
When I worked, my home was in the parking lot and at the end of the day, I would leave like everybody else. I would find a park or a quiet place to cook dinner, and as it got dark, I moved to where I was going to sleep that night. It could be a Walmart, a roadside parking spot, or a back road. Sometimes, when I was working, I would get a camping spot for the duration of the work project. I am always very careful where I park for the night and always make sure I have permission to be there.
The Dreaded Knock
Owning my own house, I never worried about someone knocking on my door, telling me I was not allowed to be there. Living this life, if you are not careful, that could happen. I depend on my boondocking apps quite often.
It happened to me once in a Walmart parking lot that I had slept in the week before. At 3 a.m., a security guard knocked on the door of my van. He told me only the US Walmarts allowed overnight parking, but I could stay the night. I was not allowed back to overnight. I later found out that a city bylaw had been changed. There was no longer any overnight parking in the city. It was scary, and I vowed I would not let it happen again, and I have not. There is an app for that!
Renting a site for Long Term versus Being on the Move
Some people buy a trailer and park it in an RV park for the season or in some cases, all year long. You also have the option of renting different campsites by the day, week, or month in some cases. Both of these options are expensive. What it does give you is a sense of stability. It becomes more of a downsizing opportunity than an RV life opportunity.
Being on the move is much more cost-efficient with boondocking opportunities. I also like waking up in different places. When I first started doing this, looking for a place to sleep was almost a game. Which place is the best? Can I find a better one? I am always looking to park beside a tree or patch of grass. Not that I get my lawn chair out at Walmart, but it is just nice to look out at a tree.
What I like most about being on the move is I am not tied in anywhere. I tend to be very spontaneous. When I worked, my job required travel. Now that I am retired, my soul requires travel. It’s nice to be able to get into the driver’s seat and go.
The Minimalist Lifestyle of an RV Life
How much do you love your stuff??
Living an RV life is downsizing times ten! Everything in my van is essential or provides a purpose. Downsizing is hard. Downsizing to vansize is ridiculously hard and even harder to maintain. It is easy to gather “stuff.” Even now, as I open my shirt cupboard and shirts fall out, I know I have another cleaning out to do.
I do have another van and will store off-season stuff like bulky winter coats and heaters in her. A few other heavy winter blankets at my daughter’s over the summer. Everything else I own I carry with me.
It was hard to do, but if I can do it, I know you can if you really want to. Check out my book From Housewife to Vanlife to get the full adventure of downsizing to van size.
When your home breaks down
Breakdowns are inevitable. It is a mechanical, moving vehicle. When you are living in a sticks and bricks house, you do not have to find another place to sleep when the repairman comes.
I have been lucky in that I have only had to have my RV at a garage overnight a couple of times. Once I couched surfed at a friend’s, which I never do and the other I got a hotel room. Breaking down while living this RV life can be stressful. Most garages, at least the ones that I have gone to, are very aware that it is your home. One garage even offered to pull it out into the yard so that I could have a place to sleep while waiting for a part.
Proper maintenance can make all the difference in keeping you rolling down the road.
The Instagram Moments of Living an RV Life
Those moments when you step out of your RV and look at where you are and go Ahhhh! I call them the Instagram moments. Those are the moments when I know that moving into my RV was the best decision I ever made. There is no way that if I still owned my house, I would be standing and sleeping on the cliffs of Newfoundland or standing in awe at the badlands in the Painted Desert in Arizona.
It is also those moments that other people see and think I want to do that. It was right for me, but is it right for you? I encourage everyone to spread their wings and step out of their comfort zone.
How do you know it’s right for you?
The simple answer is to try it.
There are a lot of decisions in taking this step and moving into an RV. What size RV would fit your needs? Would you like to be mobile or stay in one spot? If you are working in one spot, how is night parking going to work? If you can work remotely, what equipment will you need to accomplish that? If you are retired, would you want to stay where it’s warm in the summer, and then move to where it’s warm in the winter? Do you want to pull a trailer or drive an enclosed RV?
Some of these questions are hard to answer if you have never experienced it.
My suggestion… Go to an RV show and see all the available models and shapes and sizes, then rent an RV and hit the road. Not just for the weekend but do a good 2-week trip. Choose the RV you think would suit your needs and give it a try. The nice thing about renting first, you get the practical knowledge of living an RV Life without the huge purchase cost. If you do not like that size, you can choose to rent a different size next time. There are multiple rental companies you can contact. Outdoorsy is a great choice for an RV adventure.
Are you still not sure and have questions? Feel free to get in touch with me through my social media accounts or leave a comment on this blog. I am always available to answer any questions you have.
Life Coaching Services
Have you decided you want to make that change but are still unsure if it is the right decision? Are you a single woman who is nervous about stepping out on her own and creating your own adventure? I am a certified life coach and offer life coaching services to people who need a person to chat with. Someone who can ask the right questions and help you see the whole picture.
Whether you are thinking about living an RV life, solo or with your spouse, or just living life and need an ear and a stable voice, get in touch.
Let’s Talk!
Need more details? Click here
Thanks for coming along on my Chipmunk Adventure!
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Chipmunk's RV Life 