Clutter annoys me. There is stuff in the hallway, and stuff on the couch, and when I have to move something all the time, it kind of makes me crazy. In the 8 years I have been living this RV life, my van is not cluttered 80% of the time. But that 10% of the time drives me nuts.
Winter with all the extra blankets for the bed and for the floors. That does not include the boots and hats and all the attire that goes with living in a mixed climate. With the warming walls up and windows and back doors covered to keep out the cold, it also makes it very dark in here.
With the warming walls up and everything in place, it is still organized. It’s a little stuffy but organized. I line the electrical cords in the hallway against the bottom of the cupboard and keep the space heater in the bathroom when I am travelling. I have to remember not to trip over it at night in the hallway if I am plugged in. It is a little frustrating, but I manage not to throw anything out. Lol. I do need it all.
When Spring Finally Arrives
It seems so long until we start to see that first sign of spring. The birds singing. The sun feels a little warmer, even if it is just warm coming through the windows. In Southern Ontario, we always look for that first Robin. Once she comes to sing, you know winter has finally passed.
Those first days I start to think about taking the warming walls down, lift the heavy blankets from the floor (I keep tripping on them) and open the curtains and let some natural light into my small world. Thank goodness for my skylights. They let so much light in when I have the windows covered.
What Do I Do With It All?
What do I do with all the excess stuff in my home? All of my winter blankets and gear will be transferred into my 1969 Econoline when she emerges from winter storage.
The time between taking everything down and pulling everything up to getting my 69 out of storage is the most cluttered time of my RV life.
It is sometimes only a matter of a couple of weeks, sometimes it’s a few weeks. Lol.
How Do I Organize the Clutter?
In my Roadtrek, I will fold everything, including my winter jacket, and put it on the couch. The space heater will ride in the bathroom, and I will have to take it out every time I want to use the heater or the bathroom.
Moving stuff to do stuff. It makes me crazy but it must be done.
The blankets and warming walls are folded on the couch in a pile. The warming wall is made from fabric shower curtains to keep the dampness out. It is also slippery, and try as I might, something will slip off the couch.
You have to remember, everything moves when I do. I have hit roads that bump my table at the back right out of its holder. I really try not to do that. If it is not securely in place, it will be in a different place when i stop. Lol
Does it Clutter the 69 Econoline?
Am I just moving one clutter pile to be a clutter pile in a different location?
The answer is no. Each item that comes out of this van except for the winter attire has a purpose in the 69.
The shower curtain warming walls will be put under the bench cushions on the bed in the 69. It helps keep the dampness from coming through the cushions as there is no mattress. The heavy blankets I use to insulate the floor will go on top of the cushions to provide extra cushiony sleeping space. The other blankets are used for backup on cool spring and fall nights when you just need a little extra. There is no furnace in the 69. It is back to basics.
Camping hint… A carefully and safely put candle in your RV or Van will clear the dampness out and provide a small amount of warmth.
Living an RV Lifestyle in All Four Seasons
I moved into my Roadtrek on February 1, 2017. Thinking about what my Dad used to say, “Get the hard part over first,” or “Stace, you always have to do it the hard way.” LOL
When I first moved into my van, I put the bed down in the back and kept it as a king-sized bed. I had cushions and a thick chunk of memory foam between me and the floor. I would line the walls with long pillows to keep the cold from coming through.
In 2021, I decided I needed more living space. Just the small hallway in front of the kitchen was just not enough. I needed a couch to lounge on. I took the bed apart and created a single, well, slightly smaller than a single bed and a couch. I gave my long pillows away as there was nowhere to put them now and cut the memory foam down to size. I did that in the summer. What I did not realize was how much the cold would come through the floor and under cabinet areas come wintertime.
A New Winter Strategy was Needed
Any strategy for living this lifestyle needs to be minimal. I always have to think about where I will keep it when not in use. The heavy blanket that is huge now sits folded over the floor between the bed and the couch in the roadtrek during the winter and is used as bed padding in the 69 in the summer.
I bought a large quilted blanket (purple, of course) to drape over the back doors and over the vents, keeping the cold from coming through the back and from above. That blanket is kept in the 69 for those chilly spring and fall nights.
I created the warming walls from fabric shower curtains and quilt batting and covered my side walls and windows. All of the hanging cold barriers are attached with upholstery pins and are easily taken down and put up.
The Gradual Move
When the weather starts to warm, it is time to start taking it all down. Sometimes, I do get a little ahead of myself in the anticipation of spring. I have learned over the years not to put everything in the 69 because winter can and will rear its ugly head.
Usually, the first to go into my other van is the heavy blanket on the floor, the warming walls, and the large quilted blanket. I know I will not need in the early moments of spring. The heater and the extra blankets on the bed go in next and my home is again uncluttered.
Right now we are in the uggg phase. Lol. Where there is just too much stuff! Another few weeks and it will be all gone. Until then I will deal with blankets sliding or bouncing off the couch and the heater and cords and extra water jugs in my hallway.
We all have clutter moments. Not sure how to handle those? UnClutter Your Life can help with that.
Thanks for coming along on my Chipmunk Adventure. See you down the road!
Chipmunk
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Chipmunk's RV Life 