Questions About Going Full Time in an RV

First time we saw our home on wheels

In June 2013, we began seriously thinking about living the full-time RV lifestyle.  Several life events with sons in college out of state, job transitions, and other things seemed to propel us to change from the typical sticks and bricks lifestyle.  To help determine if this was something we really wanted to do, I made up a few questions and we answered them separately then compared our answers. Here is a combination of those questions and answers and how we view them today for anyone who may be considering full-time RVing.

Questions and answers

Thoughts after 3.5 years

1.  What are the top 3 reasons you want to do this? a.  Freedom to make our own schedule. b.  Explore places at a leisurely pace and spend time together c.   Eliminate stuff that ties us down (mortgage, home maintenance, excess stuff) and decide what we really need vs what we want. 2.  What are your top 3 concerns about full time RV living? a.  Finding a RV that will not give us problems and having our own spaces when we want to be alone. b.  Finances and exit strategy.  How will we get back to a bricks and sticks lifestyle when we are tired of RVing. c.   Security of not owning a home, physical security of being in unknown places. 3.  What are the top 3 things you will miss most about living in a bricks/sticks house? a.  Gardening, swimming pool, outdoor spaces, projects.  b.  Deep personal connections with friends and neighbors c.   Full size appliances and stuff 4.  What are the top 3 things you will miss the least about living in a bricks/sticks house? a.   Projects, something to always clean and repair b.   Cost pressures of maintaining a home c.   Responsibilities to groups and organizations 5.   What specifically are the things you want to do while full time RVing? a.      Visit family and provide support b.    Make new friends  c.    Visit Yellowstone, Glacier, Giant trees, Crater Lake, Maine, Niagara Falls, Mt Rushmore, Key West, Alaska, Grand Canyon. d.    Visit old friends and places we have lived e.    Attend Jeep Jamborees f.     Boondock where we can see stars g.    Participate in disaster relief ministry h.    Take time to learn US history i.      Go where the wind takes us

Making it up as we go and spending time in places many people only get to experience on short vacations was the best part of full-timing. You really don’t need much stuff. Minimal living has a quality all its own. All RVs will have some problems.  We chose an older higher end motorhome and the more robust systems served us well.  We were always able to find our own space. Still unknown how we will get back and not sure we want too. We stayed aware of our surroundings and did not have any serious issues with man or beast. We carry an herb garden with us, some campgrounds have pools, and there is always a project on the RV. Kept up with old friends on social media and this blog.  Made many new friends.   Installed a residential refrigerator and got use to the other small appliances. Can’t escape these things in an RV. Can’t escape maintenance costs either. Responsibilities changed to more family focused.  Our family is spread over a 1500-mile area.  We have been able to help five family members move, responded to health issues and attended events all while sleeping in our own bed. It was easy to meet people and make new friends in the RV community. We saw most of these and many more places that we did not know existed.  Still hoping to visit Alaska and see the Grand Canyon again. We were able to visit old friends in Maine, Florida, Arizona, California, Idaho, Oklahoma, Maryland and Alabama We attended Jeep Jamborees in Pennsylvania and South Dakota We saw the heavens from some dark remote places and were amazed. We participated in Disaster Relief operations in LA, PA, MD, and NC. We were fascinated by the history in each part of the country.  Seeing the revolutionary fortresses, standing in the Oregon Trail ruts, seeing Petroglyphs, Teddy Roosevelt’s cabin, and so much more.  We made most of it up as we went along. We tried to stay south during winter and north during summer.  We never had a designated place to go and the longest we ever stayed in one place was about 60 days.

These were some of our thoughts when we first began planning and it has worked out well.  We know people who tried the full-time RV lifestyle and didn’t like it after a few months and others who have done it for 15 years or more and have no thought of quitting.  If you are adventuresome, able to deal with issues as they arise, somewhat mechanically inclined, very adaptable, and physically mobile, full-time RVing will be more enjoyable.

Thanks for keepingupwiththejonesrv!