Just about every RV owner has fantasies of pulling up the tent stakes and living the carefree life of full-time RVing. For some of us, that fantasy becomes a reality.
If you’re thinking of taking the plunge into full-time RVing, make sure you’re fully prepared and know what to expect. You want to make sure that living the dream doesn’t become a nightmare when you’re 1500 miles from home!
Here are the top things to keep in mind as you prepare for full-time RVing.
Life Doesn’t Stop When You’re Living on the Road
Living in an RV year-round doesn’t mean you’re on vacation year-round. Life won’t stop for you. You’ll still need to receive your mail and pay your bills. You’ll have repairs to make, emergencies to be prepared for, medical appointments, and interruptions of life.
But that’s okay—just roll with the punches. Motorhome life may not be perfect when you’re full-timing, but there’s no other life like it!
An RV Has Less Room Than You Think
Full-time RVers quickly learn to live by the mantra, “You can’t take it with you.” When you’ve only got 400 square feet of space, living out of your recreational vehicle requires making some sacrifices. Be realistic about what you need and what you can’t do without. Do you really need your entire library of books? Are your Christmas decorations truly essential?
Less space also means you’ll feel a bit crunched at times. There’s no master bedroom with a walk-in closet and your en suite bathroom is now just large enough to turn around in.
But the sacrifice is worth it: you’re trading your spacious indoors for endless outdoor living. The expanse of nature is your parlor.
Plan out Your Pace and Your Place
Just because you’re on the road year-round, that doesn’t mean you need to be constantly moving from place to place. There’s nothing greater than stretching your legs and seeing the entire country—but if you’re constantly on the move, you can burn out pretty quickly. Slowing down lets you enjoy your surroundings more, it’s more economical, and you’ll establish more connections to others. Pacing yourself gives you a greater sense of community and you’ll feel more in tune with your journey.
Be thoughtful about your traveling plan and make sure you follow the weather. Unless you love getting snowed in, New England may be the last place you want to be in January. And buggy Florida isn’t such a hot destination in August.
Count the Cost Before You Go
Probably the biggest question you’ll need to answer before you start full-timing is, Can I afford to live out of my RV? The carefree life on the road isn’t free. You’ll have the obvious costs, such as meals, fuel, and camping fees—but don’t forget your other expenses such as house payments and property taxes, homeowners insurance, home maintenance, and RV repairs.
Traveling full-time while owning a house is expensive. To cut costs, some people choose to sell their homes, while others rent out their house.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you budget wisely. Find ways to cut your travel and camping costs. Make sure you have a maintenance and repair budget for your recreational vehicle.
Full-Timing Together Means You’re Together Full-Time
A recreational vehicle is a tiny space. Full-time RVing with your significant other means you’re together all day, every day. These conditions can magnify tension in a relationship, and not everyone handles it well.
Know before you go—can your relationship handle constant contact in tight quarters? For some people, little irritants can become huge character flaws when you don’t have a break from each other.
If in doubt, try it out. Go on an extended trip together and see how well it goes. If you have success, go for it! If it isn’t the life you dreamed of, then you can still enjoy frequent shorter trips throughout the year. We can even recommend the best places to visit in the winter.
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