Our home for over eight years
Are you a new camper or experienced camper? My husband and I were full-timers (people who live in their RV’s year round) for eight years. We have learned a lot about camping. Before that time, we had only camped on two tent camping trips in our lives. (Hmmm..I don’t think those campouts with the Girl Scouts count, do they?)
We had no intention of going full-time. It just evolved. We began taking extended trips for a few months. Then our kids decided to buy our house so we could be gone all year chasing the sunshine south in the winter and north in the summer.
Because of this lifestyle, I have written featured travel articles for magazines. I am a Contributing Editor for Garden and Hearth Online Magazine in the camping section. And I have travel sites online for inside information about Florida and West Michigan .
Perhaps you too are considering going full-time. The biggest change is moving your lifetime collection of “stuff” into a home on wheels. That is really super downsizing.
Campers are aware of limitations on storage and weight in their RV’s. It is dangerous to overload because too much weight can burst tires, not allow the towing vehicle to stop when braking, or ruin a transmission. So what happens when she wants her sewing machine and he wants his table saw? What do you do when she has to have all her boxes of craft items and he wants the ladder and miscellaneous tools? You cannot overload the rig. Compromise.
Storage is at a premium. No matter what size the RV, there will never be enough storage compartments or closets, or drawers to keep everything. You must be ruthless when selecting what you need for your lifestyle.
I never thought I would ever be able to live with only 2 pairs of slacks and 3 pans, but I can! If someone told me that I would give up my good china and crystal so that I can eat on Corelleware every day of my life, I would have said “No way.” To give up my piano, my lovingly chosen collections of candleholders, Hummel figurines, and antique snow babies was unthinkable. To actually clean out every closet, drawer, basement and shed and put the items up for auction was---actually, a delight. It was like clearing out my life and starting all new.
So we did auction off our 26 years old collection of our lives together. Many of the special family items we kept for our daughters. Our daughter, Sara, who bought our home graciously gave us shelves in the basement for storing our “stuff” and a desk in the corner for business papers, etc.
Thus began our adventure in Full-timing. You can do it too, but start slowy with extended trips for 3 months or 6 months. Then figure out if 12 months on the road is right for you.
Best Wishes!!
