Was full-time travel the right choice for us?
Without a doubt, yes! We’re now at the end of our first year of RVing and it’s been the most fulfilling and joyful year of life yet. Each day we get to wake up and live a life that’s true to what’s in our hearts. The freedom we have to flex and bend around challenges or rise to the level of our dreams and see them come true is the kind of life we’ve been longing for. Full-time RVing may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for us!
What’s it like to travel full-time?
It’s a common misconception that full-time travel is like being on vacation permanently. It’s really not like that at all- we think it’s better!
On a vacation, you’re away from home. You don’t have access to the things that bring you stability, comfort, and health. Vacations are often a struggle to prep for and execute. Traveling to the destination is happening outside of a normal sleep schedule. The chore of packing- trying to anticipate what you will and won’t need- can be challenging. There’s pressure to wake up early or stay up late to see/do as much as possible. Relying exclusively on whatever food can be found often wreaks havoc on the digestive system. And if you’re someone who enjoys being active, there’s not always access to the kind of movement your body likes. In the aftermath, the whole thing can throw off our mental and physical health.
Full-time travel in an RV has felt so comfortable and convenient that it’s made those types of vacations sound less attractive! When we’re traveling in the RV, we’re waking up when we want, traveling when we want- as little or as far as we want, and we have access to everything we might need because the whole thing is your suitcase! We get to sit in an oversized, reclining armchair and watching the world go by from a gigantic window.
Once we get to a new place, the experience of being there is never touristy- whether we’re off grid in a small mountain town or parked at an RV resort in the city with full utilities, we’re working and living in each of these places. We go for walks in the local parks. We buy food from the local grocery stores to bring home and cook meals. We buy pet food at the local pet supply store. We clean our car at the neighborhood wash. Our “daily grind” is uniquely flavored week over week and in our free time, we get to seek expereinces that can only be found in that place. Each day is truly a previously un-lived experience and for us, that’s the magic. It slows time, facilitates living in the present, and fills our life with intentionally.
Full-time travel has forever changed our standard of living and the experience of what it is to be alive. We can’t see ourselves returning to the confinement of living our whole life in one place again. Perhaps we just have a higher propensity for adventure than the average person. Or maybe we’ve discovered something not well known. But we’re so glad we found the courage to try something new!