My husband and I met late in life and jumped right into fulltime RV cruising after the wedding, inspired by the idea of a never-ending honeymoon. We made the RV our home and lived all over North America for five years, visiting forty-nine American states, nine Canadian provinces and territories, and six Mexican states. I even wrote a book about it, Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream. Now I recall the debate that raged in my head before we plunged into our great adventure.
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at a campground in North Carolina |
There are pros and cons to the fulltime RV cruising lifestyle. I wrote about them in this post. Today, I update that previous post with a better perspective, with the experience of all the RVing we have done, in hindsight. It is an objective look at this particular kind of travel to help those of you who are unsure of taking the plunge.
The following
benefits are undeniable:
Seeing new places and sights
Meeting lots of new people
Being close to nature and the outdoors
Growing with a larger, refreshing view
of life
Reducing negative stress
Because of the
first three, boredom never had the chance to set in. The ability to boondock
brought us closer to the mountains, the streams, the lakes, and the ocean. We had
to adapt more easily to the nuances in daily living, becoming more aware of
universal themes and larger concerns in the process.
at a Washington campground |
Our lifestyles were quite driven before we married and fully retired. My husband was keeping a small business alive in a flagging economy after years of navigating the corporate jungle. In turn; I was juggling teaching at three institutions of higher learning while babysitting my grandson after years of pioneering in information technology in the Philippines.
Our RV
cruising lifestyle was renewing, exhilarating and reinvigorating.
going into the Alaska Highway |
And, though there was some stress looking for campgrounds, hooking-up and unhooking, planning itineraries, and choosing activities to do, it was the positive kind of stress; it wasn’t the kind where you earnestly pray that your situation will change or even wish you were somewhere else. It was the kind that allowed you to sleep soundly at night with this: "That was an awesome day well spent!"
But we can also
not deny the following disadvantages:
Many unfamiliar situations
Loss of stability
Distance from family and friends
No involvement with worthwhile causes
Loss of income
Uncertainties in healthcare
The very benefit of
having something new all the time also brought the disadvantage of instability.
It was a preponderance of unfamiliar situations, especially in the beginning
with our smaller 24-foot RV. The sad part was the increased distance with
family and friends and the inability to work for causes we used to love. Technology has definitely helped but the
thing called “propinquity” was actually lost.
at a campground in Alaska |
Since we moved to a new parish every other week, we could not participate in a regular ministry. What younger people would find most disturbing, however, is the loss of income, unless you can find portable jobs or work at campgrounds or even Amazon distribution centers. What finally made us settle down is to have better healthcare.
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at a campground in Mexico |
But now we realize that all these disadvantages came about because we chose the full-time RV cruising lifestyle. We traveled in an unrelenting pace and covered the North American continent in less than five years. If you look at the benefits, they are the same whether you do it full-time or piecemeal. When you find a free week or two, escape to an RV adventure. There are ways to do this. You can buy a small camper, rent an RV or borrow a friend’s unit. At least try it and see for yourself.
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Very informative article. I was happy to see I don't need to invest a large amount of cash to enjoy the short trips my schedule would permit. Good info, thanks
ReplyDeleteDid you click the link to the RV rental place?
DeleteVery interesting and informative. This article shows me a way to enjoy the RV option now, while time is short, because I don't need to invest in a unit of my own.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Yup...rent and see if you like it!
DeleteGreat article! Nice to be reminded of the many interesting places we've been😊
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! Wonderful times!
DeleteMy husband and I get along so well when we travel. So I think full-time rving would be a lot of fun. But then there's the prospect of losing touch with family and friends. I guess it's a personal decision one must make.
ReplyDeleteYes. I am glad we did it but that's it. We will do just escape from now on!
DeleteGreat post! I RV'd through Europe in a shabby VW bus in the 1970's and all you said was true then as well. I mostly hated the isolation - it's one reason I still love public transportation. Still the romance of living on the road is undeniable.
ReplyDeleteI am glad we did it. But in the US, it's the best way to travel
DeleteLovely post. Nice to learn more about RVing and to get some additional insight on it. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Hope you go RVing!
DeleteHope you get to try it!
DeleteAs we approach our vagabond years, we see every one of the issues you brought up. Needing a worthwhile cause is remarkably important. If you're not working towards something, than what are you doing?
ReplyDeleteOne if the reasons we gave up full-time RVing. But we still escape on road trips now.
DeleteSo first can I say that I have never seen "boondock" used as a verb before but I LOVE IT cause I instantly knew what you meant since I am a backpacker and love camping close to nature in areas that or more rural or rustic.
ReplyDeleteSo I love your perspective or rather retrospective on RVing and I have to say several of your disadvantages didn't seem too bad to me, like distance from family & friends. Some of my Cuban family are nuts and being far away from them keeps me out of jail!
I guess being nomadic and being away from friends & family doesn't bother me as long as I am learning and meeting new people. But I do see how it could affect Darcee my soon to be wife. Close family connections are important to her. So we would have to find balance.
So just escape with an RV once in a while! Try at least once and rent. Click "rent an RV" on the second to the last paragraph and see how easy it can be!
DeleteCrystal and I have yet to pull the trigger on RVing. I have some piratical experience from my youth, but for now we are dedicated to focusing on downtown areas of the destinations we visit. This deosn;t lend itself to looking at RVing objectively.
ReplyDeleteOh when it's time, you will know! Rent one first!
DeleteI would sell my house tomorrow and get an RV like the one in your Alaska Highway photo if I could. Unfortunately, I have one kiddo still at home (an 8th grader, the youngest of four), who is NOT interested in homeschooling or roadschooling. Such a bummer!
ReplyDeleteWait til he or she becomes a teenager!
DeleteI always said that I'll end up having an RV at some point in my life. The freedom that it gives you is priceless and I know I'll have the time of my life. The only thing that worries me is the parking situation, since there's a lot of places you can't stop with it (at least in europe), specially in big citties. But it's really someting I want to do in the future.
ReplyDeleteOh Canada, fir example, is RV friendly. So are the US towns. Understandable for big cities where space is limited due to congestion. But I suspect it is much better here than in Europe where the roads are very narrow. RVing is the best way to travel America!
DeleteIt's not the case in the UD, Canada or Australia where the roads are built for RVs.
DeleteWow living life in a RV can be so exiting! What a great experience of touring the 49 states of America.
ReplyDeleteYou should try it!
DeleteI think l would enjoy the RV life for just a bit of time, perhaps two or three days at a time. It's great that you guys have had so much fun discovering new places. Our friends in Palm Springs are currently trying it out, and so far love it, and a couple of friends in London are currently traveling around Europe in their RV and love it also.
ReplyDeleteRent one for 2-3 days and see!
DeleteI've never been to much into these 'natural' ways of travelling, but after I was invited on a blogger trip in a camper van, I do get the charm....and might do it again.
ReplyDeleteOh good. Try a bigger one!
DeleteI know quite a few retired people who are living the RV lifestyle and loving it. It offers freedom and affordable travel to so many. The best part seems to be that you can control your own travel, location and schedule as you wish, which is pretty great. Just don’t call it glamping, as some have!.;)
ReplyDeleteWell if you do it with the luxury RVs available today, it can be called glamping!
DeleteI think it is an age thing because I have been thinking about RVing lately. Definitely need a purpose like visiting the US National Parks or something. What a great life.
ReplyDeleteYou ought to trym begin byvrenying one for your hext vacay!
DeleteWOW! There are so many possibilities and places to see when you have access to an RV! xo - Kam
ReplyDeleteIt is very easy to rent!
DeleteIt's very brave of you to live on the road for 5 years... I would miss my home and being able to do sewing and other "home" things... Yet, I would definitely try a road trip like that. The US look like the perfect place to do that. maybe when I'm a full time digital nomad!
ReplyDeleteTry it once to see if you'll like it. If the RV is big enough, you can do sewing. And campgrounds have craft rooms.
DeleteI would love to go cross country in an RV, but my main reason is that I can't drive it. I also worry about healthcare. If it were another country, I wouldn't worry so much but being in the states health care is so expensive and unreliable when jumping from state to state. Insurance will do anything to not pay if you are not within your jurisdiction. Perhaps this is different if you are retired and on medicare? BUT I do still dream of doing this one day :)
ReplyDeleteWe were not on Medicare when we started and we were covered in every state. It is only the limitation of the plan you have. Drive a camper, then it's no different than driving a car!
DeleteFor next year, we hope to buy, leave and live on a boat for 10 months. The alternative has always been to go with a camper through Europe, but what I hate is the idea of being in a closed space for so long. And even staying stuck in traffic when going through cities, breathing in the same air I breathe every day while living in a city. The camper is still a back-up if we don't pull it off with the boat
ReplyDeleteA boat would be more restrictive for me because, besides being a small space, you can't as easily get out of the boat. A camper in Europe we decided not to do because again the space is small and the road network in parts of Europe is not as good as their train system. But RVing in bigger motorhome in the US and Canada (and Australia) is convenient, comfy and spacious.
DeleteTraveling by RV is something I've certainly considered, and I'd want to do it for a longer time, though not 5 years! If you borrow or rent one for only a week or two, you still have your "real life" concerns hanging over you, and a deadline to return. I'd like to take a year and do the US and Canada.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, 5 years may seem to be a bit too long. I have friends who have done 12-15 years. Actually, there are still places we were not able to go to so 5 years was good for us.
DeleteWhat's up, just wanted to tell you, I liked this post.
ReplyDeleteIt was practical. Keep on posting!
Thanks lots!
DeleteI honestly believe that there are certain places where an RV is THE best way to travel (you've mentioned some of them, like the Yukon or Alaska). What's interesting is that I just read how millennials are embracing the RV lifestyle as a more affordable way to travel, too, so it's not just us grey hairs that recognize its benefits!
ReplyDeleteThat is true and I think it is the best way to cover extensively both US and Canada! Give it a try!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYour comments about health care are interesting. My wife and I are both early 50s, and concerns around health care costs are the #1 reason that we don't just stop working and start traveling...or start a business, or...well, whatever. We need the security unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThat's what happened to me but I was able to retire at 54. Would you believe full-timeRVing is one of the cheapest ways to travel and live?
DeleteLook up my post on The Economics of RVing
DeleteAlso an appendix in my book.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that there are pros and cons to RVing and it has its following for sure. I'm not a huge fan just because I'm not a camper type. I like my hotels and conveniences about them in that regard. But I do love the mobility and freedom RVing gives you and I love road trips!
ReplyDeleteIf you have luxury RVs, they are more comfy and luxury campgrounds have the amenities if a hotel!
DeleteYou certainly make a good case for setting off in an RV. However, I only like to read about your travel in one; I have no desire to reside in one. I like my house in familiar surroundings. Maybe I got it out of my system when I was younger and we did a lot of tent camping, and I did once travel all around the U.S. living in a VW bus.
ReplyDeleteTent camping and a VW bus may not be the comfy luxurious RV travel that you may like more!
DeleteWe've never travelled in an RV but I would love to try it, even for a short trip, one day. It seems so exciting to be able to travel as you wish without being concerned about booking hotels for specific durations. I do love that you were able to have an RV to enjoy a never ending honeymoon... that is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteTry it at least once! Rent and RV!
DeleteHi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i thought i could also
ReplyDeletemake comment due to this good piece of writing.
Thankd!
Deletethis is such a great post and I loved learning more about you. I would love so many things, but at the same time, I like having a "home" to come to in one location where I know neighbors and have more stability. It would be like playing house to me, but in a good way. I'm glad you had the chance to experience it and see the country in a way that not many people can claim.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, the underlying theme is "Becoming an American" and "Becoming a Wife "
DeleteWe recently rented an RV and headed out for a camping trip to Yosemite and then to Yellowstone. This was our first experience in an RV but I can completely relate to several of the advantages you've mentioned. We definitely felt more connected to the outdoors in a way and the sense of freedom that came with RV'ng was the biggest plus for us. While there may be some disadvantages to it as you mention, still the RV experience is definitely a must try, at least once! Enjoyed reading your post - thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo you rented an RV! And to Yosemite and Yellowstone! That must have been a grand trip. Try Everglades, Acadia or Carlsbad/Bwnd! Or Grand Canyon/Sedona.
DeleteIt’s a very big plunge to RV full time. I would definitely want to try it out as a holiday first, before making that decision. I think the same things (being away from family and friends primarily) would concern me when the novelty has worn off.
ReplyDeleteGreat decision! Have a last. Shop for a rental!
DeleteThis is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger.
ReplyDeleteI've joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post.
Also, I've shared your web site in my social networks!
Many thanks!!!
DeleteThis website was... how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
That's great,!
DeleteI've yet to experience RVing like this, so I really enjoyed this post. It's great that you've done this kind of adventure despite the cons. I look forward to the next chapter!
ReplyDeleteWant to try it?
DeleteWow! That's so amazing that you hit the road for all those years. I can't imagine all the adventures you had. Something I would love to so when I retire.
ReplyDeleteYes, all worth it!
DeleteThanks so much for sharing your experience to us with regards to RVing.. Yes, to skipping the unfamiliar experiences and situations. Hope we can have one in the future and budget will allow us to get one.
ReplyDeleteBorrow one first!
DeleteI've never RVed and I'm not sure if I'm cut out for it but you've still inspired me to give it a go!
ReplyDeleteTry it once and go to the nearest national park that gas a campground!
DeleteI have always been curious about rVing. I
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the perspective. For me this is doable. But i think i am at a stage where i want a ‘home’. As you sid, people don’t need to do it fulltime. Try it first and se how it goes
Rent one and go to the nearest national park with a campground!
DeleteNever been in an RV but it always intrigued me. It sounds like a fun experience!
ReplyDeleteRent it borrow one. At least try it once!
DeleteIt must have been such an adventure (and a fab way to start your married lives together!!) I can totally see why you loved it, and why it would be exhausting to live that way for a few years. I love the idea of giving this a try for a holiday (just maybe not long term)
ReplyDeleteBut no regrets. We have very little time to cover the world!
DeleteGood to learn about RVing and to get some extra information about it. I would definitely want to experience it.
ReplyDeleteAt least once, try it!
DeleteCross country RVing is on my to do list! So much freedom on the open road! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteIt will be good for you, too!
DeleteThat sounds like a crazy adventure! Glad you found your travel calling :)
ReplyDeleteWe have modified our travels...now that we are in our 70s.
DeleteThat is great that you can be objective and look at both side of the coin. And great idea to do it now and again for shorter times. Love the Arctic pic.
ReplyDeleteYes, much better. And thanks!
DeleteSounds like an amazing adventure. Loved reading it till the end. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteBecause I love living in a camper, I read this post with emotion. You had a beautiful life adventure that you managed to live and travel in an RV for five years and saw as many as 49 states. Congratulations. Unfortunately, I only managed to spend eight months in the RV because Covid interrupted our trip. But I hope we will come back to this project. We also were at the Arctic Circle in the Yukon!
ReplyDelete