People who are unfamiliar with the nomadic lifestyle often think full-time RVing is scary. To that I say, “Yes, it can be.”
Life on the road is filled with an equal number of unexpected pleasures and pitfalls. These events tend to arrive in bunches and make you wonder why you’re doing it in the first place.
You can feel more grounded on the road by spending time with people who understand the lifestyle of full-time RVing.
These three common road-tripping nightmares are inevitable but the good news is you have the choice to make them less frightening. To quote one of my favorite spiritual teachers Wayne Dyer:
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Sometimes repairs can be as straightforward as changing a flat. Or, other times they can be more serious, and more expensive.
1. When your RV breaks down
You never know when your RV will break down. Even the most well-maintained rigs leave folks stranded sometimes, often at the worst possible place.
For example, last week my best friend and her husband hit the road for good after a year of preparing. Less than five days after their bon voyage party, their motorhome broke down just one state away in a remote part of California.
I reached her by phone and half expected to hear a defeated voice on the other end. But what she said was the perfect mantra at a time like that: “We’re fine. It’s all an adventure, right?”
When your RV breaks down, the best thing to do is 1) activate your mandatory emergency roadside assistance plan and 2) keep smiling by practicing positive mindset activities, like laughter yoga for RVers.
2. When you keep leaving friends behind
Maintaining new and old friendships takes more effort than ever when you’re on the move. If you’re a social butterfly, this lifestyle can get lonely. Family holidays and special events will be missed because you just can’t be there for all of them.
Although many RV parks have thriving micro-communities within them, breaking into the social circles can make you feel like an awkward high school freshman.
The best way to maintain friendships on the road is to join one or more RV clubs. Many hold regular rallies and some even own members-only RV parks.
Feel more grounded by spending time with people who understand the odd choice to go full-time RVing.
3. When your wallet takes a hit
Many people think that RV living is cheaper than a sticks-and-bricks lifestyle. I agree that it can be, but only if you have a good grasp on your money habits. You must know where to curb expenditures in order to make up for higher ones created by this lifestyle.
For example, full timers health insurance may not always cover insureds when they leave their home state. To get a plan that covers you across the nation, you’re looking at a much more expensive plan. Another example is when your RV breaks down and you may need to pay for a short-term motel stay.
Full-time RVing is scary when people jump into it with no clue about making or saving money. Once you decide to give it a whirl, its important to study some practical budget rving tips. Create a financial plan long before you hit the road.
Staying on the road requires so much more than the desire to travel. Make a plan to avoid financial disaster, develop an easygoing attitude about life’s unexpected setbacks and you’ll laugh like I do when someone you know wonders if full-time RVing is scary.
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
what is full time to you? u sound a damn bunch of city slicked sissies. people as yourselves scare the hell out of me. stick to your glamping . stay away from me please. and pick up your dog crap.