So here we are, one month into the full time RV lifestyle! I know, it’s not that big a deal for some of you folks (Looking at you, N4SVD!), but for us, and a lot of folks we know who just camp on the weekends, it’s a pretty big deal! It’s also, the first full month of full time travel nursing for me. When I traveled before, it was local, so I was never away from home for more than 2 or 3 nights at a time. It has been an interesting month, to say the least! We thought we might do a top ten of things we hate and things we love, just for those of you who might be curious, or who are considering this lifestyle for yourselves. And hey, we are opinionated people and we thought you oughtta know…
Top 5 things we HATE about Full Timing:
(Besides Dumping, because that should be Obvious)
#1: Internet connectivity or the total lack thereof.
I know, I know, camping is supposed to be about enjoying the outdoors, exploring nature, getting out and seeing the scenery, etc. etc. Well lucky YOU if you can afford to do that without working to pay for it. Not only do I have to actually work, I am also finishing up my doctorate while I am doing this thing. Internet connectivity is a necessary part of that job, so I absolutely have to have it. Cell service and a Verizon jet pack for wifi are just NOT cutting it. We are going to have to do some research and see what will work better for us. Any ideas? Please let us know!
#2: The Prices. WOW.
- Laundry. We absolutely hate using a laundromat. They tend to just be generally not fun places to be. At least the one at the campground is pretty. And relatively cheap. We only pay $2 to wash and $1 to dry. Some places are $3.75 to wash and a quarter for 10 minutes of drying time.
- Gas Prices. ‘Nuff said.
- Campground Prices. It is crazy how expensive some are! We are staying in a campground that is about average for the area. Of course electric and water is included, so that is nice, but still, it’s almost as much as what I used to pay in rent. But still, I guess I don’t mind to pay for a lovely gated community, the riverside and pond views or the convenience of being just a mile from the Beach. Thanks, Riverdale Farm, we love ya!
#3: Not having an all purpose room.
Robert is a musician and is used to having all his musical stuff at his fingertips. We have a ton of basement storage for the things we need, but not a lot of space for things we just want to have readily available. No dedicated office space or desk for a printer. No dedicated area for Rob’s amplifiers and tone pedals. No dedicated desk for painting and crafting. No sewing table. We are slowly rearranging things and plan to remodel a bit, but it is still an adjustment.
#4: Signs.
We have had it up to HERE with all the keep out signs. It is amazing to us how they don’t seem to want tourists up here. Everywhere we go to try to look at the Ocean is a sign that says “Private”. Or “Resident’s Only”. Or “No admittance without proof of residency.” Can you believe that out of state cars have to pay up to $75 in parking fees for 1 (ONE) day on the beach? It is ridiculous. It makes the whole place feel very snobbish and unwelcoming at times. Luckily, many places have public access beaches (albeit very small) so you can at least enjoy the view for a little while.
#5: Missing your Family.
We sure miss the kiddos and Mom and seeing our friends from home. It has been weird not “knowing” people out here on the road. We probably feel just as left out of those Sunday dinners as our kids do looking at our adventure photos! Thank the good Lord that Robert and I are very good friends, or we might get a little more homesick.
Top Five things we LOVE:
(Besides the photo-ops, because clearly Marti loves taking pictures…)
1.) Mystic, CT.
Mystic isn’t even a town, but a historical “census designated place” between Groton and Stonington. Mystic has the best pizza, (Mystic Pizza was the best even BEFORE the movie came out), beautiful waterways with a Bascule bridge, pretty amazing ice cream, lots of nautical history, museums, shops, and is just generally an amazing place to spend the day. It is our favorite place we have been together so far.
2.) Sightseeing.
Obviously, but this isn’t your regular sightseeing. Spending 3 months in an area and really getting to KNOW it is an altogether different experience. We know that our favorite local diner is the Brownstone House, but that Jalapeno Heaven has the BEST Margaritas. We know that our favorite coffee shop is the Guilford Coffee House and that they have a sister shop in Madison. We know that when someone says “the Green”, it usually means a big park like area with no playground surrounded by shops. We know that the best ice-cream ever made EVER is at Ashley’s. We get to take a different back road every time we drive and find houses that are still being lived in but were built in the 1600s! We are really enjoying exploring the ins and outs of the entire area, not just seeing the tourist traps.
3.) Eco friendly.
We love that living in an RV makes you think about every single thing you purchase. You don’t have room for just anything, so you ask yourself “Do I really NEED it, Do I have a place for it?” You might want that Mandalorian Mug, but do you REALLY need one more coffee mug? Also, Everything you use tends to have multiple purposes because you need the space. So your Instapot doubles as your rice cooker. Your air fryer does double duty as your toaster. You are also thinking about everything you waste, from trash to “personal” waste. You are more conscientious about water consumption because you just have to be. It is just a more conscientious and “in the moment” way of living.
4.) Freedom.
We love the feeling of transience. It reminds us that we are sojourners in this world. This life is so very short. Everything changes so fast. The RV lifestyle reminds you that this world passes quickly, and you have to live intentionally every day. We also love the ability to pick up and go whenever we want. We will never be homeless, and we can change our scenery anytime we want to.
5.) Time Together.
Rob and I have been married a long time. We have kids and grandkids and have been focused on being good parents. We did the best we could the way we thought we should, but often it was at the expense of our time with each other. We don’t regret it, but we are thoroughly enjoying our time together. We have always been a good team, but this has helped us realize that we are still best friends, even after all this time.
So that’s that! Our Top 10 things we love and hate about full time RV life! What are some things you love and hate about it? Leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you!
We are friends of Pat and Ac-we traveled In our converted school bus then converted a GM bus and were full timers for 12+ years.we R from New England and know what you mean about inaccessibility to points of interest near coast. We also found that the west is much more friendly to rivers. We were always traveling on a budget with 4 children. Many people said our children would learn a lot even if they don’t look out the windows! They spent a lot of time reading between stops. We carried tubs full of books and all their school books and many instruments when the came interested in music, meeting other musicians on the road. They are all grown with families of their own now, but they all still have sand in their shoes, and some have RVs for vacations. Music is still part of their lives.
It is so interesting to hear you positive ND negative thoughts while RVing. We all had some of same frustrations that you have. We do hope you continue to enjoy your travels. We are now in a Mobil Home in Apache Junction,AZ. But we do have a class B Rv. My husband has vertigo issues so he does not drive anymore
so we have to consider trips carefully since I do the driving.
We still love the concept. Happy Travels!Joyce and Steve Palmer
We grew up in the Northeast-western Mass,then several years in Vermont. We were full timers
Left a longer note B4 fhis
It is great to hear from you! We are sorry that we did not start this journey sooner when our kids were still home, but also thankful to have this time in our lives together while we are still young! We are so thankful for the experience. I think we will probably be doing this as long as possible! Best of luck to you and your husband! Prayers for good health and much happiness!