Home Sweet RV

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You would think that moving into a small, simple space would bring about relief. That it would take away the stress of things and feel like a vacation.

I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said I was always 100% of the time 100% gung-ho about living in a camper again.

True, we’ve done it before, we know that we will be able to handle it. But after actually having a home now (instead of just an apartment and a horrible rental like we had before the last time) I can say that I’m going to miss certain things.

Even though we have an rv to call our own and a place that we own to still be able to lay our heads, taking away the security of your permanent house is like taking away a security blanket from a child. There really isn’t a need for the blanket but it’s just there…for you to feel secure.

One of the hardest things for me to give up right now is our land. I know that we are doing all of this to be able to have more land someday but knowing that I don’t have my big open field behind my house is going to be hard. And then there is the garden. Oh my beautiful garden! We worked so hard at getting rid of all your rocks and babying the soil until it was finally good enough to grow something other than a weed…and I’m leaving you behind. So what is making me feel better about all of this? About leaving all we’ve known for the past 4 years behind and moving on to a totally new adventure?

Looking at my glass half full.

I’m excited about living a simpler lifestyle. Not constantly fixing whatever happens to be wrong with the house this week.

I’m excited about being able to pay off debt and leave the stress that comes along with it behind when the loans are gone.

I’m excited about my future dream house and knowing that if things go as planned we will be able to have it someday, and not the debt that it would normally come with.

I’m excited about container gardening and making the most of buckets and all kinds of other gadgets I’ve thought up in my mind that will work for a cute travelling garden.

I’m excited to move on, to have a clean slate. We’ve had a rough last year that has left us with some horrible memories and events and we are ready to look forward to the future with hope.

Catch up on our full series about Fulltime RV Living!

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21 Comments

  1. I think what you’re doing is so awesome! I would LOVE to do it too! But…at the moment, I can’t wrap my head around 3 babies in one camper. Call me crazy-but that’s a little too close for comfort! Haha! I would however, love to do this once the kids are a bit older. It’s definitely a bold, but wise decision!

  2. I’m not a full timer but I’m going to find a way to garden this summer while working in NY. I’ve never done it before, but I thank goodness that I have a home to come back to – almost cost free while it’s empty 😉 Let’s keep talking about mobile garden 😉

      1. I use all sort of containers and re-purposed “stuff” in my garden. From grow bags for potatoes to black plastic bags for my peppers to chunks of old pvc water pipe for tomatoes to old ATV tires for the eggplant- it is amazing what all you can do! It won’t be so bad Merissa 🙂

  3. Hugs. There’s a quiet simplicity in RV living. After a three-month period of losing five close family members, we lived out our grief by not going “home” that year. We spent just a bit over a year in our RV (a 27′ airstream). There is something comforting about the simplicity of it. Feel free to contact me if you need a tips or hints. One thing I recommend is a heated water hose no matter where you live. And if you have a freshwater tank, keep it full and clean. you never know when you’ll have a service interruption.

  4. Hi Merissa. I read your site daily and what you are trying to do by living in a smaller space is awesome. My boyfriend and I are doing the same thing only we live in a 22ft tipi. We wintered in it this past winter while down at the rental house we just moved from, and now we live on our friend’s 20 acreas of land for free in exchange for watching over their land. Moving into a smaller space definitely comes with challenges. But it is all worth it once you reach the goals you have set. I wish the best of luck to you all!

      1. It is and we are learning alot. We are completely off-grid and have much to get and we are constantly learning. I suspect the learning will not stop for some time. Tipi living, or even tiny home living, is not for everyone to be sure. But if you set your mind to it you’ll find that you don’t really need a whole lot more.

  5. I have thought about selling my house and buying an RV to live in for sometime. The idea of cutting my living expenses in half and the freedom to travel to FL to visit family whenever I want and also move to another city or state, if I want, is so tempting! But, there’s always a but, it is now tornado season where I live and I just wonder what people living in campers/RV’s do to stay safe? What can you do? Also there’s the issue of where to park it. Either way, I feel like someday I will work out the “buts” and just do it. If you have any advice for weather safety and where to park I would love to hear from you! Thank you and best of luck to you!

    1. It’s definitely a process of figuring out all the little things. And as far as tornados or bad weather goes…many campgrounds have some kind of shelter area (or you would go to the interior of a laundry mat or bathhouse) for people to go to if they would really need it. If a campground doesn’t have this kind of area I’ve be hesitant to stay there for a longer period of time.

  6. I think it is an amazing adventure you will have gor sure. My husband and I have talked about doing tjis as soon as my son is in college in a year or so. We long for some implicity and seperation from mainstream. Thank you for some inspiration and lots of ideas!!

  7. Hi-will be thinking of you on this adventure and i wanted to re inforce your decision. I am 53 and been married for 34 years and the feeling of having no debt is incredible. My husband was militant about no credit cards and paying cash all these years, even when i would kick and scream about it, but now I am soooo glad he would not budge. Our kids (who are grown and married) are terrified of credit cards-(granted, we kept one for emergencies and so do they) but there general attitude is one of disdain. Anyway-what you are doing is admirable and the feeling of having no debt willbe worth all the inconvenience. The age i am now-it is amazing how fast t ime flies & this will be just a short period of your life. take care. Becky

  8. Hugs, Merissa, and I think what you’re doing is awesome, too! My husband and I did a similar thing and the payoff was so worth it! I agree with the commentor above—you’ll look back at it as being just a short period of your life but the end result will feel incredible! Thanks again for allowing all of us share in your adventure!

  9. You can do it Merissa! I know how hard it is leaving your home behind. When we moved into our camper, the part that kept me looking forward to the future (beside the plan of building a house with cash) was that no matter what kind of adventure life took us on we still had each other. Moving regularly helps to keep you focused on the things that really matter, that’s for sure!

  10. “I’m excited to move on, to have a clean slate. We’ve had a rough last year that has left us with some horrible memories and events and we are ready to look forward to the future with hope.”
    This quote from you is what both my guy and I want the most. The last 5 years for both of us have been full of pain, loss, drama & financial/work instability that we both just feel the time is nearing that we both can take this leap of faith and make a success out of US. And I am so excited and full of faith and hope for this adventure. Thank you for putting into words what I have been trying to express to others.

  11. I am about to try it! I have a husband and two boys. My sister in law has quite a bit of property that she is going to allow us to rent. I do own a home and instead of selling (bad idea in this market) I will try to rent out for awhile if possible. This move ultimately will allow me to stay home with our babies while still being able to save $$. I’m slightly nervous but more excited! I figure it this way- if I really minimize and get our family established in the camper- if we don’t like it we can always change it and sell the camper. Changes are always available! Thank you for your blog- very inspiring! 🙂

  12. What do you do if something needs repairing (like an air conditioner or plumbing) in your trailer? If you have to take it into a repair shop where do you stay?

    1. That depends on the rv you purchase and where you are staying. We found that many of the bigger parks we stayed at had rv techs that would come in the campground and fix the rv on site. We didn’t have to stay elsewhere with the repairs we had but if you did have to you would have to make plans for something like that, most likely a motel until you have family nearby.

  13. I love to hear everybody’s stories. My husband ‘s job was shipped over seas, our son took over our house payments (he loves our house) we bought a used class C motor home (paid cash) and we are full timers. We have our 16 yr old daughter still with us, whom we home school .I should say she schools us. She’s autistic and loves traveling, misses home and friends, thank goodness for skype and google hangouts. But hands down traveling is the best education. Looking to buy a shed on a small plot of land,and grocery shop in our back yard(Organic Vegans) off grid ,no payments, and start a small business (hubby’s a photographer)before unemployment runs out. Less overhead the less you have to work. Would love to hear from any and all. Good luck!

  14. Hey I love that I bumped into your blog. My husband and I are about to do this very same thing, and for the very same reason. We are almost mid 40’s. Our children are raised, One living on her own in Austin, and another headed off to college. RV living has been the hardest thing to wrap our heads around. We’re still in the planning phase, but quickly heading to implementation. I’d love to stay in touch so we can ask questions as they come up!