Millenial RVers Looking To Adventure Before Comfort As They Start To Make Their Way On A New Path
Choosing adventure over comfort, Millennials are adapting RVing as a conceivable lifestyle outside of the conventional white picket fence and 9-5 office job. As emerging technologies bring to light the opportunity of location independent careers, today’s young professionals are discovering the possibility of a life on the road, reconnecting with nature, and finding a work-life balance; but as with all new ventures, it’s not without challenges. Beyond the occasional breakdown and inevitable maintenance that goes hand and hand with RV living, Millennial RVers Kyle Brady and Olivia Gould, along with Heath Padgett, are discovering there’s more to the nomadic lifestyle than cinematic adventures and endless Instagram worthy photos.
One of the most formidable issues facing RVers who are working out of their rig is a strong, dependable Internet connection. Finding a good signal can often be a daunting task and overall deal breaker when deciding where to set up camp. While many parks offer free Wi-Fi, the definition of “high-speed” varies greatly and the connection is often bogged down with too many users and not enough bandwidth.
For RVers Olivia and Kyle, who have built an online business called The Wooden Earth, curating the human experience through historical maps, books, and other printed material, a Wi-Fi connection is essential to receiving purchase notifications and maintaining their blog, Drivin’ and Vibin’. “The fortunate thing is that we don’t require a lot of Internet. We just need the email notification,” explained Kyle. “But not having it (Internet) is a real inconvenience.”
Although Olivia and Kyle have undoubtedly grown accustomed to substandard Internet access, for Heath Padgett, host of the weekly podcast The RV Entrepreneur and full-time RVer, a steadfast connection is a first priority. “We were in South Dakota going to see the Crazy Horse Monument and Mount Rushmore and somehow ended up at the Sturgis Bike Rally,” laughed Heath as he recalled the scene. “We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but the RV park had amazing Wi-Fi so we ended up extending our stay to get some work done.”
When it comes to working from an RV, the days are not always filled with sunshine and hammock lounging while typing away on a laptop. Countless, long hours are spent staring at a computer screen, struggling to be productive with the limited space available as many RV layouts leave campers with few options for comfortable work space.
“So many people are working out of their RV. They (manufacturers) should be more conscious of the fact that everyone is on their computers,” declares Heath, acknowledging RVs are not designed for working. “Add USB ports, different work stations, and there’s no reason RVs can’t have Wi-Fi installed.”
Aside from Wi-Fi headaches and limited work space options, being constantly surrounded by areas of unexplored nature and picturesque scenery can often be a temptation too alluring to resist for working RVers attempting to find a middle ground amid work and play. But for Heath, who admits he often finds himself thinking, ‘Who am I to take a vacation?’ it’s quite the opposite.
“I do have a big struggle with enjoying taking time out to enjoy the world around me,” Heath acknowledges. “At this point, we’re funding the lifestyle and building a meaningful career. So for me, just being around the beautiful scenery actually forces me out to do things.”
“People are looking for a balance,” states Olivia. “Our business is our livelihood, but this is our ambition. Being able to focus on ourselves and the environment around us, as well as the community.”
The desire for a sense of community and the struggle to fulfill this basic need rang true for all parties as the very nature of frequent travel often leaves little opportunity for maturing meaningful relationships and sustaining a consistent social crowd. With the help of technology and the expansion of online communities through social platforms, the next wave of RVers are overcoming this obstacle and seeking out like-minded individuals to meet up with when possible. Whether it’s forming a Facebook group or having the flexibility to change driving routes, the personal connections once associated with camping still seem to be at the foundation of the RV lifestyle.
“We’ve generated a social network of people that have really changed our RVing experience,” professed Olivia. “The connections are so much more genuine and stronger when you connect with people who you share the same lifestyle with.”
Although the RV lifestyle may present new challenges for working age RVers, there seems to be an overwhelming theme amongst the crowd: the desire for freedom. As technology continues to provide options for young professionals to generate a sustainable income, Millennials continue to seek a work-life balance, connect with like-minded people and satisfy their insatiable need for autonomy.
“In college, nobody tells you that you can graduate, live in an RV and travel the country,” expressed Heath. “There’s definitely a learning curve, but you just have to realize it’s possible and get started.”
Jannie SchafferA graduate of the Fashion Institute Of Technology in New York City with a degree in Interactive Marketing, Jannie has worked both for FOX and ASA Electronics. She enjoys traveling and whitewater rafting.