There are many unique RVers out there in the country. Some choose to live in an RV in the middle of nowhere, never engage in social media, and just enjoy life close to nature. Many others like to connect and utilize the Internet as a means to an end. There are people that follow what is going on in the RV world and there are ones like David and Brenda Bott that coordinate meet-ups within communities. The Bott's manage a popular website and YouTube channel called Outside Our Bubble. To get a taste, check out their Intro video. It documents a full-timing couple’s adventures, as well as what they’ve learned and want to share along the way.
They also accidentally started a rally, or a gathering of their readers and subscribers. It all started three years ago when the couple posted where they would be located and “if anyone cared to say hello, please stop over," as David Bott recalls. "And it turned out we had 47 coaches show up for the weekend." The next year they had 117 coaches that signed up and came. The gathering is called OOBerfest. The next one is January 17-20 in Quartzsite, AZ. It was named after the first group of people that came to say hello. "They showed up and much to our surprise they called themselves our 'OOBies,'" he laughs.
David Bott stands excited at this year's OOBerfest Quartzsite Rally. [Photo by David and Brenda Bott]
The RV rally is considered more of a gathering as it doesn't cost any money to attend. It is in the middle of the desert on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and the only cost is firewood. On the info page of their website it says to bring, "Firewood, Full Water Tank, Empty Gray and Black Tanks, Generator, snake bite kit (kidding), stories and anything else that may add to the experience." The purpose is clearly stated: "Just for Kicks! Meet David & Brenda and other OOBies to learn and laugh." Bott explains a bit further, "Based on the number of people, we decided to do some talks on one of the days, but most of the time it is just meeting others with like interests of RVing and the idea of learning." In the past they had people park in a semi-circle so everyone could gather in the center, but it didn't seem worth the stress, so now they have visitors park themselves and simply designate a circular area for talks and the end of the gathering concert.
The talks are interesting and pertinent to a lot of RVers. They talk about how to make sure one stays underweight in an RV, technology questions, mods, Instant Pot cooking, and a popular ladies time called, "Stitch and Bitch" where ladies can talk about RV living without the men around. They end the seminar day with a movie under the stars. The next day consists of an RV show and then just hanging out until night time where they have a live concert. "We are bringing back 'Notes From Neptune'" because it was really a hit last year," Bott says, “We had over 200 people out there for that night and it was really a blast.”
So how did the Botts get involved with RVing? They got married 24 years ago, after a quick meeting and a quick wedding. "We have never looked back and we won the bet," they recall. "By that I mean some family members were taking bets on how long we would last. We are very pleased to say they all lost, but they knew they would." David started a few companies for tech consulting; and Brenda handles all the booking. They started travelling full-time in 2013 and love it. They sold a 4,200 sq. ft. house with 4 acres in New York and never looked back. Currently, they cruise the country in a custom Tiffin Allegro Bus. "Our philosophy is that you could always buy another house, however you may not always be able to travel," they say in accordance. "We are lucky enough that we work online." As they are not retired, they represent a new group of full-timers that still need to find the time and place to work in the world, but choose the RV life for its unique advantages.
So now they tour the country with their “fur kids,” and document it on their website and YouTube channel. They have videos about their custom RV and places they visited for thrills, as well as popular uploads of David using his drone in cities and in the country. Their website has a handy recommended items list for driving, electrical, water, communication, and a plethora of other things that come up while being a full-timer. Most of all, their goal is represented in their brand and logo “Outside Our Bubble.” As they say in the introductory video, “When was the last time you left your bubble?” And that’s what they want people to do. And who knows? Perhaps you will do it for the first time with the 83 other RVers already signed up to go hang out with David and Brenda mid-desert on the California/ Arizona border in Quartzsite come January. Community is provided, just bring some firewood!