Battling Some Rough Realities of RV'ing
Realities Of Life On The Road Are Examined As We Discuss Some Incessant Struggles That Every Full-Time RV'er Must Adjust & Prepare For Before Making The Commitment
There are some aspects of full-time RV'ing that can become so challenging that some RV'ers will just be 'turned off'' and quit the road. Others have discovered that the particular type of rig they selected turned into a disappointment: either too much RV, or not enough. Other RV'ers, attempting to travel with too many family members have also found unhappiness on the road. Others, new to the RV'ing life, have sometimes found the RV'ing lifestyle to be just too challenging. Sometimes, they are unable to down-size enough to make full-time travel comfortable. Some find that they have too much “stuff” they want to hang on to and find issues with the lifestyle to be incompatible. It does take a certain kind of mind-set for an RV'er to fit into the lifestyle.
Some people end up feeling much more comfortable RV'ing on their own. Although it does get lonely while actually traveling and sight-seeing, some prefer not to have to adhere to another person's desires. Perhaps there are divisions in mindsets as to where to go, or how long to stay at any one location. Boondocking can be a lonely affair. RV campgrounds and resorts offer great socializing. Having compatible travelers who enjoy long-haul RV'ing makes all the difference in the world. Whenever you find a friend whom you think might be compatible, take them on a long trip without making plans for a long-term commitment. This will tell the tale as to whether you, and that person with you, can live together, long-term.
Basically, there are five realities or struggles that anyone who full-times must make adjustment to. Folk who live in their RV's have to make great accommodations when it comes to several realities which can, adversely turn you off from RV'ing, especially full-timing it: (1) Space restrictions, (2) lavatory limitations, (3) problems with differing temperatures, (4) problems with your RV rig's peculiarities and, (5) hanging on to the right mind-set which allows you to continue to long-time RV.
Once a 'packrat,' always a 'packrat'. It's a true axiom. It's tough for many people to pair down their 'stuff'' to accommodate RV living. All RV's, no matter the size, have space restrictions. Class A's provide you with the most space available, but even here, you have to limit yourself to carrying only the bare necessities. Usually, it's the women who struggle to limit themselves when it comes to kitchen, cookery and dining necessities. But in reality, it is possible to get along with much less than you the requirements of a house with lots of cabinets, drawers and closets. The answer to this is to make sure that most kitchen, cookery and dining items do double duty. Using expendables also help. Long time camping enthusiasts, those who have camped out a lot, find this among the easiest things to limit.
The second most need is space for clothing and shoes. If you have an extensive wardrobe, you will find that you will dress differently while RV'ing. Always keep one dressy (non-wrinkling) outfit or dress for Sunday-go-to-meeting events and/or parties. The rest of your clothing should be pretty much what everyone else wears in the USA today: jeans and T-shirts, or sweats. Shoes take up an mazing amount of space and it's hard to limit oneself to three sets: slings for ease of off/on wear and often worn in public showers, a pair of boots. These are needed as you are out in all kinds of weather with your RV. Fortunately jackets and some other garments can be used as pillow stuffings, cutting down on the need for closets. Short coats and other garments can be stuffed inside pillowcases and turned into back supports. Tops can be rolled or placed in drawers or lockers where they are somewhat out of the way. Slacks and shorts can be treated much the same. Some of the biggest space required is for entertainment equipment, although thankfully this is trending to smaller electronics. An avid reader, you might have a sizable library, but park most of it with a friend, (preferably another bookworm), and limit yourself to the ones you most enjoy, which hopefully can be found in pocketbook sized editions.
Lavatory limitations can be severe. Many small travel trailers and truck campers are severely limited in toilet and bathing space. Often, it comes down to a port-a-potty arrangement for the toilet. Thank goodness today most modern RV's offer outside showers as an option. However, in more populated areas, while showering outside, you will need a shower tent. These are inexpensive. Finding space for one of those cute little washing machines they now produce can be a challenge. They cannot be collapsed to save space. Thankfully, most models are not large and they are usually lightweight, capable of being tucked away somewhere.
Trouble keeping the inside of an RV at a livable or acceptable temperature is tough. Most rigs are far smaller than non-RV living spaces. It's good to have a tracking temperature gauge. Folks traveling with pets, however, must keep much sharper watches on inside RV temps to make sure their pets remain comfortable, especially during summer and winter. It's good to have a reversible Fantastic Fan during warmer months that can draw in, and evacuate out, air as needed. It's good to have a solar panel that can handle an air conditioner for short periods of time. Please, always, keep in mind that temps rise and fall far faster in an RV of any size. And always be aware that any pet left in a camper needs to be continually checked for their level of comfort. Fortunately there are more and more electronic ways of keeping track of your pet inside your RV from a distance.
One thing that is for sure. RV's leak, even brand new ones. Make sure of your warranty if you are purchasing new and have a specialist look at your prospective rig if you are buying used. Leaks are always due to road travel and the continual wear and tear on roadworthy materials.
And, finally, there is the RV mindset. If you haven't got the right one, you will never be happy in an RV, of any kind, for any length of time. Long-time full-timers, Tony and Rhonda Paracepe, originally from New York, made a living while staying at RV resorts and campgrounds where they worked for their RV space and utilities, usually with an income too. Volunteering in state/federal forests and parks was also another way they lived economically. However, as with us all, eventually health issues pop up and RV'ing becomes inconvenient. This couple, not quite old enough to be “Baby Boomers,” recently sold their big, luxurious fifth-wheel to settle into a brand new Florida home in Ocala. Rhonda, who adored RV living, admitted that finally health became an issue. Much as they loved their huge homelike fifth-wheel, it came time to settle down. They miss RV'ing full-time, but they are also now enjoying all the comforts and fun of furnishing a new home. “The RV life was just not for us,” admitted Rhonda. Both them now retired, they look forward to the new, sedentary life.
Today's tendency toward minimizing and downsizing helps many RV'ers to 'think small.' If you can't do that, RV'ing, especially full-time RV'ing, isn't for you. One thing about full-time RV'ing, however. If you love it, you really do love it. If you don't, you'll probably never change your mind.
Dollie Gull-Goldman
A veteran multimedia journalist who, now a senior, enthusiastically continues her RV travels, and she has worked as a photographer/filmmaker for early TV news, she spent some 20-years as a newspaper writer-editor/journalist. Dollie looks forward to even more RV on-the-road adventures.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Oak Tree Village and RV Park, located in sunny Ocala, Florida, has an extensive list of excellent RV sites and affordable apartments with some quality amenities to make your living comfortable. Their community has just what you are looking for.