As we sit in Mesa, AZ during the coronavirus pandemic with stay at home rules a thought hit us. We’ve been full time RVers for two years now and maybe it is time to update the home page of our website from the “off we go” page to a “we’ve been there done that” page. Most importantly, we want to let you know what we have learned about our style of full time RV life.
Most importantly, each group of full time RVers needs to develop their unique style. RVing can be quite civilized with stays in commercial RV parks including pools, hot tubs, tiki bars, live music, and many programmed activities, all the way to boondocking in the western US on BLM land. Also, know your priorities. For us, we prioritize family followed by national parks and other amazing US destinations. Whatever the style, you must mostly agree.
For family, we plan to visit our kids and moms each year. With our moms in their 80’s, we will visit them twice a year. That means during the travel part of the year we will always visit Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, and West Virginia. All other travel is worked around these stops. The other thing we learned is we like longer stops better than more stops. Better to stay a month in one national park than visit four national parks for a week each. This gives Jane a chance to recharge between physical activities and also time to work on cross stitching and quilting.
We also would like to make sure any folks who want to try this lifestyle understand how small a really large camper is. Make sure you and your significant other(s) can live together, all of the time, in a tiny home. If not, this life is not for you. Our camper is 41 feet long and 8 1/2 feet wide. It is a REALLY BIG ONE. However, not a lot larger than a motel room. The slide outs add a little, but not very much. Being together, really together, almost all of the time needs to be a good thing or at least OK. BTW – Jane and I are fine being together all of the time in a really small place.
What can you gain? Quality time together in some of the most amazing places in the United States. We get to explore national parks and monuments with little to no time pressure. It is amazing to wake up every day in places that others consider their two week vacation each year. We get to be in those places 52 weeks a year and choose the times best for us to visit these amazing places.
So, what will we do going forward? You will find us in Valle Del Oro, a 55+ RV Park in Mesa Arizona from October through end of March each year. Otherwise, we will be visiting our kids, grandkids, moms, friends and moving forward with our goals to do something fun in each state and each national park. If anybody who reads this has any questions please reach out to us and we will be happy to answer them.