Badlands National Park at Sunset (South Dakota) Kim Brundage Photography

On November 3, 2020, on Presidential Election Day, we left most of what we knew to live the RV Life full-time.

We sold close to everything (including our house) and “burned the boat” to live a completely different life than we’d been living. In hindsight, we wish we had rented our house because the home values and the interest rates have increased substantially. On the other hand, we have a tiny home on wheels, and we can move it wherever we decide to roam.

We had two RVs before we ventured out into full-time RV Life, so we knew a little about what we were getting into. Truth be told, we definitely got caught up in the romanticism of the RV Life: the freedom and the ability to see the diverse beauty of our country. While we didn’t know a lot, we just decided to take a leap of faith and jump, believing the net would appear.

As with most things, a big change is usually harder than you think it will be, and our journey has been no exception. It’s also been more glorious than we could have ever imagined.

It was all about the Bison in Custer State Park , South Dakota - if you want to read more, check out my blog on the Bison Rut

Here are just a few of our takeaways from the last three exciting years…

Pro of the RV Life

#1 Exploring and unique experiences

We’ve had the opportunity to take advantage of being in the right location at the right time.

We’ve had the privilege of experiencing not only beautiful landmarks and National and State Parks but also cool events like the Barrett Jackson Auction in Phoenix, the Arabian Horse Show, The Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park, The International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM, The Elk Rut in Rocky Mountain National Park, Dry Tortuga’s off of Key West, Cool farmer’s markets, and countless used book stores.

We picked the Mickelson Trail and Mountain Biked a lot inside Custer State Park. We explored, got lost and kept uncovering gems.

#2 Our marriage is stronger than ever 😍😍😍

We say it all the time. You have to REALLY like each other to live in the close proximity of 300 square feet. We love being together and having shared experiences. One of our favorite activities is mountain or road biking. We purchased electric bikes so we could explore more of the landscape and we’ve had many epic rides.

Kim Brundage Photography

#3 Chasing 70 (degrees)

Generally, we’re experiencing the best weather in whatever location we happen to be living in. We always wonder if we could live “here,” but we also know we’re experiencing the best of the weather at the right time of the year (without frigid, snowy winters or 115-degree summers).

The wildflowers, mushrooms, rose quartz and the French Creek were always a welcome respite. We even picked some sage and burned it in the evenings.

Bonus: Simple Living

Living in an RV full-time requires you to be mindful of what you own and what you bring with you. This can be a great way to simplify your life and embrace a minimalist lifestyle. You learn to prioritize what you need and what you don't, and you have to learn to live with less. This can be a liberating experience and can help you focus on what truly matters in life.

A friend gave a bouquet of flowers from her garden which I had to photograph. We enjoyed the Supermoon and our next day neighbor, Freda is from Richmond, VA also.

Cons of RV Life

It is way more expensive than we thought it would be

While we eliminated a lot of expenses like state income tax (our domicile is in Florida), real estate taxes, personal property tax, annual vehicle inspection, and HOA fees, there is the reality of living in a tiny home on wheels.

Not only does the RV trailer depreciate, but it breaks frequently. This happens because as a general rule, RVs are cheaply made, and then you drive down any bumpy highway - it’s going through a 7.0 Earthquake. Fortunately, Jeff is not only handy; he went to RV Tech school to learn to fix and inspect RVs.

It’s also expensive to travel. We use diesel fuel, and while towing we get around 9 miles to the gallon. We counteract that by selecting one landing place in the summer and one in the winter and staying there for at least five months. We’ve also found that we prefer that because we get to know the area better. Plus, it gives stability to a nomadic lifestyle.

Picking Wild Raspberries was so fun to pick and eat. I’ll never forget going after a warm summer afternoon to the Legend Lake Lodge and getting some soft serve ice cream to go with it. Luckily, there were no bears around to compete with the raspberry picking.

This RV Life is designed for retired folks…

…and we’re not retired

Workamping opportunities, travel schedules, and the fact that we both still have to work have been more challenging than we expected. I had one client ask what it’s like to be on vacation all the time, and I just about laughed out loud. We are definitely NOT on a perpetual vacation!

We are lucky to be in locations where people vacation.

We Always have to find a location.

It’s fun to be able to go to new locations, and it’s a lot of work to research those locations. We look at reviews to make sure we have things like good cell signals and internet (since we both need that for work), and accommodations that meet our needs (does it have laundry machines?).

We usually plan about six months in advance because campgrounds book up, especially in sought-after locations. Sometimes, we make those plans, and then our needs will change, and we’ll have to start over with new plans. It’s never boring but can be a bit stressful.

Yup! We love biking. We bought electric road and mountain bikes because the whole point of this lifestyle is to see and experience new terrain.

Conclusion

Living in an RV full-time can be a life-changing experience, and it's not for everyone. It's important to consider both the pros and cons of RV life before making the decision to pursue this lifestyle. If you are someone who values adventure, flexibility, and minimalism, RV living may be a great fit for you.

However, if you are uncomfortable with the challenges of limited space, maintenance and repair costs, and travel planning, you may want to consider other living options.

Ultimately, the decision to live in an RV full-time is personal, and it's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before committing.

The Annual Balloon Fiesta is quite the experience in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kim Brundage Photography

PS: It is the only lifestyle where you can live for free (electric, water, sewer, land) if you workcamp. I’ll do a blog on workamping soon.

Our 3-year anniversary of living the RV Life Full-Time