Take it from two couples that made the dream a reality.
Karen and Paul Soares once earned a combined income of
$300,000,
which they needed to
maintain two homes and several vehicles. Now the couple travels the country,
earning wages as musicians and living full-time in a 37-foot 2000 Winnebago.
Their address when we spoke to them: Parked next to a
blueberry farm somewhere in western Oregon.
If that lifestyle sounds idyllic, don’t quit your job and
start shopping for a recreational vehicle (RV) just yet. First, you’ll need to
examine your feelings about cramped quarters, other people’s judgments, and
watching nearly every possession you own disappear in the rear-view
mirror.
A simpler life
Around 10 million U.S. households own an RV, with a majority
of these spending on average three to four weeks traveling, according to
the RV Industry
Association (RVIA).
However, an estimated 500,000 to one million people choose
to live in their RVs full-time, says Kevin Broom, director of media relations
at the RVIA.
Karen and Paul’s idea to live full-time in a RV sprang from
an epiphany that Karen had after she turned 50. Karen and Paul both earned
six-figure incomes in the IT field, but saw each other only on the weekends due
to Karen’s work schedule.
“I realized I spent most of my time looking at the life
behind me instead of what was in front,” says Karen. “I was always working and
exhausted from having to maintain all our stuff. One day I just said, ‘This
isn’t how I want to go out.’”
“I was always working and exhausted from having to maintain
all our stuff. One day I just said, ‘This isn’t how I want to go out.’” Karen
Soares
On weekends, the Soares set up guitars on a stretch of beach
near their home in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where they performed before an audience
of sunbathers and seagulls. Both longed to quit their jobs and earn a living
playing music. But how would they afford to live? Eventually, they figured it
out.
In 2016, after three years of downsizing, Paul and Karen
quit their jobs, sold both houses and bought a Winnebago from a friend. They
would earn a living playing music at wineries, distilleries and special events
as they traveled.
But first, the couple lived in a long-term RV park for a
year to get a feel for full-time RV life. Then they rolled off to a simpler
life.
“Once we downsized, we no longer needed high salaries to
support ourselves,” says Karen. “We found more value in being able to spend
time together writing, composing and performing music.”
“A huge weight came off”
Bruce and Pam Westra, both in their sixties, sold their
chiropractic and wellness practice and 5,000-square-foot home in Spring Lake,
Michigan, in 2008, bought a 34-foot 2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral, and set off
to live full-time in the RV while exploring the United States.
“Once we got rid of it all, a huge weight came off,” says
Pam. That fall, the couple headed toward Florida and warmer weather. The
Westras traveled for seven years, eventually setting the parking brake in
Portland, Oregon, where they founded the Tiny Digs Hotel, a themed tiny house
hotel.
“We were living in a tiny space (around 300 square feet), so
it wasn’t a big leap to imagine living in a tiny house,” says Bruce. Pam and
Bruce still live in the RV they bought new in 2008, renting a spot in a
long-term RV park.
“We have no time to devote to a sticks-and-bricks home while
we build this business nor the desire to take care of anything bigger than our
RV,” says Pam.
Full-time RV living: Is It for You?
Thinking about hitting the road in an RV full-time? Here are
some tips from those who’ve cruised the road less traveled.
1. You need to like your travel partner. A lot
Living together in a 300-square-foot home 24/7 isn’t for
everyone. “Living in close quarters tests our relationship on a regular basis,”
says Karen. “You have to have a friendship and be compatible.”
2. No storage space means few possessions
RVs don’t have walk-in closets, a basement or an attic.
“When you’re on the road, your stuff isn’t the main thing,” says Bruce. “It’s
the experience of the travel, the people you meet and the things you see.”
3. RV travel requires planning
You’ll need to make campground reservations well in advance,
schedule RV maintenance and make sure you have enough supplies. “Everything is
self-contained in an RV,” says Paul. “It’s like taking a ship out to sea.”
4. Resources are limited
There is only so much water for the toilet, and electrical
usage may require negotiation. “A lot of times, the only power available is 30
or 50 amps, so we may not be able to turn on the hair dryer and the coffee pot
at the same time,” says Paul.
5. Park your curiosity in an online RV community
Before you make the decision to RV full-time, visit
online RV websites, forums and Facebook groups to learn
all about full-time RV life and how to shop for an RV.
6. RV maintenance is costly
Annual maintenance on an RV can run around $2,000 annually.
Spring and fall require a sealant inspection for moisture leaks, and other costs
could include brakes and bearings or repairs.
7. Bring along another vehicle
Running errands in a mammoth RV is no fun. The Westras and
the Soares each pull motorcycles behind their RVs to ride when the RV is
parked. Many people tow a compact car to drive into town.
8. Make sure your insurance permits living full-time in an
RV
Many auto insurance policies won’t cover accidents if you
are living in your RV full-time, says Chuck Woodbury, editor at RV travel, an
RV news and information website. “People should have a dedicated RV insurance
policy and ask their insurance agent if the policy covers them if they live in
the RV full-time,” says Woodbury.
Patience Pays Off
Selling your home and living in a RV full-time shouldn’t be
an impulsive decision. Besides, it takes a while to get rid of a lifetime of
possessions. Still, if you love camping, traveling and living in tight spaces,
the full-time RV life has its benefits.
“The best thing is getting rid of all that stress and
feeling like I have meaning in my life,” says Karen. “I am a totally different
person now. My body is healthier, and I just feel so much better.”
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