6 Months 6 Take-Aways

What Have We Learned…So Far

#livewithless

You don’t need as much as you thought you would. It’s easier than you think.

              We may not travel as small as some out there. Our home is a 38 foot travel trailer pulled with our truck. There is a lot of places to store stuff and things. And let me tell you, when we pulled out of our driveway about six months ago, every nook and cranny was filled! We took advantage of all the storage space….drawers, cabinets, the pass through, under-bed storage, under-sofa storage…even under-dining-chair-seat storage. Not to mention, the entire bed of the truck was full with bike racks and storage bins on top.

              But we needed all this stuff. Right? It all had a purpose. Didn’t it?

              Not really. See we sold our house and decided to live fulltime on the road. It was not easy to decide what to keep, what to sell, what to donate. It was also next to impossible to actually know what we would need and what would work for us and our lifestyle on the road. We quickly discovered that we could research something to the ends of the internet, but until we were out there, nothing beat experience.

              If I could go back, I would have started off with way less and buy what we needed as we needed it. There are simple things like our dish drying rack and garbage can that we have replaced b/c what we THOUGHT would work for us in the beginning didn’t. We wouldn’t have brought any glass or breakable cups or dishes. It is just more trouble for us than they are worth protecting them from breaking.

              The biggest change? We would have bought a much smaller set up. We don’t need this much space. We like being outside. So, we have stuff to make our outside area very livable and fun to hang out in. There are so many empty cabinets and drawers now that we have gotten rid of so much unneeded items.

             The bottom line is, you can live smaller than you ever imagined. This lifestyle really lends itself to that. You would be amazed at how much you don’t want for stuff once you get out there.

#pickyourbattles

Even the best relationships can get tested…or a little testy at times! So, when I step outside in the morning, I feel like I am truly stepping into the world. We could be on a beach, in the mountains, overlooking rolling hills….either way, I feel like the land is truly part of my home. When I step inside, Mike and I share a small space…even smaller if it is a driving day.Your partner’s wants and needs when it comes to a living space are highly concentrated. Talk to each other, make compromises, find what works for you. I’ll give you an example –

              I don’t listen to music when I drive. I never have. The time I spend on the road I use to relax, decompress, and think. Music distracts me from that. For others, it does not. Mike listens to music all the time. Now, I am not opposed to music while driving, but as I write this post, we have logged roughly 23,000 miles. You hear A LOT of the same songs over and over and over and over. We have now found something we both can enjoy on the road for long periods of time – podcasts. This is what works for us!

Communication is key! Find a way to talk to each other openly and honestly so that your tiny living lifestyle is the relaxing and enjoyable experience you want it to be….not an exercise in breathing down one another’s throats. ????

#relax

Give yourself permission to relax. You don’t have to be on a traditional schedule if you don’t want to. You made a lifestyle change for a reason – a big one. Decide what aspects of your previous lifestyle is important and vital to your personal wellbeing. Keep those. For everything else, be flexible.

It was hard for us to just slow down. We were very used to a structured schedule. You make your life how you want it. If you prefer to do your work late into the evening like I do, you can have that luxury. You may like sitting at a coffee shop or on the beach. Go do it.

Also, give yourself permission to just hang out and enjoy a place for a while. You don’t have to rush through activities anymore because you have limited days away from the office. If you think you need another week to enjoy a national park or a cozy spot you found – take it. Likewise, if you feel like you have seen all there is to see, hitch up and go!!!

#vacationvibes

Even though you need to take the time to enjoy your surroundings, you are not on vacation. Money will go quickly if you act as so. It may be a learning curve, but you must learn how to LIVE the nomadic lifestyle in a way that is not frivolous.

              We had to change our mindset so we were eating in more than eating out. Entertainment opportunities are found around every corner that are free or close to it. We reminded ourselves everyday that we did not eat out every night when we lived in a brick and mortar home, nor did we go out every day to “do stuff”.

              In the beginning, we had great intentions of cooking or preparing most of our meals at the campsite. We quickly realized there was a learning curve when it came to cooking small, buying smaller quantities, new appliances….and just the overall learning what worked for us in this environment. We found ourselves eating out a lot, going out for cocktails, eating on the road on driving days, and buying lots and lots of coffee.

              What worked for us? Getting back in the habit we had back home of meal planning and meal prepping. If we had our meals planned out for several days in advance, it was easier (and more cost effective) to shop. We also tailor a lot of our meals around the same things each week, so we maximize the use of a small refrigerator. For example, I made Cuban Pulled Pork on a Sunday. We made several meals using the meat in multiple ways – pork with sides, enchiladas, taco night, nacho night, and over a baked potato.

When it comes to cocktails – we love cocktails and cocktail bars. We seek them out everywhere we go. The one thing we have changed over the last few months is not paying for simple things we can make at home.

On our way to a new place, and upon our arrival, we make a list of the things we want to do. This way we can prioritize our activities and we don’t forget important dates and times. There are also free activities we list here like, take a bike ride or hike. Don’t forget to list these so you know you have your days filled with things that cost very little to nothing.

#campingstyle

              What is your camping style?

You will learn this as you spend more time out there. Find places that fit your style and it will make for a happier you. Do you prefer the remote BLM land or the more social experience of an RV resort? Does boondocking tickle your fancy, or do you require full hookups, cable outlets, WIFI signal, and strong cell service? Do you prefer to pull into your perfectly level cement pad site unhitch and go? Or, do you relish the challenge of backing in at an angle onto a gravel site that cannot by ANY means be described as level?

You made the decision to get out there more to enjoy it. So, do you best to find the places that will allow you to do so. With that said, you must be flexible. We have learned that there are vast differences in expectations depending on location and time of year. EXPECT to find full parks and wait lists at the most desired parks in the winter in Florida and Arizona. EXPECT the same anywhere during festivals or anywhere within close proximity to a Disney Park. EXPECT full parks on the northern Atlantic coast in the summer. The beautiful state beaches in Florida and California?….yeah, EXPECT them to be booked out for eternity. They are gorgeous and worth the wait! These are just to name a few.

However, don’t forget to explore outside of your comfort zone, you never know what you may like if you just try it.

#sharingiscaring

Google is great, but the traveling community is your friend. Look for reviews of parks, products, restaurants, tips and tricks, etc. from fellow travelers. There is a sea of information out there and it has been so helpful to both Mike and I. I cannot tell you how many times we have solved simple problems by searching forums or watching YouTube videos. They are put out there by people that truly want to help others in the same situation.

As much as we love to watch and read about all of the wild and crazy things people are doing, the most helpful resource as new travelers when we come across a problem or question, has been other travelers. So, I want to tell everyone – “SHARING IS CARING!”

Share the good, the bad, and the ugly. We will be doing so. Also, there is a lack of real reviews of parks online. There are many types of travelers out there….not every park is for everyone. However, there is a void in real reviews. We stayed at this park one park in California that was great for train enthusiasts because there was a track that ran right through the front of the park. A train approximately every hour including overnight. I think I found one review online that mentioned this. Let’s help each other out. ????

Two heads are better than one….so thousands of people combined with all of their experience is the best resource you can have.

For any travelers out there….no matter your experience, what have you learned?