RV Living in a Nutshell: What You Should Know

Are you thinking of living in an RV?

12:31 07 October 2020

Maybe you have been enjoying camping trips in an RV for a long time and now the freedom of full-time RV living is looking more and more attractive. If so, there are a few basic things you should know before making the big lifestyle change from a standard house to living full time in your RV. RV living is not for everyone, and whilst many people consider moving into their RV as one of the greatest decisions they have ever made, others have come to regret it. Making the wrong decision can be a costly mistake, so it is really important to weigh up all the factors. No matter how experienced you are with RV vacations, living full time in your RV is a very different thing altogether. 

 

In order to give you all of the information that you need, this handy guide will give you the best tips regarding life on the road; from all the things you will need to buy to make your life more comfortable, to the challenges which you may face. Read on to make your transition to a mobile lifestyle smooth and stress-free. 

 

The Extra Freedom Can Be Liberating or Draining

 

Most people who are looking to move full time into their RV are attracted to the unlimited freedom which it will provide. The experts at The Wandering RV explain that being able to go to sleep and wake up in a new place every day is a dream for all the travel junkies out there and it really can be a liberating experience. Not having a “home base” is perfect for people with few ties to one place and enables you to see more of the world. If you live in a big country like the US or you are a European citizen who has freedom of movement and living across the continent, RV living is the perfect way to travel and visit new places.

 

Wanderlust can have its drawbacks, however, and some people who thought it would be the ideal lifestyle find that the constant moving can be physically and emotionally draining. Whilst an RV can provide you with all of the home comforts of a traditional house, you can experience a sense of displacement without the familiarity of your hometown and all the people you know there. Life on the road is an incredible adventure, but all good adventures take a lot of energy.

 

You Will Need to Consider Your Job

 

If you are retired or don’t need to work, then RV living is the perfect way to spend your years experiencing new places, sights, and sounds. If you are still working, however, you will need to consider what you are going to do for money. These days, there are many people who are working remotely, and if your job enables you to work from wherever then the only consideration is having the tools to do so. Many remote jobs require reliable WiFi, so make sure that you buy an RV with its own router or plan your locations so that there is a coffee shop or internet cafe which you can use.

 

Minimalist Living Can Declutter Your Life

 

Before choosing to live in an RV, you will need to make important choices regarding your personal belongings. In contrast to a traditional home, the RV lifestyle means that you will need to live a much simpler life with less stuff. Minimalism has experienced an enormous upsurge in popularity in recent years with more and more people rejecting the ideals of consumerism. From furniture to artwork, you will need to decide on what to keep, what to donate, and what to get rid of altogether. 

 

For many people, minimalist living is incredibly rewarding and liberating, but for others, it can become very burdensome. Modern RVs have incredible appliances and technological capabilities, so you can still have your TV, air-con, oven, and anything else that you need, but the reality is, with significantly less storage than in a house, you will need to downsize your closet, and make tough decisions about all your other things.

 

Try Part-Time RV Living First

 

If you are considering starting a new life in your RV but aren’t sure whether it is definitely for you, try part-time RV living first. Whilst the idea of an RV lifestyle may sound like a dream, the unfortunate reality is that it’s just not right for everybody. There are many downsides and difficulties that people only discover after they have moved full time into their RV. As seen above, the freedom and opportunities which RV living can provide are offset by certain disadvantages that need to be weighed up when making the decision to live that way full time. 

 

Thankfully, living in an RV is not a commitment you need to take on full time right away. Generally, many RV owners try out their rigs for a few weeks first whilst still living in their regular homes. With this living arrangement, you can have a less expensive and less stressful trial run before deciding to commit fully to an RV life. The more time you spend living in an RV, the more understanding and experience you will gain to figure out if it is the life for you. Alternatively, consider renting out your house for three to six months, and give RV living a shot. If you decide that you love it, then you can sell your house and possessions and commit full time. If you realize after that time that it isn’t for you, your house will still be waiting for you.

 

The transition into full-time RV living and the work involved in planning your new life might seem intense and overwhelming at times, but in the end, all the hard work will be worth it when you are on the road. RV living is the perfect way to enjoy the extra freedom of travel whilst still having all the comforts of home. Even though not everybody will find the RV lifestyle compelling, if you can find the perfect balance between all the advantages and drawbacks, it is an incredible way to live your life.