One year RV-versary

One year ago we said goodbye to our dear friends and pulled away from the comfortable, amazing life we had in Southern California for the unknown of the road. 

This is a bit unreal to me. Both that it’s already been a year. And also that we are actually doing this full-time RV thing. It was never on my radar, never one of those dreams I had to sell everything and travel full-time. But when God calls you to something, you do it. And his blessings are always waiting in it.

In many ways, this experience has gone so fast. I feel like we are still just starting, still getting used to this life. There is much out there yet to be seen, so many experiences yet to have. 

But in other ways, it feels so natural now, this nomadic life we live. 

This little RV-versary brings much reflection. One year has brought a lot. 

One year of flexibility. Changing plans when opportunities arise or when campgrounds are full. Learning how to deal with RV emergencies like leaking pipes and slide outs that won’t close. Figuring out how to get PSAT’s scheduled for my sophomore when we are in the remote mountains of North Carolina. Where to find a doctor and a dentist and the closest place to get stitches. 

One year of being full time Walmart shoppers. (Never thought I’d be claiming this in my life.) But guess what? Walmart literally has everything in one stop. Groceries, fishing gear, bug spray… And most conveniently, RV toilet paper. Walmart is cheap and is also ev.er.y.where. It’s like the Starbucks for full-timers. One on every corner. And, you can park your home in the parking lot and stay the night. (Although, admittedly, this is not my first choice.)

One year of learning to release anxiety on travel days and not obsess over whether or not we’ll get a flat. Or meet a low clearance bridge with no turn around. Or get stuck in too tight of a turn or sideswipe someone or something on those super narrow roads. Or get cut off by a careless driver and be unable to stop in time. The stress scenarios are endless. Every travel day is a great day to put Philippians 4 into practice. And believe me, I’ve done a lot of praying and petitioning with thanksgiving. And guess what? The result is true. There is a peace of God which has powerfully guarded my heart and mind.

One year of answering, “How far to the next campground? Will it have wifi? Are there full hook-ups? Where is the closest Walmart? Will we be by a lake so I can fish?” And of course, “How far away is this supposedly amazing drive you are dragging us on?”

One year without a dishwasher. Or an espresso machine. One year of tiny cramped living and sharing one bathroom. 

One year of watching my kids flourish. Watching their confidence grow. Seeing how they step up when the unpredictable happens and rise to the occasion when things don’t go as planned. One year of forcing ourselves to do new things that stretch us out of our comfort zone.

One year of new places and new friends and making cherished memories.

One year of driving the biggest truck on the planet and learning to park it in tiny places. (Except not in big cities. Parallel parking is still Anthony’s job. Also Anthony’s job: driving the trailer. Some of my comfort zones are fortified with brick walls.)

One year of refereeing fights in tiny spaces. Yes, refereeing is nothing new. But the boxing ring has shrunk drastically which means there are more people in the cross fire, more cheap shots, more impatience and no escaping.

One year of campfire nights and more frequent family walks. More intentional conversations. More game nights. Yes, these kids are stuck with us and sometimes have no other choice. But I think they might tell you they have actually enjoyed these times. Times that would have been less likely to happen if we were back at home, living life pulled in so many different directions. 

One year of some unreal experiences. Imagining how the Ingalls lived when we camped on their homestead, holding alligators in the Everglades, watching a space shuttle launch over the Atlantic Ocean, hiking river gorges, exploring massive underground caves, fishing in the Great Lakes…

One year of seeing our great country. So much rich history, so much breathtaking scenery. Living this way means not just visiting a place, but experiencing it more deeply. Meeting the people who live here, doing life in a new area for a short season. And truly, this country is full of pretty amazing people.

One year of growing closer. This isn’t always pretty. In fact, it sometimes gets really, really ugly. We brought along plenty of our own sin when we moved in to the trailer. But mixed in there is a lot of beauty. I have the gift of watching my kids playing together (yes, teenagers still play on occasion, especially when there is no wifi) and I know they are forging deep friendships with their siblings, shaping memories that will last a lifetime.

When we talk about the last year, we all agree it feels like it went pretty fast. But when we think back to life in California, it seems so long ago. Because more than the scenery has changed. Full-time RVing has been a reset button. Shredding some things that have burrowed their way into our lives without us fully realizing it. Routines and tendencies that don’t bring out the best in us. Living in ways that weren’t keeping our eyes on eternity.

The last several years and difficult seasons have taught me the value of welcoming any opportunity that helps me keep my eyes more focused on eternity. So the hard and the sacrifices that come with RV living are far outweighed by this chance to live intentionally and live with purpose. 

So we look forward to year 2 of full-timing. And hopefully even longer. We are embracing this opportunity, embracing the now. And we know that when God is guiding us, the experience will always be worth it.