It’s quite a milestone for us, six months of full-time RVing.
Kind of hard to believe.
Both that it’s already been 6 months. And also that I’m actually full-time RVing.
Some people transition slowly to this life. They have a trailer of some sort already or maybe they buy one, see how it works for their family to live in. Take some time to travel in it and work out the kinks.
Not us. We’ve never owned a trailer or RV of any kind. And the first time we ever slept in our 5th wheel was after we had pulled away from life as we knew it and hit the road. A few hours later, we limped in to a not-so-nice campground with a flat tire and thoughts of “Um, what the heck were we thinking?”
We have sure learned a lot in these past 6 months.
Sometimes the hard way. (Like, the really hard way)
And sometimes because we have fewer distractions. And because of that we welcome quieter moments that bring time to process.
Here’s some of our wisdom gleaned over the last 6 months:
- You can tell a lot about a person’s marriage by what goes on when backing into a campsite. And that makes me be aware to be kind when I’m stressed. And gracious when I observe the stress of others.
- There are some things I really hate. Like spending time researching destinations. Figuring out campgrounds and day trips and the best sight seeing options. The tediousness of trip planning makes me want to chuck my laptop out the window. But just because something isn’t enjoyable doesn’t mean it’s not important and valuable. And discipline through annoying things develops character. (I tell my kids this all the time. Apparently it applies to me too.)
- Meal planning isn’t any more exciting on the road than it is at home. I still have the same struggles. Plus finding and navigating new grocery stores. And it doesn’t matter if our tiny pantry is full, the kids will still say we have absolutely nothing to eat if we are out of mac and cheese or bagels. Basically, real life comes along when you head out on adventures. There is still work to do. Always.
- We’ve mostly figured out how to live in a small space. And sure, sometimes I wish we had more room, especially on rainy days or cold evenings when we feel a bit trapped. But usually, the outdoors is an extension of our home and eating at a picnic table or sitting around a fire brings a special sort of closeness.
- Stretching yourself brings flexibility. And stretching can be painful. Full-time RVing can be very unpredictable. Sometimes it rains unexpectedly or the newest campground isn’t quite what we hoped for. Destinations are closed, the wifi won’t work and the trailer needs to get fixed and who knows how long it will take? New experiences bring much that is unknown and unexpected. But these are the things that bring great growth.
- Siblings are the best friends that you’ll ever have in this life. (Ok, I’m lying. We haven’t learned that yet. But any day now, the fighting should subside and this truth will stick. I have faith.)
- We miss very little of the things we left behind. We need way less stuff that we ever thought. Truly. I often think, wait, what filled our house and closets and garage? Clothes we never wore, games we never played, dishes we rarely used. So. much. stuff. And our life is richer without it.
- Seize the day. Time at each spot is short. We only have so many days to make sure we hike that national park or have an outdoor campfire by the lake. And as I write this my kids are swimming in the campground pool. The first pool that has been open in a very long time thanks to Covid. And I’m in a sweatshirt, under a blanket. It’s cold. But tomorrow we move to a new spot without a pool so today is the day to swim. And really, there is a parallel to life here. Everything in this world is temporary. Be intentional. Be purposeful. Be bold. Delight in the moments.
- Document experiences. I really wish I blogged more often. I have every intention to. But life happens. And I can either spend time writing about the memories we are making. Or I can make more memories. Maybe some day I’ll catch up on documenting our experiences. Or maybe I won’t. But in the meantime, I make a short journal entry of every day’s experiences and I try to post on Instagram to keep my people in the loop.
- Don’t miss the gifts God gives in the people he has filled your life with. We greatly miss our friends and family. We’ve met some wonderful new friends on the road. People who brighten a day here and there and others who will stay in our lives forever. But there is no substitute for those people who have lived life with us. Who have cried with us, laughed with us, and trudged through the mundane with us. Who have watched our children grow up and held us up when we buried one. Dear ones who have navigated the depths of grief with us. Don’t take the people in your life for granted. No one is perfect. But there is something to be said for the people who have been there. Who know your favorite meals, the movies you love, that you prefer rainy days over sunny ones and who know without a word the days you are fighting back tears because missing your little boy never gets easier.
In many ways, looking back to that day we pulled away from our curb in California feels like a lifetime ago. And in other ways, six months has flown by. It’s been rich. It’s been hard. It’s been beautiful. But it’s just the beginning. And we know God still has great things in store for us.
