It is hard to believe a year has already passed since we embarked on our “someday.” As we prepared to write this article, it brought back so many wonderful memories of the places we have lived, the adventures we have taken, and the remarkable people we have met along the way. Although, it may appear traveling full-time is all peaches and cream, a constant adventure and permanent vacation, picturesque mountain views, wild animals, and fun places to live, there are complications and challenges with this lifestyle.
How about the time we were traveling down Highway 50 outside of Strong City, Kansas with our windows open when two semis passing in the opposite direction created a vortex inside our motorhome and pushed both driver and passenger side front windows out from their seal.
Or the two times we forgot to check to make sure our cabinet doors stayed closed before extending the slides after a day of traveling…two cabinet doors repaired.
Oh, and the leaky living room A/C unit in San Antonio that left water running down our bathroom wall…and we can’t forget about the leaking toilet.
“We can all tend to get caught up in the complications of life that we create; we live life for other people. It’s a harrowing moment when you’re confronted with an end, and you have to make the choice to live your life for you.”
Elliott Knight
Our problems are no more or less than what we experienced owning a sticks/bricks home but we do have to be cognizant that our home rolls down the highway, bouncing over potholes, and things get loosened and thrown around from time to time.
Recap Of Our First Year
Fourteen States
States visited: We visited fourteen states our first year: Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
National Parks: Seven National Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes NP, Black Canyon NP, Carlsbad Caverns NP, Grand Teton NP, Yellowstone NP, and Glacier NP. Only 51 more National Parks to go!!!
Miles driven (motorhome only): 12, 344
Where Did We Stay
Private Campgrounds: 147 days
State Parks, Corps of Engineers, National Forests: 46 days
Dry-docking / Free places (Friends/Families homes, Cabelas, Bureau of Land Mgt, Sams Club, etc.): 120 days
Cruising: 40 days
Hotel stays: 12 days
“In the end, we only regret the chances we did not take.”
Anonymous
What Have We Learned
Traveling full-time has forced us to disconnect from what we knew as our normal routine. It is much more than the Instagram sunset or Mountain View. For us, it was about following a dream of getting more out of life, spending more time together as a couple, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life to not escape us.”
Unknown
Rolling down that long stretch of road in our motorhome has taught us more about ourselves than 30 years of routine. Traveling to new places with different cultures has broadened our perspective, making us aware and open to new things. It has forced us to to re-evaluate ourselves and reinvent our lives as we realize that different is not better or worse, just different.
Traveling has allowed us to try new things, whether it was swimming with the stingrays in the Grand Cayman Islands or climbing over a snow pass in Glacier National Park at 10,000 feet.
We have learned to appreciate the things we had taken for granted in our former home. Lets take the dreaded plumbing for instance. Instead of just flushing the toilet and being done with our “business”, we now carry our “business” around with us until our “business” tank is full and needs dumped. How about water? When we dry-dock somewhere, we do not have an unlimited amount of water to do dishes, shower, or laundry. Our fresh water tank only holds 100 gallons so we take “navy” showers and use paper plates/plastic cups. And let us not forget about electricity…when we are not hooked up to electrical at a campground, we rely upon batteries to provide an energy source. It is difficult explaining to your wife that she can not run her 1500w hair dryer for ten minutes because it drains the batteries.
Tracy, the expert behind OurNextRVAdventure.com, brings over 9 years of experience in travel writing and RV living. With a Master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management, she offers in-depth knowledge on RV maintenance, scenic routes, and campground recommendations. Connect with her adventures on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
