I have been talking for months about a huge lifestyle change Todd and I
are planning to adopt by selling all of our possessions (including our home),purchasing a Class A and traveling all over the United States. Since coming out with our future goals, we have been met with several different reactions (and
many questions!).
I decided to write a post about why we decided on this
lifestyle change and what keeps us motivated to continue to work toward our
goal.
Freedom
I would say the number one reason for this change is freedom.
We are tired of being tied down to the
house and the maintenance it requires as well as keeping jobs we don’t
necessarily enjoy to help pay for said home and upkeep. We want the freedom to do as we please, where,
when and how we please.
Simplicity
We have really been focusing on trying to simplify our life
as much as possible and a move into an RV would be the epitome of
simplicity. You cannot fit much into a 330
sq. ft. space and are forced to live with only what is truly needed. The amount of stuff that we’ve accumulated over the years has taken a toll on us
physically and mentally. Having the
realization that within a few years, we will be living in an RV has really
helped us to consume less. When I go out
shopping with my mom (she is a browser), I find items that I like and would
tend to buy. Now, I know that what we
are taking in the RV will be minimal, and there is no room (or purpose) for
such tchatzkies. We have definitely been
more mindful of our purchases to ensure that the item will fit into our lifestyle. We are looking at quality and usability over
quantity for the items we are purchasing.
Adventure
Todd and I enjoy adventure.
We like to see new places, experience new things, and what could be more
adventurous than traveling the United States and Canada. We honeymooned in Alaska back in 2007 and we
look forward to driving across Canada to stay in Alaska for a couple of months
before coming back to the contiguous US!
We have a long list of places we would like to visit, and by making this
commitment, we are hoping to witness all of these landmarks before we get too
old to truly enjoy them!
Savings
Even though I am always trying to stretch a penny, this is not the main reason we decided to live
in an RV. Moving from a 1,890 sq. ft.
home to living in a 330 sq. ft. camper will require far fewer resources and
therefore {theoretically} cost less than owning a home. I have always had a dream of living a
self-sufficient life and though this is not 100% possible in an RV (can you say
gas guzzler?), it is one step closer to being self-sufficient. We have plans on installing a 250W solar
panel on the RV and supporting local farmers with fresh {in season} produce
while on the road. The goal is to sell
our primary residence and make a “home base” for a few months every summer on
the ½ acre property we own next door. This
will allow us to grow and preserve our own vegetables and to harvest all the
fruits we have been attempting to establish since moving into the house 7 years
ago!
I am sure there will be many challenging times between now
and when we hit the road (as well as when we are on the road!) Todd and I have never spent more than a week
and a half underfoot, in tight living quarters and with two 75+ lb dogs in tow! Even though we have been met with some
doubts, we are still as excited about our adventure today as we were over six
months ago when we originally talked about the possibility of selling it all
and moving into an RV. If all else
fails, we will have a paid for home and RV and we can continue doing what we’ve
been doing.
What are your
thoughts on this adventure?
Do you think we will
actually go through with it?
Have you ever
considered living in an RV?
