The first question Vanessa and I are asked when we tell people about our full-time RV adventure is "why?" A lot of our friends and family are curious as to what lead us to such a drastic decision. Why did we pare down and give away the majority of our belongings? Why did we decide to live in such a small space when we had a beautiful bungalow by the beach? Why quit our jobs and lose the stability of a full-time income? So we decided to write a quick word or two -- from each of us-- in regards to why we made this decision in hopes that friends and family will understand a bit better, and welcomed strangers will find some inspiration to pursue their own to happiness. Marisa I've been working full time since I was about 16. All throughout college and graduate school I had a full time job because I did things a bit backwards in life -- rent, utilities, moving out on my own all at the age of 19. I've been going nonstop for a while. Having a full-time job has been necessary to paying my way in this life. But there have always been disadvantages. For example, having to work Christmas Eve, as well as the day after Christmas, allowed zero time for family. I would spend all day in an office, at a desk, eyes on a computer, with only 30 minutes for lunch. I would have to sit in 12+ hours of traffic each week, on top of already working 45 hours per week. By the time I got home, I was irritable, exhausted, and only had about an hour or two with Vanessa to eat, clean up, and relax before starting it all over again. I was not happy. I came to the conclusion that without so much "stuff" to pay for, I wouldn't need to be working so hard. I wouldn't need to be away from Vanessa or away from my pup Penny. I would actually have time to do things that made me happy. I've never been one to understand why we all work so hard for a dream that doesn't fulfill us or make us happy, or why Americans spend the majority of their lives at jobs they hate. My mom and dad are both extremely hard-working individuals and always have been. My dad came over on a raft from Cuba and became very successful on his own. My mother owns a pet magazine called Suncoast Pet, that she runs primarily by herself. Working hard is in my DNA. But I want to work hard at something I love. I want to work hard at making memories, and exploring the country, and meeting new people. It doesn't matter to me if my hard work doesn't translate into dollars and cents. Sure, there are bills I need to pay through freelance writing, but I'm not looking to make more money than I need to buy more stuff that we just end up throwing away in a few years. Full-time RV living means all of my things fit in my home that can come with me wherever I go. I don't have a house full of "stuff". I don't have a tremendous amount of bills or debt. But most importantly, I get to travel the country with my girlfriend -- and my best friend. I'm not passing judgment on those who enjoy or take part in more conventional living. I did it for the last 30 years of my life, and there was always something missing. Always a sense of exploration that wasn't being fulfilled. That's why I decided to embark on this adventure.
Stayed tuned for the next blog: Why I Decided on Full-Time RV Living: Vanessa
8 Comments
Hattie
8/30/2015 05:08:39
Great post! I’ve always wanted to throw caution to the wind and just go. Enjoy the journey! :)
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Sam
8/30/2015 05:08:54
I found your site through Instagram and wanted to wish you both the best of luck on this journey. There are so many wonderful things ahead for you both. Good luck and God Bless!
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Rachael
8/30/2015 05:09:30
YAY!!!!!! You two are awesome.
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Colin
8/30/2015 05:10:24
Very nice post! I can certainly relate with the need to get out of the everyday rat race we all partake in. Very well said. Good luck on your journey!
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Nannie Z.
8/30/2015 05:11:03
Following you guys on Instagram and LOVE the pics! Looking forward to following your travels!
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Julius Dennings
8/30/2015 05:11:44
Excellent post! I agree with everything you’re doing. We need to have more experiences rather than things in order to have a more fruitful life. Looking forward to reading about the rest of your travels. Cheers! -J
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David KNAPIK
11/5/2016 14:16:28
Saw you both on the show Big Time RV and thought those are two cool people I have to look them up and checkout some of their adventures! Me and my girlfriend travel as much as possible and have been toying with the idea to sell it all and enjoy the USA. My plan is to bring as many of the toys (Road and Mountain Bikes, motorcycles, snowboards and surfboards) and when we're not hiking pull them out to add to the adventure. We just got back from a great trip which included Zion, Lake Powell and Monument Valley. The Slot Canyons of Page and Goosenecks State Park were a few of the highlights!
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teddy
2/16/2017 21:51:55
We have been traveling for 14 months in our Class A RV and are working full-time while on the road. We built a full custom office in the rear of our RV. It cost a few thousand dollars but has been worth every penny. I have a computer with four monitors, a UPS and printer. It is an awesome setup. I also have a Herman Miller Aeron chair. Everything is bolted down so nothing moves when we are traveling. It has been quite the adventure, tons of fun but it sure is a steep learning curve. Our RV is currently for sale but you can see pictures of our custom setup. Click this link and look at the second picture to see our setup - https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2002-Fleetwood-SOUTHWIND+36T-120976675
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