Why I Decided on Full-Time RV Living: Marisa

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