Two Months of RV Life.
I had some serious catching up to do on this blog. If you want to watch my journey, please subscribe and follow along on YouTube > https://www.youtube.com/c/AYJAdventures
Thursday marks 2 months (60 days) of living in an RV. It does not feel like it. Since leaving Los Angeles, I have traveled through 9 states and more than 2300 miles. I have checked off one MAJOR photographic bucket list and am in the process of developing the next Route 66 trip.
There are a few things I needed to take care of while I am home for the Holidays, not only register the RV and get a new license. I also need to determine what I spent during my 2 1/2 week drive along Route 66 and yes, I’ve saved every receipt because I want to see where I spent my money and how I need to change things up. They are all sitting in a bag…screaming for my attention. I do know I need to budget better, find more free campsites or those that are under $15 a night. RVing is not cheap, while it is cheaper than living in LA, costs can quickly pile up.
While I am here, I am getting some modifications completed, repairs taken care of, and also working. I am excited to get back on the road, and now my RV, my home is really becoming my home. My brother and I have made a massive modification to the interior and I will be posting a few videos on YouTube regarding the renovation and changes we made.
The dogs have adjusted and Sawyer has found a new BFF in my mom. Cali has found a friend in the most unlikely source, my dad; we never had a cat growing up, although I wanted one. My dad grew up on a farm so cats were outside, mousers and not pets. Charlie, he is my shadow, where I go, he goes. He however has found a cat in the neighborhood that he obsesses over.
I’ve also met with a few friends I haven’t seen in a long time, colored my hair, and edited a few videos for Youtube, worked on hundreds of photos, which I still need to upload to my gallery. Installed a new computer for my dad, taught him how to use the new platform (pc to mac), spent time with my family and attended a football game to watch my oldest nephew perform in the #purplearmy.
I’ve been away for 15 years, visited yes, but now, I’m back for a bit and can help my folks where they need it or want it.
What do I do with my “free time”?
I have found that my time, “free time”, doesn’t really exist. I’m up by 7 or 8, have coffee, make breakfast, work 4-5 hours and then I begin working on my projects. A few nights I cook dinner for my parents and then I get roughly 2 hours at night when my mom and I chill and watch a show (British Baking Show) or a movie. I’m then usually up late (1-2 am), working on photos, writing, watching YT videos to learn, or editing the next video.
I used to fear the idea of working for myself, not having a normal 9-5 job, one that I could rely on to cover my expenses.
Something changed.
I could say that RHS (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome) was my wake-up call to stop worrying about how I am going to survive and just live. This is HUGE for me. I was a bit of a control freak. I liked the order. I like stability. I liked knowing that my paychecks were steady, I had insurance, and could cover my cost of living in LA, but that’s all I was doing.
Work.
Eat.
Sleep.
Pay Bills.
I am working part-time, I can pay my bills and I still have insurance. I’m just doing It from an RV. Well, right now I’m doing it in the basement of my parent’s house. Who knew at 47, I would ever utter the words, “I’m sleeping in my parent’s basement”?? *insert eye-roll with a hint of sarcasm.
I will be leaving sometime after the first of the year and heading to much warmer weather. That Is a definite!
Is RV Life worth it?
This is a question I’ve heard. So far yes, a big part of this lifestyle is the ability to be home when needed. Three days before I left LA, I received a call that my dad was in the hospital, we were not sure what was going on, but it was a big reminder of why this lifestyle works.
Knowing that I couldn’t really do anything immediately, I waited to hear from my brother and mom what was going on. He is thankfully ok. It was a bit scary and I could hear it in their voices but was pretty much told not to rush home, but get here soon.
This life that I took on will now allow me to be where I need to be when needed. I can change plans as I go. I can spend a month in one location and then move on. This journey is not just about exploring all the amazing places that our country has, finding stories along the way, and discovering that I actually like history? Who knew. It is also about reconnecting with family and friends. Actually seeing them and this time, instead of my cousin David calling me out of the blue and asking what I was doing when he surprised me in LA, I can now do it!
Since changing my life so many events, things I want to attend, places I want to visit opened up tremendously.
I will be able to attend my cousins’ retirement ceremony from the Navy. I will be able to watch my nephews grow up and will begin to take them on their own trips in the RV. I will be able to reconnect with friends all over the country. I will be able to be at a wedding. I can now make those life events that would have otherwise only been seen through Facebook. I have found that the face-to-face is 1000x better and really what matters.
My family is spread across the country; Virginia, PA, Tennessee, Kansas, Idaho, Ohio, I also have friends in multiple states, driveways that I can surf. Friends that want to spend a week traveling with me. RV Events I can now attend. My first big event is in March in Alabama, the RVE Summit. An event put on by Heath and Alyssa Padgett, the RV Entrepreneur Summit. https://therventrepreneur.com/
This event has been on my MUST-DO list as soon as they created it. Not only can I network with those that work from the road, but I can also learn, discuss and talk with others that have decided to toss the standard way of thinking out the proverbial RV window. I am extremely excited to be a part of this community.
I was asked ( a few times) Won’t you get lonely?
Being alone and being lonely are two different ideas.
I am not lonely.
I am by nature an extrovert.
I don’t mind being alone. In fact, I enjoy the quiet.
We all have busy lives, which is a new thing, right? I don’t recall my grandparents ever saying they were “too busy” They made the time, the priorities were different.
Will I change my mind? Don’t know.
Do I know how long I’m going to do this? Nope.
Will I burn out? Zero Clue.
Is RV life worth it?
I think I will know better in a year. Ask me then.
