Full Time RVing: Why us? Why me?
The way I was raised — and the way I always saw life modeled — was pretty traditional. You get a job, make a living, save for retirement, and then, once you’re older (and maybe not as physically able), you finally “get” to enjoy the world. Money was always at the center: earn enough to pay the bills, stash some away for savings, and set a little aside for the next generation.
But my own first career didn’t fit that mold at all. I worked in environmental education — surrounded by nature every single day, making next to no money, and literally living in a closet for part of the time. On paper, it wasn’t sustainable for raising a family or building wealth. But in reality? It may have been the happiest I’ve ever been at work. I realized then that I don’t care about owning a house or land. I don’t mind working long hours if there’s still time to enjoy life in between. I just need enough security to feel safe — not weighed down. I want to get back to that mindset.
When I married Krissy, she came in with a different perspective. She was raised with the same “job → house → retirement” narrative but added her own love for possessions (especially expensive electronics), the dream of owning a home, and the pressure of keeping up with the Joneses (or really her Dad).
That all changed two years ago when Krissy landed in the hospital and spent a lot of time in doctors’ offices. Everything slowed down, and together we started asking ourselves: What are we doing with our lives? What actually matters?
The answers came quickly.
Number one is each other. Our relationship. Our health. Our wellbeing. That’s why we’ve been doing the work — the diet, the exercise, the mental health, the couples therapy check-ins.
Number two is our lives as a whole. We love our jobs, and we know the difference we make in them. But is that enough? The honest answer: no.
We want to experience everything while we still can. We want to see all the national parks while they’re still wild. We want to sit with nature, discover hidden corners of culture, and live outside the small boundaries of our little town.
For us, the path forward is full-time RV life. Slow travel. One place at a time, for as long as it feels right. And after that? We want to slow travel the world.
Money isn’t the legacy we want to leave. Immersion is. Presence is.
I know this won’t always be easy. But I also know it will be worth it. I don’t want a life divided into “work time” and “home time.” I want a continuous flow of energy — molding, shifting, and carrying us into the next adventure.
This life is for me because I want to be one with nature, with Krissy, and with time. I want to see how other people live. I believe the places with the least possessions often hold the happiest humans. I know this won’t be forever — our bodies won’t always allow it — but for now? This is our dream.
Does any of this speak to you? Where do you feel whole? How do you picture your future playing out?
Live your dream,
Anne