By the Never-Bored RVers
“I could never live with him in an XX-foot RV full-time!” We’ve heard that many times as we chat with others about our life roving across North America, and, for the record, I don’t think it’s ever been the husband saying it.
For Monique and me, there is no doubt our compatibility makes being with each other in our confined space easy (most of the time), but here are some suggestions to take into consideration when thinking about life on the road.
When the topic is the things you need in your life, the key word is “STUFF.” When you’re talking about living in an RV, the key word is ‘SPACE.” It makes it do-able if you accept the concept that your mate needs his/her own space.
We don’t hear wives complaining about hubby going out fishing or playing golf too often. Nor do husbands tell us that their wives spend too much time socializing in the campground. It’s probably the same routine basically as when they were living in bricks-and-mortar, just closer quarters when they re together.
In other words, for most couples, living in the confined space of an RV is probably not as grating as it seems to none full-timers.
Our everyday-being-with-each-other-full-time relationship works for us because we abide by our “separation of duties.” We find it hard to believe that some other RV-mates don’t have their own unwritten list of responsibilities, but it’s not unusual to hear neighbors screaming at each other when they are leaving the campground about whose fault it is that some task was left undone.
I asked Monique to write down the tasks for which she is responsible, and I did the same for mine. The fact that one list is shorter than the other doesn’t mean that one of us does less – we both “stay active” in taking care of these routine chores. Another point that has to be made is that these are OUR lists (written down for the first time), not meant to be a guideline for you. I don’t think we ever really assigned tasks to ourselves, it just happened.
MONIQUE’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
Meal planning, cooking and grocery list; cleaning, vacuuming and dusting; laundry; researching and planning our itinerary; en route navigating; keeping track of insurance, including healthcare, and filing our few papers; being the “nurse” and barber for me; waxing and detailing the outside of trailer; control of all cabinets and drawers other than my “office;” interior decorations; guiding me in and out of campsites (reminding me to slow down
); checking our trailer lights upon departure; and most important, editing my writing.
BARRY’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
Driving, hooking up the trailer; hooking up w/e/s and satellite TV (or cable where provided); leveling the trailer; checking tires, battery, exterior seals, etc.; installing the living room TV on the arm at each stop; repairs; all “technology;” all computer work, including banking, writing letters and correspondence, blogs and checking out campgrounds online; arranging all trailer bays and truck storage areas; and most important, fixing our latte and toast first thing each morning.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES:
Washing dishes, making the bed and washing the trailer. Being from New Orleans, I was a good cook, but sometime early in our marriage I forgot how, so not only does she do the cooking (and we eat almost all of our meal on board), but I’m restricted on which kitchen drawers and cabinets I can look in. She ends up doing most dishwashing when we’re dry camping, because I’m too water-wasteful.
We try to take advantage of the wonderful world around us wherever we go, enjoying both the journey and the destination. But inside the RV, the most important element is living in harmony. It makes the roads in this on-the-move life much smoother.
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.
P.S. We borrowed the Smartcar from a neighbor while in Key West last winter just for the photo op.
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ed
Great ideas for making the decision.
One question, though, is the mention of responsibilities. Barry mentions “installing the living room TV on the arm at each stop”. Where do you carry the TV if it is not installed on the arm? We have carried ours on its arm, but having read that, I wonder if there is a better way.
Fred Brandeberry, SR
Hi Guys & Gals:
We have a 29 foot Motorhome with no slides.
She cooks in morning for the our largest meal at noon.
I can’t stand the soap operas, so I hang out at the lodge with laptop and records.
I pay the bills, arrange our stops and side trips.
She cleans inside, I clean outside – hookup and unhook.
Happy
Camping,
Fred b.
paul kinyon
after selling our home in 06 we had a 32 ft 5th wheel we decided to go full time and purchased a 39 ft 5 wheel with 4 slides we have plenty of room and are very happy with our life style paul
Dan
We wondered if we could withstand 24/7 in a 38′ class A after living in nearly 10 times the space in our farm house. Surprisingly, we are very compatible and share many of the same interests so time away from the coach is a no brainer. Inside the coach was another uncertainty. We chose a floor plan that made this easy. We have a Damon Challenger 377 which has four distinct living areas, living,dining, bedroom and bath. We spend a lot of time together but if we want to be apart one can go to the dining room while the other to the living room or bedroom. We often find one watching TV in the dining room and the other reading in the living room. This ability to be apart while still in the same “house” works just like it did in the farmhouse although we are within earshot in the coach. Just completed 9000 miles and 14 states and not a wimper. We love it!
Tex
We aren’t too far different from Monque and Barry. Each of us kind of “claimed” our own jobs in the MH based on what we were comfortable doing. She laid claim to the galley immediately and told me to mostly stay away. I do the manual labor of the hook-up of the toad, mostly, but she makes sure the Brake-Buddy is close by when I need it. She checks us in upon arrival at an RV park and makes sure we get the kind of site we need, and then handles the hook up of the electric and tv, while I’m in charge of water and sewer, leveling and daily toad maintenance. And while she’s hooking up the electric, I extend the slide. She takes out the trash, since she’s up well before the 9AM pickup, and I make sure the site is secure at night, since I’m up well past the 10PM quiet time. I evacuate the tanks and do the backflush outside, and she recharges the head from inside. I do all the driving and she does all the planning and navigating on MS Streets and Trips. I program the Garmin and she programs the MS S&T. I handle the oil, water, tire pressure, windshield, and she checks the propane, checks fresh, black and grey tank levels and handles the inside window darkening needs at night. She cooks food, I make coffee. And on and on, based on what we each have experience and interest in.
Liz Bard
My husband and I started RVing last year to go to his Vietnam Units reunion in Georgia. He is on a restricted diet and also is unable to drive anymore. In 2007 I drove our car more than 6,000 miles for almost 4 weeks and everyone wondered how we survived. The car we had at the time had a drop down DVD player so he had movies, puzzle books, etc. to keep himself occupied in the back seat. Last year in the RV he had his puzzle books, a DSL player and the maps, etc. to help me get from point A to B. Since we have a class A, it makes it easier when one of us needs a potty break.I was sure glad to have the RV since it seemed some of the rest areas we stopped at in 2007 were closed and a lot of gas stations were closed too.
When we get to the campground, my husband gets out to pay, get the site, etc. then helps me back in (my worst thing last year since I was so new in driving). After we get to camp, he hooks us up and I put out the slides, then I would take a book, soda or hot tea, cigarettes (I quit a little while later) and a snack to the picnic table or to the chair my husband sets up for me. He goes back inside, gets a snack for himself and watches TV. After I have about 30 mins or so break, I can come back inside, fix dinner, talk, etc. We both love to read so it is one way we relax. Last year we got caught in quite a few rain storms so we couldn’t get out. He would go into the bedroom to watch TV or we would both watch in the living room or put on music to read or play a game.
When we were first engaged, we visited a military chaplain (we were both in the service and wanted to be married on post), he wanted us to travel in a car, alone with no music and talk. We had already taken a 15 hour trip in his Opel, with him driving all the way since I did not know how to drive 4 on the floor. We discussed our plans for the future, made a budget, planned the wedding, etc. When we saw the chaplain the first time, he was surprised we had already taken care of this ourselves.
We have been married 37 years, 13 military. He retired, then went on to college so he could get a job as a civilian. Many years later, when his health was bad, I decided to go back to college, leave him at home and be 5 hours away. Our time in the military made it possible to handle the new lifestyle. We’ve always supported each other. People say we seem able to finish each others thought if one of us is too tired to finish it.
We are getting work done on our RV so we can travel more next year. Right now we are working to keep him well so we can both have fun. We enjoyed our mini trips to Shreveport and some places in Texas. We cannot wait until next year.
B. Bad Wolf
I can tell folks, that after meeting and spending a few precious days with Barry and Monique, one of the other qualities that make these two so compatible, is that Monique is just so beautiful. You know, it never hurts to have your own personal “eye-candy” with you, 24/7! Love you guys!