By Monique & Barry Zander, the Never-Bored RVers
This is literally off the beaten path, but I think it will have value to those of you considering full-timing and maybe to full-timers who stay on the road out of habit.
Last month Monique and I veered slightly from our on-the-road existence. That’s when we bought Monique’s ideal cabin in the woods, situated on a mountain high
Looking up from the Creek © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved
above the deserts of Southern California. We were blanketed with 40” of snow in our first three days here, which has delayed laying a pad for our RV.
But don’t fear. When we repack the trailer in May, we will be gone for eight to ten months traveling toward the Canadian Maritimes and then down to Florida. We love our new home, but we have no intention of giving up our RV lifestyle.
After four and a half years of being what normal folks would call “homeless,” we decided to explore the inevitable, having a base. Things happened fast, owing to buyers’ market prices and the park-like property we found.
We have parked our travel trailer 363 times since August 2006. We still appreciate the opportunity of having a different backyard every few days. When we’re in the forests of North America, we love our campsite … and then we move on to a breath-taking ocean-side park. When we’re on a mountain, we love our campsite … and yet, we are just as content a few days later when we pull into a lonely desert spot. Quiet Wisconsin lakes, rushing Arkansas rivers, California Redwoods that disappear into the blue skies, Indian villages without casinos, hamlets, villages, towns and, occasionally, cities all beckon to us. We’re not close to stopping … and yet …
… what we have searched for is the chance to be part of a community. We have met many wonderful, interesting people in our travels. We exchange travel cards and file them away: “When we get to Lebanon, Kansas, let’s remember to call Mary and Joe.” It has rarely happened that we actually followed up.
Plenty of Room for the Trailer
To be honest, I think the best example of community we have experience while on the road was when I linked our white hoses with owners of five other RVs to refill our water tanks from the one remote faucet while dry camping in Key West. While wintering there for four months, Monique also built up her own community by leading weekly free classes that forced her to add a second class each week.
Don’t get me wrong. We enjoy the brief friendships with people of like minds who we meet along the way. We learn, we share, we pot-luck. All good.
The toughest part for us now is not being able to say, “Oh, we’re full-timers.” That phrase has been an identity for us. It puts us in a very small group and usually leads to the response, “Oh, we could never do that.”
And, of course, most RVers do have responsibilities or needs that limit their time away from an earth-bound home.
For the next year, Monique and I can probably still get away with declaring
The "Great Room" Fireplace - Something We Missed in Our RV
ourselves full-timers. Then we will return to our cabin for a few months before resuming our journeys. But the tone of our voices will change. There will be an asterisk after the term “full-timers,” and we will blush as we admit that we actually have a cabin.
Part of the adjustment has been remembering that we can buy a gallon of milk to put in the refrigerator – it’s been years. I have yet to remember that I don’t have to take “navy showers.” We can actually make permanent improvements to our site. Monique doesn’t need for me to lift up the bed to pull out a blanket or another set of thermal underwear.
We are who we are. It will be a long time before the title “The Never-Bored RVers” no longer applies. And yet, we are already gaining acceptance as part of our small-town environment. Of course, spending money at local businesses for a wheel-barrow, snow boots, furnishings, etc., helps make us welcome in our new community.
Like when I switched from a film to a digital camera; when we bought a car with a foreign name for the first time; and most recently, when I decided to forsake my PC for an Apple computer, it’s a mental hurdle we’ve had to jump over. The challenge for us now is to be comfortable with a different identity.
Digging Out in the Cold
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.
© All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved
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marianj
Your cabin looks great. We travel for about 5 months but 4 of those months are spent in an R. V. Resort in Texas. Great community lots of friends. Marianj
Howard
Hi Barry and Monique, love reading your blog. we are not fulltimers but we travel a lot. just returned from 3 months in Mexico. We enjoy doing Key west and in your blog you mentioned dry camping in Key West. Since we are heading there next where can you dry camp. thanks
Alan
My wife and I are off to Alaska end of May. Your blog has been useful.
Can you comment on what challenges you had with mosquitoes and black flies and what you believe to be the most effective remedies? In particular, what did you do in your rig to eliminate the sneaky ones.
Thanks
Mickey Richardson
Good for you guys! We did it the other way. Had a cabin first then got an RV. We love both lifestyles, and can’t give up the cabin…yet. Have a great time with both!
Peter
You have got it right. A place to go if the travelling somehow goes sour.
My wife and I are working on a similar plan, a small place to call home and for people to visit while still enjoying the RV lifestyle. We wish you well.
Vickie
It’s almost a culture shock that you describe isn’t it? Were you actively looking for somewhere to base or did this just happen? Either way, you will now have the best of both worlds.
We are still trying to get on the road but have to wait until the house sells. I’ve found that grinding my teeth over mindless comments on the house doesn’t speed the process up:-/ But, I know it will happen and I know that we will be ecstatic to see the country and change our scenery every once in a while.
Best of luck to you both. I love your blog and look forward to reading about your new adventures.
John Smith
Just started reading your blog. Love the cabin idea. Sold our 38′ Cedar Creek last fall, thinking it would be a while before we can go. Started shopping a few weeks ago (of course), and am truly inspired finding that you FT in a 28′!!! The family is, once again rolling their collective eyes…..sigh
Bob Lantz
Very nice cabin! In our former life we were cruising sailors and sold our home and most of our possessions to go cruising. It was a great experience, so glad we did it. But since we re-settled on land and lately took to rv-ing we have no real desire to cut all those ties again. A few months at a time suit us just fine. We’ve been to the Maritimes several times by car and would love to go back with the rv. Wonderful country. Do try to get to Newfoundland, well worth the ferry trip!
bobandcarol
William Fincher
I am jealous. man, we have been doin small r.v. trips in the past due to the price of diesel here in California.have fun and be safe.
Jerry X Shea
Way to go guys – good for you. Someone told me that if you are on the road for over 6 months, you are indeed a full timer. Have also read about many others that have done the same thing after a few years of “full timing.” Go for it and enjoy both life styles.
Hope we cross paths someday,
Jerry and Mary
Gary
First, we love your storys and extra insights,but. And it’s big. Everytime I want to “read” you, your spread says to sign in. I am registered, and for quite some time now, and it still will not connect me directly. I have to “X” you out and start over again. Please allow your page to recognise me so I don’t have to keep doing this. And then “it” has the nerve to tell me I am already registered. Thank you, Gary C.
butterbean carpenter
Howdy Barry,
We’ll come out and cabin- sit while y’all are gone… That is if my wheelchair can pull those mountain grades… Your ‘new’ place looks great and all of that snow will melt pretty quick… 40″ MAN!!! DID YOU BUILD A SNOWPERSON???
Smooth roads & balmy breezes!!!!!!!
Jim G
Where do you leave the spare key for the cabin while you are on the road?
Sherrie Scott
Wow, just when I was inspired to “full time”….. Now you’ve resorted to a permanent structure & basically confirmed our friends & families mantra of ‘y’all must have a home base SOMEWHERE”. Sigh… Defeated before I even pulled away from the real estate office with the SOLD sign. Sad. Congratulations on the new home.