Has the camper life been calling your name? Or at least catching your attention as you watch what seems like “everyone” else living their life on the road? It might be time to pull up your roots and giving this free lifestyle a try. Figuring out how to live in a camper year-round doesn’t have to be difficult if you’re ready for a little bit of planning and a lot of excitement.
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Undeniable Reasons to Live a Camper Life
We’ve all thought about it: quitting that dead-end job, packing up everything, and running away to a life of freedom, nature, and the open road. Yet, when it comes to actually living on the road, people tend to think that it’s only for retirees or young adults fresh out of school. However, there are many exciting reasons to live on the road, no matter what life stage you’re in. From cost-effectiveness to endless adventure, here are some of the best parts of life on the road.
Best reasons for living in an RV year-round
Remember that these are just a few of the tips but there are as many positives as you want there to be!
You Can Live Wherever You Want
There’s immense freedom that comes with living on the road. You get to choose where you live, how long you’re there, who your neighbors are, and much more. Don’t like the snow and cold? Go south for the winter. Want a breathtaking view from your front yard? Spend a few days by the beach or in a mountain park. Life on the road makes it easy to pack up and pursue whatever environment you want.
It’s Cost-Effective
Living on the road can also be a cheaper housing alternative, especially if you’re traveling in a vehicle you can live out of. Of course, RVs and campers often get a bad rap for being small and cramped. However, with a few tricks and homey touches, you can make your RV feel bigger and more spacious, creating a perfectly comfortable home for you and your family.
Plus, there are also plenty of jobs you can get out on the road. From stay-at-home jobs to seasonal work, you’re sure to find opportunities everywhere you go.
There’s Adventure Around Every Corner
One of the most exciting reasons to live on the road is the endless adventure at your fingertips. You have the chance to meet new people, make once-in-a-lifetime memories, and expand your world view. The road is full of great lessons for travelers of all ages.
Whether you want to reconnect with the great outdoors or dive deep into the world’s different cultures, life on the road allows you to always try something new.
You learn that life isn’t about “things”
When you have less space, you have fewer things – and this, my friends, is a very good thing. We tend to get bombarded with “wants and needs” that suddenly it’s almost as though we’re treading water to just barely stay afloat.
When you’re living in a travel trailer full time, you can acclimated to space around. This means that you’ll figure out very quickly what you need to have versus what you want to have and adjust quickly to appreciate those things in your life that truly matter.
How to Prepare for Full-Time RV Living
While you might be ready to just jump in with both feet, there are a few things that you need to do first. Planning does take a little bit of time to make happen but if you start early, you’ll be that much closer to launching on your full-time camper life travels.
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Get your RV or camper ready for full-time travels
Get your camper or travel trailer to a mechanic and get it checked out. Check the tires, seal the roof, and have them do a complete look over at your rig to make certain that it’s road-ready and good to go. While this might not be a perfect plan to catch everything, it’s a good way to catch some of the big issues that can really put a wrench in your travel plans.
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Rent out your current home or have someone house sit for the first few months
I’m not saying that you’re not going to love being on the road full time, but it’s not a bad idea to give yourself somewhere to come home to just in case it doesn’t work out. We’ve all read the stories about people who sold literally everything that they owned and made it work – and for some people that works great, and for others, it doesn’t.
Allowing yourself 6 months to a year on the road while your house is being rented or looked after can just give you an extra layer of security knowing that if it’s not up to par for what you thought, you can always return home without issue. And yes, it will cost you a bit more money to do it this way but it’s a solid backup plan to have.
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Map a route of where you’re hoping to travel
Just letting your soul take you where you want to go sounds nice and can be sometimes, but for efficiency and safety, you should have some stopping points mapped out so you can tell others where you’re going to be. Even if you’re planning on boondocking overnight at a simple truck stop, it’s good to know ahead of time so you have it on your radar.
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Have a savings built up or a source of income while you’re on the road
You’ll be amazed at how much money you’ll go through when living full time on the road. From camping spots to gas costs, it all adds up quickly. And don’t forget about tolls, emergency expenses, and food costs. You may not have to pay a utility bill anymore as you do at home but those costs will add up in so many other ways.
Have a savings that you’re ready to go through before launching or figure out how you can earn money while living the camper life. There are a lot of ways that you can earn money working from “home” so have fun figuring out what will work best for you.
Quick Tips for Living in a Camper
Just because time is of the essence, here are some super quick tips for living in a camper full time.
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Pack only what you’ll need
Leave behind your pretty shoes, your fancy dresses, and your child’s 100 stuffed animals and be realistic about what you need. Once you’re on the road, you’ll find out that you really can live with less.
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Pack food that doesn’t need to be hot or cold
While you probably will have a fridge in your camper or RV, that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be running and on all the time. This means that you’ll want simple foods that you can just grab and go. Foods like protein bars, veggies, fruits, bread, and peanut butter are all great options to have on hand for your travel days.
Once you’re settled somewhere for a few days, you can get whatever other groceries and supplies that you need. Which leads right into my next point…
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Shop once you arrive at your destination
It saves on packing time and space if you just shop when you arrive. Plus, you get to immerse yourself into the community as well and “live like the locals” do.
As you can tell, living a camper life can be a truly exciting time. With a little bit of planning and a big drive for adventure, you’ll be living full time out of your RV or camper in no time at all!
Do you have any tips for someone who wants to live the camper life?
More camping posts:
Top Camping Security Precautions To Consider
Camping Checklist to Make Packing a Breeze
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