The ABC’s of RV Living
A blog post about how we see RV living and a few helpful hints.
So let’s start with “A” and make our way to “Z"“ and see what happens!
By: Caroline O’Boyle 04/2024
Our Friday Night Gratefulness on the back patio just outside of The Grand Teton National Park. 🍸
A =Acknowledge, Appreciate, Abundance? Absolutely!
Years ago John started a tradition of celebrating every Friday night with a martini and a look back on his work week. This celebration of sorts is what he liked to call “Friday Night Gratefulness.” Each Friday night we would take the time to sit down, discuss the week’s joys, the challenges, or finding the silver lining on something that may not have been as up-lifting.
And now, even after retirement, we have continued the tradition. Every Friday we turn on a few Irish tunes and raise our glass in a simple toast that, despite any challenges going on in our life, we acknowledge our good fortune and abundance. The Irish music transports us to our homeland for an hour of peace, calm, and serenity. We have found that every week of travel has brought us to new experiences, new life lessons, and even more to be grateful for!
B = Big Rocks
The “Big Rock” or goal of what to see and do in area is so helpful. We picked this up from “KYD” and have used it when planning where we want to go next. We have learned that when we arrive in a location we may not be able to experience everything that the area has to offer, so we set our priority of the things that we do not want to miss so that we are not disappointed when it is time to leave.
Our first “Big Rock” was getting to the Tetons. We had difficulty finding a place to park the RV. We decided to get to the National Park Visitors Center and started asking questions. They directed us to the perfect “dispersed camping” location just outside theGrand Teton National Park and we spent several days being able to enjoy the area. Something we may not have been able to plan in advance for but had the flexibility to work into our schedule and it was simply wonderful!
Try to spend more time in an area that you have taken so much drive time to get to. After three years on the road we have begun staying a minimum of two weeks to one month in a location. We have found that having a little more time to experience an area will pay off. There have been a few places that we have made a second visit, but those have been quite limited. Based on your travel miles and time we recommend making sure you have plenty of time to visit as you never know when you will make it back.
C = Connection
Stay connected with friends and family by making it a point to check in to see how they are doing. Share with them if you are doing well or are facing challenges. I have friends and family that I touch base with almost every week in order to keep those relationships strong. Truth be told, living full time in an RV I can miss having that “community” that I had been used to like work, church, family functions, or simply getting together with friends. We so enjoy the freedoms of moving about the country and currently are not ready for a change, but I will look forward to those connections when we settle on a final location. 😃
D = Difficulties
You are almost guaranteed to have “bumps in the road” and we have had several. Two fairly significant ones were the wind damage to the truck door while parked in a Gallop, New Mexico RV Park. There were record winds as we pulled into the RV Park and a gust of wind nearly took the door off of the truck. It took 6 weeks to get the repairs completed due to “supply chain issues” and all of our travel plans had to be rerouted and placed on hold or cancelled while we waited for repairs.
Our second “difficulty” was getting struck by an Electromagnetic Pulse or EMP! There was a record 440 lightning strikes in the area where we were camping near Lake Champlain in Upstate New York. At the time, we did not know what to do. As full-time RVers we realized that we needed to “go home.” And home for us was Elkhart, Indiana. Thankfully, Lippert took us in and assisted with our repairs. It took several weeks to get the repairs complete and have our RV back to normal. We took is all in stride (as best that we could) as we tried to be patient, readjust our travel plans as needed, and then get back on track to our previously planned journey.
E = Energy
How can anyone maintain that peaked energy for every day travel or longer RV trips? John and I had so much excitement as we left Medford, Oregon and headed towards Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. We were heading to places that we had never been! However, few people can keep up that initial energy and excitement for every day travel. That energy needs to be tempered. For John and I, we definitely have different ideas of how we should travel. John’s pace would be a much slower pace with possibly having less to do.
After three years of travel we are finding a more reasonable balance of travel, plans of things to do, and extras time to sit back and enjoy life. There is something to be said to taking time to smell the roses or leave enough time to actually take of the RV as well as grocery shop, do the laundry, clean the RV... you get the picture. 😂
F = Finances:
Budget and finance is important! We have found that having a plan and making a realistic budget for everyday items will help eliminate questions when the unexpected occurs. We have followed Dave Ramsey for many years and it does come in handy in terms of having an emergency fund, planning our monthly budget that includes the different categories that allows for margin in our life to live this unconventional lifestyle.
Our line items include a budget for the following categories: Rent, Groceries, Sundries, Fuel, Dining Out, Entertainment, Health Care, and other. I will post another blog that gives more specifics about how we do our budget.
G = Goals
What is your purpose or what is your goal?
One of our goals has been to live “Retired - Inspired” and find ways to share that attitude with others along the way. This may mean stopping along side the road to help someone that is broken down. In Michigan it was to stop a couple involved in a rollover accident. We give encouragement to those that are working at National Parks, campgrounds, grocery stores, or even Planet Fitness. We carrying extra waters on the trail to share with people or their pets on a hot and humid day. More often it is stopping and talking to others along the trail or while out riding the roads of this beautiful country to share our story of travels and experiences and encouraging others to keep up the positive, know their own goals, and appreciate the joys of life.
H = Helpful Hints:
John and I took our honeymoon in a borrowed pop-up tent trailer! Now, after over 40 years of owning an RV off and on, and now nearly 4 years of full-time living in an RV, we have found some great “helpful hints.” Maybe the most important hint that we would give is ask others on the road what to do if you find yourself with an issue: for example - a water leak, a flat tire, a propane issue. We have had plenty! There is likely someone around that has had an issue or helped someone out for something similar. Things happen and we have had plenty of helpful advice that kept us safe and got us back on the road.
We have made a separate list of “Helpful Hints” that make living in an RV just a bit easier and safer that includes TPMS, storage ideas, etc. Be sure and check it out.
I = Inspire
Are we attractive or interesting? I asked the question: “Why do other want to be around us?” During the first three or four months after I retired and began our travels, I had to learn to slow down and interact with people on a way different pace. I was used to waking up early every day, going to work, and “punching it out” at the hospital for 10-15 hours a day. Yes, I had long hours and plenty of stress! Not only were we in the middle of Covid, but I had taken on a new role as an Assistant Manager over 5 departments. I not only managed my old department but added 4 new ones. Whew! Now, as I began to unwind and extract myself from the work life I had known for 36 years, I was unsure of myself in meeting new people. I was guarded. I was often on edge. Everyday trying to figure out what I was doing, my own purpose. With time, I have learned that the best thing that I could do is give inspiration to any person I had contact with. I was retired... I am blessed. Now I just needed to learn to “inspire” and live that inspiration every day.
J = Journey
We have learned that our is not always about the destination but more on the value of the journey. We now have the luxury of looking back over our past three years and ALL that we have been able to see and do. It has been quite incredible. Sometimes, we can’t even believe it that this young couple that met in Klamath Falls, Oregon 44 years ago has made it this far. There have been difficulties, challenges, and more. But if we look at the entirety of what we have accomplished we always agree how grateful for those ups and downs that has gotten us here! It has been quite a journey!
K = Kinetics!
Kinetics focuses on how forces make the body move. The musculoskeletal system is responsible for generating forces that move the human body and prevent any unwanted motion. For John and I, keeping active is the key to maintaining both physical and mental health. We have found this balance through going to the gym, riding motorcycles, and hiking when the timing is right. The variety in movement not only keeps things interesting but also engages different muscle groups for overall fitness.
Like many people, I have been challenged by several physical issues and challenges. Arthritis, back surgeries, and the biggest hurdle: Breast Cancer. The physical changes following the five surgeries for breast cancer limited my range of motion for a time and I am certainly not as strong as I once was. I no longer have a “pusher” due to the weaker muscles in my chest, but none of that has stopped me. I continue to go to the gym to lift weights, stretch, and maintain to the best of my ability. 💪😅
We have maintained a membership at Planet Fitness and have visited at least 1 Planet Fitness in every state we have been to. We hike when we can, always ride motorcycles in an area, and take the bicycles out when it works. Stay active, keep those forces moving, and enjoy!
L = Love of course!
No matter where you find yourself, you should always love what you are doing and love the person or people that you are with. Living in what we refer to as a “40 foot tube” can put strain on your living situation. It is different than living in a house that you can drive away from or go to work and forget about the problems you left behind. Showing that love and respect to the most important people in our life will always be our top priority.
The RV has special needs like water and electric connections as well as sewer that needs maintained. Because of just those couple of things, you really should “love” what you are doing. It will get hard. There will be issues including problems with your rig, conflict with your spouse, challenges when driving and pulling said “40 foot tube.” Maintaining that love and respect will go a long way to make the tough times easier to handle.
John and I sold our home that we had owned for more than 20 years. I retired from the hospital that I had worked in for 36 years and he retired from a union job that he had for 30 years. Living in an RV full-time was all new to us and we did have problems. Challenges with travel, weather, and issue with the RV. That list would be long, but we continued to work on us, our relationship, and our communication with others and somehow we have made it!
M = Maintenance
RV: There are Apps and lists available for how to maintain your RV and your pull vehicle. We have followed the list in our RV Manual that came with the rig and try hard to keep it up to date. RV’s do better if they’re stay clean, have the seals checked, the hoses and seals checked for cracks and well... the list is endless. Find the lis and follow it.
Truck: We have an expensive truck that needs maintenance and with the miles that we put on it, we definitely get all oil changes, fuel filter changes, and new tires when needed. Nothing is cheap, but if we add it to the budget we have it to be very manageable.
Motorcycles, bicycles, and toys: they all need some kind of maintenance so make a list, stay on top of those needs.
Now... try counting just the tires alone of what John and I haul around this wonderful country! RV=4, Truck=6, Motorcycles=4, Bicycles=4... That is a total of 18 tires that need attention. 😳
N = Not a Vacation:
Full-time RV and travel is “not a vacation.” It is how we live, for now anyway.
We chose this option of living full-time in an RV that has allowed us the choice to see and do things that we did not have the time to do while we were working. Our vacations from work only lasted 1-2 weeks.
We do not eat out every day. We do not ride motorcycles every day. We still buy groceries, do laundry, and clean the house (RV) like we would have had we kept a home. We make time for the daily needs, paying bills, planning, and connecting with those we love. We do all of that in between having a good time and seeing the country. And did I mention we started a YouTube Channel? Just one more thing that needs our attention. It has been a rewarding lifestyle, but it is anything but a “vacation.”
O = Others
There are so many “others” that we include in our plans.
Number 1= Our Sons. Our closest family members are obviously the most important and we try to keep them in mind as we make our plans. We will always be available to our sons if they need us, even if we are hundreds of miles away.
Family. John and I both have brothers and sisters. We do maintain a relationship that works for us all and when we are in the area we do try to get together.
Friends. The longer we have been away from Southern Oregon the harder it is to maintain those important friendships. We have both been able to maintain a close connection to several close friends and continue to find ways to stay connected.
New friends. Wow, we have made so many new friends while traveling. Some of those we have not even met in person as they are people we met in a Mastermind Group for YouTube. Who would have ever thought? Yet, when our paths cross with friends, old and new, we enjoy our time together to share a dram, a story, or just a nice evening around the fire.
P= Purpose
Doors close and doors open. I often thank John for “extracting me” from the hospital that I had worked for so many years. It was my second home... to a fault. My “purpose” was going to work and then planning what to do on those precious days off. Sadly, the more years that I worked, the more hours I worked. Getting time off became increasingly difficult. A week here, a week there. It kept getting harder over the years to actually get enough time off to really enjoy the life that we wanted to craft. So John said enough. The time to “work hard - play hard” was over. It was time to no longer work.
So, after 36 years, I walked out of those hospital doors and into the world of full-time RV living. Those first few months after retirement and going full-time on the road was challenging. I found myself wondering “what is my purpose?” I had spent so many years caring for others that I think I lost sight of how to take care of myself. With time, and the support of John, I have realized that my purpose is to really live my life to the fullest and hopefully “lead by example.” To live out this gift of life that I have been given and enjoy every day.
I do recognize that I am blessed. Somehow, despite my health challenges, I have been able to hike, bike, and ride a motorcycle all around the country. I am so fortunate to be able to do so much! There are very few women that I have met along the way that hike the number of miles that we have, and even fewer that ride a motorcycle to the extent that John and I ride. It has been incredible. So to that “purpose” I hope to continue to inspire.
Q = Quiet
There will be so many opportunities to find peace and quiet. We have experienced a real sense of peace while dispersed camping in places like Amboy Crater, The Badlands, or The Tetons. Yo don’t need music, TV, or entertainment. Just a comfortable chair before you settle in to take breathe in that calm, quiet place.
I have appreciated that John has found a very real sense of peace and time for quiet as we have been outdoors or hiking. Being in touch with nature has brought us both a new level of tranquility.
Yes, we watch TV. Yes, we have a YouTube Channel that keeps us busy. We do try to stay on a somewhat regular schedule that gets us up in the morning, outside to get active, and to bed at a reasonable hour that maintains our day to day calm.
R = Reservations:
Making reservations during high seasons can be quite helpful. Many popular locations (like Florida for the Winter or The Tetons in the Summer) can be a difficult place to to find an open RV location or it can become much more costly when you do find one.
If you do make reservations, be sure and keep your confirmation e-mails and can call ahead to confirm that you still have the site available. This is also a good time to inquire if there any road hazards or driving road blocks as you make your way to that location.
To note: As well were pulling in to a State Park in Mobile, Alabama we called to check for road hazards. They informed us that there were not any road hazards but, we did not have a reservation there. It was at an entirely different location about 200 miles North. So glad we called. We did cancel those reservations and found a wonderful RV location in Fairhope, Alabama just a few short miles from Mobile.
S = Safety
Living full-time in an RV can make one very vulnerable to the weather. We have a weather station and a daily weather e-mail that keeps us informed of possible weather issues in our area. We also check our iPhone App to monitor the daily wind, rain, or other possible issues. Awnings and flags should be brought in for wind storms or a wind advisory. We bring ours in for any day that plan to be gone more than an hour.
Maps - A truckers map for tunnels and road hazards is so helpful. Knowing the height and weight of your vehicle and RV is absolutely necessary. Be watchful for clearances for fuel stops, bridges, and low hanging wires. We found ourselves finding a place to turn around in some side streets in an older Ohio town while getting to a Harvest Host. The entire area had wires that were very low and we came close to catching one with the air conditioner on top of the RV. We did have a few of neighbors out helping us watch for clearance as we made our way UNDER the wires!
We carry a set of safety road cones to direct traffic in the even of a breakdown and have used them in parking lots to keep traffic away from our rig.
Tire pressure checks and monitoring. We have a TPMS system on our truck tires as well as the RV. Both have given warnings of impending pressure issues: We got a TPMS alert on arrival at the Munising, Michigan RV Park... a flat tire on the RV! Thankfully we got the RV parked before the tire was completely flat. The first time we had a TPMS warning was driving up the Teton Pass with our trailer brakes getting “stuck” and needing replaced. We made it to ur destination but the possibility of having an RV fire due to over-heating without that warning would have ended completely different.
Fuel your truck in advance of travel days to limit the number of times for fuel stops. We use “Love’s” or the “Open Roads” app to find discounts when we are pulling the RV and need fuel. Turn off any propane while at a fuel stop to limit the flammable component while fueling.
Stay hydrated and eat well on travel days to limit fatigue. We will usually pack a small lunch and stop at a rest area to take a break, stretch our legs, and reset to make that last half of the day go even better.
T = Travel Days with the RV:
Always have a checklist for travel days in order to limit mistakes during loading.
We try to limit conversation with any traveler during loading and unloading to limit our errors and we use that same courtesy for others as they park, unload, and get settled. Be patient and visit later.
Travel days can get long and stressful. To limit the strains of your days travel be sure to plan accordingly like meals during travel and dinner after you land.
If possible, plan your travel that allows time for breaks, stopping for lunch, and being sure to not get to your location in the dark. Unloading, leveling, and getting your RV set up is already hard enough let alone when it is dark. We pulled into an older RV Park in Florida just after dusk. There were so many tree roots that were difficult to see and way too many trees to thread the vehicles through. It was a real heart pounding moment when the RV started rocking between trees due to the roots that we could not see well and boy did we feel lucky to land safely!
U = Unexpected joys:
There have been so many unexpected joys as we have learned to travel and live full-time in this RV. My goal of finding the best motorcycle routes in every state has actually served us well. We have found that we have seen places and experienced so many joys that we could never even anticipated or planned otherwise. We sat at the top of the Cherohala Highway looking over the colored hills filled with fall trees in South Carolina. We met several travelers and fellow motorcyclists that share their story of how they enjoyed these roads. And this triking beauty was after we had riden the “Tail of the Dragon” and several other “iconic” motorcycle routes in Tennessee. Simply unexpected and amazing! (See photo at the end.)
V = Values:
We recognize that not everyone has the same values. In the Fall of 2020, we sold our home of 20 years, bought a Toy Hauler RV, and hit the road. We also ride motorcycles. This is definitely not for everyone, especially the motorcycles. For many people the idea of selling your home and not replacing it would be too risky. Add to that riding a motorcycle around America would be unheard of.
For us, riding motorcycles is a source of freedman exhilaration. An absolutely great way to see the country. It is all about embracing what aligns with our values, even if it is unconventional or misunderstood by others.
For now, we accept the risks and have embraced our time as we recognize we are not getting any younger and will not always be able to do the things we do now.
W = Wellness journey:
We are given one life and despite the many challenges we all face in life, John and I have decided to find ways to improve our own “wellness.” Over the past three years we have been actively seeking ways to improve our overall well-being. We have both spent time reflecting on how we can set our own individual goals to maintain or improve our physical, mental, and emotional health . And because we are both so different in how we approach things, we have to find ways to be supportive to the other person for their goals. This includes how we eat, exercise, and define balance the leads to the quality of life we both desire.
X = X factor
Our “X Factor” is that we are different. John has a wonderful gift of being able to speak to people in way that compliments the other person or helps them see another side or view. It is truly a special quality that I love about him. I so admire his ability to get up in front of people without fear or concern while still delivering an upbeat or powerful message.
For myself, I am more likely to connect with fewer individuals yet still offer a unique perspective when I do reach out. I am learning to not hold back as much in order to reach out to people and offer sincere conversations that may inspire or encourage. With those conversations we may find something they may be looking for and be able to speak into that part of their lives. Hopefully offering a “surprising” interaction that they will take with them.
Y = Yes!
Say “Yes” to giving something new a try.
Try saying “Yes” to camping or taking a bit more time to venture out farther.
Say “Yes” to staying active, hiking, biking, and sharing your stories with others.
Say “Yes” to going to Natchez, Mississippi or somewhere that you know nothing about and then being open to what you might learn as you spend time in that area.
Say “Yes” to finding YOUR adventure and giving it your all. Make the plan and then be ready for some very special moments that you will take with you wherever life leads you!
Z = Zen:
Zen : a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.
John and I are continually trying to find our “Zen” through embracing the simplicity and flexibility of life on the road.
I see it more as keeping balance: Remind yourself that since this is “life” it can get hard. There are challenges. Not everything goes as planned. You do need to take time to buy groceries, do the laundry, or spend time alone. You may need quiet time to read, walk, rest, or just reset.
When we started out he had thought that maybe we would take a night in a motel once every month or so. We did not ever do that. Rather than seeking external comforts like a night in a motel, we have discovered that true commitment comes from being together, communicating openly, and prioritizing each other’s happiness.
We do enjoy our little home on wheels. We have found on this journey that finding Zen is not about escaping difficulties, but rather about embracing them with grace and resilience.
We are keeping an eye on what the future holds and based on our most recent past... that future is looking very bright.
Thanks for reading!
Let us know if this has helped or inspired you in any way. We would love to hear from you!
In the meantime... travel safe!
And we will see you out on the road!
Caroline (And John) ☘️
thegrandshamrocktour@gmail.com
The beautiful fall colors of The Great Smoky National Park and Cherohala Skyway.
