A lot of people have seen the potential of RVs being a portable hotel to those who want to travel despite the restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic, but some have seen the potential of the RV being a permanent living space for them. Living in your RV can allow you to do things that you cannot do back when you were living at home. There are a lot of things to consider, however, should you decide to live in an RV for a longer period of time.
In this article, we will discuss the different tips and methods you can use if you decide to live in your van full time without moving a lot, or stationary living in other words. From tips on where to go, how to live your life comfortably inside the van, keeping yourself safe, and planning how to live your best life inside your van, I will be dishing everything out here.
Tips And Tricks On Full Time Stationary RV Living
Living in an RV for a long period of time is definitely not an easy thing to do. Thankfully, we have the tips and tricks that you might find in handy for living the fullest in your RV for months, or even years.
Choose Your RV And The Destination Well
When looking for a mobile home, there are several factors to consider. One important consideration is the floor plan. Make sure to choose a rig with a layout that meets your specific requirements. A number of factors to consider include the number of beds, kitchen size, entertaining space, and storage space.
By destination, I meant your RV park, or anywhere you decide to camp out with your RV. Always check if your chosen place has the basic amenities to help you live your life comfortably, such as a supply of water, bathrooms nearby, power supplies to charge your RV, open areas where you can do your daily activities, and so on.
Also put these things into consideration, such as having facilities for your food replenishment and laundry needs, sanitation facilities, refills for your propane, proximity to hospitals, and so on.
Do Not Ever Buy A Tow Vehicle, Please
If you are buying a travel trailer or fifth wheel, you will need a way to transport it from the store to the campground, RV park, or other location where you will be staying. These types of RVs can cause potential hassle to you if you decide to live here for a longer period of time.
In case of emergencies, such as bad weather or life and death situations (like your RV park caught on fire or a swarm of pests attack your campground), these can limit your movement and capability to survive in general.
If these situations happen to you, take everything you can and leave. It is not worth it to risk your life in saving your RV if it would just make you move even slower. The insurance company will definitely help you compensate for your loss, but to lessen the hassle, let us just avoid buying these types of vehicles should we decide to live outdoors for a longer period of time.
Always Remember That Less Is More
Since you have a limited space, it can be a problem to you if you choose to bring everything you own inside your RV if you plan to live for longer outdoors.
Unlike your homes, RVs have smaller spaces compared to them so even if you bought the biggest model available in your dealership, the space would still be more cramped compared to your house. Just bring the essential appliances with you, along with your basic necessities such as your food, water, clothes, cleaning supplies, fuel, and other needed items.
If you can just buy a disposable version of your tools and equipment, such as bringing paper plates with you instead of bringing your expensive china, you can do so. Remember that when your RV is loaded to the brim, the total weight can affect how slow or fast your RV can move, especially when you are driving on the road.
Also, your storage space would get smaller since these appliances and other items would take up space and you might find yourself feeling cramped and uncomfortable inside your vehicle, which should not be the case. You are supposed to live comfortably inside your RVs and not the other way around.
Always Remember To Set A Date And Fully Commit
You cannot just decide one day when you wake up that you want to live outdoors for months. You have to plan and strategize everything before you do this because this is a big move for you. Remember that once you decide to live outdoors, you cannot do certain things the same way you used to do when you were living at home.
A departure date brings all of your preparations to life and makes them more urgent, which is a powerful motivator to make this dream a reality. The amount of time you will need is determined by your current lifestyle. If you own a house, for example, you must first decide whether you want to sell, rent it out, or keep it.
If you plan to sell, you will need to prepare your home for sale, which can take a long time depending on the amount of work involved. It is indeed important to remember that you will not have to set an “absolute” departure date. It is also easier to set goals for yourself. For instance, you might want to set a deadline for purchasing your camper (if you do not already have one).
You can schedule a date to have your domicile (legal residency) state created, a date to have your home fully decluttered and purged, and so on. The point is to make a commitment. Set a deadline and work hard to reach it.
Create A To-Do List For Your Needs And Wants
Aside from setting a date for your move and/or departure, you also need to do your research and look for things that you might need or want to have to make your outdoor living experience worthwhile.
It is always recommended to create a to-do list. It might be long at first, but it is okay since it helps to jot down everything you need to want and have. Research on things such as camping grounds available, domicile residency, how to earn a mobile income, health care options, amenities and facilities that your potential camping grounds might offer, choosing a mail service, and others.
Each to-do list might be different since not everyone has the same needs and preferences in life. One might not need what you think is essential, and so on. The main point is that you need to research, plan, and prepare for this undertaking.
Always Make Sure To Cancel Your Utilities
Months or weeks before you go outdoors, remember to cancel your utilities while you are out. Call your power operator, the gas operator, your telephone provider, and other utilities and inform them that you will be away for a long period of time so that you have to cancel your subscription to them.
This is very much needed because you have to avoid paying for bills that you were never able to use in the first place. This also prevents you from having stack up bills and ending up disconnecting you from the service and giving you a bad record.
Simplify And Declutter Everything
Remember, you do not have to bring everything you own with you in your RV. You will have to simplify your life and declutter your home on a regular basis. What you decide to get rid of will be determined by your objectives. This level of decluttering can be emotionally exhausting, especially if you plan to get rid of anything.
However, reducing your possessions to the bare essentials can be extremely freeing. You can also have a garage sale for your items that you no longer use and earn some petty cash from it. Simplifying and decluttering can be very difficult tasks to do, but it is very much needed to avoid clutter in your new chapter.
Always Bring The Necessities With You
You will have to decide what you will need to bring with you on the trip. I guarantee you will only need a fraction of what you think you will need. Also, no matter how carefully you prepare and evaluate the items you bring, you will almost certainly make mistakes; it is just a part of the process.
For your clothes, the number of clothing items you have to bring depends on you. Always remember to bring clothes that are appropriate for the season, with some being able to be worn for all weathers and climates. Check the climate on your destination and bring whatever clothes are appropriate to the climate.
The key to putting together a functional RV wardrobe is to choose clothing that looks good together (so you can mix and match) and that you can layer easily if the need arises. Most of the clothes in your wardrobe are worn just 20% (or less) of the time. Choose the items you wear the most and get rid of the rest.
You should also bring appliances that can help you do several things using only one appliance, such as Crock Pots for your cooking needs. Lastly, bring enough linens and curtains for you so that you do not have to go to the laundromat frequently.
Join RV Social Clubs For Your Convenience
There are a number of agencies that can assist you in living in an RV full-time. These clubs provide you with a wealth of useful, insider tips from people who have already lived on the trail, in addition to great campground discounts.
Most of these social clubs offer great deals and discounts for its members, from affordable campground and RV park fees, to free subscriptions to different publications, services, goods, and other perks you might find very useful while you are camping out for months.
Pay careful attention to the fine print before joining any club. On weekends and holidays, many campgrounds do not offer club discounts. You should also consider which campgrounds are included in each club’s network. Pick any at random that are on routes you would like to take.
I have prepared a list of RV social clubs you can join, as well as some advantages of you joining these groups.
Start Going Paperless For Your Documents And Bills
Begin the process of living a paperless (or paper-reduced) lifestyle. Remember that all of your mail will have to be forwarded to you through your mail service, which ensures that if you are not careful, your bills will soon become past due.
Signing up for e-billing, or electronic billing, for your mobile phone, credit cards, health insurance, auto insurance, and other financial obligations will help you prevent this. This also helps you see everything you have to pay for on time and it also helps minimize waste in your RV.
Benefits Of Living In Your RV For A Long Time
Living in your RV just like how you live at home has its own perks and benefits. These would definitely make you see that you have made a great decision by living in your RV for the long run.
It Gives You A Breath Of Fresh Air
Living in an RV for a long period of time always allows you to see the new side of things, especially those that you used to ignore back then.
Not only it gives you a breath of fresh air (literally, especially when you choose to stay in the mountains, the beach, or the forests), it also gives you a sense of comfort and calm that the hustle and bustle of the cities simply cannot give you.
It also allows you to take a look at some of the things or activities you used to do, and how you can still continue doing those in your new situation. It can be a learning and rewarding experience since you will get to earn skills and capabilities that you can use in the future.
It Allows You To Save Money On Utilities
One great thing about living outdoors for a long time is that you do not have to care much about your bills and expenses on utilities. You do not have to pay for rent, first and foremost. You have no landlords to ask if you want to change something in your living space.
You do not have to pay for subscriptions that you do not really use frequently, and pay for unnecessary fees such as maintenance fees, homeowners’ insurance, welfare fees, and so on. You can use the money you saved on paying for utilities into buying more food, or saving it for future expenses.
It Shows You Different Perspectives Of Living
Back then, when you used to live in your apartment, you did not know that there is life beyond your living space and the community. Now that you are living on your own in a camping ground somewhere in the Rockies, you begin to see the offerings Mother Earth has in store for you.
It allows you to gain new hobbies, passions, and interests in life. Your life is not the same monotonous, boring one you used to have before. The charm of outdoors is that it opens your eyes to a variety of possibilities that can make your stay very much worthwhile. It also gives you time to focus on improving yourself, your relations with your loved ones, and also understand yourself entirely and completely.
Updated CDC Guidelines For Living Outdoors Full Time
Cleanliness is a must in every living space, and that need is given more emphasis thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the updated guidelines for living outdoors as issued by the CDC.
Clean Your RV As Thorough As Possible
Always take things up a notch, especially when cleaning, since the pandemic is still here and not everyone is safe. Clean surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting.
Using a disinfectant that has been approved by the CDC is the best way to do it. For hard surfaces, use diluted bleach solutions or alcohol-based products containing at least 70% alcohol if none are available.
It is recommended to put a wipeable cover on electronics when able and to obey the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting. If you do not have any given directions, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays that contain at least 70% alcohol, then thoroughly dry the surface.
Clean Your RV As Frequently As Possible
It is highly recommended to clean your RVs daily as it is very much exposed to the virus, especially the exteriors. Clean every surface, from inside to outside, not sparing an inch and disinfect as much as possible.
Do not leave out the driver’s area, and clean the steering wheel, the dashboard, door handles, and even the sides. Make sure to clean everything daily so that the probability of exposure to the virus gets smaller and smaller.
Observe Social Distancing Among Campers
Always wear your masks when you go out, even if you just need to pick your clothes from the clothesline or just do simple errands outside. Observe social distancing at all times, especially at camping grounds where your neighbors can also talk to you outside.
Wash your hands every time you touch something dirty, and do not ever touch your face without washing your hands first. Always bring a spare mask and a bottle of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer with you for easy access.
Conclusion
Living in an RV full time can be a challenge if you are not fully prepared, but with these helpful tips and tricks, living outdoors is now an amazing choice. You can enjoy a ton of benefits from living in an RV and you can also save more money since you are not required to pay a lot of fees like before. Always remember to put your safety a top priority and disinfect your RV every now and then to prevent catching diseases.
