RV living—what can I say? I don’t think it’s for me, at least not full time, but so far, the husband and I are enjoying the trip. We’ve stayed at 2 RV parks so far, and if you’re starting to lament the human condition and doubt in the power of community and basic human decency, this is the solution for you. We made friends with our neighbors within 10 minutes of entering the park. Did we need help setting up the RV? Yes. Did we need directions to the best hiking trails? Yes. Did we want to come over for dinner? Yes!
Obviously, it’s been a blast. We left Indiana early Friday morning, and we’re currently in northern Colorado. It’s a beautiful country, and the views are breathtaking. We’ve been hiking, staying up late around the campfire, and enjoying the company. We’ll be in California at the Redwood National Park next week, but for now I am content to enjoy the mountains. I checked my Afena account from my smartphone earlier today, and found that my last regular paycheck has been deposited. We’re going to celebrate with dinner at a restaurant inside Fort Collins this evening with some new friends.
I am surprised at how quickly I’ve grown accustomed to having my days free. I suspect that part of it might wear off as these first few weeks turn into months, but for right now, I’m happily retired. On previous trips, I’ve been the one checking our time. It’s refreshing to ignore the clock, although I admit that I still urge the husband to avoid driving through the bigger cities around rush hour. Part of that is the retirement kicking in, but part of it has to be driving to California in our hotel room.
Since the reality of retirement may or may not have sunk in for me yet, I’m going to focus this blog on RV living instead. Sure, I’ve only been experiencing this for five days now, but I’ve never been shy about stating my opinion. So here are my top 3 pros and cons of hitting the road in an RV.
Pro: The people are the friendliest people in the country. They’re happy, helpful and fun. They want to invite you over for dinner, for drinks, or to play cards. Are you shy? It doesn’t matter. These people are the best.
Con: The space—or lack thereof. I am not a minimalist, and I don’t pretend to be. This is a middle of the line RV, so I know you can get a bigger version. Still, if you’re driving the thing down the highway, there is a limit on its size.
Pro: The freedom to stop when you’re ready to stop. Even if you’re not near an RV campground, you can pull off at a rest stop and take a break from driving in relative comfort.
Con: The gas. Thank goodness gas prices are low. We get around 10 miles per gallon. It’s not a surprise, we knew that’s what we were getting into. Still, when we do have to stop and fill up, I can’t help but keep a running total in my mind of how much money we’re putting in the gas tank.
Pro: Camping without the tent! I love getting out into nature. The views, the wildlife, and the adventure all thrill me. Tents? Not so much. I don’t know if RV living is technically camping or not, and I don’t care. I get to sleep in national parks, step outside into beautiful scenery, and still enjoy a satellite connection and bed. Call it whatever you want, I love it.
Next week I’ll be experiencing that California living and seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life. Until then, I’m going to enjoy the view right outside my front door.