We’re back! Today we’ve got three valuable lessons from living in an RV for you.
If you’ve been following along, you know we traveled to warmer locations in our RV during February. A very special “thank you” to Georgia and Florida for providing warm, sunny weather. I had no idea I’d wear shorts and short-sleeves the entire time, but I’m not sad about it.
This was our second trip traveling and living in our RV for a month. As you might expect, we have learned a few things living in, essentially, a 30-foot box for an extended period! When you take a step back though, these lessons are not specific to RV travel.
In fact, these lessons apply to our day-to-day lives. Let’s dig in…
Lesson #1: Less is more
Whether we travel for a month or a weekend, at some point we remark, “I brought way more than I need.”
For me it’s clothes and food. For him it’s clothes and tools. Y ‘all, if you saw the amount of cold-weather clothing I brought… It was ridiculous! Apparently I’m deathly afraid of being without clean clothing and starving. He’s afraid of some mechanical failure that requires packing our entire garage of tools.
Obviously I’m exaggerating, but you get the idea.
Whether it’s clothing, food, technology, tools, kitchen gadgets, shoes, the size of our house, cars, etc., the truth of the matter is we need less than we think.
Living in a 30-foot box has helped us, to some extent, prioritize items that are functional across situations. When we prioritize functionality it helps us optimize use, space, and frankly, how we spend our dollars.
A great example is the Ninja Woodfired Grill we purchased prior to our February trip. We decided to purchase this grill based on the following:
1. We wanted and saw where we could utilize an air fryer at home and in our RV.
2. He’s talked about a smoker for sometime now (smoked salmon, anyone?).
3. Our RV oven, frankly, is terrible and unreliable (barely cooks cinnamon rolls, yikes!).
After research and realizing all the boxes the grill checked off for us, we pulled the trigger. It helped that we found it on sale at a store we had a gift card. Score!
We could have ended up with an air fryer and a smoker separately. Neither would solve the situation with our RV oven. By focusing on the functionality we needed (and wanted), we were able to make one purchase to address them all. And, we optimized use (we got an all-in-one air fryer, smoker, grill, oven, etc.), space (one unit instead of a smoker, grill, air fryer, etc. separately), and money (multi-functional, on sale, gift card)!
Lesson #2: Clear (communication) is kind
Are you familiar with Brene Brown? She’s an amazing researcher, author, and podcaster. She talks a lot about bravery, vulnerability, leadership, and other related topics.
She has a quote, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” As a former HR professional I thought about her quote all the time and its truth. Post HR career, I still think about how her quote applies to, every. Single. Situation.
Especially when living with another person (and a dog) in a 30-foot box!
Real life scenarios from our trip:
He says, “I can use your help outside,” and I go outside and start doing random things I think will help. However, minutes later I realize he’s annoyed because I didn’t do the one particular task he wanted my help with. Then I’m upset because I’m not a mind-reader.
Likewise, I say, “Can you help me clean up in here?” and he starts shuffling dishes around, but I get irritated because I have a particular way I do the dishes. Then he’s frustrated with me because he’s not a mind-reader.
This isn’t rocket science. I bet you can tell the difference between, “Can you help me outside?” versus, “Can you come outside and help me clean off the mat so I can fold it up and pack it away?” Or, “Can you help me clean up in here?” versus, “I’d like to clean up in here so can you pick up your clothes?”
Clear communication will make a positive impact in your relationships and how you get your needs met, as well as others.
In the words of Brene, “Clear is kind.”
Lesson #3: Everyone’s role matters
When we travel in our RV, my role is to plan where we go, where we stay, and essentially everything related to the inside of the RV. This includes things such as setting up the inside once we arrive, putting things away on the inside to depart, ensuring we have everything we need (clean sheets, towels, toiletries, kitchen items, etc.), planning and prepping meals, grocery shopping, etc. Additionally, I enjoy these things and am good at them.
You get the idea.
His role is to get us from Point A to Point B along our route (with help from me on long travel days), all the truck and trailer prep and maintenance, ensure all the exterior items are packed (chairs, mat, hitch, blocks, e-bikes, tools, etc.), and set up and tear down the exterior, which includes draining and filling tanks (the dreaded black tank!!). His role involves the risk of getting poop on his hands… Needless to say he has the more challenging and physical role!
Importantly, he’s also great at it!
In the past I would try to help him with the outside tasks, and he would try to help me with the inside tasks. We’ve since learned our roles and now expect each other to be accountable for our own roles. It’s not that we don’t ask for help or can’t ask for help. We just know I can handle the things on the inside, and he can handle the things on the outside.
By knowing our roles we also decrease the risk of overlooking important steps in our RV travel process, which helps ensure we travel safely. For example, if sometimes I secure the doors on the interior but sometimes he does, we could get into a situation where he thought I secured the doors but didn’t, because I thought he was going to take care of it.
He hooks up the truck and trailer, and I go behind as a double check to ensure nothing is missed. I put away and secure things on the interior, and he does a double check to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Not surprisingly, we each have our roles to play at home. I’m sure you do too, whether you live alone, with a partner, or a family.
It’s easy to become biased, thinking our personal roles are more important than others. Truly though everyone’s role is important and necessary to the success of whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish (travel, survive the day-to-day, raise children, etc.).
Everyone’s role matters!
Wrap Up
There is nothing earth shattering about these valuable lessons from living in an RV for 4-weeks. In fact, they probably seem like common sense.
My guess is though, since we are all human, these lessons still apply to your day-to-day in one shape or another.
I hope you consider how these valuable lessons from living in an RV can benefit your relationships and your day-to-day life.
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