I've been blogging on this site for a while and it's time to cover all you need to know about Black Tanks and Bouquets : Pros & Cons of RV Life . I've given advice for the full time RV life, some on writing, and movie recommendations. I've listed why to remove the shackles of life and join the RV world. I've given the tools and reference on how to search for a rig that would be the right fit for someone researching this lifestyle. I've talked tools and items that can be disregarded and left behind, and have covered expenses of the full time RV life in my own arena. There is so much to discuss.
Today I'm going to gift some "PROS" about this life and what I deem as "CONS". I will warn that I never intend to romanticize this life, and if I come of as doing so, please check me, and give me some feedback.
Without further adieu, here are the CONS:
Family Life : Missing family and friends when I don't get an opportunity to visit with when we're back to the home state, or Domicile State for appointments etcetera. In that three week period of time Maria and I spend in the cold arms of our home state of Michigan, I miss some visits with good friends and family members due to scheduling conflicts and time restraints. This is the number one CON. I'm trying to improve my communication around this, and change it the best I can. I miss some of my old friends and that face to face connection I once had during my career and living in our sticks and bricks life.
Holidays: When living in a hometown, having a house, and all the material things to balance, holidays become different when they don't exist. We raised a large family and there were a lot of holiday traditions. When living on the road in a motorhome or rig full time, your house is not in once spot. We, as well as our adult children, have adapted to this and it hurts our hearts sometimes not to connect on the physical level. We instead have a video holiday. We get to see each other, even if it's not together at a gathering. If you're attached to those material things, traditions, and missing the face to face, the lifestyle of RV'ing full time is probably not for you.
An impromptu breakdown. Breakdowns are inevitable at times, as are things that happen in a sticks and bricks that need fixed. When something goes wrong, it can knock the mental wind out of me, and give a negative mindset, if I let it. That is why I always recommend having a nest egg or budget for breakdowns or projects that arise. The breakdown may effect your travel time line, if you have one, but it will not break the bank if there is preparation and an amount set aside.
Now for the PROS.
FREEDOM. This life is nothing but freedom. No matter where you're at, if your workamping, or you're just travelling non-stop. You make the decisions when to start the engine and take off. If something pisses you off, or you're not happy where you're at, you have wheels and can move on. Maria and I have never left situations due to unhappiness, but in the back of our heads we know that freedom is a major part of this life and that is always an option. True and unhindered freedom to get up and go as we please, is the best feeling in the world.
New Connections. I've written about loving to learn new things, meet knew people and gain new experiences with each living year. This life gives me all of the above. New connections and friendships I've made along the way over the last three years are endless. So what this life lacks with family and older acquaintances, it gains in new connections. Gaining insight and inspiration from the rich diversity the lifestyle gifts me, is an important pro.
Time to reflect and write. RV'ing full time gives me, an artist, the time to write. My passion in life is to write, entertain with words, and convey messages, as I do here. When I was tied down to a career, had a family to provide to, and a wife to keep happy, there was always a dark layer of life that seemed to block my creative juices. A job to take all my energy. The material things I was hanging on to that collected dust like the ideas that were in my head. This life gives me the time to reflect, write and to be who I want to be. Yes, I feel selfish, but Maria and I worked hard to get where we're at today, and time on this earth and in this world is not promised. We live together because if our lives were ever cut short, we can at least say we've loved, experienced and have done what we truly wanted to do.
I hope this enlightened you, kicked you in the ass enough to get you off the couch and consider the full time RV life. No matter what, there are negatives, and positives. Like a tiny battery, energy requires both the plus and negative. I like positive, but have to be realistic, life doesn't always smell like a bouquet, and often stinks like the "honey" or shit that we empty from our black tanks. Take what I say with a grain of salt, or put it to practice and maybe I'll see you on the road.
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As always, thanks for stopping by!
Tim Eagle
Tim Eagle is an author of the novellas Stolen Seed, Life Ship, and the Vasectomus Collection. He lives full time, on the road, with his wife, Maria and their dog, Cocoa. He grew up in Michigan and is inspired by the dysfunction of America. His books are available on Amazon, godless and this site timeaglefiction.comÂ
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