Most people only live in RVs part-time. Whether they are weekend warriors, take 3-4 day trips to a neighboring state, or spend a few weeks on the road - they're still considered part-time. That's a great way to live; it lets you get the best of both worlds - living in a house or apartment and "getting away from it all" in an RV.
But for some people, the full-time RV lifestyle is where it's at. They want to "get away from it all" for an extended - maybe permanent - period of time!
If you're ready to bite the bullet and jump in full-time, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Pick the Right Domicile State
Your domicile state is your home state. It determines where you are considered a resident for - you know, government stuff.
Some states tend to be more popular domicile states for RVers than others. For example, Florida, Texas, and South Dakota are famous because they don't have income taxes!
But if you're from a particular state and think you'll end up retiring there, consider keeping it as your home state. For example, suppose you grew up in California and plan on returning because your family all lives there. In that case, you may want to keep Cali as your domicile state.
Get Really Good at Organizing
In a house, you have a lot of room to store things—closets, attics, basements, cabinets, and more.
An RV doesn't give you that kind of luxury. You don't have a lot of room to store things, so you'll want to become a master organizer!
Of course, the best tip we can offer to help you organize is…
Get Rid of Stuff
Your RV has about as much living space as one or two rooms from your house. Unfortunately, this means you're limited to the essentials, so plan on getting rid of a lot of stuff.
If you're too attached to too many things, maybe you can store items at a loved one's house or a storage unit. But flex your 'throwing away" muscles and see if you can eliminate anything that won't fit in your RV.
RV Parks are Your New Second-Homes
Camping in the middle of nowhere - in other words, boondocking - in your RV has its place. For some people, that's how they choose to live. But for most people, access to things like bathrooms and sanitized water is ideal. That's why RV parks like those offered by KOA are so popular. You may also want to check out sites on HarvestHosts.
Watch the Weather
As you may expect, the weather plays a more prominent role in your everyday life when you live in an RV.
Try to avoid extreme heat and cold if possible. In the summertime, move your RV north a bit, so it's not frying in southern Florida or the Arizona desert. Likewise, consider getting your RV out of the snow in the winter by moving down south for a bit.
Set Up Your Income Stream
Let's face it - almost everyone needs some form of income. Unless you're independently wealthy, we recommend finding a way to provide steady cash flow for yourself.
The good news is that remote work - while not as prevalent as it was two years ago - is still widespread. The best part is that you aren't attaching yourself to a specific area. If you went the alternative route - such as getting a local job or starting your own business - you're tied to that area and can't move your business with you.
Be Prepared
Last but not least - be prepared with all of the RV gear you'll need before you set out on a long haul. The last thing you want is to get halfway to your destination and realize you're missing something!
