If you search RV.net’s forums, you’ll find that people do have some negative experiences. Some don’t like fulltiming and call it quits in a short period of time. I’ll tell you my perspective on it…

When you first get started it can be stressful. Learning the ins and outs of a rig, and discovering how frequently things come loose and need to be maintained, is a pain. But if you hang in there, things will get easier.

You and your wife have to be comfortable and used to being around eachother. A lot. Jim and I have worked together for over 10 years, so we are used to it and can usually handle any disputes that might come up. The neighbors can hear everything in an RV park, so we find it best not to let arguments get heated.

You need to be comfortable with dirt in your house. Even in the most pristine RV parks, you’re going to track it inside. Here in New Mexico, there is a fine layer of grit on everything, no matter how much I clean. That’s the way it is. I clean our rig way more than I ever cleaned our house, but now it only takes me 10 minutes or so!

Speaking of houses, if you decide to keep your stick house, remember that it might be stressful. I just spoke with a newly-retired couple who got their first rig and took it out for an extended trip. The wife told me that she was really nervous leaving the house vacant, and will probably decide that selling it is the best thing for them if they want to go on the road without the stress of thinking about it.

Like Jim said, there are little things that come up, but it’s the spirit of adventure that makes up for little issues.

Good luck!

I suppose you either love the lifestyle or hate it. We budgeted for a year on the road, thinking it would get old quick. But now we’re workamping and doing whatever we can to keep on keepin’ on.

I’m sure we’ll settle down someday, but full-timing gives us so much freedom. We are not tied down by a home, mortgage, or the 9-5 grind.

You must, however, be OK living in a small space. With a small toilet. And a small shower. You must like the challenge of issues that arise living in a home on wheels. You gotta be able to handle the stress of towing and parking a big rig.

But there is so much more that makes up for these petty things.

I agree that Wal-Mart’s ulterior motive for allowing RVers to stay overnight is to draw them into the store for supplies. Especially with the Super stores where you can load up on groceries.

Thanks for the tips. I’ll file them for future reference.

I know this because I used to be the overnight security guy at an RV dealer, and I’d get the pissed off RV’ers who’d arrive at our lot at two in the morning just after having been told to be on their way by HB Police. I couldn’t let them overnight in ours either, due to company policy, not city ordinance (being in neighboring Fountain Valley).

I disliked being the bad guy, especially when it came to retired couples who just wanted to get some rest. I don’t work there anymore, and don’t miss it one little bit.