Posted May 1, 2007:

4.5 Simple Steps to Becoming an RV Fulltimer

So you’ve decided that running the rat race isn’t meeting the spiritual and emotional bills anymore. Or, you retired and discover that sitting on your buns and playing golf a couple of times a week isn’t enough to keep you occupied. Or, just maybe, you are a twenty-something individual that doesn’t want to get locked into a life of servitude to meet the mortgage payment.

These are all possible reasons to join the ranks of a growing group called “Fulltimers”. As a fulltimer, you live “fulltime” in an RV, Camper, Class A, or motorhome. You might travel from state-to-state or sit stationary. You might work or you might live off of a pension or trust fund. Heck, you could live a million different ways, but as long as you live in an RV then you are a fulltimer.

If you are already a fulltimer, then this isn’t the article for you. I am hoping to talk to the millions of people who are considering the jump to the other side. See, if you are already a fulltimer, then you know how easy it is to just “make the leap”. You would think that what I’m saying here is just too darn easy. You would tell me that all of this is common sense. But if you think back far enough, you can probably remember a time when making the move was just a twinkle in your eye… a time when not getting stuck in rush hour twice a day seemed impossible.

Having weeded out the people who have already made the move, I am now speaking directly to those of you who want to become a fulltimer but is on the fence. That’s you, right? Well the good news is: It is easier than you think. Here are:

4.5 Simple Steps to Becoming a Fulltimer:

1. Get Control of Your Spending: I like to look at my finances like a bucket with a whole lot of leaks. My bucket is my bank account, the leaks are where my money flows out, and the water in the pail is how much money I have. Now, the idea is to get the money to be overflowing like the universe (or God) intends for all of us. In order to get to that abundant place, we have to fix the leaks. Leaks might be a mortgage payment, a cell-phone bill, a cable bill, eating out, etc. I consider a leak anyplace that your money flows out because of bad habits or unconscious spending or monthly recurring bills. This type of spending needs to get nixed and fast. If you are going to be living on the road, you have to learn to spend smart and to cut down on superfluous spending. Truth be told, you don’t have a basement to fill with all of the junk you don’t need to buy anyways. Realize that this is the longest step and may take up to a year to do, but it will be well worth it when it’s all over.

2. Research Your Reasons: If you are hitting the road because you are having problems at work, home, school, relationship problems, or so the bill collectors can’t find you, then you have got to remember the old quote: “Wherever you go, there you are.” Quite simply, if you are running from a situation then you might as well stay at home because wherever you go you are going to find the same problems. In short, the problem is you. Well, more accurately, you are creating your problems. So the point here is to look at your reasons for doing this and ensure that they are good reasons like “adventure”, “exploration”, or something constructive. If that describes you, then read on.

3. Chart a Trajectory: Some people call this setting goals or making a plan. I call it charting a trajectory because trajectories can change and are prone to be more fluid. Whatever you call it, you’ve got to get your thoughts on paper. Some of the things you might want to chart down are:

-When are you leaving your job?
-What does my budget look like?
-What type of rig are you going to get?
-How are you going to keep in touch with family and friends?
-How long are you going to live this way?
-What do you hope to learn from the experience?

Get everything written down and put this sucker on your bathroom mirror to see ten times a day to keep you on track.

4. Quit the Job, Move into the RV, Hit the Road: Now is the time to just do it. A march of one thousand miles begins with one step. So just do it!

4.5 Realize it was a great decision: It’s going to take you a few months to get used to life on the road. It’s OK- you have plenty of time. Enjoy the ups and downs and ride the wave of life. There is going to be a learning curve, but remember that there are plenty of fulltimers out there to keep you safe, comfortable, and happy on this trip to nowhere we call life.