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RV life

More About My Families Exciting, Full-Time RV Life

e.renee94 Leave a comment
full time RV life

Today, I thought I’d get on a little more personal level and take you a step farther into my family’s full-time RV life. For those of you that already know the jest of this topic, keep reading for a update on our full time RV living.

If you have read any of my past posts, you probably already know that me, my husband, and two small children live a full time RV life. But, you may have wondered a few things like… why we made this decision, how much we travel, what neat places we have been, what this year’s plans are, and so on. I may not be able to answer all of your questions about our full time RV life but this post should be a start!

Why do we live a full-time RV life?

Whether it be work or leisure, most but not all, live a full-time RV life by choice. Our decision, though ultimately by choice, was guided by a calling from God into the ministry. We made the choice to answer this call going on 2 years ago. We are now traveling the country wherever the Lord opens doors. My husband is what is called a full-time evangelist.

What does our day to day full-time RV life consist of?

My personal day time consist of a lot of the normal stay at home mom activities and responsibilities. Our blessing of a camper, to take with us as we go, provides us with a ‘home’ atmosphere of which I spend time tending to while caring for my family. Cooking, cleaning, meal planning, homeschool, and laundry often fill the early part of my day. If you are interested in how I control laundry overflows in a pinch or how I clean out and keep a small wardrobe, click on these linked post here or below.😊

My husband, on the other hand, spends a lot of his day time praying, studying, and preparing for the ministry. He also tends to things around the camper such as RV and truck maintenance and so forth.

Many of our evenings consist of the ministry, in which we attend many different churches, ministering to the people in sermon and songs.

What’s the biggest difference in our RV life and former “9-5” life?

For the first 7 years of our married life, me and my husband lived the ideal Mon-Fri work schedule. I was a stay at home mom with just a handful of housekeeping side jobs outside of the home, and we had every 3 day weekend off together. We had a perfect schedule and didn’t need to have much flexibility.

The biggest change between then and our current life style is definitely the flexibility issue. Full-time RV life, along with the ministry, takes a LOT of flexibility. You learn to go with the flow and not stress when things don’t go as planned. After living and learning this lesson for the past 1.5 years, I can see how this mindset can benefit anyone in any type of lifestyle. Let’s be real, even in the perfect scheduled life that we all love, things still go awry from time to time. Learning to make the best of it, no matter what, is a great benefit and blessing to the whole family.

Do we still have family days and dates even though we are always together?

Yes! Especially because we are together, living full-time in an RV can sometimes feel like the walls are closing in. This doesn’t mean you don’t love each other or that you are a bad family. You sometimes just need a break and the easiest way to do that is to plan a family day outside of those 4 walls.

The fact is, it’s easy to forget about family time or dates when you are always together. Some people relate “RV life” to a “full time vacation” and although we all admit to the flexibility and excitement traveling can bring, we still need a break from the monotony of our everyday responsibilities. That’s where family days and dates come in. No, my kids don’t get super excited over a long road trip anymore because that’s part of their life, I can just imagine convincing my four year old that his camper life was just a big camping trip 😂 but, if I tell him we are going to a local park for a picnic or to a local aquarium, he would go through the roof with excitement because it simply breaks up the monotony of our everyday life.

The same goes for dates, me and my husband don’t have a traveling baby sitter so we have to get creative. Date night may be staying up late after the kids go to sleep and playing a game of chess, or it might be a late car ride for ice cream. It takes a little more effort but dates are vital when you are cramped in a camper for months at a time, you need that time to just clock out and enjoy each other’s company.❤️Click here or below for date ideas after the kids go to bed!

Things I’ve learned living a full-time RV life

  • Be flexible
  • You don’t need near as much things as you think
  • Too much stuff piles up quick in -500sq.ft.
  • Kids don’t need much to be happy (link- a simple toy room)
  • There is a lot of wonderful people everywhere
  • The will of God is the happiest and safest place to be
  • When God calls you, He will make the way
  • RVs break, it’s part of it, fix them and roll on!
  • Travel can be expensive, budget & take advantage of money saving apps.
  • RV maintenance is a necessity to prevent many problems!
  • RV life takes love, patience, and understanding with each other
  • Take advantage of the outdoors (RVs are only so big)
  • Purchase a good RV & Truck, you won’t regret it
  • You can learn a lot about your RV problems online
  • Find a dependable RV handy man that you can call when problems arise. He may not be able to always get to you but he can give you suggestions and help with maintenance when you are home.
  • When ordering parts, price check! Amazon and RV trader are our favorites so far
  • Make travel days fun for your children, happy kids make happy travels. Check out my post here for travel boredom busters!
  • Amazon Prime can be worth the subscription with their 2day shipping and easy returns
  • Anywhere can be home if you take the time to make it a home
  • Traveling in a RV is the only way to go when you are fulltime!

What’s our plans this year?

So far, we have been to OH, KY, VA, WV, MA, PA and TN this year. Later this year, we plan to spend time in SC, KY, and OH hosting kids crusades, we are really excited about starting this part of the ministry back up. Before the kids crusades start, we plan to spend some time in AR and surrounding states. We can’t wait to see what else the Lord has in store for us this year, only time will tell. In the meantime, we will be settling into our new camper over the next several weeks, in between travels. We recently were provided with the opportunity to trade our RV in for one which is better suited for our full time living. We are very blessed and excited about our new home! Keep watching for pics and posts with it in the near future!

I hope you have enjoyed this post. Stick around for more links below on mentioned and related topics. What else would you like to know about our full time RV life? I would love to hear from you in the comments below! If you haven’t subscribed already, be sure to do so directly here below.

Happy Homemaking 😊

Related Links

https://asimplerlife.blog/?p=645
Date Ideas For After The Kids Go To Bed
How To Declutter & Lower You’re Grocery Budget
More than 50 family activities to do this fall
How to quickly clean out my closet
How To Hide Your Laundry Pile Up In A Pinch!
Why Should I Homeschool?
Family Travel Boredom Busters! (A List of 20+ audio recommendations, with links, included!)

How to quickly clean out my closet

e.renee94 1 Comment

I clean out my closet as a necessity being part of a full time RV family!

full time rv home

Home IS Where You Park It…

I guess I should start out by clarifying that when I say ‘clean out my closet’ I am referring to clothing. Although I do store a few items in my closest besides clothing, I do try to make the main use of my closet for clothes and clothing related items such as shoes, hats, belts, etc.

How to quickly clean out my closet

closet cleaned out
  • Remove excess hangers
  • Remove & store ‘out of season’ items
  • Remove definite “don’t keep” items
  • Remove “don’t wear” items for further examination (more on this below)
  • For each item you choose to keep, shift it to its appropriate place in the closet for quick organization

A closer look at cleaning out my closet

Remove excess hangers

Removing excess hangers is a quick and easy way to clear up some space. You can take them completely out for good or you can add them back in neatly on the side when you’re through.

Remove and store out of season items

Storing out of season clothing items separate from your closet is a great way to free up some space. Be sure to give your storage space a limit and rotate the seasons accordingly. Some great seasonal clothing storage solutions are : A small tote, A shrink storage bag, a square cube bin, or a old zip up bed set bag. Be sure to store the items away from moisture and keep them sealed well. If your entire seasonal storage cannot fit comfortably into your wardrobe, it’s time to downsize!

Remove definite “don’t keep’ items

Definite no keeps are those items that you wonder how they even got in your closet. The shirt you have been meaning to get rid of or the dress that really belongs to your sister. Removing these items is another quick and easy step to clean out your closet.

Remove “don’t wear” items for further examination

Now for the last step to clean out your closet! This step has always seemed a little bit daunting to me and that is why I save if for last. No, not because I’m putting it off but for the exact opposite. I believe getting the super easy steps out of the way clears a lot of space up fast and gives you a boost of motivation, making this last “harder” step seem less overwhelming.

Many post I have read instruct you to rid of all of the items you do not wear without further examination. This is one area I differ on when I clean out my closet.

Before you toss the “I don’t wear” item in the donation bag, I would like you to ask yourself a question.

Why Don’t I Wear This?

The answer to this question can direct you in this last step to clean out your closet.

Here are some common answers you may find yourself with

  • It doesn’t fit anymore
  • I like it hanging up but I don’t like it on me
  • It is uncomfortable
  • It’s sentimental
  • It was given to me
  • I spent a lot of money on it
  • I have others just like it
  • It doesn’t fit my lifestyle
  • I just never get to it
  • I forgot I had it
  • I don’t like to iron

Let’s break it down

It doesn’t fit anymore

We all have those clothing items that just don’t fit anymore right? I’m not going to suggest you get rid of ALL of your too small clothing, nor am I going to suggest you keep it all. Let’s be real here, consider your current situation. Are you in the process of losing weight? Is your situation temporary due to a pregnancy or illness? How “too small” is this particular item? Do you really love this item or do you just love its size?

Asking yourself many of these question can help you recognize the reality of situation better and make a confident decision. It’s good to have a small selection of items for weight loss but don’t go overboard, make yourself a storage limit for these items away from your wearable clothing.

Also, keep in mind that many people like to splurge on a few new items after weight loss. Some even use it as a weight loss incentive, consider if you are one of these type of people when making your decision.


I like it hanging up but I don’t like it on me

So many times my closet has been littered with this exact type of clothing. It looked so cute when I bought it! Maybe I didn’t try it on or maybe your taste has changed. The best solution I have found to deal with these items, is to simply depart from them and be sure to try on clothing before purchasing whenever possible.

*There is no reason to allow a item to clutter your closet if you wont wear it.


It is uncomfortable

When I was a teenager, it didn’t really matter to me how uncomfortable clothing was, if I liked it, i bought it. The difference between now and then is this; then, I actually wore the uncomfortable purchase. Now, it mostly ends up sitting in my closet. If you’re uncomfortable clothing has ended up on your “don’t wear” list, then you are probably in the same stage. It’s hard to break old habits but how about we part with these uncomfortable clothes and STOP PURCHASING THEM in the future.


It’s sentimental

Sentimental items can be hard to deal with. Each person carries their own amount of sentimental feelings. A few things to consider would be…

  • start wearing the item and enjoy it
  • store it in a memory bin
  • make something out of it (there are so many adorable items you can make from old clothing nowadays. (try a Google search)
  • display it (depending on the item, there are shadow boxes etc)


It was given to me

This item probably lands in several of the other “don’t wear” categories because if it didn’t, you would be wearing it. Whether your Grandma bought the wrong size, or your friend purchased her style instead of yours, now you have this item that you feel like you can’t part with. Here are a few suggestions I use when I clean out my closet, hopefully they help!

  • Consider the person before making your decision. Is the buyer more practical or sensitive ? Did they make a sacrifice for this purchase or was it a pass down? Do they notice everything or are they forgetful and care free? Knowing your gifter can help you handle each piece of clothing wisely. You never want to be or even appear to be ungrateful.
  • If you simply do not like the item, try it on with several different items before you completely decide against the piece. It may end up being the perfect match to something after all.
  • If you still do not like the item, try wearing it a few times around the giver or take some cute pics in the outfit to send to them to show your appreciation. Then after you have gotten some use from the item and some time has passed re visit the item. You may find you like it after all or you may decide to part with it. Sacrificing your feelings can be a great part of being thankful.
  • The last tip I have here is to be honest. This relates to the wrong size not if you don’t like the item. If someone tells you they have the receipt if you need to exchange, take the liberty to kindly tell them the item does not fit. Be sure to TRY IT ON first, to show your sincerity. Most buyers would much rather you return the item for the correct size than for their purchase to not be used. This also lets them know your correct sizing for future purchases.


I spent a lot of money on it

Spending a lot of money on a item that you no longer wear can cause a lot of guilt. What you must realize is, that holding onto the useless item does not make the situation better but only worse. My advise here is to simply let the item go and remember how you felt when purchasing new items. Allow this to teach you to be very specific in your spending choices.


I have others just like it

Having too many of a type of clothing can result in overlooked pieces. This is a great opportunity to donate! Figure up how many of this type of clothing you need between your wash cycle and toss the rest.


It doesn’t fit my lifestyle

Do you have 5 exercise shirts but never exercise? Maybe you have a wardrobe full of T-shirts that you only wear on the weekend. Realizing what you wear and how much you wear it can really tell you what categories of clothing you need most . Don’t hoard clothing you don’t wear.


I just never get to it OR I forgot I had it

Anytime I have clothing that lands in this category, I count it a great opportunity to clean out my closet some more. I mean think about it, you won’t even miss these items when they are gone!

I don’t want to iron it

Hopefully, I am not the only one that by passes a outfit due to its need of ironing 😂. No joke, I have enough ironing to do with 2 “men” in the house, I figure why buy clothing that needs constant ironing for myself when ladies clothing have so many iron free options. If you are like me, i recommend passing that wrinkly shirt on and doing the wrinkle test next time you shop!

For each item you choose to keep, shift it to its appropriate place in the closet for quick organization

This is a quick organization tip. Organize while you declutter and declutter while you organize! They should go hand in hand.

After!

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Also check out my related post here!

A simple toy room

The benefit of homing items

Small space child saftey products

A simple hand me down clothing system

Laundry stain remover