Do We Miss The Safety Of The Stick And Bricks?

It’s been over a 12 months now that we’re Fulltime within the RV. We really wouldn’t commerce this life-style for the world. However we’ve come to understand that generally we do miss the safety of the stick and bricks. At instances it isn’t even the safety, however simply “issues.” Doug just lately wrote an article concerning the 10 Issues That Suck About RV Residing. Nevertheless, on this article, I’d wish to deal with issues which are missed while you now not have an precise home.

When Doug and I began out we didn’t have a lot. Each of us are employee bee’s and made one thing out of nothing fairly shortly. We’ve each at all times strived for enchancment or to succeed in our subsequent purpose. Shopping for a house. Transferring to a greater college district. Surviving the lack of every little thing we’d labored for in Hurricane Sandy. We simply maintain going. That’s what we do. Objectives are set with the intent of assembly them. Transferring into the camper was a type of targets. And we completed it.

However generally, having a home would actually be superior. There have been loads of issues that we each simply MISS from the Stick and Bricks!

Safety Of The Stick and Bricks

Yeah, you’re proper, there are nonetheless doorways and home windows. However they’re a lot thinner now. Sure, we will nonetheless lock every little thing up, and we do. My neighbors are loads nearer now although. You don’t have a chance to know your neighbors both. Yeah, you’ve mentioned hello. You’ve even shared dinners. However do you KNOW them? Like actually know them the identical method you knew your previous neighborhood? Do you might want to know every little thing about them? Simply while you assume you’re snug, one among you strikes! Onto new neighbors as soon as once more.

Campground theft is an actual factor. At my home, I might depart my bicycle within the driveway over night time. Since transferring into the camper, it must be locked up on a regular basis. Whether or not staying in a Nationwide Forest or a Campground Resort, theft has been a difficulty in all places. We weren’t on the resort in South Florida for 10 minutes earlier than we have been advised of e-bikes being stolen. Not by fellow campers, however by individuals within the surrounding neighborhoods. Out to Residence Depot for some thick cable and Amazon for bike alarms.

Even foolish issues like new sounds outdoors could make you search that safety of a home extra. Once you reside someplace for some time, you develop accustomed to the noises. Creeks within the floorboards. Trains going previous within the distance. Highway site visitors. Something. However while you’re continually on the transfer, these noises are at all times altering. Even Lagertha has her ears tuned in additional to the completely different sounds.

A Family Kitchen

The camper we selected for our Fulltime Way of life was partially chosen due to the dimensions and structure of the kitchen. In all honesty, I can’t say that my camper kitchen is little per se. The range and the oven ARE little although. Consuming out all the time is just not an possibility. First, it’s method too costly. Second, it’s severely unhealthy. I take pleasure in cooking! We prepare dinner within the camper. Exterior area and cooking devices are a should, and we use them steadily too. However have you ever ever tried to make use of your camper oven for one thing giant? Like possibly a turkey breast?

The oven doesn’t even maintain an ordinary pan. I needed to exit and get a particular 13×9 cooking pan with little or no handles to slot in there. Neglect about making a cake. You’ll be able to solely do one layer at a time. Cookies too! The tiny cookie sheet I used to be capable of finding holds 8 cookies at a time. A batch of cookies is now an all day mission.

Except for the dimensions of the oven and range is counter area. Within the camper, every little thing has a really particular dwelling. Any deviation from that dwelling creates litter. Maybe I’ve at all times been spoiled with a big kitchen. However discovering a spot to prep any meal or goodies is like discovering a needle in a haystack. Not not possible, simply not going. And definitely not with out some type of mess occurring.

Sidewalks

I didn’t know I missed these. Actually, till our final dwelling, we by no means even had them. We’ve at all times lived in fairly rural areas and sidewalks didn’t exist. In our final dwelling although, we lived in a growth that had sidewalks. On a regular basis I might take Lagertha out for a stroll up and down the sidewalks in our neighborhood. She knew to sit down on the finish of the highway and look forward to me to inform her it was okay to cross. We didn’t fear about vehicles driving down the highway. They have been within the highway. We have been on the sidewalk.

Now that we’re in campgrounds or out on public land, there is no such thing as a such factor as sidewalks anymore. I’m glad there aren’t… It could actually look a bit ridiculous. However I miss them! I miss having them there after I go for my every day stroll with Lagertha. She’s fairly good about staying on the facet of the highway, however generally… “SQUIRRELL!” We’ve to be much more vigilant listening for vehicles arising behind us. Not at all times a straightforward activity with electrical vehicles as of late.

Lagertha has selected her personal, that she doesn’t go to the toilet on our web site. Placing up a little bit fence for her to roam in on the positioning isn’t actually an possibility for her. We have to take our stroll on a regular basis. Hikes are fantastic, and one among her favourite issues. However generally, she simply must do her enterprise. And going for a stroll is what we do. Having a sidewalk to take action on, would actually be good generally.

Storage / Store / Driveway

That is one we KNEW we have been going to overlook. Doug undoubtedly misses it greater than me, however rattling! I didn’t notice simply how a lot we have been going to overlook having a spot to work on issues. Issues go flawed in a camper. Repairs will should be made. Earlier than transferring into the camper, we had a storage. If the automobile Doug was engaged on didn’t match within the storage, we had the driveway. And if the mission was extra difficult we actually have a pal with a full mechanics store.

Not everybody has entry to all the above, however earlier than transferring into the camper, all of us doubtless have a driveway. Or a spot the place we will pull issues out and work on them. When issues break now, we’re actually quarantined to our web site. Which is fairly full with the camper and the truck already. Not to mention the instruments that we now not have. Time to finish a restore in a campground is way tighter too. We solely have so long as we’re there.

I’m serious about portray and reworking our lounge within the RV. I’m not about to begin this mission at a campground, Harvest Host, or boondocking location. House is required! I’ve to have the ability to pull all of it aside to color. Put it outdoors to dry. If I had a driveway, I might lay every little thing out and do it there. However I don’t. So this mission requires much more logistics and artistic considering to perform. And as soon as once more, I’m again to the time for completion.

A Fenced Yard

That is completely a double edge sword. We actually do NOT miss yard work like mowing and weeding. However, we do miss simply letting Lagertha outdoors. She misses sunbathing every time she desires. Some mornings we’re busy doing issues and all she desires is to be outdoors. If we nonetheless had a fenced in yard, we might let her out to run round. She might get her train with out us dropping what we’re doing. Since being within the camper, that’s now not an possibility.

I miss adorning my yard. Sounds foolish, and it kinda is. However I miss placing my faux flowers out for each vacation. Making my yard and residential really feel cherished and welcoming brings me pleasure. We’re solely normally at any given camp web site for two weeks. I’m not adorning my web site each time we transfer. Not solely as a result of it isn’t my property to embellish. However we don’t have area to retailer decorations. Halloween is arising proper now. I’d actually wish to carve a pumpkin for my entrance steps. However I don’t have entrance steps anymore. And I actually don’t have area for giant ol’ carved and embellished pumpkin.

A Actual Bathe

As soon as once more, that is one thing that we knew we have been sacrificing after we determined to go fulltime within the camper. The showerhead has been upgraded. We modified out our mixing valve to have separate cold and warm dials. Doug even put a holding tank in so our water strain was extra regular. However even with all the modifications, we nonetheless don’t have a REAL bathe like we did in our home.

Each Doug and I agree {that a} scorching bathe is fairly rattling near the highest of the listing of all time finest innovations. After a protracted strenuous day of climbing a protracted scorching bathe feels superb. Nevertheless, for those who reside in a camper, you finest go discover the bathhouse if that’s what you need. Lengthy scorching showers are a factor of the previous. At finest we will get a protracted reasonably heat bathe. Or a brief scorching bathe. By no means lengthy AND scorching in the identical bathe.

Identical goes while you aren’t feeling nice. I’ve been combating a head chilly for every week now. There isn’t a lot I wouldn’t do to only stand in a scorching bathe for so long as I need. Let the water beat on my face to assist break every little thing up. Sadly, that isn’t an possibility. Thank God for Vicks, or I could not be capable to breathe out of my nostril.

Nonetheless Wouldn’t Give It Up

There are most likely a number of extra issues that I might add to this listing. Little issues. Easy issues. Stuff you don’t even take into consideration till they’re not there. However we aren’t able to commerce the wheels in for bricks simply but. The professionals nonetheless outweigh the cons on our listing.

Earlier than you make the leap and resolve to go fulltime, actually take into consideration all the stuff you’ll be giving up although. Take into consideration the issues that you simply’re gonna miss. Make a listing and skim different’s articles. You must ensure that each factor in your listing is one thing that you could reside with out. Lacking issues are one factor, however are you able to actually give them up?