Six to Sixty Months

Six months ago the sales clerk asked us how long we might need a storage unit. If we expected to be in and out frequently, he would have sold us a unit on the first floor near the front. At that point we had not been on the road for more than a few days at a time. A few days after he rented us a unit we packed all our family heirlooms and mementos in a unit on the second floor near the back of the large warehouse. Did we choose wisely?

A few days ago another RVer asked us what we had found most difficult in the last six months. We looked at each other and told a story about a setback on our first trip as full-time RVers.

Later we thought more about his question and the related question: What has surprised us?

Difficulties

Where did we park the trailer? Moving every few weeks deters setting habits. When we first moved to Temple Terrace, because of the curving roads in our neighborhood, and especially for the first few days, I used my GPS to travel even for close trips such as the grocery store. But quickly I used it only when going to some place new outside that city. Moving our travel trailer to a new campsite every few days I have learned to drop a pin on Google Maps for our current location. In a small park, merely remembering its name is sufficient to get driving directions home. But in large parks —some have well over 200 campsites— with unnamed roads we might make a few extra turns before returning home.

Where is the nearest grocery store? Again Google Maps is a great assistant. In a few seconds we quickly find a store that should have what we would like to make for dinner. But the aisles are different from the store we where we regularly shopped only a few months ago, even from the one we shopped at last month, and from the one last week. Plus they might not have our favorite brand, and occasionally not even something similar what we have on our list.

Where do we send our packages? One of the upsides of internet shopping is knowing someone has what we need and will ship it to us perhaps at no additional cost. This is fine if we know where we will be when our package should arrive. Each campground handles mail delivery differently. Some hold everything at the camp office. Others enable deliveries direct to a campsite. But some campgrounds will not accept deliveries for campers for one or more delivery agents. And what if a delivery is late? Or we forgot to update our address before clicking Purchase?

Will our trailer fit? This is not merely a campground issue, but also when towing. Is that overpass high enough for us to fit under? Will that bridge support our weight? Can we make that tight of a turn? Will the traffic ever paus long enough so we can make a left turn? Our RV safe GPS app thus far has handled those issues well. Yet I have used Google Earth and Street Views to see what we might actually find along the way including reading weight limit signs on bridges we might cross.

How will local customs and regulations regarding the pandemic affect our plans? Each city has its own particularities. Some are very strict. Others act ignorant of dangers to their community. Typically we wear a mask and have been vaccinated out of respect for our neighbors as well as for our own protection.

Surprises

We have adapted quite well to living in a 300 square-foot home, making careful use of space and weight, and carrying only what we really need with us.

We have few items with us that we have not used and few items that we put in storage that we should have kept with us. Our abilities to adapt and use what we have and what we find has served us well.

We typically can tell what is in an envelope from an image of its cover sent by our mail forwarding service. From those images we can discern the rare item we want right away, which can wait until we arrive at our next campsite, and which they can shred for us.

And Beyond?

After six months on the road have we had enough?

Well, we do have camping reservations through March and have begun talking about April and next winter. Will we go to New England or Wisconsin this summer? Should we spend next winter in bouncing between Arizona and New Mexico? Please comment below.