Ten Things I’ve Learned About Living In An RV
‘Ten Things’?! What randomness is this? Wait, it must be Tuesday! For your reading pleasure, I present an (increasingly) rare Ten Things Tuesday post…
Believe it or not, in my first week here I’ve already learned Ten Things about living in an RV. Trust me when I say that while I did about eight months of research, there is still some “trial by fire” involved for this newbie in embarking on the full-time RV lifestyle.
1. If it’s not nailed down, it will move when you try to drive. Trust me on this one and nail it down. Whatever it is, just put a nail in it so it can’t move. How did I learn this? You know those little bottles of cooking extracts like vanilla, orange, mint, or almond? They fall and roll when in a moving vehicle. No, really, they do. Individually they smell intoxicating. Mixed together as a puddle in the bottom of your cabinet? Not so good.
2. There are four, yes, FOUR possible power sources for appliances: House batteries, generator, propane, city power/hookups. Generally, an appliance is able to use two of the four sources, but it also depends on the conditions at the time. As my memory is about as good as that of a goldfish (Once around the bowl and I’m saying ‘Oooh, that rock is new!’), I can’t be expected to remember which is which and when.
3. If you want hot water for your first shower in your new RV, you have to turn on the water heater. It’s only a little rocker button conveniently located inside. Coincidentally, near the shower. Just remember if you want your first shower to be a hot one turn on that button.
4. Bugs like lights. Especially when you’re in a rural area, and nearer to the ground than your suburban second-story apartment used to be. (I can hear a chorus of ‘Duh’ out there.) This may seem obvious to some, but having lived on the second floor in the suburbs I got used to not having many bugs in the house. Now? I’m getting un-used to not having any bugs in the house.
5. It’s much easier to keep a huge house clean, as opposed to a small one. This may seem counter-intuitive, but consider this: Take an average person and their average amount of daily or weekly dust and debris, tracking stuff in, making food and dirty dishes, cat hair (because this average person has a cat), etc. First, take that amount of dust and debris and spread it around a large 6,500 square foot house. You can hardly see the dust and debris. Now, taking that same amount of dust and debris, put it in a 250 square foot motorhome. Yeah, kind of concentrated, isn’t it? Cleaning daily is very important.
6. After loading all my stuff into my RV, I learned I need to take it to one of those big truck scales and have it weighed. I wish I had known this BEFORE shoe-horning in every. item. I. possibly. could. (When I go to the scales, I’ll try to take pictures of the event for you. Keep your fingers crossed that the RV is well under the weight limit.)
7. Even though this is a small space, you can still lose things in it. And then spend hours looking for the missing item, opening every possible storage space and cubby hole. Hours. Not kidding.
8. If you take something out, you have to put it away as soon as you’re done with it or you will trip over it. I just don’t have the kind of room in here to be as messy casual as I used to be. Sadly, my childhood ballet lessons were a waste of my parents’ good money. Graceful and sure-footed I will never be.
9. Boondocking: The act of overnighting in your RV at a place without water, electric, and sewer hookups. This can be anywhere from a national park, to a Walmart parking lot. Mine, like most motorhomes, is fully self-contained (a survivalist’s dream) so this is no hardship.
10. When you smell something funny coming from your RV, and suspect it might have something to do with your sewage holding tanks, your neighbors are VERY willing to help you discover the source of the smell and eliminate it. So, there was this smell, right? Not too hard to figure out it might be sewer tank smell. (Yeah, I’m super smart like that.) I look around and see no leaks, but knowing I know nothing I get help from a neighbor. Seems as I was supposed to leave the gray water tank valve open so it could flow into the sewer system. Oh. Not a big deal, as the tanks are made to hold the black and gray water when you’re boondocking, but I’m not boondocking. I’m just blond.
All in all, I couldn’t be more thrilled! One other thing I’ve learned: It’s so freeing to jettison all but the essentials (‘essentials’ includes extra clothes and shoes). Living in a fully self-contained, beautiful mobile house makes me feel spoiled. And I’m now free to move about the country!
Β UPDATED: I have since learned about the fine art of boondocking, the “blond” way.Β Don’t learn the “blond” way, read Ten Things: Lessons in Boondocking.
Once again — YOU ROCK! But I feel I must ask… WHY do you have all those little bottles of extract in the first place??? That seems to imply baking and WE DO NOT BAKE. Things are baked FOR us.
Bottles? What bottles? Oh, you mean those bottles! What did I think you were talking about? Oh, nothing, never mind.
Yes, I do love to bake and my new RV even has an oven! (Haven’t used it yet, though.) Bu you couldn’t be more right – things SHOULD be baked for us. However, my cat can’t work the oven so it’s left to me. *sigh*
By the way, your adventures have earned you a title on my Royal Court — you’re now the National Park Service Director, so just fire any ranger who gives you shit!
Thank you Love! That’s probably the best title I’ve ever had π I kind of like rangers so maybe instead of firing them I could offer a little quid pro quo. π hehehee
Can’t wait to see some pictures and hear more stories from The Road.
What a grand adventure this is going to be!
So sorry I forgot to post pics with this! I’ve just added some. I hope it all works out as I’d like! π
That is all pretty good stuff to know.
Where are the pictures!!!!
So sorry – I totally forgot to add pics to the post. I’ve added a few now. π
So sorry, guys! I forgot the pictures! Just added some π
Here you go cutie. Your bakeware wont probably fit. They have 7 pages of things to make rv life easier, and dozens for parts and replacement things. http://www.campingworld.com/category/rv-kitchen/25 I would have talked a little more but there are things you only learn from experience…
Thanks Darlin’! I do have some small bakeware, and made my first cake last night! I could use more, but then again, I don’t know where I’d put it all! I love the collapsible dish drainer though. Might have to get me one!
So was the neighbor how helped you with your sewer problem cute and single at least? Maybe a budding romance will form over your stinky issue. That would be a story for the grandkids!! π
LOL He would certainly like that, but no. He’s not my type (he’s looking for someone who’s dependent on him… I’m SO not that gal!) However, I’ve since had a second sewer problem – and a super cute gentleman, and more mature than the first, offered assistance. Trying to find out if he’s married (‘has family and a house in Oregon’ – but only talked about his two grown daughters, not a wife. Hmmm.).
Oh, no grandkids for me unless “he” comes with them. I’m not having any two-legged kids of my own, only the four-legged and furry kind. π
I can lose things just sitting in a chair, so I get that. As for daily cleaning – at least there’s not a whole lot of space to sweep/dust!
That’s a good point – the cleaning does go relatively fast. I cleaned and polished (LOTS of wood surfaces) the whole place in about two hours yesterday. Then tackled a new sewer problem, and after thoroughly washing my hands, had my first dinner guests over.
So now that you are free to move about the country, how far have you actually moved?
LOL About 20 miles round trip to the weigh station, the dealership and back to the RV park. Should be leaving for BlogHer on Wednesday, but the wee one needs an emergency trip to the vet today. We go in at 4:30. If the news isn’t good, I don’t go to BlogHer π
Cut AND “outdooorish”? You are a catch, young lady!
Why, thank you Dear! π
Thank you for the great article! I really understand tip number 8. With so little room, even the smallest of items feel like they take up all the space. I would like to offer one more tip, always plan some entertainment. There can be lots of down time between attractions. When youβre in a Wal-Mart parking lot, there isnβt much to do. We always bring our Tailgater Portable Satellite system from my TV provider/employer, DISH Network. Its just 10 pounds and very compact. We can take it anywhere and set our TV in just minutes, it finds its signals automatically.
You’re most welcome! And thank you for the tip. If there’s one thing I’ve got covered – it’s entertainment! I’m not much for watching TV, but have an antenna system as well as wiring for satellite in case I change my mind.