1 Year in 3 minutes

By RVLife Published June 14, 2019 One Year

One year! One year of living and traveling full-time in my RV!

I’ve compiled a 3-minute video of my first year on the road:

My journey began a slow progression many years prior as I developed and executed a plan to retire at 50 and hit the road. On June 15, 2018 my house sold and I was living in my fifth wheel travel trailer headed to the open road.

25,000 Miles thru 15 States

This first year has been a whirlwind of incredible experiences and I have comfortably settled into the full-time RV life. I have appreciated the opportunity to catch up with old friends as well as making new friends along the way.

Here’s the 15 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee

Highlights

The absolute best part of my journey has been being able to relax and fully enjoy and embrace every person I meet and every experience I encounter.

Here’s just a few recent highlights from this first year:
Swimming with Manatees
Handling Bears in the Smokies
Synchronous Fireflies in the Smokies
Blood Moon
Sandhill Cranes
Bald Eagles in Alabama
Civil Rights History in Montgomery
Andersonville/Plains, Georgia
Mardis Gras in Mobile
Hiking, Mountain Biking and Kayaking
Driving NASCAR’s Parade Lap at the Mid Ohio Track
Promoting my book Black Elk Peak

Camping at Tombigbee National Forest in Mississippi.

Volunteering

Having the opportunity to volunteer has been rewarding. The six weeks volunteering with Habitat for Humanity were most fulfilling. Building houses for people in need of a decent place to live and meeting those partner families just makes it all worthwhile. Working alongside MCPHS college students volunteering their week of Spring Break to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge renewed my faith in the good to be found in the next generation.

Helping visitors during the nine weeks volunteering with Great Smoky Mountains National Park was a great experience. The many genuine thank you shout-outs from visitors helped make the efforts worthwhile.

A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.
Gael Attal, Poet

Perils

I encountered a few minor perils along the way. In retrospect, merely small bumps that barely slowed me down. Most notably were the two flat tires. Both incidents – one on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi and one in a construction zone on I-75 in Florida – were extremely inconvenient locations.

I spent a large part of the winter in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Living in an RV in bitter cold was a new experience and quite the learning curve. I was glad for the time with family and friends, and also glad when I was able to head south into Alabama seeking a break from the frigid cold.

Little River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

What’s Next?

I am wrapping up the last couple weeks of volunteering at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, before spending about two months (July and August) with family and friends – from Ohio to Mississippi. Then around Labor Day I’ll be in Albuquerque, New Mexico for six weeks of volunteering with the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Occasionally I am asked, “Any regrets?” Absolutely no regrets. I’m enjoying this journey. I also appreciate each of you who follow along and share my experiences.