Frequently Asked Questions

We get asked these questions all the time by fellow travelers, perfect strangers, and family. We understand this isn’t a conventional way of life or even a conventional way of retirement, so here are the simple answers to most of these questions.

Where do you live?

Here. We live here. Wherever “here” happens to be, that’s where we live. Presently, we live on a federal wildlife refuge near Lago Vista, Texas.

No, really, like where is home?

Here. Truly, home is where we go to at the end of every day. But I know what you are asking. You want to know where we park this thing when we aren’t traveling. We don’t. We travel. We go from place to place. But I’m being a smartass again, aren’t I? Ok, so our legal residence for all those pesky bureaucratic requirements of being a functional adult is Norcross, Georgia. We have lovely family there who we visit with at least yearly and we watch the dog and house when they travel. They graciously forward our mail and provide a sort of anchor should we need a place to go.

How do you pick where to go next?

For the past two years, we set a distant destination based on our interests and planned the route around points of interest or attractions or friends we wanted to visit along the way. The first year, we secured a job in California and planned a route that took us through the Southwest on the way there and up through the Pacific Northwest on the way home. This year, we decided to return to Oregon. We secured volunteer positions in Texas and in Oregon. Our route there will take us from Texas through Colorado, taking advantage of the weather as summer creeps along. We think next year will be some route toward Maine along the Eastern Seaboard. That planning is just beginning now…

How do you afford to travel all the time?

Honestly the rudest question we probably get. Well intentioned and innocent, I’m sure. But rude, nonetheless. How do you afford your home? Your car? Your vacation? Your kids’ college? Your fancy shoes?

We’ve lived a life that provided us opportunities to earn and save. We consider ourselves very lucky in that we have our health and the fruits of our early years. And, as Vic would say, we are fortunate that our stars aligned when and where they did. I retired early, he invested well. We prioritize the things that are important to us and are frugal when we can be. And we take care of our truck and our camper to fend off any damages that can come from neglect or misuse.

Another tactic that works for us is to plan at least half the year in places we don’t have to pay site fees for. We can do a few weeks or months here and there as volunteers, usually in places we want to spend some time as “locals” then we travel and roam the rest of the time.

How do you find those volunteer gigs?

Diligence. Patience. Resourcefulness. Federal lands like National Parks, Historic Sites, Nature Preserves and Refuges post volunteer opportunities on volunteer.gov. Most state park systems have their own websites and a process for you to register as a volunteer. Sadly, not all states’ volunteer portals are easy to navigate (Florida, I’m looking at you!) but most make it really easy. No matter the agency or process, there is usually some form of application, resume, hours for site negotiation, length of stay requirements, and scope of work discussions that happen.

What do you miss about having a real house?

Nothing. I’ve had several. Completely overrated. And besides, we do have a real house. It just happens to be portable. Sure, there were some initial challenges to overcome: deciding what “stuff” to get rid of, adapting to not having reliable internet and cell service, never knowing where stuff is at the grocery store. But as far as having a “brick and mortar” house, we don’t miss a thing. We simply traded “fluid management” for yard work, and we still have spring cleaning (and summer, and fall, and every time we pack up to move). We still wash windows and dust. But just like in a real house, we have a place to sleep, cook, eat, work, relax and play. It’s just most of those spaces overlap.

Don’t you feel cramped up in such a small space?

Nope. Our RV is 28′ long inside with a high ceiling and lots of windows and a back end that completely opens to create a screened in porch feel. The bedroom is “upstairs” in the front of the 5th wheel and has its own door we can close. We have a set of nifty swivel recliners that we can just turn around whenever we want a change of view and each place we set up camp we can arrange the space differently for a change of space. Aside from the physical characteristics of the RV, there’s are also earbuds for watching tv or listening to podcasts “alone”, books, respect for each other’s space, and the occasional hobbies or errands that we do separately. And of course, there’s always outside.

How long will you keep this up?

For as long as we can and until we decide to do something different! I’ve personally been traveling and living this way for almost ten years and haven’t grown tired of it yet. Granted, I didn’t have an RV, but I volunteered, traveled, planned long road trips, worked seasonal jobs, etc. I am super lucky to have met someone with a similar spirit of adventure and wanderlust. Vic shows no signs of travel weariness yet either, so I think we have a long way to go!

Where’s the best place you’ve been?

Well, that’s a tough question. This could probably be a series of posts all by themselves. Yep, that’s what we’ll do…share some favorite places. Stay tuned….