I was browsing one of the RV discussion forums and found an interesting question being asked of the forum members. "Why don't more people full-time?" Since I'm about to join those ranks I thought I'd try to answer that question from my own perspective.
First, there is no "right answer" and what I know comes only from several months of preparing to motor home full-time. I have yet to launch and right now I'm still three weeks out from beginning my new lifestyle. I do, however, know why I'm so attracted to this idea and would like to share my feelings on the subject.
When I say full-timer I'm not describing part-timers who keep a home to which they can return any time they get tired of the road. A true full-timer is someone who has no other home and if taken to the next level it also describes the person who has also sold or given away all the possessions that won't be carried along in the coach. That's the tough part. Abandoning one's possessions isn't an idea to be taken lightly. We can become very attached to "stuff" and like the proverbial albatross around the neck "stuff" can also weigh one down. Stuff is the anchor that once shed will allow for a truly free lifestyle. Being bound to one's stuff whether it be a house or the Mercedes in the driveway is all the same. It inhibits forward vision. Breaking the bonds that bind us to our normal lives is the key that unlocks the door to individual freedom. One thing is certain. Full-timing requires a certain mindset. It requires that we look forward instead of backward in our lives. This is no small thing and very difficult for most people.
I must confess the thought of leaving everything behind was a little stressful at first, but after some thoughtful contemplation the idea of giving away everything actually became fun. When I look forward at the prospects that lie before me I see giant redwood forests, wind and water carved canyons, natural monuments, rivers and streams. I see mountains and valleys full of Nature's magnificent flora and fauna. And I see myself integrating into that natural environment to the extent one can while living in a home on wheels. I expect to become a better person for my new chosen lifestyle and I expect to leave behind in my rear view mirrors any lingering doubt about my decision to abandon life as I've known it to now. If being truly free demands that I rid myself of my possessions then I see the trade as being more than fair. I can tell you there is a tremendous sense of relief when this commitment has been made. Houses are ONLY brick and mortar. New cars can be bought and new swimming pools can be dug. What a full-timer leaves behind is only possessions and they are, in and of themselves, meaningless and easily replaceable. The culture of materialism is a trap most of us fall into and removing one's self from that equation is what is most important, at least to me.
When I say full-timer I'm not describing part-timers who keep a home to which they can return any time they get tired of the road. A true full-timer is someone who has no other home and if taken to the next level it also describes the person who has also sold or given away all the possessions that won't be carried along in the coach. That's the tough part. Abandoning one's possessions isn't an idea to be taken lightly. We can become very attached to "stuff" and like the proverbial albatross around the neck "stuff" can also weigh one down. Stuff is the anchor that once shed will allow for a truly free lifestyle. Being bound to one's stuff whether it be a house or the Mercedes in the driveway is all the same. It inhibits forward vision. Breaking the bonds that bind us to our normal lives is the key that unlocks the door to individual freedom. One thing is certain. Full-timing requires a certain mindset. It requires that we look forward instead of backward in our lives. This is no small thing and very difficult for most people.
I must confess the thought of leaving everything behind was a little stressful at first, but after some thoughtful contemplation the idea of giving away everything actually became fun. When I look forward at the prospects that lie before me I see giant redwood forests, wind and water carved canyons, natural monuments, rivers and streams. I see mountains and valleys full of Nature's magnificent flora and fauna. And I see myself integrating into that natural environment to the extent one can while living in a home on wheels. I expect to become a better person for my new chosen lifestyle and I expect to leave behind in my rear view mirrors any lingering doubt about my decision to abandon life as I've known it to now. If being truly free demands that I rid myself of my possessions then I see the trade as being more than fair. I can tell you there is a tremendous sense of relief when this commitment has been made. Houses are ONLY brick and mortar. New cars can be bought and new swimming pools can be dug. What a full-timer leaves behind is only possessions and they are, in and of themselves, meaningless and easily replaceable. The culture of materialism is a trap most of us fall into and removing one's self from that equation is what is most important, at least to me.
In truth, though, I'm not really giving up much in terms of living amenities. Modern motorhomes are designed to provide most all of the amenities we take for granted in our stationary homes. So, when I'm parked on some mountain top or exploring a southwestern desert I will still be receiving all the same TV channels through my rooftop HD satellite dish. I'll still have a couch to lay upon when I'm feeling lazy. Sure, I'm giving up my 72" TV, but only because it wouldn't fit in the space I have available. Instead, I'll be watching a new 40" 3D LED TV that is still bigger than I really need. With my new gas BBQ grill mounted to the exterior wall and plenty of freezer space to store fresh caught fish and thick cut buffalo, elk or beef steaks I don't see myself suffering much while on the road. Taking along most of my home conveniences like central heat/air, an ice maker and a convection oven will be a comfort, to be sure. But, it is all virtually meaningless when compared to the other blessings I'm about to receive just outside my coach windows. How many of us, after all, will wake up in the morning to a bull elk bugling for his harem? How many of us will fall asleep tonight to the sound of a babbling brook, the hoot of an owl or the lonesome cry of wolves now repopulated in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks? Living on the road, I am told, is not a compromise to full-timers because the rewards so far outweigh the costs. I am a real believer and I've not yet even launched. I've convinced myself that stick and brick houses along with all the other materialistic trappings that hold us back are but an albatross around the necks of all free and adventurous souls.
It's taken to the age of 60 for me to make this decision and transition. Since my decision is already etched in stone I don't really wonder much about what motivates others. I just figure they are creatures of habit just like I used to be. And it's no crime to love your home, your friends and your life. I have loved all that, too. It's just at some point I found I wanted something more from my life. I've always been someone who wanted more and until now I didn't really know how to go about getting it. I'm still a work in progress, though, and to be honest I've had my doubts, especially when they've been so brightly illuminated by friends and family. Today, however, those doubts are no longer a part of my personal dialog. I now see the stuff I've collected over my lifetime as just an impediment to my personal freedom. To dwell in my past and to be constantly reminded of my past is to not move forward and not moving forward is no longer an option. Not forgetting the past is one thing, but dwelling excessively in the past is quite another. I am now compelled to move on. My new mantra is "ever forward" and what better way is there to live than to follow my dreams? When I search my heart I find I no longer need the kind of comfort and security that a stationary lifestyle provides. And please know that being free means more to me than just giving things away or picking up and traveling down the highway. It also means leaving my fears behind and becoming my truly brave Self. Full-timers are the new American adventurers. Move over Lewis and Clark. You've got company.
mb/jd
