Across the country there are workers who will never go back to the office. They have been given the green light to work from home indefinitely. For some, it is a dream come true. They have plans to sell their houses, pack up what they don’t need, and live full-time in an RV.
If that sounds like your dream, go for it. Just be aware that full-time RVing in a work-from-home world may not be all it’s cracked up to be. You will enjoy the romance of RVing for the first few weeks or month, but reality will eventually kick in. Be prepared for it or you might just find yourself giving up before you have a chance to really enjoy it.
A Lot Less Space
One of the first things you learn as a full-time RVer is how challenging it is to live in a small space. You have gone from a full-sized home down to a motorhome or trailer that offers only a fraction of the space you are used to. You have to make it work.
You have less space to store your things. Your shower is much smaller. You will be cooking in a galley kitchen, eating at a small dinette, and working in a space no bigger than the janitor’s closet at your old office.
Comfort Requires Some Effort
You enjoy a certain level of comfort in your home, comfort that requires very little effort to maintain. For example, mechanical HVAC means your house stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You don’t even have to think about it. You just program the thermostat and let it go.
It is not so easy in an RV. Staying comfortable requires some extra effort. Sticking with the previous example, you may have to install RV skirting to guarantee your RV stays comfortably warm on cool nights. Connecticut-based AirSkirts says RV skirting is a must-have for full timers.
Sketchy Internet Access
Working from home is made possible by high-speed internet. With a computer and an internet connection, you can do your job from anywhere. Unfortunately, it is sometimes easier said than done. Why? Because internet access can be sketchy.
Most of your public campgrounds offer free or paid wi-fi access. That does not necessarily mean it is a high-quality service. You might be able to connect to the network just fine. But getting online? Forget about it. Hundreds of others are competing with you for limited bandwidth.
Anyone who plans to work remotely while enjoying the RV lifestyle should invest in cellular wi-fi. Carrying your own internet access with you guarantees you will not have to rely on potentially slow campground connections.
Dealing with Distractions
Distractions are a big problem for a lot of people who work remotely. At home, everything from your hobbies to the kids make it difficult to concentrate on work. Things are no different when you take to the road as a full-time RVer.
You might be the kind of person who dreams of working outdoors whenever you can. That’s great. Just bear in mind that there are always people walking and driving by at the campground. There are kids playing in the neighboring campsites. There are just as many distractions waiting to keep your mind from your work.
Working remotely presents a wonderful opportunity for people who dream of the full-time RV lifestyle. If you’ve made working from home work for you thus far, you might be able to make it work on the road as well. Just know that the RV lifestyle might not be as glamorous and romantic as you imagined.
Cousins RV offers flexible financing options to help make your dream of RV ownership a reality.
