5 reasons RV living is hard:
1: Everything takes a little longer to do.
So you want to grab that cute sweater right as you go to walk out the door. Wait. You need to lift up the bed to get to where you store those bulky clothes. And if you are like me you're too weak to lift the bed on your own if it has all the pillows and blankets on it. So first, unmake the bed and then grab that sweater and then remake the bed and now you are on your way. This is how getting simple items is just a little harder than before. I find everything has an extra step or two than it used to. If we want to play a game, we have to get up from the table, take off the cushions and get the game out, then put back the couch so we can play.
This is what it looks like when we get a game out
This is life when your storage is in places like under the dining table or under a bed that has to be lifted or even on the outside of your house. As we go, I am finding more and more how to place things a little more strategically so things are simpler. However, this is just a part of it. I noticed it right away. Everything is a little harder to do in a small space. However as the days go on I notice it less and less.
This is what it looks like when we get a game out
This is life when your storage is in places like under the dining table or under a bed that has to be lifted or even on the outside of your house. As we go, I am finding more and more how to place things a little more strategically so things are simpler. However, this is just a part of it. I noticed it right away. Everything is a little harder to do in a small space. However as the days go on I notice it less and less.
2: Cooking is more difficult.
Meal time has taken some adjustments since the move. The oven is super tiny and doesn't cook very evenly so we almost never use it. We have an insta pot that I use for most meals. I also have one skillet and one pot, so big meals are out of the questions and no meals that require cooking two things in a pot. I knew this would be an issue before we moved so I was prepared and had already put a lot of thought into the meal planning. It has worked out fine for us and for the most part I have been able to adjust. The other thing that makes cooking difficult is the dish washing. I have to hand wash the dishes, so I am careful with how much I use. I also only have one small drying rack with very limited counter space so drying too many dishes becomes a problem. So overall, cooking can be difficult without thinking and planning.
Our counter space is limited so the stove doubles as a drying rack. Everything takes a little bit of choreography to make it all run smoothly.
Meal time has taken some adjustments since the move. The oven is super tiny and doesn't cook very evenly so we almost never use it. We have an insta pot that I use for most meals. I also have one skillet and one pot, so big meals are out of the questions and no meals that require cooking two things in a pot. I knew this would be an issue before we moved so I was prepared and had already put a lot of thought into the meal planning. It has worked out fine for us and for the most part I have been able to adjust. The other thing that makes cooking difficult is the dish washing. I have to hand wash the dishes, so I am careful with how much I use. I also only have one small drying rack with very limited counter space so drying too many dishes becomes a problem. So overall, cooking can be difficult without thinking and planning.
Our counter space is limited so the stove doubles as a drying rack. Everything takes a little bit of choreography to make it all run smoothly.
3: Long showers are a thing of the past.
We are lucky to have a tank-less water heater. A true luxury when living in an RV. However this still uses up propane and that can get expensive. So showers are quick and to the point. We live where it gets cold. So of course there is nothing like a hot shower when you wake up on a cold morning. However standing in the water for very long can get pricey so we tend to take quick showers. The kids really struggle with this concept. You know kids and how they think money grows on trees. Sheesh.
We are lucky to have a tank-less water heater. A true luxury when living in an RV. However this still uses up propane and that can get expensive. So showers are quick and to the point. We live where it gets cold. So of course there is nothing like a hot shower when you wake up on a cold morning. However standing in the water for very long can get pricey so we tend to take quick showers. The kids really struggle with this concept. You know kids and how they think money grows on trees. Sheesh.
4: Privacy is non existent.
Being a mom, this hasn't existed for me for some time now. But I can imagine if you are used to privacy this can be a big problem. It seems like the second you get in the shower there is a line of people who need to use the bathroom. If you want to watch something or read a book, everyone sees you doing that and wants to know what you are doing. I have little kids so this might be worse for us than if you had teenagers who would just go hide in the bunkhouse. Just today I had a friend take the kids for a play date. I was alone for about 30 minutes and I didn't know what to do first. Should I clean, watch TV, read a book, talk on the phone, take a nap. There were so many options, the excitement was overwhelming. To be honest though, I felt this way when I was alone in our bigger house also. True mom life. Still, if you like to be able to go in room and close the door and watch tv or read or just think, that is not a possibility here.
This happened this morning when I went in my room. These three followed me in and commandeered the TV. Mom problems or RV problems? I'd say both. We even had Kya's friend join us. No one is immune to invading your privacy in a small space.
Being a mom, this hasn't existed for me for some time now. But I can imagine if you are used to privacy this can be a big problem. It seems like the second you get in the shower there is a line of people who need to use the bathroom. If you want to watch something or read a book, everyone sees you doing that and wants to know what you are doing. I have little kids so this might be worse for us than if you had teenagers who would just go hide in the bunkhouse. Just today I had a friend take the kids for a play date. I was alone for about 30 minutes and I didn't know what to do first. Should I clean, watch TV, read a book, talk on the phone, take a nap. There were so many options, the excitement was overwhelming. To be honest though, I felt this way when I was alone in our bigger house also. True mom life. Still, if you like to be able to go in room and close the door and watch tv or read or just think, that is not a possibility here.
This happened this morning when I went in my room. These three followed me in and commandeered the TV. Mom problems or RV problems? I'd say both. We even had Kya's friend join us. No one is immune to invading your privacy in a small space.
5: Space, Space and Space.
This is the thing most people comment about and think is crazy. To be living with little personal space is definitely a challenge. Each person in our family has about 25 square feet of personal space that they get to call their own. The rest (about 150) is all shared space. The challenge isn't just about privacy, but also about having a place to call your own. A place to put your stuff and to decorate your own. I tried to give each person a special place and it does work but a little more room per person wouldn't be a bad thing.
Trying to cook, eat, play games, build with legos, play barbies, and lots of other activities we do requires space. This means that everyone else has to walk over anything you are doing.
The bunk house during play time.
This can be a challenge for sure. We are getting the hang of it though and try to be careful where we spread out our activities. Space is the biggest thing we sacrificed and also the thing that is changing our family for the better. It's a funny thing.
There are definitely challenges to the RV lifestyle. However, once we made the leap we don't really feel any of these things are that big of a deal. That does not mean we don't enjoy the space when we play at friends houses or a nice long shower when we visit family. It's just things that we have to adjust to. At the end of the day, we are still happy about the move and look forward to what might come next in our life.
Miles of Love,
Stacey
This is the thing most people comment about and think is crazy. To be living with little personal space is definitely a challenge. Each person in our family has about 25 square feet of personal space that they get to call their own. The rest (about 150) is all shared space. The challenge isn't just about privacy, but also about having a place to call your own. A place to put your stuff and to decorate your own. I tried to give each person a special place and it does work but a little more room per person wouldn't be a bad thing.
Each child has a bunk decorated just for them and they each have a little storage container to keep a few items in their space.
The bunk house during play time.
There are definitely challenges to the RV lifestyle. However, once we made the leap we don't really feel any of these things are that big of a deal. That does not mean we don't enjoy the space when we play at friends houses or a nice long shower when we visit family. It's just things that we have to adjust to. At the end of the day, we are still happy about the move and look forward to what might come next in our life.
Miles of Love,
Stacey
Excellent!
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