Shut The Box
Written by outoforbit
Make no mistake, I understood at the beginning of my road trip life that RVs are thrown together like BS little houses on wheels that get shaken and rattled all around the country. I am glad I knew this going into full time RV life or rather, what I call my “Professional Road Trip Life.”
I have managed to stay on top of the maintenance items and complete renovations while on the road 365 days a year. Everything I thought of that was a fear or gave me great anxiety about this life was addressed in my pre-planning.
I used to warn friends to NEVER buy an RV! I knew… I knew that they literally fall apart while you drive them down the road.
I was worried about Orbit getting injured and where I’d go to find immediate veterinary care. I worried about mail, internet, my own preventative health care needs like routine chiropractic care or even finding gyms close to where I’d be parked.
This may sound funny, but if you are seeking a specific type of setting or convenience in relation to where you can stay for a short period of time, it is daunting. Anyway, I believe you understand what I am saying. The list of risks and reasons not to embark on this life was so long, but I was going to make it happen anyway.
Summer evening, Rockport Texas
Arriving in Fort Stockton, Texas
The mitigation planning began as soon as I thought of a fear. It was like I was battling in my head over why it can be awesome and why it’s a really illogical idea. Now I read blog after blog on RV budgeting, RV maintenance, and more. I have never considered myself handy, yet I have learned a great deal over the past three years. Some things I hire out immediately because their price versus my time figuring it out, having the right tools and supplies, etc.—it makes sense to hire.
I will say that everything I worried about has happened and I have survived it. I have also learned how to make the BEST PB&J sandwiches, and if I am feeling fancy, I may even place it in my George Foreman grill before consumption.
I used to warn friends to NEVER buy an RV! I knew. I knew that they literally fall apart while you drive them down the road. I have always joked about the game Orbs and I play when we arrive at a new location: Let’s go find the thing that broke this time, Orbs! In the summer months, this usually means weekly gameplay of RV Repair Whac-a-Mole. While RV living, I suggest saving extra money for this game.
On the flipside, there have been fun encounters that have just popped up randomly on a day when it seemed things just couldn’t get any better. The weather was perfect in the middle of winter. The new RV kitchen was located less than five minutes from the ocean and had dinner waiting. After a quick evening walk with Orbit, we found ourselves running into new acquaintances that quickly become friends over a game of Shut-the-Box. I of course, learned on the fly and incorporated Orbit into the festivities. He wound up beating the five other humans that played! Real story. Here’s the video clip from that random, sweaty, dirty day of beach play and frisbee.
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