When we moved out of our home in the city, we didn't have time to build another home before we got to Savannah. Our choices were an RV or an overpriced mobile home. The mobile homes we had looked at were more costly than the home we were leaving and knowing it wouldn't be a permanent home; I just didn't see that as practical. We also didn't want another large mortgage payment when the goal was to be self-sufficient and out of debt. So, an RV just made sense. However, there are some major differences.
An RV requires more planning with almost every aspect of living. If you lived in an RV park, or on land that had sewage and water, these things would be slightly different. However, we live Off-Grid, so that isn't the case with us. Our planning is precise and meticulous down to everything we buy and every trip to town we make. Not only to save money but because space is limited in the RV.
For instance, our power is run from a generator that is run from gas. Every two days on our way to take the kids to school, we have to take the truck into town with the gas cans in the back and fill them up. On that particular day, that will be the only errand run that morning. When we get home, we will fill the generator up and put the gas cans away. That day is usually the day we spend doing work around the land, whether that be cleaning out the chicken coops, cutting down trees, surveying the land or some sort of bug/predator control. If we don't get water on gas mornings, then before we pick the kids up from school, we will leave early and, on our way, to get them, run to Wal-Mart and fill up our four, 5-gallon jugs with water, so we will have water for showers, dishes, animals, and to the flush the toilet for the next twenty-four hours.
On the morning that isn't gas day, we will drop the kids off, go to Wal-Mart and get water, stop by Kroger or the meat market in town and get some groceries for the day or two, and then come home. If laundry has to be done that day, then we will pack the car down with the jugs, the dirty clothes, and stop at the laundry mat before the supermarkets and come home with clean clothes, water, and groceries.
On days that we have to dump our black tank, we try to align it with gas days, so the truck is only used on days it has to be used since we are currently borrowing the truck, and we don't own a truck yet. However, the dumping station is close to our house, and because of the mishap I explained in a previous post, we would never put our poop suitcase in the truck and take the kids to school... (Just in case it decided to explode in the school parking lot) So that is something that we will make two trips for.
We also don't have a mailbox, so in order to receive mail, we have to drive twenty-five minutes to the post office to our PO box. And I'll admit, I'm extremely lazy about that. Unless we have to go to Lowes or Tractor Supply for something for the dogs, cat, or chickens... I probably won't go there because it's so out of the way of everything else and I just don't think about mail.
Also, another thing about living where we do... There is no trash pickup. Usually on gas days, when we use the truck, we pile all the trash we've accumulated into the back of the truck and drive it to a local dumpster station. There are seven in the county. The closest one is near our small airport about twenty minutes away from here. So, we drive there, and separate our trash into regular trash, wood, or the other few things they have, and then disperse of it. So, that's definitely different than living in the city where you'd throw it in a can out front and they'd pick it up once a week.
However, on the weekends, we try to do something with the kids that isn't just work. We've gone to visit family, we've done things in town that they've had going on, but some weekends, we have just rested because life can get busy and hectic and some days it's nice to have nowhere to be or nothing to do.
Life has changed dramatically since when we lived in the city and were two blocks away from my parents, across the street from Wal-Mart and all other major stores, 3 miles away from my in-laws, and living with my oldest daughter and granddaughter. There is planning to do everything, to buy everything, to go anywhere. We even have to plan what we cook, because all the appliances are half the size they were just a little over a month ago. And that's something to consider. In order to live this lifestyle, you have to be ready for dramatic changes. I knew this is what I wanted, and my husband and I discussed how different it would be, and we discussed it with the kids before we made the change.
But no one knew exactly how much of a change it would be. How could we? My kids had lived in the same house their entire life and I had lived in the same two block radius my entire life and my husband had lived in the city his entire life. But as different as things are, and as much as life has changed, this RV lifestyle is amazing. Because while we are stationary now... I know at any time, we could hook this RV up and go anywhere we wanted to, and our entire home is here. (Minus the chickens and barn cat) I know that our life has purpose and meaning now. We have big dreams and goals, regardless of how many people called us crazy. And there were a lot.
And that's the thing. People will look at you like you are insane. But here's the truth. People don't have to understand your calling and your dreams. They don't have to like your choices. It's your life, not theirs. If they don't believe in you or don't like your choices, that's okay too. Because this life is short and if I've learned anything, it's that I'm going to do what makes me happy and brings me joy. Because this world is ugly, and half our world is on fire, the other under water, run by politicians on all sides who would like nothing more than a country of robot citizens and I figure, the only way to truly rebel, is not to rely on them.
So, this is my goal. To become debt free. Completely. To become self-sufficient. Raise my own food, grow my own food, find enough people to barter and trade with for things I can't raise or grow, and when the world collapses, whether that be in a year, or twenty, not only can I provide for my immediate family and extended family, but I can help those around me and I can teach those how to do the same for themselves. Because if enough of us learn to take care of ourselves, and take care of each other, maybe... just maybe... we can get through anything.
Side note- Order a gas siphon from Amazon. Then put it down in your water tank with the water jug being higher and let it go! No more holding the heavy jug, using a funnel. Easier on your back and you can do other things while your water tank fills up!
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