Table of Contents Show
When you start RVing, you’re opening yourself up to a whole new world. The experiences you gain when living your life on the road are unmatched. However, trying to share those experiences with non-RVers can be challenging.
Not only can the lifestyle seem like a mystery but many wonder why RVers even do it. Sometimes, RVers are even judged for living on the road full-time! We recently opened up the conversation about these particular struggles on our Instagram account and many other RVers felt the same way.
There seemed to be a theme with certain topics that non-RVers bring up to RVers. So today, I wanted to clear the air and share a few things RVers wish non-RVers knew. Let’s get into it!
RVers Aren’t Homeless
Sure, technically we don’t have a house anymore, but the implications behind being called homeless feel much more than a technicality. The first time I told my office we were buying an RVing and heading out, the jokes about choosing to become homeless were non-stop. Selling all of your belongings and transitioning to RV life is already stressful enough. To then have people begin to call you homeless is disheartening and from our perspective, not funny at all.
Everyday Isn’t a Vacation
“You’re living the dream” is a common phrase we hear from non-RVers. In addition, we commonly get asked if we get sick of our permanent vacation. While RV life does grant the community great traveling opportunities, it by no means feels like a permanent vacation.
RVers are faced with constant struggles. Newbie RVers quickly learn there is almost always something to fix, a campground to book, or other issues to deal with. RVing actually comes with a whole new set of responsibilities and maintenance to stay on. Plus, the majority of full-time RVers cannot spend their money like every day is a vacation, otherwise, funds would run out quickly.
RVers Aren’t Roughing It
For every non-RVer that thinks every day is a vacation for RVers, there is another person out there who thinks RVing is roughing it. Many RVers have been posed questions like “how do you cook?”, “how often do you get to shower?”, or my personal favorite “where do you go to the bathroom?”.
RVs nowadays can be nicer than some apartments. They come fully equipped with bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, TVs, sound systems, outdoor kitchens, bars, and more. While yes, some folks could be roughing it with smaller RVs, the majority of full-time RVers are not.
Watch Out for RVers on the Road
A common response we got from fellow RVers was to please watch out for us on the road! When towing or driving an RV, it’s nearly impossible to stop on a dime. RVers are consistently cut off and tailgated on the road. So many RVers just wish that non-RVers would keep an eye out for us.
Look over your shoulder in advance when merging, give us space when following behind, and please for the love of all things, don’t make us slam on our breaks by cutting us off. Not only is it terrifying, but all of our belongings are in our RV surely taking a beating from the quick stop.
Please Don’t Take the Diesel Pumps
Since we’re talking about unspoken etiquette between non-RVers and RVers, it only feels right to mention diesel pumps. Many RVers use diesel for their trucks, motorhomes, or vans. Diesel is typically marked with a green handle at gas stations, and there are normally only two to four available.
We bet almost every RVer could tell you about a time when they pulled into an empty gas station to find someone using gas at a diesel station. It’s a bit frustrating to have to wait for a pump when the entire station is empty.
Now, if the gas station is busy and there is a line, we understand taking the first available station, diesel or not. However, it would be extremely helpful if non-diesel users would try to snag a gas-only pump before pulling into the diesel island.
Yes, RVers Miss Their Families
Many of our followers mentioned non-RVers ask them if they miss their families and imply hitting the road is a selfish move. We have had a friend or two tell us “I could never do what you’re doing, I’d miss my parents/grandparents too much!” While we understand that viewpoint and we very much miss our families, fulfilling our wildest dreams was important to us.
With FaceTime and apps like Marco Polo, keeping in touch is easier than ever. In addition, we value the time we have with family much more than we did before. Every conversation feels more meaningful and every hug is thoroughly enjoyed.
Give RVing a Try
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? Hopefully this post is able to shed some light on how non-RVers communicate to RVers. If you have a friend in your life that has an RV, I’m sure they’d love if you invited yourself over to checkout their rig and have a drink around the campfire! There’s nothing RVers love more than sharing the wonderful experiences that come with the lifestyle, especially to a newbie.
