When we say to "Follow Your Internal Compass", many equate this to a spiritual journey. Almost anything can be defined as spiritual, though. What about someone's religious morals? How does one "keep their faith" while on the road?
When you're a full-time RVer, basic literature is not that bad of a thing to bring along. Just a simple book of scripture is all it takes, whether it's the Holy Bible passed down from your grandparents, or perhaps another book of teachings passed down or found in a store for your religion of choice. When you find a place to park, whether it be for a night or longer, drag that book out and go through some of it, even if it's a couple chapters. It might take a while to get through the whole thing, and maybe you'll want to skip around from time to time. It's all about your journey in discovering your faith. Plenty of religious groups are also distributing small magazines at no cost to you, and there's also radio stations and podcasts dedicated to this topic, so give those a try.
Religion is more than just prayers, readings, and a few old hymns; it's also about community building. This is probably the most difficult part of your faith to keep while on the road. Most of our personal interactions are only temporary, as we'll move on after a short time. Even if you devoutly follow one particular sect of faith, one congregation could be vastly different from another, so you can't always depend on that. Social media is certainly there to keep in touch with like-minded people, but they aren't always there to help you on day-to-day activities. At the end of the day, if you're a family traveling, the best moral guidance you'll have is with each other.
We know what some are thinking: "Why is another Bible thumper lecturing me about this topic?!" This is what comes to mind when you sell off the roots and go out into the world with your home in tow. For some people, it makes them question their faith. Is Sunday morning more than just filling a pew and throwing a dollar in the bowl? Is there something to all that stuff they were preaching about? Rather than grounding yourself in land or structure, you find something much more personal, much more meaningful. We don't receive direct answers from our faith, but it's a good start to figure out where to go.
Following your Internal Compass doesn't have to lead to despair. Just keep the faith in whatever you believe, and you will find yourself prosperous in your journey.
Well folks, as of the day this is published, we have officially been living in our RV for six months! It's been quite the journey thus far, even though it's only just begun. So sit back as we reminisce, look back a few of our older posts, see what worked, maybe have a laugh at some of the dumb things, and put it all into perspective.
Heading back to the first post we ever did, comparing the tent and car camping to the RV lifestyle. With the setup and tear down, it's just as complex as the tent camping, when you consider hooking up the truck, getting everything plugged in, maybe even decorating the porch. However, like everything else, it's as difficult or as easy as we want to make it. At the truck stops, just unplug the electrical to not waste the truck battery, and it's very simple. Like everything in life, once you get a system down in practice, it gets easier. Looking back, the one thing we did wish we brought was a tent or tent-topper. We know, it sounds a bit redundant. However, maybe you want to make a somewhat lengthy trip while you're at a place, perhaps 300 miles to the other side of the state to watch a rocket launch. Unlike the SUV, trucks aren't that easy for sleeping, save the tent topper for the bed in the back. Maybe a quick overnight in a tent site at a state park would have been a good idea. So much for that vow, after Delaware and Boston before the RV, of never doing that long of day trips again...
Taking a look at the kitchen stuff, surprisingly enough everything has been used, but we ended up adding a few things. First, a wonderful set of induction cookware that is able to be used on both the hot plate and the propane stove. It has served us incredibly well for anything that comes to our minds on what to eat, and is very easily collapsible for our small storage needs. Although we still use it, the large frying pan is a bit bulky, so we'll have to figure out what to do there. Secondly, a small air fryer. These don't take up much space, and work as great pseudo-"ovens" if we don't want to light up in the camper. The traditional coffee pot did not survive very long, sadly, but a stand-up single-cup maker takes up much less space and does the job, especially with many brews being sold in pod form.
As for the route planning, this was probably the biggest shocker from the moment we started the shakedown. First, line your pocketbooks, because the amount of gas you use is SO much higher when you're carrying that rig. And depending on where you go, it's not cheap, with the national average pushing $3.50 and almost all of California over $5.00 to the gallon! Second, don't expect to be able to go full highway speeds. Even over 60 miles per hour, you're going to start feeling your home behind you, especially if a semi passes you, so hang on and get used to it. You don't want to impede traffic flow, especially with higher speed limits in western states, even on the two-lane roads. Try to find a good balance. Our most common sin with travel, though, is over-compensating on the amount of time needed to get somewhere. Yes, a contingency is nice, but better to call and arrive a day late than to get there early and not know what to do. We arrived near our first planned destination about two days early, and had to sneak another trip in. Even coming to where we are now, when we told the owner and outgoing managers when we'd be there, we overshot by a full day, though we're thankful they worked with us on that.
If there's one thing we've learned in the last six months, it's this: Having a plan to Follow your Internal Compass is good, but always be on your toes, be ready to adapt, and learn from your mistakes. Here's to another six months, hopefully many more beyond that, and we look forward to seeing you on the road.
Looking for a fun seasonal destination? Love a good show, but stuck in the midwest? Looking for some fun family entertainment between all the shows? Never fear, there's a place in southwest Missouri for you.
Welcome to Branson, Missouri: The Live Music Capital of the World. Branson is a small city about 35 miles south of the famed Route 66 via the city of Springfield. Branson is nestled right within the rolling hills of the Ozarks along one of the major tributaries of this area: the White River. Once you make it to Main Street, a choice exists. Head east, and you'll visit the historic Downtown district, with many quaint shops and the first of the show attractions for which Branson is famous, the Owen Theatre. Head west, and you'll come across a multitude of theatres founded by many celebrities such as Dolly Parton, Yakov Smirnoff, Shoji Tabuchi, and Andy Williams. Before seeing one of these shows, perhaps visit one of several visitor centers which, like the eastern counterpart in Times Square of New York City, offers discount tickets to several shows in town.
If live shows aren't your thing, or you need something to do in the daytime, then never fear, because Branson has plenty for you. Visit a museum dedicated to the most famous oceanic mishap of the 20th century: the Titanic. Ripley's and Hollywood have also established a few of their brand of museums along the way. Maybe go to one of many family fun centers for a round of mini-golf, some go-karting, or ride the roller coasters that take advantage of the natural steep hills of the Ozarks. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of tourists, head outside the city for some spellunking. Southwestern Missouri is filled with many cave centers and other natural wonders for you and your family to explore. Grab a bite to eat at Paula Deen's famous restaurant downtown, some barbecue at several locations along the western Main Street, or at the ice cream and novelty shops throughout downtown and the west. Whether you're six or sixty, you're bound to have fun everywhere in Branson.
If you plan to take a trip to the area, remember that Branson is very much a seasonal location. The winter finds many of the venues and restaurants closed, while the retailers to the north of the city continue to service the locals. Once spring rolls around, everything begins to open in anticipation of the tourist season running through the summer. Plenty of hotels are centrally located along the theatre row of western Main Street, with RV parks and campgrounds around the outside. Springfield isn't far up US Route 65 if larger box retailers are needed for a re-supply.
So while your internal compass takes you southwest, maybe make a stop in Branson. Good times await all on your adventure.
As some of you are reading ptomes of us rambling about our lives, we all know what you're really wondering: What's going on with that fur baby of ours? Is he still with us? Did he get run over by a fifth wheel?
Rest assured, Miles is doing just fine. For those that don't know, because of his breed mix (Chihuahua, Pug, and Rat Terrier), we've come to refer to him as a "Chug Terrier". As of when this article is being written, he's about nine months old, and we've had people try to claim him from several states, including Iowa, South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, California, and Arkansas. He's also become well trained in cardiac abnormality detection, allowing him access to many places and more fawning from the public. Needless to say, he has remained an integral part of our adventure, and even now has his own TikTok channel for you to see him!
Bringing a puppy with you on the road comes with its own challenges. First, although many governments require preventive measures against rabies, you may want to also be concerned about the parvovirus, which runs rampant in many areas. There may be other diseases, so do a bit of research. As they grow older, you may also take the advice of Bob Barker and choose to "alter" your fur baby. As you travel and find vets, use your mobility to your advantage. Some parts of the country will charge an arm and a leg to even so much as see your pet let alone treat them, while others are more reasonable. Work with them as best you can to get a good deal.
The best thing about Miles' life thus far is that he's spent the majority of it on the road, so he understands "home" to be where we park it, and not necessarily a physical location. He has since outgrown the crate, and now freely enjoys our company both at home and in the office. He's grown an affection for noses and feet, and guards us at every moment, even the most inopportune. Oddly enough, his favorite word isn't "treat", "walk", or "ride", but rather "Bible", as that's when we all come together to enjoy the teachings of our past.
Our internal compass would not be well oriented without Miles. That little Chug Terrier keeps us well centered as we enjoy this beautiful country.
Ah "workamping", the way of life for many full-time RVers. For those of us retired and/or not bringing along some lucrative telecommuting job, it's how we keep the dream going. But if you're about to hit the road, what sort of oppoprtunities are there?
The most obvious workamping job out there is at a campground. One will run the main office, while another will clean up the grounds. It's not too bad of a selling point if you own a campground, either. Who better to know about and sell a camping site than the campers themselves? First-hand insight into the needs of your guests is invaluable. Not to mention, if you're the one working, you're likely to pick up a tip or two about another place to visit, and if you just came from another great time, return the favor and pass that along. The full-timers are always on the lookout for wonderful sights and adventures.
Campgrounds aren't the only place for a workamping opportunity, though. People who own commercial investment properties have noticed the influx of full-time RVers, and are jumping on the bandwagon to get them to help with day-to-day management and security. Some full-timers have been found to watch over and maintain a plaza with a number of offices and shops. Others are taking care of customers at the multitude of storage facilities popping up. Even farms, which have a history of hiring migrant workers, are now bringing in full-time RVers to help out with their tasks. The possibilities are endless!
Maybe you own a few farms or investment properties and want to bring on some full-time RVers to manage them, so here's some tips from us, your clientele:
So while you follow that internal compass, remember there are plenty of different ways to keep that journey going. Who knows what you'll end up doing while you join us on the road.
Happy New Year! Yes, it's that time again, where sporting goods stores are raided for exercise equipment, gyms see a drastic increase in new memberships, and secondhand stores prepare for a sharp increase in exercise inventory within the next two months. But what if you're a full-time RVer? What options are there?
If you're in a wooded or mountainous setting, such as a national or state park, then the answer is around you. Nature trails are a good source, and there are typically plenty abound. If you're close to a city, parks have been including walking trails within their grounds recently. It's also not a bad choice if you need to "get away" for a short time, as you'll be in close quarters with your family much more than if you were in a typical house or apartment. Long walks on the beach may seem a bit cheesy, but it's not a bad choice. For something a bit higher impact, go during low tide along the wet sand.
What if you're stuck working at the campground, or need to save some money on fuel? The driveways on these grounds are typically somewhat circular, so take a lap or two. If you don't mind the minor spectacle, take advantage of your internet connection. Almost every aspiring aerobics instructor and their mother has a number of regiments on streaming video sharing services looking for their "big break". Find one you like and try it outside the rig. Who knows? Maybe one of the campers in the lot next to you will be intrigued and want to join you on the next session.
Travel days can sometimes make this a bit difficult, at least for the passengers. The driver is already getting quite a bit of a workout as it is, as a nod of respect to the physical demands of stock car racers. Don't knock what's needed until you've driven over 500 miles in a day. Some full-timers bring gym memberships along with them. There are a number of national chains that allow you and your family to visit any of the network's gyms across the country. Some may be difficult to visit because they're within suburbs, but if you're able to park your rig, take an hour or two from the drive and go in. It'll also save you on water and service station fees if you can get a shower there.
Following your internal compass doesn't mean you can't get a workout. We full-time RVers simply find our own way to make things work out for us.
'Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the grounds, The campers still lay sleeping; there was hardly a sound. The site tag was hung in the truck's front window, In case of the park manager, his face would it show.
As I did arise, with many still in their sack, And stepped out of doors to empty the black. When miles away, there came a big noise; Some started to stir, while I kept my poise.
Inside of the trailers some families worried, With belongings in hand, they started to scurry. When the park manager, tripping out of the rec hall, Had a megaphone in hand, and thus he did call:
Now Fleetwood! Now Airstream! Now Hi-Lo and Jayco! On Coachmen! On Nexus! On Thor and Winnebago! The tempest is coming! The storm it is near! Unhook cords and hoses, and get out of here!
Some guests they did panic, trucks starting with a roar, But leave I did not, for I'd seen this before. I quickly went around with a traffic report, Showing dozens of campers, and said, "Hold the fort."
While walking near the office, there seemed a muffed craze; For the owners sent an e-mail: "The prices will raise." As they met in that place, I heard of their plan: "To get higher rates, the sites must change hand."
Henceforth the others I told, and they decided to stay; For we were savvy travelers, and just would not play. The manager, owner, and client hopped on Zoom, And spread news most dire: "There will be no room."
The caravan passed, disappointed, down the road, And loud cheers erupted from all those abode. I grabbed the park's megaphone, these words I did say: "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good day!"
When most people think of full-time RVers, they put them into one of two groups: Retirees, and Lottery winners. A number of years ago, part of a generation, then called "young full-timers", joined in on the lifestyle. Now more than ever, millennials are also starting to join in on the fun. And given Freedom Rolling falls under this new generation of full-timers, perhaps there's some insight into why it's becoming so popular.
There's an old phrase that describes people "breaking the mold". One of the main characteristics of the millennial generation is that we not only break the mold, but we throw it out the window. Our generation likes having our mobility options open, and we don't want to feel trapped in one place. That's why so many millennials aren't buying houses, even if the money was available to do it. Our white-collar work of today doesn't always require us to be in one place, either. The last couple of years has proved that remote work is effective, so why not pack it all up and live on the road?
As millennials, experiences are what is important to our generation, as opposed to tangible items. When taking a look at collegians in our generation, most of them are buying the experience of being in that college environment. With full-time RVing, our way of life is a perfect fit. This beautiful country has so much to experience, so why not head there and take it all in? It's true that each destination movement comes with a fuel cost, and there are sometimes admission fees to places like a national park, but everyone has their own budget for entertainment. Living on the road has always been and will always be as cheap or as expensive as we wish to make it.
Being a millennial on the road, just like the previous generation of "young full-timers" before us, brings its own challenges. Campgrounds are sometimes limited, as owners give preference to retirees and others of that age group. Many are bringing careers on the road, but there are still those of us that choose to workamp in order to make ends meet. Health insurance can be costly, especially if we are raising families while on the road. Many of us find with having these mobile experiences that the coverage we need isn't always that large. Millennials' ability to learn things "on the fly" are also put to the test, as maintenance issues happen often, and preparedness for these don't usually come from the schooling offered to us.
The good news is, not only has this age allowed for information to become more portable and our experiences shareable, but we also have a generation of full-timers before us that greatly help with lessons learned. With millennials and the next generation being very active with social media, we look forward to sharing the experiences we have, both good and bad, with the world, so they may learn from us. RVing has even become so popular that "home shows" now exist centered around buying motor homes and trailers to live full time, as opposed to real estate.
We at Freedom Rolling, just like many other fellow millennials, seek to follow our internal compass. Full-time RVing seems more and more like a good fit for those our age, and we look forward to seeing them on the road with us.
Working on the road is a challenge that young full-time RVers have to face. We at Freedom Rolling have always professed that our mobility is our greatest advantage. However, just like weather, you sometimes have to be ready to change work plans on the drop of a dime.
When we first began our RV adventure, we had lined up some work for ourselves. Just as it normally is when you are "entry level", it wasn't ideal, and only came with site for compensation. In fact, trips 6 and beyond may have looked drastically different. However, coupled with some logistical challenges with our arrival, the work we would have been doing wasn't fitting our internal compass. The good news is, although it's a fight for employment with other full-timers, the only limits we have with where to work is our ability to get there. So we head back to the job board, find an immediate opening with a good company with work that we felt would better suit us, and lo and behold, here we are, loving life and following our internal compass.
Finding employment, especially in the winter, can be difficult. In this industry, it takes months of pre-planning to even stay somewhere, let alone work. In the winter, you're pretty much limited to the southern part of the country, eliminating half the choices. However, don't despair, because if two new full-timers on the road for less than a couple months can find something, then so can you! Openings pop up all the time from cancellations and job turnovers. There are also plenty of new RV parks and park management turnovers where they start to realize that they need workampers to fill in the gaps. Best advice, if you're looking, is to stay as mobile as possible, don't get into too many long-term stay contracts, and be ready to work almost immediately. A good owner/manager will understand you have to be able to bring your home there, and just like a typical two-week start notice in the corporate world, they'll accept something similar.
Sometimes, when you get to your job, you may not necessarily enjoy your environment. No, we aren't to that point as of the time we write this. However, just like jobs in the corporate world, the same factors can arise in job happiness. The good news is that most work in this industry is seasonal, so you could choose to wait out the contracted time before moving on, leaving on generally acceptable terms on both sides. If that isn't enough, you can always go to the job board and find something else. Be careful when doing this, as just with retail, your desirability is based on reputation and potentially references. If you're traveling with a family, work it out with them and see what's best. Rash decisions are never a good thing, even in the RV life. With our trip 7 "escape", that was building for a while, and the change in terms was the perfect opportunity.
At the end of the day, never let work dictate your internal compass. Follow what your heart says, and opportunity will arise to help fulfill your needs.
English poet William Wordsworth wrote "The Tables Turned" back in 1798. For the full-time RVer, these words could not be more true. With limited space, it is difficult to carry a number of books, even with taking hard drive space and "eBooks" into account. The quotation from this poem, "Let nature be your teacher," was found on our travels, and is quite befitting for a new series on this blog, where we take time from the RV and look at the world around us.
At the south side of the Twin Lakes of Arkansas lies Norfork Dam. This dam was yet another of the multitude of projects built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1940's, in response to large amounts of flooding in this part of the country. As with many of the dams built by the CoE, a small amount of hydroelectric power is generated here, serving north central Arkansas. Today, a short driving route sits atop, connecting the communities of Salesville and Jordan, along with a boat access point to Norfork Lake at the high point of the dam.
A marvel of engineering is not the only thing this place has to offer, as nearby lies the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. In a bid to protect and sustain wildlife, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service established a number of hatcheries across the country to breed these animals before releasing them to their natural habitat. Norfork's tanks house several species of trout. Step inside the bird-proof netting and walk along the tanks; you may just see a number of baby fish jumping at the top of the water. Once the fish have grown to be self-supporting, they are then released into the nearby Norfork River to enjoy their lives. It is near the hatchery where Arkansas created a small catch-and-release pier to encourage the fish to migrate.Even if you don't have a pole with you, a short nature walk along the river will bring you to peace.
So the next time you need a break from the hustle and bustle of driving and camp life, let nature be your teacher. Allow it to re-orient your internal compass, and you will be better prepared for the adventures that lie before you.
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