Why we want to resume RV living

[khb]

Before our second child my wife and I lived in a VW minibus and after they all left the nest, we lived in a pop-up truck camper. That was in Africa.

Now that we are back in the USA, a year removed from my retirement, we are looking forward to our next RV, this time a more spacious one, a class B, the Winnebago Travato. 

As we process this decision, we see it as not being really about economics. The cheapest way to travel is with our own car or with aircraft, staying in motels. We are able to do that with relative freedom since we don't have a dog, like many RVers.

So what is the reason to get back into RVing? If it's not about cost-minimization or about traveling with furry friends, why do we see it as compelling?

Here are our reasons:

1. Fastidiousness. We prefer by our own hygienic standards rather than those of others. Think about how unsanitary restaurants, motels and airplanes can be and ask if you would prefer having control over what has been done to make your space clean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsk-pR6VEho
2. Maintaining your own best diet. Everyone has their preferences and we don't need to tell you ours. It is nice to know what is going into that next hotdog you eat, or how many calories in fat you are going to take in. You may think food in restaurants tends to have too much salt or sugar, or the sizes are too big. You may prefer take-outs that you eat as a couple, shamelessly.
3. Not leaving stuff behind, unintentionally or knowingly, with regrets.
4. Going off the grid. We would like to be helpful in places where there is less support available for visitors. Being autonomous is the answer. 

Maybe this is not new to you all. It says where we find ourselves.

[Kirk W]

I was going to say welcome to the forums, but I see that you have been a member since 2009 so I'll say welcome back and welcome home to the USA. 

[Al F]

1 hour ago, khb said:

Before our second child my wife and I lived in a VW minibus and after they all left the nest, we lived in a pop-up truck camper. That was in Africa.

Now that we are back in the USA, a year removed from my retirement, we are looking forward to our next RV, this time a more spacious one, a class B, the Winnebago Travato. 

As we process this decision, we see it as not being really about economics. The cheapest way to travel is with our own car or with aircraft, staying in motels. We are able to do that with relative freedom since we don't have a dog, like many RVers.

So what is the reason to get back into RVing? If it's not about cost-minimization or about traveling with furry friends, why do we see it as compelling?

Here are our reasons:

1. Fastidiousness. We prefer by our own hygienic standards rather than those of others. Think about how unsanitary restaurants, motels and airplanes can be and ask if you would prefer having control over what has been done to make your space clean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsk-pR6VEho
2. Maintaining your own best diet. Everyone has their preferences and we don't need to tell you ours. It is nice to know what is going into that next hotdog you eat, or how many calories in fat you are going to take in. You may think food in restaurants tends to have too much salt or sugar, or the sizes are too big. You may prefer take-outs that you eat as a couple, shamelessly.
3. Not leaving stuff behind, unintentionally or knowingly, with regrets.
4. Going off the grid. We would like to be helpful in places where there is less support available for visitors. Being autonomous is the answer. 

Maybe this is not new to you all. It says where we find ourselves.

We sort of agree with your reasons. 

As far as unsanitary restaurants, we figure if the locals eat there, it is clean enough for us.  We tend eat lunch out quite a bit and look for construction workers or police parked at the restaurant.  It they are parked there the food should be good.

As far as diet.  Well if it doesn't eat us first we will pretty much eat it.  We do practice moderation as much as possible, not eating too much.

We DO much prefer to sleep in our own bed, use our own bathroom, not be required to eat all our meals in restaurants and not leaving stuff behind.

AND we love being off the grid, boondocking or dry camping.  With our batteries and solar, we can continuously live off the grid except for going to the dump station and getting fresh water.  

Welcome back to the forum and back to the USA. 

[sandsys]

Not many people on this forum see a Class B as spacious. My last one felt huge to me since it had everything I needed. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I did mine.

Linda Sand

[RV_Fan44]

Welcome back to the US. Love that you want to help in places without much visitor support. 

[ToddF]

The various modes of transit and accommodation are certainly not mutually exclusive. Nor must one choose between living in a S+B or RV. Same with food, no law says you must eat all meals in your clean RV. If money is an issue, an RV is a terrible choice for many because of the fixed costs. Then again, one can find minimalists doing the lifestyle on the cheap...nothing wrong with it if you like boondocking. The RV is convenient, homey, mobile, self contained...fun fun.😀