Hitting the road to go full-tiime RVing is a big decision but it’s amazing how many people do it without carefully asking themselves, “How am I going to support myself?”
Funny sign at Luckenbach, Texas
Far too often new full-time RVers start traveling only to find themselves in a financial bind a few months later because they didn’t think the income part through.
Anyone can afford to live this lifestyle and you don’t have to have a fat wallet to do it, but sustaining yourself on the road and hopefully saving for a rainy day takes more creativity and discipline than the default lifestyle. Having multiple sources of income, aka “revenue streams” is crucial. We discuss generating income anywhere in our business blog, but for now, I just want to bring a handy new book to your attention so you can add it to your tool of ways to make money as a full-time RVer.
Boondockers Welcome RVing community helps frugal RVers find free places to go stay and go camping on private land in the US, Canada, Mexico and beyond.
With one week left of our final year workamping at Vicker’s Ranch, our second annual Eat, Shop Local Lake City Challenge was another huge success. We haven’t left this little town or purchased a single gallon of diesel fuel since we got here in June, and we’re eating really well.
With distances like this between us and the nearest “real” grocery stores, you may be asking: How do you do it?
Shopping local isn’t expensive, but driving to a “real” grocery store sure is!
It’s been 56 days since we’ve had a cocktail. Our closet is crammed with all of our favorite booze, because we stocked up at Costco in Las Vegas before we came out here to the sticks. But we haven’t touched a drop.
What does this have to do with full-time RVing? A lot. I’ll get to that. Meanwhile, we’ve been on the wagon, living like Mormons.
Thousands of remote, offbeat destinations line the back roads of America, all leaving imprints on your heart as you roll away to somewhere new. As full-time RVers we get the chance to revisit those magical places whenever we want, but life can get in the way and oftentimes the opportunity never seems to materialize.
The Road to Pie Town New Mexico
But when the cosmic road map finally aligns your present journey with an old favorite destination from the past, well that’s a sign you just can’t ignore.
Going Back to New Mexico’s Church of Pie
Recently while headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, we jumped at the chance to drive Highway 60 to get there. That two-lane route is a little out of the way to Sin City, but taking the slow lane would allow us to make a pilgrimage to The Pie-O-Neer cafe in Pie Town New Mexico.
Strawberry rhubarb pie masterpiece
This magical spot perched atop on the Continental Divide won us over way back in 2008 as we traveled with Jerry, and just like our sweet boy, it’s been in our hearts ever since.
Jerry in Cochiti, New Mexico
In Search of Mystic Pie
We waved goodbye to Waylon Jennings’ spirit and booked it out of Littlefield, Texas early one morning, high on caffeine and anticipation of our destination: the sweetest spot in New Mexico, about 3 hours southwest from Albuquerque.
Slice of Heaven in Pie Town, New Mexico
We needed to get there before the Pie-O-Neer Cafe closed at 4pm but were so excited we managed to arrive by 1pm. What a joy to see that the cafe was exactly as we remembered it! The moment we stepped onto the cozy front porch and opened the door, the heavenly scent of homemade pies wrapped its arms around us like an old friend.
Utah is one of the prettiest, most awe-inspiring states in the country with so many free, gorgeous places to camp.
A Perfect Spot
A few weeks ago, we stayed in this lovely free spot for a week, only seeing the occasional off-roader. It was lovely and peaceful, even during the busy Memorial Day weekend.
Dixie National Forest boondocking
We were only about 15 minutes outside of Panguitch, a sleepy little town that caters to tourists. The last time we had been there was in 1995, when we looked like this:
We escaped the madness and debauchery of Las Vegas weeks ago, but are still suffering from a lingering hangover brought on by staying in a city with the constant din of sirens, shouting crazy people and endless traffic. Thankfully we managed to stay cheap in Vegas with our Passport America club membership and other cheapskate methods. Here’s how we did it.
I wonder why people are always shooting at other people? Hmmm…
(Not) Leaving Las Vegas
Before we rolled into Vegas (without guns blazing), our main Arctic Fox window spontaneously shattered during our stay in New Braunfels, Texas. It’s crazy, nobody knows why it happened. So, in addition to Jim speaking at the 2014 Blog Paws Conference in Vegas, the other reason we had to stick around Sin City was for a replacement window that was supposed to ship to the local Northwood dealer (the manufacturer of our Arctic Fox), within the first two weeks after our arrival.
Reflections on being young, working-age, full-time RVers, digital nomads, location independent entrepreneurs and permanent road trippers in a 24′ Arctic Fox 245N fifth wheel.
