Simple Living | Live Work Dream | RVing Lifestyle Design Blog

Show Me the Money: Hard Numbers from a Year on the Road

September 4, 2023June 3, 2008 by Rene

One year ago this week, we drove away from Humboldt County in a daze. We couldn’t believe that we had really pulled our sabbatical off, and year on the road seemed like an eternity. Little did we know that it would fly by seemingly as quick as a two week vacation. We have so much to say about our epic journey. But for now, let’s start with the hard numbers.

Thanks to the meticulous Quickbooks expense tracking I’ve done over the last several years, and Carol White’s Live Your Road Trip Dream book budgeting templates, I was able to put together a budget that works for us. In short: we came in under budget, and the money we’ve saved will enable us to continue to live this lifestyle for at least the next year if we choose to.

If you’d like to see the technical details, a PDF with summarized numbers is here. But if spreadsheets make you snooze, then here’s a quick summary of my numbers for the year, and some ways we saved money:

Earthship Institute Tour Video

May 28, 2008 by Jim

Enjoy this video tour of the Earthship Institute Biotecture Headquarters near Taos, NM.

Colorado: What Real Estate Crash?

May 28, 2008May 27, 2008 by Rene

As soon as our rig crossed the border into Colorado, my spirit felt as if I had returned home. This land just calls out to me.

From Minnesota to Maine, there are lots of beautiful places in this country that I think I could live in. But none of them feed my soul like Colorado does. I know I’d love living here. But it could be a pipe dream.

Because in Colorado, you’d never know real estate is crashing all over the country. The Rockies are the most beautiful place in the U.S., and property owners know it. They have it made. I’m not seeing reasonable prices on any pieces of land, except for the most isolated patches of non-irrigated ag fields in the plains regions.

Living Lightly in an Earthship Home

May 20, 2008 by Rene

Learn about eco-friendly housing options at the Earthship Institute in Taos, New Mexico.

From the Blogosphere to Real Life: Meeting Up with Coffeesister and Rhodester

March 20, 2008 by Rene

Who says you can’t build real friendships online? Since hitting the road, Jim and I have been lucky enough to build friendships with some of our favorite Internet superstars, some of whom we’ve actually met in person. Finnegan was the first. Then came Heidi, Matt, Sara and Bella, Sami, The Big Dog, and now Rhodester and Coffeesister.

Flux and Skinny Chef: Two Artists, Living and Creating On the Road and in New Orleans

February 21, 2008 by Rene

As I previously mentioned, artists are flocking to New Orleans. My new artist friend, Skinny Chef (aka Mary Kate), likened the city to a blank slate, a place where great art is rising from the ashes of Katrina. We met Skinny Chef and her partner Flux Rostrum, down on the Bio Liberty compound in Slidell. They are moving to NOLA, to further her art, and expand Flux’s mobile broadcasting studio’s capabilities.

From Farmers to Fulltimers: Another Young Couple Hits the Road in their RV

February 13, 2008 by Rene

Younger fulltimers are workamping in parks across America while seeing the country in their RV

The Conclusion: Making a Living as Organic Farmers

March 18, 2022February 6, 2008 by Rene

What we learned as Workampers while living on the oranic farm at White Rabbit Acres, Vero Beach, Florida.

Don’t Panic, It’s Only Mud

May 3, 2023January 24, 2008 by Rene

What not to do if your RV tow vehicle gets stuck in mud and sand.

My Turn to Milk Fanny the Goat

June 16, 2025January 13, 2008 by Jim

Jim milks Fanny the goat as one of his workamping duties at White Rabbit Acres organic farm. Includes video.

A Vegetarian Sees Life and Death on the Farm

December 3, 2020January 10, 2008 by Rene

A vegetarian fulltime RVer gets used to life and death while work camping on an organic farm in Vero Beach, Florida.

Meet Outlaw; A Brand New Filly on the Farm

September 4, 2023January 4, 2008 by Rene

Experiencing rural farm living up close with Outlaw, a newborn filly born next to White Rabbit Acres in Vero Beach, Florida. Includes video featuring Indian Outlaw by Tim Mcgraw.

Build Your Own Travel Trailer, Cheap!

April 29, 2008January 3, 2008 by Jim

Watch a virtual walkthrough of this simple and affordable DIY travel trailer project. Includes video.

Deciding Not to Decide

December 31, 2007 by Rene

It’s a swampy night here in Vero, and we’ve spent the last few hours swatting away bugs while enjoying the last of the holiday season. This monumental year is coming to a close, and even after thousands of miles and too many towns to count, we are both nowhere closer to deciding where we want to live, or what we want to be when we grow up.

We have our favorite regions, but really, the only decision we’ve been able to make, is to decide not to decide. In essence, that is a decision of sorts, right?

Rene Rides the 1958 Farmall 230

September 4, 2023December 27, 2007 by Jim

At every county fair we went to this summer, RenÃ© would just have to sit on the tractors. And ever since we saw the antique tractor pull in Corey, PA she has wanted to ride a Farmall.

Well, she finally got her chance on the Quant’s 1958 Farmall 230. As one customer of the farm store said, “Looks like she’s having too much fun to ever get any real work done!” One thing is certain, Craig Morgan’s International Harvester is RenÃ©’s new favorite song.