Robert and Adele Walker each operate businesses in Selma and live in an RV there. Robert runs Walker's Treasure Box, which is operating out of Harper's Flea Market in Smithfield while a building they have purchased in Selma is renovated, and Adele is a Realtor with Grow Local Realty.
SELMA BUSINESS OWNERS CHOOSE THE RV LIFE By MIKE BOLLINGER
SELMA — Most people probably don’t think of recreational vehicles as permanent homes, but for some Selma business owners, that’s exactly the case. Sara Buxton, Robert and Adele Walker and Diane Weeks have all chosen to live in RVs in Selma. They live in parks designed specifically for the vehicles. Buxton owns Raleigh Night Market under the business name of The Night Market Co. She produces large and small-scale vendor events in Apex, Cary, Durham, Garner and Raleigh. “We use all North Carolina artisan vendors. Our events are geared to providing an experience,” she said. “We do a mix of things to bring people together.” Buxton said the commute from Selma to her event locations can be a challenge at times. “There’s a lot of driving involved 36 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]
in that,” she said. It was a series of personal events that led to her choosing to live in her RV. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I bought the RV to be near my family and not have to live in hotels during treatment. I knew I would always have a clean place to stay,” Buxton said. “I could also avoid staying in hotels if I wanted to travel.” She had a second cancer scare in November 2020, and during that same time frame, the dog she had at that time was also diagnosed with cancer. Her scans eventually came back clear, but unfortunately, the dog passed away. She is currently being treated with chemotherapy medication, and will reach her two-year cancer-free mark in July, putting her officially in remission. She said it had always been her dream
to live full-time in an RV and enjoy the freedom associated with that lifestyle. “I think (the RV park) has a really good sense of community. A lot of people don’t understand this kind of gypsylike life with no attachment. It’s not for everybody. Those who down this kind of life have never done it.” Buxton said there are many other residents of the park who live there fulltime. “They check in on me. They know me,” she said. Another reason she enjoys the RV life, she said, is that she is not attached to a lease or a mortgage. “I’ll always have a home. I want to grow my business into other states, and I’ll always have a place to stay if I need to travel,” Buxton continued. Because of rules against gatherings during the pandemic, she had to shut her business down until the rules were relaxed because her events normally draw between
