Interior Levesque Camper
The Unique Freedom of RV Living by Tavi Meketon
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or every camper, trailer or recreational vehicle on the road, you will find a completely different reason for the occupants’ journey. Many have been contemplating life on the road for decades and some are “called” to a higher purpose or non-traditional lifestyle. Whatever their motivation, most share the love of hitting the trail and the endless possibilities. As Boomers retire and young people can consider a job that replaces four walls
with hot spots, jetpacks and a “gig” economy, RVs and other forms of transient housing have exploded. In addition to the demographic trends for a population that has spent years collecting “stuff ”, the opportunity to shed some weight and focus on a downsized existence is also appealing to many. This year, the United States Census Bureau will hire 14,000 employees to find and count the more than 1 million American citizens whose house has wheels or sits on the water. According to The Wandering RV, 2020 is predicted to return to growth with new record high sales of RVs, campers and trailers. Kay Levesque took her family of five on the road in 2012 (Love2Hope.com). She and her husband sold their home and committed to travel the country, hoping to
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raise awareness of human trafficking and related social injustices in order to connect individuals with tangible ways to make a difference. The Levesques intentionally simplified their lives and set out over the next two years in a 40-foot toy hauler, where they homeschooled three children and pursued their goal to educate America and make a difference. Levesque shared that the adventures, family enrichment and overall experience were something she will never forget and that living with fewer possessions was enlightening. “We can do more as a people when we are not bound to material things, and it is immediately apparent how very little we really need.” The biggest piece of advice she has for those who are considering some time on the road, or anything they have dreamed about, is, “Waiting for the day ‘when’ is not the way to live our lives. Today is the day to do it.” Paul Martin is considered a “fulltimer” and is on his third iteration of life on the road—setting out originally as a “hippy” who relished the freedom, independence and constant change it brought to his environment (Paujomar.com). Martin left for the second time to travel up and down both coasts with a girlfriend, and then finally a third time to stay on the road in his 30-foot airstream for the last eight years, as he travels to various destinations playing music and meeting new friends all over the country. He is a member of a Singles RV Club comprised of other single travelers who stay in touch and plan to see each other as often as possible. “Loners on Wheels” is one such website that allows full- and part-time travelers to share resources and friendships, no matter where they live or how often they travel. “In my mind, this full-time RVing lifestyle is one of the best ways to live free and independent. The feeling of traveling down the road as the sun peaks over the horizon, with my house on wheels and everything I need or want, heading to a new location, is so wonderfully exhilarating,” enthuses Martin. “I meet new people and make
