My fascination lately has been with simplified living, tiny homes, and RV living. Although we have a vacation trailer, I can't imagine getting everything I value in my home/homes into it. How would I store the books? How about the art? My gosh, the art would have to go, and how could I get rid of paintings I love so much? How about the Navajo rugs, the Hopi pottery, the rocks my parents collected that take up so much space?
Yet, there is this appeal at the idea of simplified living especially with a trailer and being able to boondock (live off the grid) with solar panels. For me, I like to stay connected in terms of the Internet and be able to write using my computer. I bought a fold-able desk to use next time out. We use HotSpots to connect wherever there is enough cell signal (some places there is not).
I hear about some who desire to live in planned, senior communities and to me that sounds like hell on earth. Yet, how would I feel about not owning anything but a trailer and truck? I don't know, but those who do it fascinate me, and I watch some of them on YouTubes to learn how they live.
That video is on a YouTube channel by a guy I check up on every now and again, Cheap RV Living, where he posts RVer interviews and what he's learned about how to make it work when you don't live a life like everyone else. He's done some good interviews with women who have chosen this life for assorted reasons.
Well, actually, on YouTube channels, there are quite a few women sharing their lives that way. Most are positive, but I've seen a few like the next link.
We have done trailer and van camping over many years and have had a few scary events also. Be aware is my advice. What she did is what we have done-- leave, even in the middle of the night, when it doesn't feel safe.
Still, most is good. It's not all about old folks these days. Some might be forced out of a stick and brick home, but there are those who want no mortgage or just the freedom to travel. Full time RVing is not new as I remember when our kids were young and a magazine called Trailer Life had a regular feature on those where their rigs were their homes.
While I don't see myself doing it at this point, I find the cable shows and videos fun to watch. I used to be a fan of the home remodeling shows, but now it's more tiny living or YouTube for those who have put aside the regular life for one that is unconventional. I am interested in why they made the choice and how they expect to live. I am interested in how it might change a person to live this way.
I've thought of it always as something I could do if the economy turns disastrous. It's not for me right now other than as a voyeur.
Some of that and my own experiences with trailering inspired me to write a novella that I first called Red Hawk Christmas but more recently changed to Diana's Journey. It might actually end up with a yet different title, as it's hard to get across a book that isn't really a romance as such and yet is about a romantic journey that a woman makes not to find 'the' man, but to find herself when life has changed for her.
It was intended to be first in a series of women starting over, with not all involving an RV; but I got sidetracked by the paranormal books and so that put that series on a back-burner for someday. (It also is the one that got a very negative review that literally killed its sales-- reviews can do that.). Still, I like the story and was able to share a lot of my own experiences where I've camped and spent time in the West.
I think it's had a problem with not being a romance and yet it kind of is. Cross genre books have this problem.
9 comments:
Not for me except as a temporary respite from yard work and housework. It is neat that one can disappear into the wilderness and be a cave man, though.
I can't remember how I saw the first one who made a living off doing these videos for YouTube and subscriptions from another service. I found it interesting especially when it's young couples. Before I saw the first videos, I knew it was happening a few years back by what I'd see at RV parks with obviously many living there while working other places. I like our trailer but don't think I would choose to live in one. The boondocking would appeal to me more than the parks where everybody is so close together.
Thanks for all the links, I have that fascination too! I just spent 5 weeks living out of a carry-on bag (flying) and couch-surfing. I didn't really miss all my stuff back home, but I did miss having my own space. Much as the thought of giving up all my stuff to live in a tiny space is very daunting, I might be able to do it. My big problem would be winter time: not a lot of places in Canada where RV living is comfortable in the winter time, and free healthcare here pretty much depends on being in Canada with a fixed address. Maybe there's a workaround that I don't know about.
I've thought I could do it but only when I had to do it. There is appeal in living light. I look around me though, particularly at the art we've gathered over the years, and wonder what would i want to part with... none of it! lol
I've seen a few of the tiny home shows where the person was an artist and that made for an amazing tiny home. I like best the ones who build their own with contracting out what they need to do. Nothing for my age but it makes it more uniquely theirs than buying one.
My cousin and her daughter built a tiny house, and she lives there. Works perfectly for her.
I'm considering it, or an RV. I would like a small cabin/farm house but they are not inexpensive.
I love the creativity in the tiny homes but an RV is more practical and love the slide-out in ours. It makes even our 25' seem like a little cabin. The issue with the tiny homes would be loft bedrooms as I always get up once at night-- not wanting to climb downstairs to do it.
By the way I really enjoyed reading Red Hawk Christmas.
Oh and thanks for the RV home info videos, I'm now hooked on watching them!
Thanks, Brig, on what was Red Hawk Christmas. I enjoyed writing it as I related to how it'd be for me if my husband wanted a divorce and I had do everything over. I think I'd like an RV IF I had two little dogs to share it with me :).
I really like watching the tiny homes and RV living folks. It's always interesting to me to find those who live in alternative ways.
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