It has been 5 months since we moved into the Imagine full time and although we have fallen in love with our new lifestyle, it is not all roses and rainbows!
The best thing about the past 5 months and living the RV life is the freedom! We knew that by selling our sticks and bricks home and changing to “non-traditional” employment, our lives would have more flexibility and offer us a unique opportunity to see and live in some amazing places! If it was not for this change in our lifestyle, we would have never had the opportunities that we do now.
Another great thing about living in the Imagine is the lack of “stuff”. Because I don’t own a lot, I don’t have to manage a lot. I could never keep up with the cleaning and chores required in the sticks and bricks house! I was cleaning in circles before moving into the Imagine and I had no real since of accomplishment or satisfaction, but, RV life is different! We only own what we need with very little waste or excess. Dishes are done after every meal and counters are kept clean. Everything has a spot and is put away after every use. My weekly chores include sweeping, mopping, bleaching counter, cleaning the bathroom, and dusting every Friday or Saturday and on Sunday I do laundry. 1 load of cloths and 1 load of sheets and towels is all I have. My chores are completed in 30 minutes or less and I am left with a complete since of satisfaction that my efforts resulted in a squeaky clean house and clean panties for the week. Chris has his own set of weekly and monthly chores and together, we keep the Imagine feeling like home! Everything that bothered me about life in the house was solved when I moved into the Imagine.
The bad things about RV life is relative. I would say the one bad thing about RV life is the frequent repairs. Like every home, things break but when your living in a home on wheels, things break more often. When something breaks, because of living in such a small space, the loss is amplified and can’t be ignored. Whether it be something small like the blinds coming off the wall or something major like a water leak, repairs must be made the minute you find the issue. Some may see having to stop right away to do a repair as a downfall, but to me it is a positive. My home is always in good repair and well cared for. Others have also mentioned the small fridge, kitchen, and lack of space in general but with time you adjust and come to appreciate what these things offer! Less cleaning, less wasted food and smaller grocery budget, and less clutter!
(Warning: Not for those with a weak stomach) The one thing that is unique to RV living is dealing with the “Black Tank” also known as the Poop Tank! One of Chris’ weekly chores can not be ignored or our home will start to smell like a full Porta Potty that has been sitting in the south Texas heat all summer! Emptying and flushing the black tank every Friday is #1, has got to get done, even in the rain, sleet, or snow, and tornados don’t exist unless the black tank is empty! No one will tell you this, but the exhaust vent for the Black Tank is not far from the air conditioning intake vent on the roof of the rig! Yes, when the air conditioner turns one, it sucks the exhaust vent fumes from the black tank into the air conditioner and then into the rig! 🤢 Cleaning the tank weekly is the only way to prevent this smelly situation! A 20 minute chore is a small price to pay for all the great things this lifestyle has brought us!
The Good far out weighs the bad and the stinky and I would make this lifestyle change again in a heartbeat! We are 5 months into this adventure with no plans of going back! I have finally found my happiness!
