Our LTV Story: How we became full-time RV’ers

My name is April and my wife’s name is Jess.  This is the story of how we became full-time RV’ers. Our life together has been fast and furious.  We nurtured and raised one daughter, and two businesses simultaneously , while Jess worked full-time as an RN and then later as a nurse manager.  Our mutual goal was to travel and explore our country while we were both still young, healthy, and full of energy.  I have longed for the simplicity of spending my time in nature.  Through the years, I joked with my wife that I wished I could live in a tent. 

Our work schedules were purposeful and unrelenting.  We focused on our ability to afford an explorer lifestyle sooner rather than later.  Both of our jobs required us to always be on-call and we had to strategically plan our time together. As avid hikers we spent much of our free time in the woods, it was a completely different universe.  Escaping to the woods provided for us both the connection we needed to nature and to each other.  This time, although limited, resulted in more clarity and purpose in our day to day lives. 

A few hours in the woods, would replenish our commitment to our goals and provide the fuel for our busy lives.  At some point, we started researching RV’s and attending RV shows in large convention centers.  Could this be the answer to our dreams of travel and exploration?  At the time there was only one brand which interested us, Airstream.  The reliability, lifestyle, and finishes compared to our current life.  We could easily see ourselves traveling this country and living in an RV.  

Covid-19

We sold our primary business and were on the edge of our realizing our dreams of travel, just before covid-19 took over the world.  I felt disappointed and lost. Jess was busy working at the hospital and I was unemployed. A patient transport position, an entry level job, was available at the hospital where Jess worked. I decided to take the job. It was just what I needed.

I saw an entirely different perspective of what was being broadcast on the news. The hardships and loss were part of each day, as well as the smiles and stories we shared with our patients. I would have just a few minutes with each patient, while I was pushing their stretcher or wheel chair to where they needed to go. In that couple of minutes I had an opportunity to help that person have a better day. It was a rewarding job and helped me reset.

As in any previous set back in our life or business we made the choice to pivot.  The housing market was red hot and during Covid we transformed our backyard, creating decks and patios making it an entertainer’s dream.  After fifty years of living in Maine, we decided to sell our home and move to Denver, where Jess was hired to manage the NICU in the local hospital. We moved across the country and rented an amazing apartment in the city even though neither of us had ever visited Denver.  Denver replenished our soul.  The mountains and beauty were so different from the east.  Our goal of living on the open road was rekindled.

We had more questions than answers

We started to ask the difficult questions.  What do we want? A trailer we tow or an RV we drive.  Would we want a tow vehicle?  What will we do for income?  How do we get mail?  Where do we live?  What do we do with our pets?  How do we make this happen?  More questions than answers.  RVing full-time was in our conversations daily.  Facebook was listening and our news feeds were bombarded with ads for RV’s. 

Jess tirelessly researched RV’s and all things necessary for full-time living.  What does domicile mean?  What companies offer mail service?  One day she saw an ad for a Leisure Travel Van.  She loved it immediately.  We found a local dealer only an hour from our home and scheduled a meeting to look at their inventory.

It was love at first sight.  We were hooked.  Every unit we looked at was better than the last.  (Of course, these units were all sold)  Through our research and this visit we realized we had found our new home.  We believed their quality exceeded what we had seen in the Airstreams.  Our only decision left was what model would best suit our lifestyle. 

Choosing our new home

We first narrowed our choices by deciding we did not want a diesel vehicle.  Our business had owned a Ford Transit and it was a reliable, smooth driving, powerful vehicle.  We decided we wanted a Wonder.  Now which layout?  We loved the Murphy bed layout, but were hesitant as new RV’ers to have a slide. We knew we would want to flat tow a car. The garage space of the RTB was appealing, but with limited towing capacity it would not work for us.  

Our choice was simple the rear lounge fit all our needs.  Two separate living spaces and a well-organized layout.  After all these years we had chosen an RV.  We put down a deposit and placed the order.  It was estimated we would have a two year wait.  That time we thought would be beneficial in planning this next stage of our journey.

Unexpected opportunities

Life for us in Denver continued to be wonderful, hiking and exploring at every opportunity we had.  When two unexpected things happened.  My wife was offered a full-time, fully remote job, which she accepted.  This meant we would no longer be tied to any one place.  Then as suddenly as her job had changed, we were presented with the opportunity to purchase a new Wonder RL.  The RV was identical to what we had ordered aside from a few cosmetic differences.  It was a cancelled order located at a dealer in Sacramento, CA. 

We called the dealer immediately and verified that the unit was available and asked for the spec sheet.  It was perfect.  We knew how quickly units were selling and felt we needed to decide right away.  We talked about pros and cons and decided, like everything else in our life, we would figure it out and make it happen.   In just a few hours we set in motion the next stage of our life.  We called the dealer and gave them a deposit to hold the unit until we could fly there over the weekend.  We scheduled flights and booked a hotel within walking distance of the dealer.  Then the fun began. 

The details 

I arranged for storage in Denver as we had no parking at our apartment.  We chose a tow vehicle and purchased it over the phone.  The car was in production and would be a few weeks before we could pick it up.  I scheduled a hitch company to install the Blue Ox system https://www.blueox.com to the Subaru when it arrived.

I read so much great advice on the LTV website https://leisurevans.com and Leisure Travel Vans Enthusiasts Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/ltvrv/?mibextid=oMANbw that I made a list of upgrades.  Before even seeing “Voyager” I had scheduled a ceramic coating wax for the RV.  I arranged for ceramic window tint, as well as ordered a Furrion all time camera system https://furrion.com/products/vision-s-7-observation-system and scheduled its installation.  

Jess ordered a Starlink https://www.starlink.com/ for our on the road internet service and chose our mail service company.  We gave our 30-day notice to our apartment complex.  I began downsizing our stuff, selling it on marketplace and to friends. I would need a U-Haul to bring any remaining belongings to our daughters.

We also needed to find someplace warm to spend the winter, which was coming quickly.  We decided on Las Vegas.  It was central to many of the places we wanted to explore.  After many calls and listening to “sorry we are full”, we finally found a resort with availability.  I booked it immediately.  

In less than a week we had planned and put into action all the steps necessary to follow our dreams.  We flew to Sacramento, gave them a big check, received our training and began our new life as RVer’s.  It was a quick trip back to Denver across interstate 80.  We boondocked two nights with no problems.  We already loved our new home.

Downsizing fast and furious

Once we were back in Denver, we had four weeks until we became full-time RVer’s.  Just like in the restaurant days, our life was moving at a furious pace.  I was selling our stuff at such a rate we were going to have no place to sit before it was time for us to leave.  Each day I sold more of our belongings or found a new home for them in “Voyager”.   Our dogs Brownie and Teddy even noticed the changes.  They became very concerned any time I touched their stuff.  They watched extra kennels and unused toys leave with other families.   Our cat Cleo paid no attention until I started putting her in a harness every day.  I wanted to familiarize her with the process so she would be comfortable on a leash if it was necessary.  

Then our final day in a stick and brick arrived. We loaded the last of our belongings, which did not make the cut for the RV, into the U-Haul.  Hooked the U-Haul to Voyager and slept in the RV, for the first night as full-time RV’ers, on the street beside our apartment building.  In the morning we would head east to deliver the U-Haul to our daughters.  It was the end of October, and we were driving to Minnesota.  Time was not on our side. Winter was coming and the RV was not winterized.  Jess drove the car “Alice” and I drove Voyager pulling the U-Haul.

Mooch-docking

Our first week, as full-time RV’ers, was spent mooch-docking in our daughter’s yard.  Mooch-docking was a new term we learned, it means camping in a friend’s or relative’s yard without services, similar to boondocking. Voyager performed flawlessly, and we learned more about each system every day.   We survived a 28-degree night with no problems.  Our weeklong visit quickly came to an end. 

 It was time for us to get Voyager and Alice to Las Vegas.  We said our good-bye’s and began our journey westward.  Our plan was to establish residency in Nevada. Nevada was a good choice for us for many reasons. Becoming a resident was an easy process, the tax laws are favorable, and Las Vegas has warm weather year round.

Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world with an abundance of diverse activities to do. It’s also surrounded by mountains and hiking.   Good for us because we do not gamble. That was just a year ago.  We did everything we needed in Las Vegas, including cataract surgery for me. 

Loving the full-time RV’ers life

Now we are immersed in exploring full time.  A rhythm and routine has naturally developed which is working well for us.  We are combining boondocking, national recreation and forest areas, with state parks and commercial RV resorts.  

When Jess was working, it gave me time to research future areas and activities we would like to explore.  As well as all those necessary tasks and day to day chores. I said when Jess was working because we have had another recent change. After we reviewed our first years expenses, we decided Jess could take some extended time away from nursing. This will give us uninterrupted time to fully take advantage of this opportunity.

I have been able to slow down enough to let all the words, which have been piling up in mind for years find their way to my computer. Writing for me has been one of the best parts of this journey, an unexpected icing on the cake. Jess has built us a website to chronicle our adventures https://hikingmemere.com/ and has also been indulging in her creative art side. In the future we hope to have some finished projects to share.

Our journey is just beginning

Voyager has surpassed our needs.  Our pets have settled into the journey and seem to enjoy having their human parents around all the time.  I think the Cleo now actually enjoys moving days, which she was a little unsettled by at first.  The Wonder RL has space for everyone, pets and humans included.  It is comfortable and logical to operate. 

Our journey as full-time RV’ers is just beginning.  What took a lifetime of work, materialized in just a few short weeks and has already been an incredible journey.  Leisure Travel Van was our gateway to our new future https://hikingmemere.com/our-gear-list-leisure-travel-van/.  I am thank-full for the opportunity we have in front of us.  We are excited to share our story and adventures with our friends and family.