The First 100 Days

Today marks 100 days since I moved into the trailer, loaded up the fur babies, and left Georgia to start my nomadic life. So many things have happened. Some good, some bad, some funny, and all of it memorable. As I reflect on my nomadic life, here are 100 things I've discovered so far...

1. Don't let other people's fears keep you from doing what you dream of. Read that again. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the naysayers.

2. You really don't need much to be content.

3. Simple is best.

4. The world isn't as scary as the news channels want you to believe.

5. Most people are basically good.

6. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. More campsites for me!

7. Good pedicures are hard to find on the road. Yelp has been helpful though. Keep those reviews coming!

8. Always trust your gut. So far, I haven’t left a place because I felt unsafe, but I almost did. A couple other RVers pulled in so I decided to stay.

9. My dog rarely barks so when he does, I pay attention.

10. Having a dog makes it easier to meet people. You have to walk them and people can't resist a cute pup.

11. A good pet harness = peace of mind.

12. As does an AirTag on them just in case.

13. Animals are resilient. I'm so proud of my fur babies and how well they've adapted to life on the road.

14. So many dogs to pet, so little time!

15. I’ve not seen anyone else walking a cat.

16. People will stop their car or come out of their RVs and talk to you when walking your cat. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "OMG that's a cat!"

17. Being out in nature is food for the soul.

18. Fresh air and sunshine are the best anti-depressants.

19. Walmart pharmacies change your prescription number every time you transfer it to a different store and don't update your remaining refills. I now use Walgreens.

20. Slow down. I've learned to drive shorter distances and stay longer in each place I visit. It's always good to build in a couple of "veg out" days. I'm not getting any younger and need time to recuperate after several days of exploring.

21. It's hard to find Little Debbie Cherry Pies.

22. I have mastered the art of taking a hot shower, including leg shaving, in less than 6 gallons. (That’s the size of my hot water tank).

23. When you only have 200sf of living space it doesn't take long to clean your entire house. Score!

24. I can Tetris the heck out of any cabinet to make everything fit!

25. Some days I have no clue what I'm doing. That's okay.

26. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help.

27. Bad drivers are everywhere. When merging onto the freeway and you can see there’s a vehicle next to me and I can’t get over, you have a brake and an accelerator. Use one of them! I’m not the Starship Enterprise and I can’t transport out of your way!

28. I cuss most when I'm driving. (See #27)

29. I owe truckers an apology for all the times I cut in front of them in traffic. Big trucks and RVs can't stop on a dime.

30. When visiting you, I would rather sleep in my RV in your driveway than stay in your house. No offense, it's just home and I'm comfortable there.

31. The more places I visit, the more I want to see.

32. Lock down everything. It keeps the honest criminals honest.

33. Making an RV bed is an extreme sport.

34. I'm paranoid about running out of propane and check it often. I now have the Mopeka tank sensor with phone app so I don't have to physically check the tanks...so much easier.

35. Backing into a campsite and nailing it makes me feel like a bad ass. Especially when a man asks if I need help before I even get started. Nope. Move along now.

36. Seeing that I’m struggling with something and offering to help is being a gentleman and very much appreciated. Assuming I need help just because I’m a woman is being a condescending prick. I’m not the one who backed over the electric pedestal in their campsite – that was a man. (True story, it happened last week).

37. "Mansplaining" is annoying. Just don’t do it. (Do you see a pattern here?)

38. I miss my family and friends. It's not the same as being with them, but FaceTime helps.

39. I feel guilty not recycling my cardboard, plastic, glass, and cans. There are no recycling bins in campgrounds.

40. Not all campgrounds are created equal. There are good ones and bad ones.

41. Campground WiFi is pretty much worthless.

42. I need to figure out WiFi and cell boosters asap!

43. My iPhone takes better pictures than my Canon and is a whole lot lighter to carry.

44. Selfie sticks are still obnoxious but necessary when solo traveling.

45. I rarely remember to bring my selfie stick with me 🤦🏼‍♀️.

46. I don't need 40% of the things I thought I "had to have".

47. Purging stuff is a constant.

48. Less is more. I've gotten rid of over 300 pounds of "stuff" and not missed any of it.

49. I didn't need 8 pairs of pajamas.

50. I don't need 27 pairs of panties either but I'm not getting rid of them. I will NOT run out of clean underwear!

51. Laundromats can be expensive.

52. RV mattresses are horrendous torture devices; it's like sleeping on a brick. I replaced it with a Brooklyn Bedding Arctic Dreams mattress and it's the most comfortable one I've ever owned!

53. Travel days are always stressful.

54. I hate driving through big cities even on the interstates.

55. Garmin is not always reliable. Google maps isn't either.

56. Louisiana has the worst roads. It's like being on a galloping horse.

57. I love having my home always with me. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed every night, no matter where you are.

58. It's nice being able to pull over just about anywhere and use your own bathroom.

59. Texas weather is psycho.

60. The USA is a beautiful country...and I've barely scratched the surface.

61. I do not miss working and can't imagine being tied down to a job again.

62. 99.9% of people in campgrounds are couples. I've only met a handful of single female full-timers. I know they're out there, I just have to find them.

63. I've gotten used to being the odd (wo)man out.

64. Traveling no more than 225 miles a day is my sweet spot.

65. Nano tape will keep just about anything attached to the wall without harming it.

66. I enjoy the quiet.

67. Sadly, there are a lot of homeless people living in their cars. I feel blessed that I have a tiny home.

68. Getting packages delivered on the road can be challenging. Especially large ones. Not everything fits in an Amazon locker.

69. Every day I learn something new. Or several somethings new.

70. Following a checklist to set-up/tear down is crucial.

71. Things WILL go wrong. Just breathe.

72. I'm happier than I've been in years.

73. There's a lot of planning that goes into this lifestyle. You have to plan where you're going to stay 365 nights a year, what route is RV safe (i.e., no low bridges), where to have your mail forwarded to, what gas stations can I fit into, where to get groceries, prescriptions, vet care, etc. All in unfamiliar cities.

74. There is only one time the tank gauges for the fresh, gray, and black water tanks are correct. Before they're ever used.

75. Black tank accidents will happen.

76. I have a new appreciation for the Robins Williams movie RV.

77. I'm still addicted to technology. Apps are my lifeline!

78. Constant tidying is a requirement when living in 200 sq ft.

79. I rarely know what day of the week it is.

80. Or what time zone I'm in.

81. Food tastes better when cooked outside.

82. HEB grocery stores have really good frozen pot stickers.

83. There’s always something to fix or maintain on an RV. It's like an Angela Edwards (her nickname was high maintenance). Love you Angela! 😂

84. The days fly by no matter what I’m doing.

85. Yes, I have gotten lonely, but I don’t stay there long.

86. Getting a stamp in my National Park Passport is a thrill. So is adding another state sticker to my "where I've been" map.

87. I’m happiest when I’m out on the water in my kayak.

88. Being flexible is a necessity. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to change plans.

89. Redundancy is key. Always have more than one way of doing things.

90. Full-time RV life can be difficult and challenging. It’s still worth it.

91. I wish I’d gotten the theater seats instead of the couch. One day I'll change it out.

92. No matter how big your bed is, the fur babies will all sleep right next to you so you can't move.

93. One of the best things about traveling is reconnecting with friends and family I haven’t seen in ages.

94. RV screen doors don’t come with a lock. I guess I'll have to “MacGyver” one.

95. Five hour energy drink on travel days is a god send. All of the caffeine and none of the diuretic properties of coffee.

96. I rarely eat out anymore and I don’t really miss it.

97. I like my pour over coffee maker better than my Keurig.

98. Full-time RV life gives new meaning to the phrase "I sleep around" (sorry, couldn't resist that one.)

99. I look back at when I started this journey and am overwhelmed at how far I've come. I thought I knew a lot and was prepared. In truth, I was so naive.

100. . I have no regrets and would do it all again!