The new year is here, and that means it’s time to make some positive life changes. The typical resolutions of losing weight or saving money are just fine, and you certainly should implement those if you feel you need to. That said, there are some travel-specific changes you might want to consider making as well.
Here are our top 5 New Year’s changes we think every RVer should consider.
#1: Slow Down
Many of us tend to travel super quickly, jumping from one place to the next and never giving ourselves time to really soak in the ambiance of a place. Not only does this deprive you of experiencing some really cool things, it’s also incredibly tiring.
This year, consider slowing down your travels. Stay in one place for a month or more at a time. Meander from one place to the next, stopping when you see something that piques your interest. This slow type of travel gives you time to have spontaneous adventures, and those are the ones that’ll stick with you for the rest of your life.
#2: Invest in (and Use) Reciprocal Memberships
As a traveler, you probably want to see and do as much as you can while you’re out on the road. One of the very best ways to save money while doing this is to invest in reciprocal memberships. From museums and zoos to theme parks and even national parks, there are tons of awesome places that offer memberships that work at different attractions all across the country.
If you haven’t bought a reciprocal membership or two already, use the new year as your excuse to do so. Once you have your memberships, be sure to use them, making a point of finding places to go where you can use it every chance you get.
#3: Head Off the Beaten Path
Many of my family’s destinations are well known tourist destinations. I feel like this is true for many RVers, and really, there’s nothing wrong with this. That said, only going where other people have been is not likely to lead to big adventures.
This year, we hope to explore off the beaten path a bit and discover new and interesting spots for ourselves. Give yourself the freedom to do the same. You may be amazed at the gems you can find out there.
#4: Do More Boondocking
In the same vein as the resolution above, adding more boondocking into your travel schedule could be an amazing change. Just think of all the awesome places you could be seeing out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of a traditional RV park.
Boondocking regularly allows you to see those beautiful places, explore in nature more often, and can even save you some big bucks. Why not give it a try this year?
#5: Make Those Upgrades
You know all those upgrades to your rig? The ones you’ve been putting off? Those should be a final addition to the list of changes you plan to make this year.
Sure, it’s a hassle to pause your fun adventures and get out to work on the RV. However, once you have things like solar panels installed, a compost toilet added to the bathroom, and a Maxxair vent cover put on the roof, you can boondock for a much longer time and provide for yourself no matter what may go wrong. That added comfort is well worth the work you’ll have to put in.
In our opinion, these are some of the very best changes an RVer can make. Will you be changing things up in 2019? We’d love to hear about your plans!
About the author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
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