10 Things I've Learned Living on the Road | 4 Year Roadiversary

4 Year Roadiversary, 3/16/2020 by Adrienne D. Cruser

4 years ago today, I spent the first night in my new home: a 35′ travel trailer at a KOA in St. Augustine, FL. I’d just left my home in Virginia, become a resident of Florida, and fully committed to a full-time RV lifestyle. That’s crazy enough, but I did it with my mom, a St. Bernard, a German Shepherd, & a Cane Corso Mastiff…in the same RV. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. You’re gonna fail at some things. Fail fast. Listen to your gut.

This photo in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, shows Home & my truck at the time, Jane Doe, back when I didn’t know any better. This is the #1 reason I became an RV Technician. (Helmur & Nilda looking out from the truck)

2. House training puppies in an RV is way easier than in stix & brix homes. Who knew?

Adopted as puppies at some point on the road: mom’s Malinois, Atlas at 1 year old & my Callisto, a 3 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback Black Mouthed Cur mix aka my dingo dog

3. Regular residential furniture is absolutely the way forward in RV interiors & is easily adaptable.

Not the final look, but this is our new living area which is a significant improvement over the RV furniture Home came with.
I’m working on the bunkhouse now & will share more about these projects soon!

4. Becoming an RV Technician & Inspector is the best career choice I’ve ever made. I never thought I’d be able to say, “I love my work.”

5. Living on the road has given me myriad unique opportunities in such a small amount of time–the things I’ve seen & done in just 4 years!

I’ve learned more & had more fun in 4 years on the road than my old life afforded. I’ve also gotten my workaholic mom to do lots of fun silly things!

6. Torque the lugs. Double check the damn lugs. No photo needed.

7. Life is still life, no matter where you live! We’ve lost people we love & all three canine companions we left home with. We’ve needed crucial repairs on the road, had accidents, & experienced other loss, illness, injury, & insult over these four years in addition to the great stuff. Like a stix & brix life, challenge & heartbreak are inevitable. I try my best to stay flexible & adaptable…& appreciate the tiny gems life offers us.