Coming off the road from full-time RVing

Mrs. Professor and I have been full-timing for several years and thoroughly enjoy the lifestyle. There will come a time when, for whatever reason, we will come off the road as full-timers and revert back to being part-time RVers once again. If you are planning to become a full-time RVer, I applaud your decision and recommend talking to as many current and former full-time RVers as you can!

In this interview with former full-time RVer Joy McClain, you will gain some interesting insights. Mrs. Professor and I met and became friends with Jim and Joy McClain during our first year of full-time RVing.
Professor: How long were you full-time RVers?

Joy: Fifteen great years! In fact, it began as our honeymoon.

Professor: What were the phases of RVing you went through?

Joy: The first five years or so we just kept going from one coast to the next, north to south and east to west. After our exploring we decided to become work campers, sometimes just hosting in private parks. Then we began working with the rangers in state parks which was extremely exciting, especially in the Rockies. After three years of working in the mountains, we ventured to the Oregon coast and worked private and city parks during the summers and began hitting the deserts of Arizona for the winters. Our travels began to slow down the last seven or so years with the exception of staying out of the cold or heat. We stopped workcamping and decided to totally relax, which we did, and enjoyed every wonderful minute of it. I think it's called "finally really retired."Professor: Did you have an exit strategy?

Joy: To be honest I never did consider or have an exit strategy about leaving the road full of excitement and adventure; it was my husband. It never entered my mind to end that wonderful journey with all the great and dear friends we would meet every year, old ones and new ones. His strategy was to take me to the place I seemed to have cherished most on our journeys and tempted me with the perfect house. He knew I would love every aspect of that house including the perfect climate and extraordinary scenery. Our new house is not far from our Arizona winter campground where our friends meet every year.Professor: What were the things that most influenced you to come off the road full-time?

Joy: I believe Jim was mostly concerned about our future health, considering age, and thought we should have a home and yet still venture out on short jaunts.

Professor: What do you miss most about full-time RVing?

Joy: To be perfectly honest with all of you, I miss full-timing everyday. In my mind I miss the freedom. I have always felt "free as a bird," like we could fly with the wind. As for Jim, he is feeling very secure now that he has a place and a feeling of permanence. He says we can jump in the rig and take off whenever we want. Because of this we are now trying to duplicate everything in the RV, that we removed for the house, so we can just jump in and go.

Professor: How often do you use your RV now that you've come off the road?

Joy: Well, put it this way... We were off the road four months in the house, and back on the road for two months. How long we wait for the next trip, who really knows. I guess whenever the spirit hits us. We always began our trips with Willie Nelson's, "On The Road Again." It gives you a great sense of freedom.
Professor: If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?
Joy: Absolutely nothing!

Professor: Any other words of advice to folks who are thinking about going full-time?

Joy: Yes, absolutely! Do it now! Don't wait for, “Maybe we'll do it tomorrow." Life is too short and once you get on the road you'll always wonder why it took you so long!

Taking you inside the multifaceted RV lifestyle – Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing