Renovations and Preperations

As we contemplated relocating to the other side of the nation, we tried to determine how we could do so economically and easily. Rent on the west coast is outlandish compared to what we are used to in our little neck of the woods. And there was the question of furnishing a temporary home only to leave it all behind or try to sell our purchases. We had never considered camper life in the past but the more we thought about it, the more sense it made. We wouldn’t have to worry about furnishings. We wouldn’t really have to worry about packing. All we’d have to do is transfer belongings from our house to the camper. Then we could resell the camper and potentially make back our investment and essentially live for free rather than giving away $2000 a month in rent. Thus began our mission to find a camper. We looked at several different options. Some bigger, some smaller, and some that needed more work than we had time to do. Finally, we found a 36-foot Copper Canyon fifth wheel that was reasonably priced and not too small for our little family.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not usually content to leave things as they are. I must make them my own. So, of course, I spent a week painting, reupholstering, and decorating what will be my home for the next several months. Everything was that dark, drab, overly neutral early 2000s look that’s only purpose is to hide dirt.  

I painted the upper cabinets and bump out plain white to brighten things up (yes, I know I have toddlers but washing walls and retouching paint is a sacrifice I am willing to make to have a bright, inviting space). I then painted all the lower cabinets and the TV cabinet a medium green which I absolutely love. 

Finally, I wrestled the two massive, intrusive recliners out the tiny camper door and sweetly requested Alvin make a bench where I could store the boy’s toys and books. After some grumbling, he buckled down and constructed a beautiful piece of furniture that far exceeded my expectations. We had several old church pew cushions in our garage so I reupholstered them for the top.

I almost bit off more than I could chew with the project and was on the brink of pulling my hair out several times throughout the week (painting with toddlers underfoot is no easy task) but I was so delighted with the completed project that it was well worth all the stress.

I figured I would probably have to tolerate RV life, but it has proven to have a number of perks I did not anticipate. Because it is a small space, cleaning it is easy and quick and never overwhelming the way it can be in a regular house. The kitchen is small, and the tiny stove can be a challenge, but I’ve found that if I plan ahead and I work slowly and deliberately I don’t get frustrated with it. Because we only have the dishes we need I have no choice but to wash dishes as soon as they are used so I never have to deal with overwhelming piles of dishes. I have to carry laundry over to the laundry facility but have found I love the ability to wash and then dry all loads at once and fold them on the tables in the facility before carrying them back to the camper. It really expedites the whole process and I can get laundry done in a fraction of the time it takes me at home. Because the fridge is so tiny, I must carefully plan all meals for the week and be sure leftovers are quickly eaten and the space stays organized. Basically, this lifestyle forces me to maintain the good habits I always aspire to but don't always manage to keep up with in normal life. The biggest drawbacks for me are the low-pressure shower and the oven which is a pain to light and seems to burn food on the bottom and leave it undercooked on top no matter what I do. So far, this life has been great. We’ll see what I say in a few months though.😜