Why we're Shifting Gears to RV Life

Life has a way of throwing curveballs and divots when you least expect it. For us, that curveball came in 2021 in the form of COVID. Just like the rest of the world, we were living through it and waiting for the day when “they” declared endemic. Then, we both got sick. 

In May of 2021, both Jay and I caught COVID-19. Through testing, we figured we had the UK Variant, and at the time, thought nothing much of it other than isolating and following the rules set out. As the days passed, Jay’s symptoms got worse, and we couldn’t get his fever down. I was giving him everything I could from the medicine cabinet, putting cold cloths on him, and making sure he had enough fluids so he wouldn’t get dehydrated. He started to have trouble walking to the washroom; both with his breathing and actually trying to walk. 

Long story short, I had to call the ambulance, and Jay ended up in the hospital for about 10 days. Within that time, he was also in ICU for about 4 of those days on high flow oxygen. Thankfully, he was never intubated, but that was a scary two weeks for the both of us. Jay being Jay, (a stubborn man), hates hospitals, and did everything he could to get released and back home. 

Once home, and a few weeks later, when he should have been on his way to recovery, we figured something wasn’t right. His once-active lifestyle was abruptly halted, and he found himself unable to do just about everything. 

Living with Long COVID

Before COVID-19, Jason was pretty normal. He liked his job, our lifestyle, and enjoyed outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking, snorkeling, ATVing and riding motorcycles (Kate does too!). However, after contracting COVID-19, Jason's recovery wasn't as straightforward as we had hoped. Weeks turned into months, and his symptoms persisted. The crushing fatigue, shortness of breath, aches and pains, random dizziness and brain fog, make it impossible for him to return to work. The diagnosis was clear: long COVID, and we were doing everything we could to get him back to work and finding ways to help alleviate his symptoms.

Turning Adversity into Journey

Fast forward to early 2024, and we have to pivot again. Faced with the reality that it was about 99.9% likely that Jay would not be able to return to work, and he being permanently “disabled”, we had to make a decision. We could either stay where we were, renting a cute 1300 sq foot bungalow with the long driveway, double garage (that was Jay’s shop), beautiful backyard oasis with the deck and the pond and the view (I miss that backyard), and essentially accumulate debt just to survive, letting life pass us by, or we could adapt to our new situation, pivot, and find a way to work through the challenge to an outcome (lifestyle) we would be comfortable with. We chose the latter. We decided to literally Shift Gears into RV Life. 

In May of 2024 we said goodbye to the house, the driveway, the garage, most of our possessions, (and the backyard) and moved into our 45’ Toy Hauler full time. 

Shifting Gears; A New Perspective

As I write this, it’s August and we’ve been living in “the rig” for just about four months. While the transition was mentally difficult, (there were a few tears from me) once we settled in (it didn’t take long) we felt free. The most common thing we say when people ask how we like it is “we love it!” It’s like living the simple life; things are just easier.

I never fully realized the weight of “stuff” and empty rooms, and unorganized drawers or closets in our life. It was easy to shove something to the back of the closet and “deal with it later”, or tell myself I was saving it for some later purpose or project, only to have it collect and take up space and be a constant weight that I needed to “deal with it”. That stuff became something to avoid. 

Moving into the rig created an opportunity to purge A LOT of this stuff. Weight restrictions if we were to travel meant that calculated decisions needed to be made on what to bring and what to leave behind. 

At the same time, we realized that we were not utilizing all of the space that we had living in a house. We thought about it, and in a day, we would only use about 30% of the total space we had. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room. If you put a GPS tracker on Jay during the day while I was at work, that would be pretty much the path between those areas. So, why did we need so much that we weren't using? 

So far, living full time in our RV has been a great change for us. It provides exactly the right amount of space that we need, and we use 100% of the 350 square feet we are living in; and there’s still room. I mean, we can’t host a party in it, but it’s comfortable for us, and more cost effective. 

Our Travel Companions: Willow and the Toys

Having an RV isn't just about the travel or the destinations; it's really just the vehicle that gets us to the experiences and locations we would like to see. The fact that we live in it is a nice bonus. Home is literally where we park it. 

And then there's Willow, our loyal, lovable, 11 year old golden retriever who has been with us through thick and thin. Willow is more than just a pet; she's family. She’s adjusted to the change in situation just fine. She loves being outside, and finds things to occupy her like watching for and sniffing out squirrels, and cooling off by sleeping under the rig. Her energy and enthusiasm for the outdoors make bringing her along an easy decision. 

Not just the dog’s toys, we're also bringing along our toys; two Harleys and two ATVs. This is one of the activities that Jay and I really enjoy; and while the rides are shorter these days, it still gets us out of “the house” and we can explore off-the-beaten-path locations with the ATVs and immerse ourselves in the open road on the motorcycles.

Embracing the (Un)Known

Shifting to full time RV life is a big change, but it's also not a new concept. Jay and I have been researching this lifestyle for the better part of two years; we have analyzed and discussed, conversed, dreamed, and now have taken action. We feel that this shift is an opportunity for growth and discovery. We're embracing this lifestyle, ready to face the divots, pivots, and accomplishments that come with it. Jason's illness and permanent limitations may have altered our course, but it hasn't diminished our spirits; we are just adapting to the circumstances that are put in front of us.  

Life's journey is unpredictable, and while we can't always control the challenges we face, we can choose how we respond to them. By Shifting Gears to RV life, we're turning a difficult situation into a chance to explore, learn, and grow stronger together. With our 5th wheel, motorcycles, ATVs, and Willow by our side, we're ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Follow us on our journey as we navigate life and eventually the journey.