(Thank you, Yvon Chouinard!!)
Having lived in our renovated 1986 Winnebago Chieftain (fondly named “The Chief”) for one whole glorious year, I have so many stories in regards to travel life with our beloved furry friends. “Tails” of daring adventure and beautiful scenery and amazing moments that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
If you have not spent time downsizing to an RV and living in the moment with your animals, I highly recommend it. Even if only for a short time, this kind of lifestyle will give you the ultimate wakeup call in terms of what simplicity means to us and to our four legged family. There seems to be a tiny living movement, and we are here for it!
Our story is not unique in the way of minimizing our possessions so we could spend time enjoying the finer things in life. Many families these days are doing the same, and we have made some lifelong connections through this journey. People are realizing that happiness is not confined to the four walls of their home, for which they are paying for years on.
Not to say there is anything wrong with this, as I spent years thinking that these were the goals I wanted to strive for. Consumerism. House, job in an office, phones, internet, things, this and that…basically “keeping up with the Joneses”. Did any of it really make me feel alive? I thought long and hard about the answer, even though it was a simple answer.
No. I felt alive out at the beaches watching the waves crash. Sitting with my husband and our dog on the sandy shores and watching the sunset. Life found me in the mountains on the hiking trails after a peaceful night’s rest in the forest. Cuddling my fur kiddos with breezes blowing through our small RV space. Our human kids even LOVED RV living.
Even though it was a tight space for us all, it was filled with love and laughter and it was like eternal camping experiences for them. They didn’t see mom and dad stressing as much as in our past life. Like I said, it’s a movement for a reason. There is something to minimalist living, even if for the short term.
It makes you realize what you are actually able to live without.
The Chief Storytime
My favorite stories include the wonder that was in our pets eyes, when they saw new places. Looking out the window at the world beyond. Seeing majestic views that they would never have seen living out of our old suburban house. The appreciation for outdoor adventure is something that our animals craved.
Our dog, Tex, got to enjoy the outside world more than his brother. Monte, the cat, had always been an indoor feline (not for his lack of trying to get out with Tex). We made sure to do supervised outdoor time for fresh air and engage his senses.
Not all stories start out happy, of course.
This is real life! Having moved out of our house, and making the commitment to tiny living for an unforeseen amount of time, our sweet Monte disappeared our very first night living out of the Chief. After 12 hours of searching and calling for him, I was convinced he had found an escape and made his way out into the big old world. I was devastated.
I had even tried to bribe him with his favorite canned food and his precious mice…to no avail. I checked outside in the surrounding area, giving his description to anyone that would talk to me. Low and behold, that very next evening, who decides to come sauntering out from a hidey hole under the dashboard?
That’s right. Monte looked well rested and more sure of himself and wanted his food. To any fur parent, the mixed emotions of relief and annoyance would equally be settling in about now.
Being as he is a mama’s boy…I just felt relief and gratitude. My husband felt the annoyance for us both. Luckily, the compartment he had found was enclosed. Though I am surprised he could fit all of his 18 lb physique (all gained prior to RV living) through that small of an area. Wonders never cease!
If you ever think that your fur kiddos will be too bored in RV living, have no fear. Our Monte boy only had 22’ front to back of the RV, but he made great use of it. He was known as our parkour kitty. Bouncing off the different surfaces through the dining area to the back bed and then starting all over again.
With so many windows to stare out of, he entertained himself quite well! We even still got to play fetch with his mice. Yes, a cat that plays fetch (better than our dog).
Tex, our adventure pup, absolutely enjoyed laying outside while we grilled.
Dog parks and regular hiking (which we all love) were our usual jaunts out. Tex is quite the social creature and it didn’t feel like he lacked in that department while living tiny. He still got playdates and got to explore various trails. In fact, he looked forward to it more than when we had a house with a backyard.
If RVing has been a dream for you, your animals are another reason to do it! It won’t just improve yours or your kids’ lives. It will give your animals the time they need from you and the lust for life we all dream of.
Moral of our story is…
Make it happen! Simplicity is key to enjoying this life we lead. Whether you choose to RV life full time or travel only, your furry loves will be comfortable along for the ride. Plan accordingly and enjoy your surroundings, and you will get as much out of RVing as we have. Happy Adventuring!
