The Freedom Rolling Blog
Working Out on the Road
Happy New Year! Yes, it's that time again, where sporting goods stores are raided for exercise equipment, gyms see a drastic increase in new memberships, and secondhand stores prepare for a sharp increase in exercise inventory within the next two months. But what if you're a full-time RVer? What options are there?
If you're in a wooded or mountainous setting, such as a national or state park, then the answer is around you. Nature trails are a good source, and there are typically plenty abound. If you're close to a city, parks have been including walking trails within their grounds recently. It's also not a bad choice if you need to "get away" for a short time, as you'll be in close quarters with your family much more than if you were in a typical house or apartment. Long walks on the beach may seem a bit cheesy, but it's not a bad choice. For something a bit higher impact, go during low tide along the wet sand.
What if you're stuck working at the campground, or need to save some money on fuel? The driveways on these grounds are typically somewhat circular, so take a lap or two. If you don't mind the minor spectacle, take advantage of your internet connection. Almost every aspiring aerobics instructor and their mother has a number of regiments on streaming video sharing services looking for their "big break". Find one you like and try it outside the rig. Who knows? Maybe one of the campers in the lot next to you will be intrigued and want to join you on the next session.
Travel days can sometimes make this a bit difficult, at least for the passengers. The driver is already getting quite a bit of a workout as it is, as a nod of respect to the physical demands of stock car racers. Don't knock what's needed until you've driven over 500 miles in a day. Some full-timers bring gym memberships along with them. There are a number of national chains that allow you and your family to visit any of the network's gyms across the country. Some may be difficult to visit because they're within suburbs, but if you're able to park your rig, take an hour or two from the drive and go in. It'll also save you on water and service station fees if you can get a shower there.
Following your internal compass doesn't mean you can't get a workout. We full-time RVers simply find our own way to make things work out for us.
WRITTEN Jan 02, 2022 at 08:05 AM
TAGS: rv living
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The Day After Christmas
'Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the grounds, The campers still lay sleeping; there was hardly a sound. The site tag was hung in the truck's front window, In case of the park manager, his face would it show.
As I did arise, with many still in their sack, And stepped out of doors to empty the black. When miles away, there came a big noise; Some started to stir, while I kept my poise.
Inside of the trailers some families worried, With belongings in hand, they started to scurry. When the park manager, tripping out of the rec hall, Had a megaphone in hand, and thus he did call:
Now Fleetwood! Now Airstream! Now Hi-Lo and Jayco! On Coachmen! On Nexus! On Thor and Winnebago! The tempest is coming! The storm it is near! Unhook cords and hoses, and get out of here!
Some guests they did panic, trucks starting with a roar, But leave I did not, for I'd seen this before. I quickly went around with a traffic report, Showing dozens of campers, and said, "Hold the fort."
While walking near the office, there seemed a muffed craze; For the owners sent an e-mail: "The prices will raise." As they met in that place, I heard of their plan: "To get higher rates, the sites must change hand."
Henceforth the others I told, and they decided to stay; For we were savvy travelers, and just would not play. The manager, owner, and client hopped on Zoom, And spread news most dire: "There will be no room."
The caravan passed, disappointed, down the road, And loud cheers erupted from all those abode. I grabbed the park's megaphone, these words I did say: "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good day!"
WRITTEN Dec 26, 2021 at 09:12 AM
TAGS: christmas
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Millennial RVing: Why It's Becoming So Popular
When most people think of full-time RVers, they put them into one of two groups: Retirees, and Lottery winners. A number of years ago, part of a generation, then called "young full-timers", joined in on the lifestyle. Now more than ever, millennials are also starting to join in on the fun. And given Freedom Rolling falls under this new generation of full-timers, perhaps there's some insight into why it's becoming so popular.
There's an old phrase that describes people "breaking the mold". One of the main characteristics of the millennial generation is that we not only break the mold, but we throw it out the window. Our generation likes having our mobility options open, and we don't want to feel trapped in one place. That's why so many millennials aren't buying houses, even if the money was available to do it. Our white-collar work of today doesn't always require us to be in one place, either. The last couple of years has proved that remote work is effective, so why not pack it all up and live on the road?
As millennials, experiences are what is important to our generation, as opposed to tangible items. When taking a look at collegians in our generation, most of them are buying the experience of being in that college environment. With full-time RVing, our way of life is a perfect fit. This beautiful country has so much to experience, so why not head there and take it all in? It's true that each destination movement comes with a fuel cost, and there are sometimes admission fees to places like a national park, but everyone has their own budget for entertainment. Living on the road has always been and will always be as cheap or as expensive as we wish to make it.
Being a millennial on the road, just like the previous generation of "young full-timers" before us, brings its own challenges. Campgrounds are sometimes limited, as owners give preference to retirees and others of that age group. Many are bringing careers on the road, but there are still those of us that choose to workamp in order to make ends meet. Health insurance can be costly, especially if we are raising families while on the road. Many of us find with having these mobile experiences that the coverage we need isn't always that large. Millennials' ability to learn things "on the fly" are also put to the test, as maintenance issues happen often, and preparedness for these don't usually come from the schooling offered to us.
The good news is, not only has this age allowed for information to become more portable and our experiences shareable, but we also have a generation of full-timers before us that greatly help with lessons learned. With millennials and the next generation being very active with social media, we look forward to sharing the experiences we have, both good and bad, with the world, so they may learn from us. RVing has even become so popular that "home shows" now exist centered around buying motor homes and trailers to live full time, as opposed to real estate.
We at Freedom Rolling, just like many other fellow millennials, seek to follow our internal compass. Full-time RVing seems more and more like a good fit for those our age, and we look forward to seeing them on the road with us.
WRITTEN Dec 19, 2021 at 08:50 AM
TAGS: rv living
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Changing Workamping Plans
Working on the road is a challenge that young full-time RVers have to face. We at Freedom Rolling have always professed that our mobility is our greatest advantage. However, just like weather, you sometimes have to be ready to change work plans on the drop of a dime.
When we first began our RV adventure, we had lined up some work for ourselves. Just as it normally is when you are "entry level", it wasn't ideal, and only came with site for compensation. In fact, trips 6 and beyond may have looked drastically different. However, coupled with some logistical challenges with our arrival, the work we would have been doing wasn't fitting our internal compass. The good news is, although it's a fight for employment with other full-timers, the only limits we have with where to work is our ability to get there. So we head back to the job board, find an immediate opening with a good company with work that we felt would better suit us, and lo and behold, here we are, loving life and following our internal compass.
Finding employment, especially in the winter, can be difficult. In this industry, it takes months of pre-planning to even stay somewhere, let alone work. In the winter, you're pretty much limited to the southern part of the country, eliminating half the choices. However, don't despair, because if two new full-timers on the road for less than a couple months can find something, then so can you! Openings pop up all the time from cancellations and job turnovers. There are also plenty of new RV parks and park management turnovers where they start to realize that they need workampers to fill in the gaps. Best advice, if you're looking, is to stay as mobile as possible, don't get into too many long-term stay contracts, and be ready to work almost immediately. A good owner/manager will understand you have to be able to bring your home there, and just like a typical two-week start notice in the corporate world, they'll accept something similar.
Sometimes, when you get to your job, you may not necessarily enjoy your environment. No, we aren't to that point as of the time we write this. However, just like jobs in the corporate world, the same factors can arise in job happiness. The good news is that most work in this industry is seasonal, so you could choose to wait out the contracted time before moving on, leaving on generally acceptable terms on both sides. If that isn't enough, you can always go to the job board and find something else. Be careful when doing this, as just with retail, your desirability is based on reputation and potentially references. If you're traveling with a family, work it out with them and see what's best. Rash decisions are never a good thing, even in the RV life. With our trip 7 "escape", that was building for a while, and the change in terms was the perfect opportunity.
At the end of the day, never let work dictate your internal compass. Follow what your heart says, and opportunity will arise to help fulfill your needs.
WRITTEN Dec 12, 2021 at 09:33 AM
TAGS: rv living
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Let Nature Be Your Teacher: Norfork Dam
English poet William Wordsworth wrote "The Tables Turned" back in 1798. For the full-time RVer, these words could not be more true. With limited space, it is difficult to carry a number of books, even with taking hard drive space and "eBooks" into account. The quotation from this poem, "Let nature be your teacher," was found on our travels, and is quite befitting for a new series on this blog, where we take time from the RV and look at the world around us.
At the south side of the Twin Lakes of Arkansas lies Norfork Dam. This dam was yet another of the multitude of projects built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1940's, in response to large amounts of flooding in this part of the country. As with many of the dams built by the CoE, a small amount of hydroelectric power is generated here, serving north central Arkansas. Today, a short driving route sits atop, connecting the communities of Salesville and Jordan, along with a boat access point to Norfork Lake at the high point of the dam.
A marvel of engineering is not the only thing this place has to offer, as nearby lies the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. In a bid to protect and sustain wildlife, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service established a number of hatcheries across the country to breed these animals before releasing them to their natural habitat. Norfork's tanks house several species of trout. Step inside the bird-proof netting and walk along the tanks; you may just see a number of baby fish jumping at the top of the water. Once the fish have grown to be self-supporting, they are then released into the nearby Norfork River to enjoy their lives. It is near the hatchery where Arkansas created a small catch-and-release pier to encourage the fish to migrate.Even if you don't have a pole with you, a short nature walk along the river will bring you to peace.
So the next time you need a break from the hustle and bustle of driving and camp life, let nature be your teacher. Allow it to re-orient your internal compass, and you will be better prepared for the adventures that lie before you.
WRITTEN Dec 05, 2021 at 11:16 AM
TAGS: trip 9, arkansas, let nature be your teacher
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Christmas for the Full-Time RVer
Yes, it's that time of year again. The city light poles get decorated, the malls get full, and every entertainment outlet is playing some cheesy music or cartoon special. But what about full-time RVers? How are they celebrating Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter?
We full-timers have our own challenges for Christmas. As a start, every holiday requires advanced planning, as it's typically a time for many to choose to go camping, especially in the southern states this time of year. Many "hunker down" in a southern spot until the spring, but there are some "more mobile" RVers out there that will want to figure it out ahead of time. Decorations are also big for many around this time of year, but when you're living on the road, you have to carry those with you throughout the year, or buy them for one-time use. This isn't to say that some don't get into the Christmas spirit, as they may decorate the rig for the occasion. Campgrounds may also do some decorating of their own.
Spending time with the family is also a little different when you're on the road. Some may choose to park with the family, but if they're in a northern climate, that may not be an option. Some of us may choose to virtually visit, just as we do with any other time of year. If you're a family member of a full-timer and looking for something to do for Christmas or another holiday, why not go visit the area where they are? You'll have to prepare for day-use fees that some campgrounds have, but if they're workamping, they might be able to work something out with the owner. Religious celebration is also easy enough, as churches are typically welcoming of visitors.
Then comes the most widely known part of Christmas: Presents. This is a bit tricky for the full-timer, as mail services charge us extra to have packages sent to us, and then it's something we have to carry with us. If you're "hunkered down" and family or friends want to send you something, perhaps have it sent directly to the campground or other location. Parks understand that people stay for months at a time, so they're able to help get you mail. Perhaps you're someone who wants to get a full-time RVer a present. Gift cards are always a good and easy idea. If you prefer the physical gift, consider putting together a "care package" of household items, confectioneries, or entertaining literature.
Following your internal compass doesn't mean you have to miss out of Christmas. All we have to do is find our own way to celebrate.
WRITTEN Nov 28, 2021 at 09:34 AM
TAGS: rv living, christmas
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A Freedom Rolling Thanksgiving
Fivescore and fourteen days ago, a quarter of an aspiring four-father, his wife, and their pooch set off on a fantastic voyage to seek pilgrimage in a not-so-new world.
Facing oppression from a ruthless private and public oligarchy, along with a burgeoning loss of cultural heritage, despite several cries to let their people go, these pilgrims knew the time for an exodus approached. Supplied with a Jayco as their vessel and a Ford as their power, they whisked about to test the mettles of their resolve. Arming themselves with the knowledge of their abilities, and lack thereof, the first three, then four, pilgrims made final preparations to abandon what they held dear to follow their internal compass.
Timings and events, both internal and external, made for an arduous voyage. One of the pilgrims passed on at the start, with her spirit remaining immortalized by the surviving three. The grief struck upon these survivors necessitated a hastily crammed vessel. Having to choose the most important of belongings to carry, along with facing the tribulations that came with depleted company to the brink of mutiny, the pilgrims established their new allegiances and made settlement to prepare for the winter.
Long-term settlement seemed a paradise for these pilgrims, with ocean breezes and beautiful sunrises. This was all short-lived, as they faced another merciless private oligarchy from the established locals, this time with the reputation of being even more savage than the previous. A brisk exodus was once again necessary, seeking the land they promised themselves. Eventually, it was near a rock where the pilgrims finally settled. It is upon this week they are thankful for the blessings bestowed upon them, for the ability to live freely.
And so, on this day, those pilgrims wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, as each and every one of us follow our internal compass.
WRITTEN Nov 21, 2021 at 09:51 AM
TAGS: thanksgiving
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Budgeting Your Provisions
Provisions are your lifeline for the full time RV lifestyle. Food, water, fuel, and other general merchandise is always very important. However, it's also necessary to consider several factors when budgeting for your provisions, because it's a bit different from the comforts of a traditional house or apartment.
One of the obvious budget factors is cost. However, this one's a little different because you may not be too familiar with where you're heading. You may end up in a small town with a grocery store that has high prices, if there's even a grocery store nearby at all, which can happen in more rural areas. When figuring out a budget for groceries, also factor in the fuel it takes to get there. Obviously you'll be light with your tow vehicle, but how much are you saving if you have to drive 50 miles each way to a national discount chain, compared to the overpriced grocery store down the road? Some call it spending dollars to save nickels. It may be worth it if you budget correctly, though. Figure out what works best for you.
Budgeting your provisions isn't all about the Benjamins. You're in smaller quarters with your RV when compared to a house or apartment. Bulk warehouses may be nice when you're stationary, but are you going to have room for everything if you get large quantities? Depending on what it is, you may or may not be able to store it. The propane savings are certainly enticing if you have transportable canisters, as well as the lower gas prices, but how much else are you saving, and can you cover the annual fee? This isn't limited to the warehouses, either. If you're going to "stock up" on one of the longer trips to the discount store, how much of that will you be able to store? Are you going to need ice for your cooler to bring it home?
One other big thing to think out, when budgeting those provisions, is time. Mobility is a great strength for the full-time RVer, but it can also be a hindrance. Are you going to be able to use up all your perishables before you hit the road? Can some of them come with you in your towing truck? Meats are going to be a concern if you eat those. Have you prepared and frozen all of them prior to leaving? Maybe you have your pantry well stocked. Is that going to shift around, even if you have stabilizing rods? Are you thinking about using a well-stocked pantry to prevent shifting? You may be able to run your refrigerator off propane while driving, which could help with some quick lunches along the drive, but other things may be too complex.
Wherever you are and whatever you're doing while following your internal compass, it's important to be prepared. Have a plan going in, make the most of what you get, and enjoy life on the road.
WRITTEN Nov 14, 2021 at 11:50 AM
TAGS: rv living
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Ozark National Forest
When many think about the midwest, they'll think of corn and wheat fields. Others will think about barbecue. There are a few, though, that will consider an up-and-coming mountainous area of this country.
Introducing the Ozark National Forest, otherwise known as the Interior Highlands of the United States. The Ozarks are mostly situated in Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri, with a slight extension into Oklahoma and Kansas. Access to the Ozarks is limited in terms of interstate highways, but can be reached from United States routes 65 and 67 to the north and south, as well as through Missouri on U.S. Route 60, and through Arkansas along U.S. Route 62, famous for being the only east-west signed highway to connect, save for a couple blocks, the Mexican and Canadian borders.
If you enjoy the great outdoors, the Ozarks are certainly for you, as there are a vast amount of mountains and lakes to enjoy. Head to Northern Arkansas and visit the Buffalo National River. Designated as the first National River in the 1970s, this area is maintained by the National Park Service. If fishing is your cup of tea, perhaps head to the twin lakes of Norfork and Bull Shoals. Plenty of hunting grounds also exist across the national forest. RVers may also have heard rumors of the famed campgrounds built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or CoE. This organization set aside dozens of grounds within the Ozarks for visitors to be able to enjoy these vast highlands, both for camping at an economical price, as well as day use.
Perhaps you're more of a city-goer. Never fear, within the Interior Highlands are a few places for you. The Springfield Plateau, one of the regions of the Ozarks, is named after the largest city in this area, Springfield MO. If you enjoy live theatre, you may want to head a little south to Branson MO, sometimes called the Broadway of the west. Head down into Arkansas to the famous city of Bentonville AR. It was here that the Walton family owned and operated a general store that soon expanded to become the internationally renowned retail establishment known as "Wal-Mart".
No matter how your internal compass is wired, the next time you're in the southern central United States, it may just lead you to a wonderful time in the Ozarks.
WRITTEN Nov 07, 2021 at 10:43 AM
TAGS: trip 9, arkansas, missouri, oklahoma, kansas
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Moving Day: How We Do It
One of the effects of full-time RVing is, unlike living in a house or apartment, we don't stay in one place for very long. Sometimes it's a few months, other times just a week, or even a couple nights. One of our social media viewers asked a few questions about what we have to do when it comes time for moving day.
First and foremost, recognize how much time you have. Some campgrounds have a relatively early checkout, and if you're not exactly one to enjoy a nice sunrise, you're probably going to want the night before leaving to pack at least some of your belongings. Try to get an idea of how long it takes to pack each "section" of your rig, such as the dining/living area, the kitchen, the bed and bathroom, your patio, and everything else you may have. Figure out what you need for the evening and the morning, and maybe everything else can get packed.
For us, moving around quite a bit in our first month of full-timing made our packing down to a science. Closets and cupboards are well stocked with both our non-breakable pantry and our knife set the night before leaving. Breakable and sensitive items, such as our electronics, office needs, and potent potables, are packed the night before and moved in the cab of the truck in the morning with us. Not only are they less susceptible to movement there, but can remain somewhat climate controlled. Our patio gets packed up at night, including the grill once cooking time is over. Some of our loose odds and ends that don't fit in the cupboards go into our tub and sinks for the ride in the morning. Once morning hits, after getting a shower, just move things into the truck, hook up, and be on our way.
Once we're on the road, it's important to remember, even if you drive your rig like a limousine, your things are going to move around a bit. Lock the refrigerator and freezer doors if, like us, you're lucky enough to have that. Bunks are good places to store heavier items, though you'll want to make sure it's somewhat secured with bungee cords or baby gates. Newer RVs will have good cabinet latches, so those should be fine on the trip. Just make sure they're closed. Some will go so far as to use bungee cords on their cabinets; it's up to you if you want to do that. Most importantly, before you pull out of your site, make sure that everything is as secure as you want it. Check, double check, and triple check if you want. The one time you miss something may result in disaster.
So the next time you're ready to move, have a plan. Don't be afraid to adapt and make changes if things don't seem to work out. Just make sure, as you follow your internal compass, you're able to bring everything safely with you.