Downsizing from their Florida house to become full-time RVers in 2022, Barry and Darlene Nicholson have traveled to around 30 states.
The couple met as teenagers in Indiana and spent most of their lives raising two children in Florida before moving into a 40-foot fifth wheel as empty nesters in their 50s. With their daughter soon starting college and home prices rising during the pandemic, they decided to start a life on the road while they were still young and physically able.
Although they hit the road without selling their house first, they managed to part with or donate a substantial portion of their possessions. They rented it out their first year, but after the tenants left, it was hard to find someone to rent for the same amount, and they ultimately sold it in 2023.
They also didn’t sell their home right away because they wanted to use it as a backup plan if they ended up hating the pivot.
“My inspiration for doing it early and making it work is that you’re not guaranteed tomorrow,” Darlene Nicholson told Business Insider.
Adapting to the initial twelve months meant mastering how to drive a recreational vehicle and adjusting to sharing quarters in much tighter confines as partners. According to them, pursuing this journey alongside a partner requires absolute commitment from both individuals for the venture to succeed. “We told people, if you can survive the first six months, you’ll be fine,” Darlene said.
Beginning the downsizing process a couple of years in advance is strongly advised, as they found themselves scrambling right down to the final few days. “It really forces you to become a minimalist,” Barry said. They were working their jobs remotely but have since pivoted to becoming full-time content creators.
“You’re not guaranteed a retirement,” Darlene said.
Darlene Nicholson planned out their entire first year in advance, booking RV park stays. They eventually lowered their costs by pivoting to boondocking, which involves living off-grid and providing their own electricity and water.
They installed solar panels on the RV in 2023, helping them cut expenses after Darlene Nicholson lost her job the following year. Even though they said that mobile RV living tends to be less costly than maintaining a traditional house, they still spent a lot of money on local experiences and attractions wherever they traveled. “We didn’t want to change our lifestyle,” Darlene said.
Campground costs vary depending on where you stay and how many nights you stay. “You have to know that it’s going to have all those fluctuations,” they said. Darlene advises keeping several thousand dollars readily accessible to cover unexpected contingencies, such as purchasing replacement tires or funding higher diesel expenses.
“You got to have that backup flexibility for when these weird things happen, and you can be ready for it, and it doesn’t wreck your whole plan, but that’s part of this lifestyle,” Darlene said.
“We’ve stayed in some places where we’re surrounded by this beauty, and there’s no sound other than the wind and the trees,” Barry Nicholson said.