After a 3-year (virtual) Instagram friendship with @RVHappyYet, I had the pleasure of interviewing this inspiring couple for an up close and personal peek into their unconventional digital nomad lifestyle and full-time RV living journey.
Meet Jenn and Caleb… a young and motivated couple that in 2020 decided it was time to grab life by the handlebars, risk it all and trade in the corporate grind that they had worked so hard and long to be a part of. Goodbye predictable life filled with long work hours in an office, bubble baths (something Jenn mentions missing in this interview), and a comfy home. HELLO adventure, travel, new experiences, remote work as digital nomads and full-time RV living!
Full-time RV living, as well as the digital nomad lifestyle, have become increasingly popular in recent years; with more people choosing to work remotely and travel the world simultaneously. For some, the allure of being able to work from anywhere and live a life of adventure is too great to ignore. One such couple is Jenn and Caleb, who decided to leave behind their traditional 9 to 5 jobs and become digital nomads while also embracing full-time RV living.
Jennifer and Caleb had always enjoyed traveling, but their desire for adventure was often put on hold due to their demanding careers.
Jenn and Caleb express their thoughts on travel: “Travel has always been an integral part of our relationship and where we have found our happiest moments. It has simultaneously been our driving force and peaceful refuge.”
However, after a decade of working long hours, saving the majority of their income and feeling unfulfilled with the corporate grind, they realized that they wanted to live life on their own terms. They decided it was time to leave south Florida and corporate America and take their life on the road!
Jenn and Caleb share how their full-time RV living and digital nomad lifestyle began: “Initially the plan was to travel while experiencing different cities to determine where we could settle down. Once we stepped foot in a fifth wheel we realized it could actually be a comfortable home and the rest is history!”
Some back history on Jenn and Caleb…
- They met in 2009 while serving at an Alehouse in Florida. Jenn is originally from Orlando and Caleb hails from Hollywood, FL.
- During (and after) completing their graduate degrees, they spent the next decade on a corporate grind saving the majority of their income.
- Their first big trip (and place of engagement) was Patagonia in 2017.
- Just 6 months later, they eloped in Yosemite!
- In 2020, they sold their Fort Lauderdale home, most of their belongings and bought an RV.
- In 2021, they began working remotely so they could travel full-time in their RV.
Fast forward three years into full-time RV living, where their RV has now taken them on adventures through 38 states, three Canadian provinces, and deep down into Baja, Mexico… and there’s still no end date in sight for this digital nomad and full-time RV lifestyle!
Read my interview below with Jenn and Caleb for an in depth discussion on everything from full-time RV’ing lessons learned, finances, logistics and planning, takeaways and insights, as well as hard-earned advice they’re willing to share with anyone considering taking the plunge into this alternative lifestyle!
The HOW and WHY behind Jenn & Caleb’s full-time RV living story…
ME: How long have you lived on the road full-time?
J&C: “Just over two years. We took off from Fort Lauderdale January 16th, 2021.”
ME: Tell me about your rig… a Keystone Cougar 368MBI 40ft (with the dirt bike).
J&C: “We truly love this rig! It has treated us so well the last two years. What sold us was the high ceilings, kitchen island, storage, and bunk room for the perfect office space.”
ME: What was the inspiration and/or motivation behind this lifestyle change?
J&C: “We have YouTube to thank for a big part of the inspiration. Some of our favorite channels are @lessjunkmorejourney, @newstatenomads, @changinglanes, and so many more! [Our motivation] was financials first, and new experiences second.”
ME: When you first set out as full-timers, how long did you expect to pursue this lifestyle?
J&C: “1 to 2 years max. Now we are starting year three and have no end date in sight.”
ME: Anyone close to you question this lifestyle choice in the beginning?
J&C: “Many were supportive, but many still do not understand it. We’ve just had to accept this lifestyle is not for everyone, but at the end of the day we have to do what is best for us.”
Financial Matters: Jenn and Caleb answer the questions we all want to know but are afraid to ask…
ME: Tell me about your careers/professions that allow you to live this digital nomad and full-time RV lifestyle?
J&C: “Caleb works in healthcare staffing and Jenn is an audiologist doing freelance work remotely.”
ME: On average, how much money do you spend per month living on the road?
J&C: “We budget $3,000/month on fixed costs (groceries, gas, insurance, etc.)”
ME: What’s your biggest RV life expense each month?
J&C: “Diesel, by a landslide!”
ME: “You’ve shared a bit on Instagram about your solar investment, roughly how much per month have you saved with your solar set up?
J&C: “We save approximately $1,000/month by primarily boondocking. We estimate on average a campground is $40/night when moving as much as we do. We are boondocking unless there’s no other choice!”
ME: Regarding “boondocking”… let me pause to give some clarification for our non-camper readers that may not be familiar with this term yet. Boondocking is dispersed camping on public land; as opposed to camping in a designated campground. Because it’s on public land and doesn’t typically include amenities such as water, hookups, fire pits or even a flat pad to park on, there is no fee associated with dispersed camping. If given the choice, my preference is to boondock 90% of the time! I love how remote and isolated an ideal boondocking spot can feel. But I digress…
What kind of wireless set up allows you two digital nomads to live and work remotely on the road?
J&C: “Starlink has been a game changer. We also use a Verizon Mifi and two cellphone hotspots (one ATT, one Verizon).”
Bonus TIP: *See the @RVHappyYet IG post from 2-22-2023 for tips on how to get better pricing on your Starlink hardware!
LOGISTICALLY SPEAKING… regarding full-time RV living:
ME: What’s it like traveling with your fur babies?
J&C: “These adventures would not be the same if we weren’t sharing them with Rambo and Stella. We rescued Rambo in 2010 and Stella in 2019. They are the best road dogs we could ask for. Stella loves climbing and Rambo loves searching for fish when we are near water.”
ME: Do you have a home base?
J&C: “We do not! We’re very grateful for family back in Florida who help us when important documents/packages need to be delivered.”
ME: Your ideal amount of time camping in one location?
J&C: “1-2 weeks max.”
ME: How do you plan your next stop or location?
J&C: “Since the solar install we really fly by the seat of our pants. Often, we decide our next stop only after we’ve hit the road. Last year we had the goal of getting to Alaska and this is the first year we have no plan.”
ME: How far in advance do you plan your next spot?
J&C: “Sometimes as quickly as an hour.”
On staying active, hobbies and adventures while full-time RVing…
ME: How do you exercise and stay fit while on the road?
J&C: “Primarily hiking and home workouts. Resistance bands, weights, and repetitions are a wonderful thing, even in a tiny space.”
ME: What kind of hobbies do you enjoy while living on the road?
J&C: “Photography is Jenn’s biggest hobby. For Caleb it’s dirt biking. We both enjoy reading as well.”
ME: RV space is obviously limited. Do you have a favorite piece of adventure gear that is worthy of taking up that valuable real estate during your life on the road?
J&C: “We love our inflatable Kayak and cannot wait till summertime to use it again.”
ME: Share with us your single favorite adventure to date while full-time RV living?
J&C: “Without a doubt seeing the bears in Alaska at Brooks Falls during the salmon run.” *NOTE: This response may have changed since the time of this interview. Check out Jenn & Caleb’s @RVHappyYet IG post on 2/26/23 for a possible new front contender for this response!
On lessons learned, missteps and takeaways…
ME: Biggest misstep?
J&C: “Not triple checking Google maps. On one particular travel day Jenn was driving and Caleb was working on his laptop remotely in the passenger seat. Neither was watching the navigation too closely. Google maps automatically re-routed the end destination (as it sometimes does) and since our navigation didn’t sound any alerts, the re-route went completely unnoticed! Before long, we ended up on a narrow icy road in northern Arizona with no service.”
ME: Any special lessons learned or takeaways from this lifestyle?
J&C: “How to detach from mainstream thought processes and appreciate what really matters. Our health, our experiences, and our relationships. It feels like we turned off a lot of the noise.”
ME: Words cannot express how much I love this bit… “turned off the noise”! I’ve heard Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers say the same thing about their long-distance trail experience takeaways.
Any unexpected discoveries after living this lifestyle (good or bad)?
J&C: “Biggest surprise was that tiny living does not mean tiny messes. We thought for sure we would spend less time cleaning in a smaller space, but it’s actually more!”
ME: Do you ever question your choice to travel full-time or maybe want to call it quits at times?
J&C: “The closest we come to second guessing this lifestyle is when we are visiting friends and family in their nice big homes. It’s very tempting (especially the bubble baths) but as soon as we get back on the road, we forget all about it.”
RV challenges, what they love most about RV life and social life on the road…
ME: Your biggest challenge with RV Life?
J&C: “Maneuvering the rig in tight spots/parking. Another reason we like boondocking in wide open spaces!”
ME: Favorite part of full-time RV living?
J&C: “The adventure. New places, new foods, new people, new history. All of it. We just love exploring.”
ME: Ever feel lonely living on the road (i.e. not having roots)?
J&C: “The RV community has been absolutely incredible. We have social media to thank for so many friendships of likeminded individuals that we would have never made otherwise.”
ME: Any advice on how to meet new people while on the road?
J&C: “Instagram has been an incredible resource, more than we would have ever imagined.”
ME: How do you maintain your sense of space from one another while living in tight(ish) quarters?
J&C: “It’s very important we allow ourselves alone time whether that be in the form of walks or even running errands solo. Time to ourselves is vital to keep this sustainable.”
ME: Do you consider yourselves minimalists?
J&C: “Aspiring minimalists. Better than most, not as efficient as some, but we get better every day.”
Favorite spots…
ME: Favorite state and/or city to visit?
J&C: “Jenn’s favorite is Montana, Caleb’s is South Dakota.”
ME: Favorite place you’ve visited in your rig?
J&C: “Katmai National Park in Alaska.”
ME: Who would you recommend this lifestyle to?
J&C: “Anyone who appreciates that time is our biggest asset.”
ME: Wow, “time is our biggest asset.” Another awesome response that resonates deeply within me. I will be stewing on this quote for a bit!
Any advice or words of wisdom for people considering this lifestyle or just starting out?
J&C: “Things can go wrong and they will. Learn to take a big deep breath and roll with the punches.”
ME: Any random stories to share?
J&C: “In year one the dually was invincible and the clearance endless…a few dents and scratches later… we now think twice before going over a cattle guard.”
ME: Ha! What’s up next for you two?
J&C: “For the first time in what feels like forever…we don’t know! Maybe Mexico. Maybe Colorado…it will be a surprise for us all!”
ME: Lastly, please share how readers can find you on social media and follow your journey?
https://www.instagram.com/rvhappyyet/
https://www.facebook.com/rvhappyyet
https://www.youtube.com/@rvhappyyet
https://www.tiktok.com/@rvhappyyet
That’s a wrap!
Jenn and Caleb’s journey to becoming digital nomads and full-time RVers is a testament to the growing trend of people seeking more freedom and flexibility in their lives. They feel fortunate and continue to find the digital nomad, RV and Instagram community to be incredibly supportive, providing them with a network of like-minded individuals who are always willing to offer advice and support. While Jenn and Caleb acknowledge this lifestyle is not for everyone or without its challenges, it does offer the opportunity to explore new places, meet new people and ultimately, live a life of adventure.
As with any big lifestyle changes, one should plan carefully, and be prepared for both the challenges and rewards that come with it.
Happy wandering (and adventuring) my friends!
For more information, inspiration or to simply follow along with Jenn and Caleb on their awesome adventures, follow them @RVHappyYet on IG, TikTok, YouTube, and FB.
Contact me if you’re a wanderer or adventurer with an interesting and/or inspiring story to share. I’d love to pick your brain with an interview.
Interested in reading more nomad, RV and adventure interviews? Check here (or below) to access other van life, nomad and RV interviews.
https://wakewanderrepeat.com/category/van-life-nomads-all/van-life-nomads-van-life-nomads/
