Life In The RV: Riding the Wave

Life in an RV with 5 other people, 2 cats and a dog sort of feels like living on an airplane, or on a spaceship. Kind of isolating in a claustrophobic type of way, constantly bumping into each other and shifting things in and out of hidden storage compartments so you can make a meal or clean one up. The first night definitely felt like I was on a night flight, the AC blasting loud like the engine in the back of the plane, and the whole vessel jiggling every time someone walked across it or shifted in bed felt like turbulence. For the first few nights, I literally felt like I couldn’t get enough air, and the walls were closing in on me.

Being on the up and up with saving our planet and reducing plastic toxic exposure, I have slowly switched over to glass and ceramic containers instead of plastic. I do not recommend this for an RV with 6 people trying to find snacks. I also don’t recommend trying to use a flimsy expandable tiered shelf in your overhead cabinet. After 4 broken jars and a cut in my hand, plastic will do just fine for now.

In other news, we are adjusting. I would say there is sort of a rhythm, albeit we moved in right as kids got out of school, so merging those has made it feel extra, The work on the house is coming along, and I cannot express what a huge relief it is to have floors that don’t sink in when you walk on them, or the added stress of having to think about which place is safe to stand when you are walking in to the bathroom. Patience isn’t really an issue in this project, as we have already been waiting years to fix things. I’m just grateful it’s finally happening, and that it’s being done right.

Everyone seems to have the same response when I talk about our living situation. “What an adventure!” I don’t know if that is exactly what I would call it, but I think I get what they are trying to say. I would say that being in ultra-close proximity day after day with your kids and spouse is a sweet, funny, frustrating, and memory-filled experience. We all have our moments, and our laughs, and our compromising. And why do dogs always want to sit in the middle of the kitchen when you are trying to cook?

As a health coach, I have pretty high standards for myself. I know a lot about how to stay healthy, implement consistent habits over time, and I practice.  But living in this situation has definitely challenged me. My routines and personal space have all but evaporated, and I’m falling back on the truth that something is better than nothing. That’s not to say I’m lowering my standards, but I am adjusting my expectations in this season. Meal prep is almost impossible for lack of storage space, but I can meal plan. Workouts look different now that my son took over the shed (my office/gym), so it’s a lot of walks, runs and bike rides. Not sleeping well has affected my energy, so I don’t push as hard. And when I reach for sugar to pick me up, sometimes I choose the less healthy version and sometimes I choose fruit. This season has an undercurrent of stress, whether I “feel” or think I am stressed or not. It just does. And that means things that may have been a good challenge for me before now feel threatening to my nervous system, or overwhelming to my psyche. That’s okay. It’s not forever. So my goal becomes balance. Listen to my body. Choose mostly whole foods. Move daily, even for just ten minutes. Dial down on intensity, focus on consistency over time. Take that nap. Stay hydrated. And for the love of God, call a friend!

If you ever find yourself living in an RV with your family, or in a spaceship or an airplane, just know you will be okay. You will make it out to the other side. In the meantime, do what you can, and enjoy the ride.