So you’re daydreaming about ditching the mortgage, selling everything, and hitting the open road in an RV? Before you list your house on Zillow, you need to hear the unfiltered reality from folks who’ve actually done it.

Chris and Katrina from “Our Everyday Getaway” just hit their 5-year milestone of full-time RV living, and they’re spilling the tea on what nobody tells you about living in a tin can on wheels.

From unexpected friendships to budget blowouts, they’re sharing the good, the bad, and the downright surprising truths that came with trading their four walls for four wheels. And spoiler alert: they’d absolutely do it all over again.

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1. Leaving Home Was Harder Than Expected (But Not for Everyone)

Chris and Katrina learned quickly that not everyone struggles equally with leaving the familiar behind.

For Katrina, saying goodbye to family, friends, and her beloved job felt like ripping off a Band-Aid in slow motion. She had just become a grandmother, was deeply connected to her coworkers, and loved the comfort of knowing her city inside and out. The decision to leave wasn’t just hard—it was emotionally brutal.

Chris? He was basically already packing before they made the decision official.

Fresh off surviving throat cancer and eager to celebrate life, he had zero hesitation about hitting the road. According to the RV Industry Association, approximately 486,000 Americans now live full-time in RVs—nearly triple the 168,000 who did in 2021. That massive jump shows more people are making the leap, but it doesn’t make the emotional side any easier.

You might think you’re both on the same page about going full-time, but chances are one of you will have a much tougher time with the transition. It’s not a dealbreaker—it’s just reality. If you can’t handle months without seeing your family or saying goodbye to your favorite crab shack, full-time RV life might feel more like house arrest on wheels than freedom.

2. It’s More “Real Life” Than “Permanent Vacation”

Here’s the reality check nobody wants to hear: RV life is not an endless vacation.

Katrina admitted she thought they’d be bouncing from national park to national park, living like they were starring in their own travel documentary. Instead, they found themselves staying in locations for weeks or even months at a time, just… living. Doing laundry. Grocery shopping. Working. Basically, life—just in a smaller space.

And here’s the kicker: staying put is actually the financially smart move.

Constantly moving means constantly burning fuel, constantly paying for new campgrounds, and constantly dealing with the wear and tear on your rig. Full-time RV living costs typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 per month, according to industry data, and those numbers skyrocket if you’re hopping around like a caffeinated squirrel.

If you’re picturing yourself waking up to a new breathtaking view every morning, you might want to adjust those expectations. More often than not, you’ll be staring at the same RV park office for three weeks straight. But hey, at least you don’t have to mow a lawn.

3. The People Matter Way More Than the Places

This one surprised them—and it might surprise you too.

After five years of exploring the country, Chris and Katrina realized that the friendships they made matter far more than the mountains they climbed or the beaches they visited. Katrina put it bluntly: after staring at the same mountain for three days, it starts to look like the mountain from last week. But people? Each person is unique, memorable, and irreplaceable.

Chris, who described himself as a total introvert before starting their RV journey, discovered that the social aspect of RV life completely transformed him.

Campfires, potlucks, cocktails with neighbors—these moments created the memories that stuck. He might not remember everyone’s name (fair), but he remembers the laughter, the conversations, and the connections.

Katrina went even further, saying some of the best friendships of her life happened in these five years. Back home, she was too busy with work and kids to socialize much beyond a couple of neighbors. On the road? She found her people.

If you’re not a people person and have no interest in becoming one, full-time RV living might feel lonely. The community aspect is a huge part of what makes this lifestyle work for so many. Without it, you’re just living in a small, expensive apartment that occasionally changes its ZIP code.

4. It’s Expensive—Really, Really Expensive

Let’s talk money, because this is where the Instagram fantasy crashes into reality.

Chris didn’t sugarcoat it: RV living is expensive. Between campground fees, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and the general cost of existing, your bank account will feel it. And unless you’re willing to boondock (camp for free on public land) most of the time, the costs add up fast.

Recent data shows 71% of RVers spend less than $10,000 annually on RV-related expenses, but that doesn’t include the RV payment, insurance, or fuel—which are often the biggest expenses. When you factor in everything, you’re looking at a lifestyle that demands a solid budget and financial discipline.

Chris admitted (with Katrina laughing in the background) that budgeting isn’t exactly his strong suit.

And Katrina? Let’s just say she’s not the one pushing for a golf cart upgrade.

The bottom line: If you think you’re going to save a fortune by living in an RV, you might be in for a rude awakening. It can be cheaper than a traditional home—but only if you’re strategic, disciplined, and willing to sacrifice some comforts.

5. Maintenance Isn’t Harder—But It’s Constant

One of Chris’s hot takes? RV maintenance is not harder than home maintenance.

Think about it: when you owned a house, didn’t the AC always break in summer and the heater die in winter? Didn’t you have leaks, broken appliances, and a never-ending honey-do list? RVs are the same. Things break. You fix them. Life goes on.

The difference? You don’t have a lawn to mow or a driveway to shovel.

Chris is at the point in life where he’s done with constant maintenance. He wants to relax, enjoy life, and not spend his weekends fixing things. And honestly? RV life delivers on that front—mostly because there’s just less stuff to maintain.

But let’s be real: RVs do require upkeep. Tires, awnings, plumbing, electrical systems, slideouts—it’s all on you. You either learn to DIY or you pay someone else to do it. There’s no HOA coming to save you.

If you think RV life means zero maintenance, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. But if you hated spending every weekend at Home Depot, you’ll probably hate that a lot less in an RV.

6. Their Only Regret? Selling the House

Here’s where things get emotional.

Katrina’s biggest regret is selling their house—not because she misses it, but because their oldest daughter is going through a tough time and could really use a home base. Their son is in college and could benefit from having somewhere to stay. And during the holidays, having everyone under one roof would be incredible.

She’s not losing sleep over it, but the regret is real.

Chris, on the other hand, has zero regrets about selling the house. He was done with it. But he does wish they had done two things differently: started RV camping sooner (when the kids were younger), and researched rigs more thoroughly before buying.

Their advice? Consider keeping a home base if you can afford it.

Maybe rent it out while you’re on the road. Maybe let family use it. But having that anchor point can provide peace of mind and options down the road.

If you’re banking on RV life solving all your problems, think again. It’s not a magic reset button. It’s a lifestyle with its own set of trade-offs.

7. They’d Absolutely Do It Again (With Some Tweaks)

So after all the challenges, expenses, and sacrifices—would they do it again?

Yes. Absolutely. 100%.

Katrina would do it again, but she’d pick a different RV layout (they bought during COVID when rigs were scarce and had to settle). She’d also prefer staying in one location longer—like a month or three months at a time—instead of moving every couple of weeks.

Chris can’t believe five years have flown by.

He never imagined they’d still be on the road full-time, but it’s been one of the greatest blessings of his life. The people, the experiences, the freedom—it’s all been worth it. And even if they eventually transition to part-time RVing, he sees them continuing this lifestyle in some form for years to come.

Their message to anyone considering full-time RV life?

Do your research. Make a budget. Don’t wait for the “perfect” rig. And understand that you’ll be away from family for long stretches. If you can accept those realities, the rewards are absolutely worth it.

Key Statistics About Full-Time RV Living

StatisticData
Americans living full-time in RVs (2025)~486,000
Americans living full-time in RVs (2021)~168,000
Median age of RV owners (2025)49 years old
Monthly cost of full-time RV living$1,500 – $5,000
Percentage of RVers who spend under $10K annually71%
RV owners aged 35-5446%

Final Thoughts

Five years in, Chris and Katrina have learned that full-time RV living isn’t for everyone—but it might be perfect for you.

It’s not cheaper. It’s not easier. And it’s definitely not a vacation.

But it is a chance to live life on your terms, meet incredible people, and trade the ordinary for the extraordinary. If you’re willing to do the work, make the sacrifices, and embrace the uncertainty, the open road is waiting.

Just maybe keep the house.

SOURCES