The open road gifts us with endless stunning sunsets, hilarious campground mishaps, and those perfect, serene mornings with a coffee-steam sunrise.
But how do we mere mortals attempt to bottle that lightning and preserve these incredible RV memories for years to come? That was the very question we posed to our loyal readers in our recent newsletter poll.
We were genuinely curious about the creative ways our community chooses to document their rolling adventures, from meticulous scrapbooking to frantic, wind-blown selfies. This isn’t just a look at the results; it’s a deep dive into the psychology of the modern RVer armed with a camera.
A huge thank you to everyone who voted and made their voice heard! If you haven’t voted in our newsletter polls yet, make sure you subscribe and join the fun next time—your opinion shapes the content and community we build together.
The People Have Spoken: The Memory-Keeping Hierarchy
The results are in, and they paint a beautifully clear, if not slightly predictable, picture of our priorities. Behold, the official breakdown of how RVers document their journeys:
| Method of Documentation | Percentage of RVers |
|---|---|
| Photography | 80% |
| Journaling | 10% |
| Social Media Posts | 10% |
| Video Recording | 0% |
The Reigning Champion: The Almighty Still Image
Let’s all give a round of applause for photography, the undisputed heavyweight champion of RV memory-making. It seems 80% of you believe that a single, glorious, high-resolution photo of your rig parked before a mountain is worth a thousand words—and apparently, it’s also worth about a thousand nearly identical photos from slightly different angles. We get it! There’s something deeply satisfying about crafting the perfect shot, even if it means making your spouse stand in the exact same spot for twenty minutes waiting for the light to “hit just right.” This method requires no editing skills, just a steady hand and the willingness to declare, “Wait, one more!” until your battery dies.
The Noble, Analog Artisans: Journaling
Coming in at a proud and thoughtful 10%, we have journaling. These are the folks who hear the call of the leather-bound notebook and the smell of ink. They aren’t just capturing an image; they’re capturing a feeling, the price of firewood, the name of the nice couple at site 42, and exactly how many times the dog barked at a squirrel. Their memoirs will be magnificent historical documents one day, likely filled with pressed leaves and wine stains, providing context that a photo alone never could. We salute your dedication to the written word!
The Digital Storytellers: Social Media Posts
Tied for second at 10% is the modern-era scrapbook: social media. This group knows that a memory didn’t really happen unless it’s been shared, liked, and commented on by at least 50 friends and one random person from high school. Their entire trip is a beautifully curated live documentary, complete with hashtags like #RVLife and #SunsetGoals.
The memory is doubly preserved: once in the cloud and once in the satisfaction of getting 15 hearts on a picture of their expertly plated campfire chili.
And Then There’s Video…
A moment of silence, please, for video recording, which secured a whopping 0% of the vote. It seems the prospect of actually editing footage, adding music, and narrating in a cheerful voice is simply too much like work for a community that is officially on vacation. The consensus appears to be: why shoot moving pictures and audio when you can just take 400 still photos and call it a day?
The dream of becoming the next great YouTube RV vlogger remains alive for many, but clearly, the execution remains firmly in the “someday” folder.
Why We Think the Results Shook Out This Way
The landslide victory for photography isn’t just a random preference; it’s a testament to its perfect alignment with the RV lifestyle. It’s instant, it’s easy, and it’s incredibly low-commitment. You can snap a brilliant photo between sips of coffee without missing a moment of the actual experience. Journaling, while beautiful, requires dedicated time and effort at the end of a long day of exploring—when you’d often rather just relax by the fire.
Social media is essentially a byproduct of photography; it starts with a photo. And video? Video is a production. It transforms a relaxing getaway into a project with deadlines, equipment, and post-production. In an lifestyle that champions freedom and simplicity, the path of least resistance—the quick, satisfying click of a camera shutter—was always going to win the day. It provides the perfect souvenir without pulling you out of the moment you’re trying to remember.
