Minimalism on the Road: How Our Family of Eight Started Living in an RV
In autumn 2017, our family of eight moved out of our 3,000 square foot house and hit the road in an RV. We’d been minimizing since 2016, and this was the big step: pack up what was left in just a few days, and trade the cleaning, tidying and maintaining for more time playing, exploring and learning together.
This post is the start of that story, written at the time, with the first video of the series. If you’re wondering whether downsizing for travel or RV life could work for your family, there’s a practical checklist at the end.
What minimalism did to us
Minimalism can be overwhelming sometimes. Minimizing all your possessions can be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Now imagine what happens when a family of eight packs up everything that’s left. While everyone else was getting ready for the new school year, we moved out of our big house. And then we hit the road in our RV to see the world.
We did it!
We started a video series called The Little Minimalists’ Big Adventure. Why? We wanted to give you a glimpse of life once we let go of all the stuff that was holding us back. Our hope was that by letting go of the cleaning, tidying and maintaining, we would have time for playing, exploring and learning.
A minimalist lifestyle takes intentionality. So does investing in your education and your family. That’s why we made the intentional switch.
A weekend away, then a few days to pack a whole house
The first video in the series starts with a weekend away at camp to regroup as a family. Then we begin the overwhelming task of packing up our 3,000 square foot house in only a few days. Yikes! Only a few days?
“That’s insane,” you say.
Well, I say, “Yes. Yes it is.”
If you want the behind-the-scenes version of those days, including the dump runs and the donation loads, we wrote about it in Minimalism Is Hard Work.
Why we did it
Watch as we come together as a family and work as a team toward a common goal.
It’s pretty cool, actually, how we all work together. If you watch some of our other videos, you’ll see how including everyone in our minimalizing journey brought us to this point. Everyone in our family was becoming minimalist. So when the decision was made to pack up, everyone was on board with doing what needed to be done.
Was it worth it?
Most of all, we were hopeful that our hard work would pay off and the rewards would be worth it.
You might even be able to see how this could work in your family. Maybe it will help you make plans for your own minimalist journey, or show you whether minimizing your possessions could make time for what you’d rather be doing.
The Little Minimalists’ Big Adventure is just that: big. It took effort and intentionality. But I was sure it would be worth it.
Thinking about downsizing for travel or RV life?
We can only tell you how our own story started. If you’re weighing something similar, whether that’s a long trip, a season on the road or simply a much smaller home, these questions can help you decide before you sell or donate anything.
Questions to ask before you downsize
- What are you hoping to gain? Time together, travel, less housework, lower costs? Write it down. It’s what you’ll come back to on hard days.
- Is everyone on board? Talk to each child in a way that fits their age. When we packed up, it helped that everyone in the family was already minimizing and on board.
- Is it a trip or a lifestyle? A few months away and moving into an RV full time call for very different decisions about your house, your stuff and school.
- How will school work? Look up the rules for homeschooling or distance learning where you’re registered, and what records you need to keep.
- Where will you sleep, cook and park? Count beds, seat belts and storage space for your family’s actual size, not the brochure’s.
- What will you do with the house and what’s left in it? Sell, rent, store or give away. Storage units add up, so decide what’s truly worth keeping.
- How will work, mail, health care and insurance work on the road? Each one needs a plan before you leave.
- What’s your “come home” plan? Knowing you can change course makes it easier to start.
RV living with kids: pros and cons to weigh
| Possible pros | Possible cons |
|---|---|
| Much less to clean, tidy and maintain | Very little personal space for each person |
| More time together and outdoors | Weather and small spaces can mean cabin fever |
| Kids learn to live with less | Laundry, water and waste need regular planning |
| Travel and learning become part of daily life | Rules on where you can park or stay vary by place |
| A clear reason to keep possessions few | Insurance, mail and schooling take extra paperwork |
Can a family of six or eight really live in an RV? Families do, but it depends on the layout, the number of safe seats and beds, and how much you’re willing to let go of. Laws on living in an RV, parking, and schooling differ by province, state and municipality, so check local rules before you commit.
Downsizing checklist
- ☐ Wrote down our reasons and what we hope to gain
- ☐ Every family member has had a say
- ☐ Chose trip or lifestyle, and a rough length
- ☐ Checked schooling rules where we’re registered
- ☐ Counted seats with seat belts, beds and storage for everyone
- ☐ Read the RV and car seat manuals for where car seats can go
- ☐ Decided what happens to the house (sell, rent, keep)
- ☐ Sorted belongings: keep, sell, donate, dump
- ☐ Limited each person’s things to their share of the storage
- ☐ Planned mail, insurance, health care and work
- ☐ Checked local rules on parking and living in an RV
- ☐ Agreed on a “come home” plan
For help with the sorting itself, our family uses three simple piles: Yes, No, Maybe.
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Keep reading
- Vacation Minimalists: How Our Family of Eight Learned to Pack Light
- Minimalism Is Hard Work: moving out of a 3,000 sq ft house
- Minimalist Teenager: from stress to peace and joy
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