Nomadic McDowells: A (Current) Day in the Life

Susanne is your driver for this post.

People often ask us what it's like to RV full time. Many seem to think that we explore national parks by day and roast s'mores over the campfire by night. That rosy image reflects our reality about 0.01% of the time.

In truth, living in an RV is a lot like living in a house, except that the RV moves and we have to go to a Laundromat if we want clean clothes.

To clarify what the RV lifestyle is like for us at this particular time, I thought I'd provide you with a day in the life glimpse of our lives on a regular weekday. It varies, of course. Sometimes we do take the entire day to see a national park. But more often than not, this is what it looks like:

6:30 AM: Nobody is up... except our feisty orange feline. Biscuit has arisen, and she's raring to go. Biscuit greets every new day with the frantic conviction that her humans will never wake up; her gut reaction is to meow and attack our feet until someone responds. Trent usually gets up first, soothes the cat, freshens up her food, eats breakfast, cracks open his laptop, and gets some work done while Sam and I are still asleep.

7:30 AM: If it's a running day for me, I go out for a run somewhere close to the RV. 

9 AM: Sam is usually up by now and watches some TV to help him ease into his day (current favorite shows: Cosmos, Fixer Upper, and Good Eats). I take a shower (hot, if we've remembered to turn on the hot water heater), make coffee (one of my favorite daily rituals), and prepare breakfast for myself and Sam.

10 AM: Trent "goes to work" - that is, he leaves the RV to find a quiet spot in the campground rec center or office. If we're at a site with full hookups, he'll check the tank levels and empty the gray and black tanks on his way out.

Sam and I get started with homeschooling. His daily tasks always include reading, writing, grammar, and math, though we don't spend much time on any one thing. That's the benefit of homeschooling: he can work on each task at his own pace, and if/when he gets tired, we move on.

While Sam tackles schoolwork, I blog (either for Nomadic McDowells or my running blog), update our social media accounts, communicate with my Beachbody clients, and facilitate my online geology class. 

Noonish: Sam wraps up his work. I make lunch for both of us. Nothing fancy. Sam's into smorgasbords these days, so he likes some combination of fruit, yogurt, crackers, and cheese. I typically have a salad or heat up leftovers from the night before. Trent usually comes back to the RV to make one of his special wraps: flour tortilla, peanut butter, and spinach. Mmmmm.

1 PM: On about half the days, Sam and I (and Trent, if he's not too swamped with work) go on a field trip to a park, the local library, or an area attraction (for instance, we went to the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the UFO Museum while here in Roswell, NM).

On other days, Sam comes up with a project and works on that while I get my own work done. His projects are almost always self-directed. So far he's set up a website, developed his own art business, read history books, painted, and started a coin collection.

Afternoons can get tricky because Trent and I always have work to do, whether that's for the companies we freelance for or blogging/social media. On one hand, we don't want to spend our entire nomadic existence on our computers, but the fact of the matter is that we aren't independently wealthy. The bills have to get paid.

4 PM: I start eyeing the beer in the fridge. Sam reads or plays a video game. Biscuit naps in preparation for another night of terrorizing her humans.

5 PM: We make dinner. We have a toaster oven and an InstantPot, and for the most part, these two appliances allow us to make anything we want. The InstantPot is nice because a) it's fast and b) we can program it and walk away.

6 PM: Dinner! We squeeze around our little RV table. It can get tight, especially if we've let clutter accumulate. We do eat outside sometimes, but between the heat and the bugs this summer, that hasn't been as appealing as it sounds. We anticipate dining in the great outdoors more as we get into fall.

7 PM to bedtime: If we're at a regular old, nothing-special-here site, we do what many other people do in the evenings: clean up, play with the cat, take walks, watch Netflix, text with friends, read, veg out. At our current location, we're basically situated in a large (but nicely maintained and landscaped) parking lot next to a busy road, so there's no huge incentive to commune with nature. If we're at a national park or some other particularly beautiful place, we'll spend more time outside.

So that's about it! Does anything surprise you? Anything you're still wondering about? For our fellow travelers/nomads, how does this compare to your daily schedule?

So You Want To Live In An RV: What Will You Need?

Trent and I have received a few questions lately to the effect of, "We're thinking about RVing full time. What should we bring?" Because space in an RV is so limited, it's important to think critically about what you need/want to haul and what you can/should leave behind (we now realize that even though we worked hard to bring only the necessities, we still brought too much!)

We've compiled a list of products that we purchased, use on a regular basis, and highly recommend to other RVers and would-be RVers. (Note: these links are Amazon affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase the product via the link, Amazon will toss us a few cents in loose change. Many digital nomads are using this as a way to generate a little extra income.) We've also briefly described what we use each product for and why we like it so much.

A disclaimer: We can only speak to what's worked well for our 29 foot Coachmen Freelander. Obviously, certain specific products (such as the RV cover) will not work for every type of rig. With RVs, one size does not fit all.

RV ELECTRONICS:

1. Progressive Industries EMS-PT30C Portable EMS RV Surge Protector - 30 Amp

• What it does: Protects our RV from a range of electrical issues and helps us monitor our amp draw so we know how close we are to our 30 amp limit.
• Why we like it: When selecting a camping site, we check the electric post with the surge protector BEFORE we set up everything else. This device lets us know everything is in working order and within acceptable limits. If not, we can select a new site before setting everything else up.

2. Camco 55501 PowerGrip 25' Cord with 30 AMP Male Standard/30 AMP Female Locking Adapter

• What it does: Works as an extension cord for our RV.
• Why we like it: It allows us to park farther away from the electrical post if we need to find level ground, better shade, or a nice view.

3. Camco 55175 18" PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle

• What it does: Allows us to hook our 30 amp RV to a 50 amp outlet.
• Why we like it: If the only site left is 50 amps, we could stay at that site. Also, sometimes the 50 amp outlet is in better condition than the 30 amp outlet on the same electric post. This device gives us a better chance of a good electrical hook-up.

4. Camco 55165 15M/30F 12" PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle

• What it does: Allows us to hook up our 30 amp RV to a standard household outlet.
• Why we like it: If we park in someone's driveway for the night, we can still get electricity to the RV.

WATER AND SEWER GEAR:

1. Camco 43051 20' Sidewinder Plastic Sewer Hose Support

• What it does: Keeps the gray and black water moving in the right direction and prevents, well, stagnation...
• Why we like it: Flexible yet sturdy.

2. Camco 40285 RV Green Disposable Dump Glove - 50 Pairs

• What it does: Protects our hands while we deal with the sewage tanks.
• Why we like it: Because nobody wants to touch poop water or contaminate the entire family.

3. Walex TOI-91799 Deodorizer

• What it does: Eliminates unseemly odors that emanate from the black tank.
• Why we like it: Because we'd rather not smell our toilet.

4. Camco 20123 Brass Water Wye Valve

• What it does: Bifurcates a single water outlet.
• Why we like it: With this valve, we can hook up both a freshwater hose and a hose for washing or flushing the tanks.

5. Camco 40043 TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector

• What it does: Helps clean/filter water from city water lines.
• Why we like it: Light, effective, easy to install, easy to store.

6. Camco 39062 Dual Flush Pro Holding Tank Rinser with Gate Valve

• What it does: Makes emptying the gray and black tanks easy and sanitary.
• Why we like it: Permits easy cleaning of the black tank to remove any remaining residue.

7. Camco 22783 TastePURE Drinking Water Hose (5/8"ID x 25') - Lead Free 

• What it does: Serves as designated hose for drinking water.
• Why we like it: A standard hose is not suitable for drinking water, and we like to drink water!

8. Camco 22505 90 Degree Hose Elbow - Lead Free

• What it does: Hooks up to your water intake and connects to the water hose.
• Why we like it: It allows the hose to run straight down and not out and down forcing the hose to bend. This reduces wear and tear on the hose.

9. Camco 39761 RhinoFLEX 15' RV Sewer Hose Kit with Swivel Fittings

• What it does: Hooks up to the sewage tanks (black and gray) and runs to the sewage dump.
• Why we like it: It's easy to connect and disconnect and compresses into a much smaller size for storage.

10. ETL 26781 White Body Spa Oxygenics Shower with 60" Hose 

• What it does: Maximizes water pressure while reducing excess use of water.
• Why we like it: You can press a knob to turn off the water flow while you're soaping up; easy to install.

RV MAINTENANCE:

1. ADCO 2509 Clear RV Windshield Cover

• What it does: Keeps the windshield covered while we're in camp and helps manage indoor air temperature.
• Why we like it: Easy to put on and take off; easy to store; relatively inexpensive.

2. Carrand 93210 Long Chenille Microfiber Wash Mop with 48" Extension Pole

• What it does: Allows you to gently wash your RV without use of a stepladder.
• Why we like it: Effective; inexpensive; eliminates risk of someone falling off a ladder and breaking something.

3. Bug Scrubber RV Car Aircraft Bug Remover

• What it does: Removes all of the bugs that attached themselves to your windshield as you were driving.
• Why we like it: It works! Bug guts are sticky and can be hard to remove.

4. Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax 16 oz.

• What it does: Gently removes the grime from the side of your RV without the need for water.
• Why we like it: It's good for fast, effective spot cleaning in camp - no hoses needed.

5. Aero Cosmetics Waterless Car Wash & Wax 128 oz.

• What it does: Same as above - just in a larger size.
• Why we like it: We use this product fairly often, so we like to carry the larger size with us.

6. Dicor 501LSW1 White Lap Sealant - 10.3 oz. 

• What it does: Easily repairs small rips, tears, and weathered areas on roof of RV.
• Why we like it: Easy to apply; quickly repairs potential leak points in roof.

7. Aero Cosmetics Tire Shine Protectant, 16oz 

• What it does: Protects tires from damaging UV rays.
• Why we like it: Easy to apply.

KITCHEN TOOLS AND APPLIANCES:

1. Camco 43753 Hardwood Stove Topper and Cutting Board

• What it does: Fits over the stove, thereby creating additional counter space for food prep and improving efficiency of the kitchen area.
• Why we like it: Sturdy; doesn't move while the RV is in motion (thanks to grippy material on the base of the board).

2. Melitta Coffee Maker, Porcelain 6 Cup Pour-Over Brewer

• What it does: Provides liquid of the gods to sleepy RVers.
• Why we like it: Easy to use; easy to clean.

3. Instant Pot IP-LUX50 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker, 5Qt/900W

• What it does: Cooks everything from beans to rice to veggies to soups and stews to cheesecake - and in the fraction of time required by regular appliances.
• Why we like it: Fast, effective, and easy to clean and store.

4. Magic Bullet Blender, Small

• What it does: Blends single-serving smoothies and shakes.
• Why we like it: Small, easy to store, easy to clean.

IN CAMP:

1. Camco 42805 60" x 78" Handy Mat with Strap

• What it does: Reduces amount of dust and dirt carried into the RV.
• Why we like it: Helps maintain cleanliness of RV interior; inexpensive; colorful; easy to store.

2. Camco 44432 Wheel Chock

• What it does: Helps keep the RV from rolling away while parked. Whew!
• Why we like it: Light and inexpensive.

3. Tri-Lynx 00015 Lynx Levelers, (Pack of 10)

• What it does: Levels out your RV if you're parked on uneven ground.
• Why we like it: Light, easy to use, easy to clean and store.

4. Modkat Litter Box Kit

• What it does: Provides your cat with a relatively attractive, private place to use the facilities.
• Why we like it: It fits nicely in the cab of the RV (between the driver's and passenger's seats); reduces scatter of kitty litter throughout the rig; includes a reusable, sturdy liner.

Meals on the Road: Pressure Cooker Quinoa Buddha Bowl

For tonight's dinner, I wanted to make something fast, simple, colorful, and filling. I settled on a Buddha bowl - a bowl full of colorful grains and greens of various textures and flavors. In this case, the primary grain is quinoa; it's accompanied by sides of broccoli, tomatoes, and mini sweet potatoes. We made it using a combination of our Instant Pot IP-LUX50 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker and the microwave.

Ingredients needed (serves 2-4 people):

*1.5 cups dry quinoa (I used the tri-color quinoa from Trader Joe's)

*1 large carrot, chopped into small pieces

*1 cup chopped spinach

*1/4 cup chopped mushrooms

*2 cloves garlic, chopped

*2.5 cups water

*1.5 cups broccoli florets

*Handful of grape tomatoes

*Six small sweet potatoes (TJs sells bags of mini ones that cook fast in the microwave)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pour dry quinoa into your Instant Pot bowl.

2. To the same bowl, add the chopped carrots, mushrooms, spinach, and garlic. Season with 1-2 tsp seasoning (I like TJs Everyday Seasoning). Add the water.

3. Close the lid, press "Manual" button, set the time to 5 minutes, and make sure the valve is closed.

Note: I used 2.5 cups of water instead of 3 cups (for the typical 1:2 quinoa to water ratio) because the veggies themselves contain a lot of water.

4. While the quinoa is cooking, place the sweet potatoes in the microwave (yes, we use the microwave a lot in the RV). I microwaved all of these together on high for 5-6 minutes and they were good to go, but it depends on the size of the potatoes you use and the specs of your microwave oven. Be sure to pierce each potato 2-3 times before microwaving.

5. Place the broccoli and tomatoes in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a sprinkling of seasoning and 1 inch of water. Cover. Microwave on high for 3.5 - 4 minutes.

6. Now assemble your Buddha bowls, like so (or not like so... You can arrange however you like.)

7. Season with hot sauce or other dressing of your choice and enjoy.

Ten Ways to Support Your Favorite RVer

Dear Non-RVer,

We write this particular post for you, the sensible person who did not choose to sink tens of thousands of dollars into a box on wheels, who does not have close encounters with poop water on a near-daily basis, and who is probably not living within 10 feet of a cat litter box at all times (but also, your house probably doesn't expand at the touch of a button, so we win on that front).

So you're not an RVer, but you likely know someone who is. You may even know some younger folks - people in their 30s or 40s, or even 20s - who are taking to roads that just a couple of decades ago were dominated by retirees. Perhaps you're wondering, What can I do to support this favorite wanderer of mine?

A few ideas:

1. Limit the number of times you remind us how crazy and weird we are. It's fine to tell us this a few times; after all, we're a little crazy and weird. We get it. We can take the ribbing. Two or three or four times is acceptable, but ten is maybe a bit over the top.

2. Do not assume we're financially irresponsible. Unless you're our accountant and have seen strong supporting evidence, you don't know much about our money situation. Most RVers are in fact responsible, frugal, and creative with their money.

3. But also don't assume we're trust fund babies or that we won the lottery. Maybe that's the case for some people, but that's certainly not the case for us! Like most of you, we work, and like most of you, we're just trying to make enough to pay the bills, travel, and provide our child with some cool opportunities.

4. Offer your recommendations! If we're heading to a place you've visited, let us know what you think we should see and do - and what we should avoid. We had a fantastic time in Austin in large part because friends gave us the inside scoop on what's worthwhile and what's overpriced and/or overhyped.

5. This one's mostly for the relatives: if you're wondering what to get us for birthdays and holidays, gift cards are the way to go. Avoid purchasing physical objects that will take up room in our small space. This goes for kid's gifts, too. Who wouldn't love a cool Lego replica of the Millennium Falcon?... And yet, the Millennium Falcon has no place in Clark. Appropriate gift cards: any camping store, Amazon, Starbucks, KOA, Southwest, Panera... etc.

Alternatively, write us a sincere card/letter and send it to our mail service. That is a perfectly acceptable gift choice. We care about relationships. We don't really care about stuff.

6. If we happen to stop in or near your city/town, come hang out with us! We'd love that.

7. If you know of any easy-to-prepare recipes, share them with us. Cooking in an RV (especially an RV with a small kitchen) can be way different than cooking in a regular house. We're always looking for yummy food that doesn't take a lot of time, space, or ingredients to make. (I guess I can only speak for us on this one... Maybe other RVers prefer more complex recipes.)

8. If your favorite RVers run a business, support it if and when you can. Going back to #3, we do work. But many RVers work on contract or run their own small businesses. Your support means a great deal to us. (Shameless plug: I'm developing a health and wellness coaching business, and Sam has his online store.)

9. If you hear of a remote job we're qualified for, an opportunity to work camp, or a similar  nomad-friendly gig, let us know. (See #3 and #8.)

10. When things get difficult and we get frustrated, remind us of the good times and why we started doing this in the first place. As an RVer, you never know how a day will go. You never know when the A/C will break, or you'll lose your car keys or wallet, or your kid will get sick in the middle of nowhere. It's possible that this will be the day that your tire blows out on a highway with no shoulder. The unpredictability can be a blessing and a curse, and dealing with unexpected surprises is not always fun. Your encouragement when the going gets rough will mean a lot to us.

Meals on the Road: InstantPot Lentils and Rice

I've mentioned in several previous posts that I am completely in love with the InstantPot. It's a pressure cooker that cooks dried stuff - like beans and rice! - quickly and effectively (and if you like, you can also employ it to saute, steam, and slow cook). Plus, you can use the InstantPot in the RV without worrying about short circuiting the electronics (disclaimer: don't hold me to this; check your amps).

Tonight I made a one-pot meal of lentils, rice, and veggies that took a total of ~30 minutes to prep and cook. It was filling, hearty, easy to make, and - major, major bonus - inexpensive.

Here's how to do it:

Ingredients

-1 cup uncooked brown rice

-1/2 cup dried green lentils (I assume red lentils would work, too)

-1.5 to 2 cups chopped veggies: I used mushrooms and peppers

-2 tsp olive oil

-Seasoning to taste

-1.5 cups water

Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients in the InstantPot. Yup, just dump 'em in.

2. Close the lid and lock it. Set the steam valve to the closed position. Press the "Manual" button and adjust the time to 23 - 25 minutes. (If you want to use larger dried beans, like black beans or pinto beans, add a few minutes to the time.)

3. Drink a beer and listen to a podcast. Personally, I'm really into No Meat Athlete and The Rich Roll Podcast right now. 

4. When the InstantPot is done cooking, let it sit for ~10 minutes before opening the lid.

5. Cross your fingers that everything cooked properly. In this case, it did.

6. Enjoy with other planty stuff of your choice. In this case, I paired the rice with some roasted butternut squash.

*Tip: Heat the water before adding it to the InstantPot. This will permit the InstantPot to seal more quickly.

Meals on the Road: RV Oatmeal

A really kind person on Instagram (yes, we have an Instagram account! Follow us!) asked me if I would post recipes for some of the vegan/plant-based meals that I prepare. I thought I'd start with one of my current breakfast staples: RV oatmeal! It's sweet. It's tasty. It will keep you full until - if you are anything like me - second breakfast rolls around.

Keep in mind that all of these recipes are meant to be super simple, mostly unprocessed, and easy to make on the road. Many of them rely on, yes, the microwave. I like tasty, healthy, pretty food... but I'm not very good at preparing complicated meals. You'll have to look elsewhere for those. ;-) 

Ingredients required for 1 serving of RV oatmeal:

-1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal (not the quick-cooking kind)

-1/2 cup milk of your choice - I recommend almond or soy milk

-1/4 cup water

-Fruit of your choice! I like to select 2-3 types of whatever is in season; I usually include a banana.

-2 tbsp nuts or seeds of your choice

-Sweetener of your choice: drizzle of honey or agave or a sprinkle of sugar

Instructions:

1. In a microwave-safe glass container, stir together the oatmeal, milk, and water.

2. Place the container in the microwave and heat on high for 2 1/2 minutes. Keep an eye on it and stop the microwave if the mixture threatens to spill over.

3. Take the oatmeal out of the microwave and let it sit for a couple of minutes. This will allow it to thicken a bit. Then pour it into a bowl.

4. Top with cut fruit, seeds, and a small bit of sweetener (if you have ripe fruit in season, you won't need much additional sweetener).

5. Enjoy while admiring the view!