RVing & Travelling As a Single Lady
Today is one of those (rare) days that I’m having a smidgen of writers block. So, instead of rambling on about us, I thought I’d switch it up a bit and ramble on about others, in this case other ladies. You see one of the topics that comes up frequently in RV forums is how to RV as a single lady. Lots of women, especially older women on their own, dream about going on the road, but get thwarted by fear & uncertainty. This fear can be so paralyzing that it completely derails their life and that’s a very sad thing indeed.
I’ve never RV’d as a single (well, unless you count the times Paul has been away), but I’ve done ALOT of single travelling in my lifetime. In my youth I backpacked and traveled across Asia, Europe and even parts of South America, sometimes with company, sometimes alone. I’ve also hiked for years solo across many mountains & trails in the US. I’ve never carried a gun, although I’ve always made it a point to think about where I was travelling (i.e. avoid known, dangerous areas), always had extra supplies on-hand (e.g. basic emergency supplies & food) and occasionally carried basic protection (e.g. pepper spray). Most importantly I’ve never let fear of the unknown thwart my plans. Travel is in my soul and I’d like to think that if I was on my own I’d be doing exactly what I’m doing now.
During our RV travels we’ve been lucky enough to meet & interact with a bunch of great, single RV ladies who do exactly that. These single RV ladies learn the basics of their RV, listen to their “gut” about stopping in certain spots and learn to overcome their inner fears. Many will often make friends and end up travelling (at least part of the time) with folks they meet on the road. Some will take extra precautions such as staying within sight of other RVers, putting two pairs of boots outside their doors, or travelling with pets, but others just fly free and take it in stride. The important point is that being solo doesn’t stop them from RVing, or even boondocking. In fact some of the single ladies I know are also some of the most avid boondockers I know!
Also being solo doesn’t mean you have to travel alone. For many new solo RVers joining a group can be a great way to get started and some solo’s even prefer to travel fulltime this way. 
There are many excellent RV groups & forums that cater to solo & lady RVers including Wondering Individuals Network, WomenRV.com, LonersOnWheels and Escapees SOLOs. Also almost every major RV forum out there has a dedicated group for solo’s such as iRV2 and RV Dreams. Even if you chose to travel alone, these latter are fabulous places for asking (and getting) active support on the road for both practical and emotional questions related solo RVing. Lastly, there are many regular RV rallies which can be great places to learn about your rig & socialize with other RVers.
But rather than talk about this through my own, limited experience I’ll refer you to the blogs of cool gals who are out there living adventures of their own. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and it’s in no particular order either, but perhaps this will give some of the aspiring RV ladies out there some inspiration to go seize their own dreams:
Me and My Dog -> Barbara has been solo-RVing with her doggie in a 24-foot Class C since 2011. She’s an avid boondocker and spends much of her winters in the desert with summers in New Mexico. She’s written alot about solo-RVing including this excellent post on Safety For Solos.
RV Sue & Her Canine Crew -> I’ve been lucky enough to meet this lovely lady several times in our travels. Sue solo RVs with her doggie Bridget (sadly, her other doggie Spike just recently passed 🙁 ) in a 17-foot Casita and spends more than 90% of her time boondocking in the wilds. If you’ve ever wondered if you could RV solo on a budget this blog will give you the answer. Sue publishes her down-to-earth musings and detailed expenses on her blog and has (rightfully so) a huge following of fans. It’s eye-opening to read her Road To Vagabond Living.
Interstellar Orchard -> This mid-20’s lady has been RVing solo in 17-foot Casita for several years now. She works on the road and blogs openly and honestly about what it takes to do this lifestyle & find workamping jobs as a single, and somewhat introverted lady. I particularly like her 2-part blog series on Avoiding Loneliness as a Solo Fulltime RVer.
Travels With The Blond Coyote -> This active young gal is an adventurer after my own heart and has been travelling & solo RVing in a teardrop camper for years. Her blog shows you that anyone can break traditional boundaries. I particularly like her post about Facing the Fear Factor in solo travel.
Geogypsy -> This lady isn’t exactly a fulltime RVer although she does spend almost half the year living in her RV as a ranger at the Grand Canyon, but she is an active traveller especially to South Africa. Think you can’t stay young forever? Well, maybe not, but you can certainly travel like it and this lady shows you how.
Take To The Highway -> We’ve crossed paths with fellow “lighthouse nut” Suzanne several times in our travels and have always enjoyed her upbeat personality and engaging company. Suzanne travels solo in a Winnabego View and writes a vibrant blog with excellent pictures. She’s a wonderful example of a solo RVer that thoroughly enjoys the lifestyle she’s chosen.
Life On The Open Road -> Dianne has been a fulltime RVer for 15(!!) years. The last few years she’s actively traveled much of the year with the WINs (Wandering Individuals Network). The latter is an organization of active, travelling individuals and a great alternative for solo RVers who prefer to travel in a group.
On The Road With Riley -> This lady travels with her cute doggie Riley in a 26-foot Lazy Daze Motorhome. In Feb 2012 she found her perfect RV, sold her house, quit her job and took off on her fulltime RV adventure. She spends much of her summer time in New Mexico (love those state parks!).
There are lots of other excellent, single female bloggers including Good Luck Duck, WinnieViews, Maila’s Miles and Sassy’s On Da Road. Plus probably many, many more I don’t know about or forgot to mention. Does this inspire you to travel? Do you have a favorite single female blogger that you follow? Do comment and add to the conversation below!
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Thank you for posting this! I’ve been doing tons of research lately about doing this in a few years and I would be one of those single ladies. This is reassuring.
Best of plans with your dreams! If you decide to do it, you will be in great company out there.
Nina
Thank you so much. My company retired me on 9/1/14 and I want to move around and this seems to me to be a lovely way to do it. I like the Class A motorhomes less than 30 feet and I appreciate all the encouragement because I love driving alone to different places but RV’ing alone scares me a little.
Thanks again.
Have to say that two of my favourite blogs are Interstellar Orchard and Travels with the Blonde Coyote. These adventurous (and very articulate) women are a great example for anyone, RVing or not! trying to pursue their dreams. From them I’ve learned that full time RV blogs aren’t just about RVing, but about taking charge of your own life and doing what you want.
Very nicely said and I totally agree. I think that’s exactly what makes their blogs so interesting.
Nina
Sharon already knows she could go it alone. Don’t give her any more ideas. 🙂
HAH!! Oh well…too late 🙂
Nina
Good post.
I have met many single female travelers over the years. They are normal people who are enjoying seeing what nature has to offer. The National Park system is a great place to explore.
Most RVers are really normal people, although they share a sense of adventure which I didn’t necessarily find in my former stix & brix community. I think that’s what binds us together. A natural openness and sense of adventure.
Nina
Oh, what a fun post! I am so honored to be one of this esteemed group of women!
The greatest unexpected surprise for me about this lifestyle has been the outstanding network of friends I have met along the way. It truly is the best of both worlds…community when you seek it, and privacy when you need it. I am a follower of all the blogs you mentioned, all which provided inspiration while I was finding my own footing. I only hope I can do the same for aspiring new “solos” in the future.
(And when I see you next time, we must swap stories of our solo trips to Nepal. 😉
Couldn’t rightly blog about single female RVers without including my favorite “lighthouse nut” now could I? The strong community in RVing is definitely something special. We didn’t expect it when we started out either.
Nina
Thanks for doing this, I can’t wait to read some of these boondockers, and the ones that include expenses, we hope to go boondocking next Sept for 6 months. Anyone done this across Canada, would love to note there stops.
Best of luck w/ your travel plans. I don’t know any blogs that detail boondocking in Canada. They do have Crown Land up there, but it’s a little different from the public lands we’re used to down here in the US.
Nina
This is a great post, Nina. Thanks. I’m a single guy but have read and lot a lot from some of the single RVer blogs you mention, plus others. There’s plenty there for all of us to enjoy if we’d like to.
Indeed. Lots of cool single male RVers out there (and we’ve met a few too). I give kudos to everyone that follows their dream.
Nina
Great post! These solo travelers are such an inspiration. Go girl power!
I did it solo for two years in 1995 and 1996. Kind of before all this internet connection and even before cell phone realy. My Mom gave me a cell phone to take on the road but it was a big boxy thing that cost a fortune to use so I instead got a voicemail with an 800# for people to be able to get a hold of me. I tried to check it often from a pay phone. I was 40 yrs old when I ventured into this. I would have kept going but was faced with a major health problem at 42 which took the wind out of my sails for awhile. I now at 60 long to do fulltime travel again and plan to again but my major drawback is 4 elderly animals ( 2 with health problems) so kind of thinking of waiting till my furry companion #s are down. Anyways, I Loved fulltiming. One of the best times of my life !!!
What an adventure you had at 40! I often say I couldn’t imagine full
-timing without internet, but years ago folks were traveling far and wide with nothing but pay phones (and sometimes not even that). Back in my 20’s I did a similar thing, but now I’m internet-hooked. Totally understand waiting for your furry lot (they sure rule our lives). Hope you manage to get back out there one day.
Nina
Thanks for the mention! I enjoy your blog so much. Am sorry I had to leave the coast and go inland – was hoping to meet you.
Sorry we missed you too! We’ve been crossing paths for a few years now. Hope to catch up with you at some point.
Nina
This post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’ve been single most of my life (55) and love it. Traveling solo has never been an issue so I’ve done so criss-crossing the U.S. with a horse in tow, traveling to Europe alone and have now been R.V.ing solo for the past 8 years. One 5 week trip to Haida Gwaii, Canada I wound up caught on my return trip in a horrible early winter storm and had to ditch my trailer till I could pick it up the following spring. I’ve just sold my house and all my stuff and after 25 years in engineering will be hitting the road with my 5 dogs. I loved Susanne’s mention of her dogs. My guys are well traveled being shown and raced for years. I tried to rehome one recently thinking having fewer would be easier (I know it would), but it wasn’t meant to be and he’s back. For some reason, I’ve never been fearful of much of anything and always just go for it. On the road I’ve met so many wonderful people and rarely feel threatened (maybe have once). I just laugh and tell my friends that I’ll open the trailer door with a growling dog in the background and a shotgun leaning against the table!! Look forward to reading some of the solo women’s blogs.
Well, girl you sound like you’ve got everything it takes to be a cool, solo RVer! Love your go-get-em attitude. Hope to meet you and your doggies down the road!
Nina
I know this comment isn’t recent so not sure if anyone will see it, but would love to find out more about RVing with a horse!
We’ve seen quite a few campgrounds with horse camping facilities, especially out West (Oregon has lots), but can’t really comment more. Maybe others will chime in with more experience.
Nina
Thanks Nina– great post! A few years ago when I was living as a single person in a conventional suburban cul-de-sac surrounded by minivan families, and wondering “Is this really it? Is there nothing more?”, I began an online quest to explore options for the next phase of my life.
After lots of ads for conventional “55+ active-living communities” (that sure didn’t sound all that active or exciting to me!), I finally found the fascinating world of solo RVing.
Blogs from “Tioga George” to Judy of “Travels With Emma” (and many, many others) showed me a big, new world out there for a solo person to explore with lots of interesting volunteer work to do and new people to meet on a daily basis.
It has taken me a few years to get completely transitioned to this new lifestyle, but I am so grateful for the bloggers who showed me this path, and hope I may now “pay it forward” with my blog for the next wave of solos looking to do the same!
Thanks so much for chiming in with your story Lynne. Sure hope we get to meet you down the road.
Nina
Good article, just wanted to mention a book called Wild, soon to be a movie, that is about a young woman walking the Pacific Crest Trail alone. That was a great read for us this summer and we actually met a young lady who was on a Southward PCT adventure while hiking near Crater Lake a month ago. Really cool to meet her we walked a little way with her, but could hardly keep up. She was excited about getting to the Crater Lake store and find a package from her mom that had cookies and caramel corn.
Hiking the Pacific Trail has actually been one of my life-long “bucket” items. I was very close to doing it around 15 years ago, but then got side-tracked. I hope to be able to do it sometime in the future. Will definitely be checking out the book recommendation!
Nina
I enjoyed this blog post. I’ve been out (solo) for a couple of years (although had a friend along for six months or so). My one “issue” is that I am not good at meeting people, and don’t have a blog. But I miss community/friends! Haven’t quite figured out how to fix that one yet.
I had not ever read The Blonde Coyote (the other blogs you mentioned I already read and enjoy) and I will definitely be adding that to my regular roster – fantastic! It also has me yearning for a dog again (my one died of old age and I have not got another… yet?).
For community you might want to check out http://www.rvillage.com. Interstellar Orchard wrote about it in one of her recent blogs, and we’ve been on there for a while. It’s got a neat map feature that allows you to see and connect with nearby RV people and groups. Plus you can send messages and connect by interest too.
Nina
Hi!
Love your post!
Getting back on the road again after trying to settle down at my farm..
The longest, hardest 18 months of my life :+))!.
Good luck on your transition back to the road. After a tough 18 months I’ve no doubt you’ll appreciate the freedom all that more. Sounds like it’s well-deserved!
Nina
My mom used to RV (not fulltime) alone. Sometimes she’d be out for a week or more all by herself. She doesn’t do it anymore for several reasons but she managed quite well. Drove a big truck and towed a big trailer, hooked up, set it up, etc. all by herself.
I travel alone sometimes and spend a lot of time in the woods alone and even as a big, burly man, I feel vulnerable sometimes but you’re probably safer out in the sticks than living alone is a city. Getting out the door, like most things, is the hardest part. Once you actually do it, you’ll find a lot of the fear was in your head.
I know exactly what you mean about getting out the door…that’s half the battle for most folks! Interestingly enough I’ve always felt safer in the boonies than in big cities, probably because most of my boonie time, especially in my younger years, has been solo.
Your mom sounds like a hardy gal. A woman after my own heart!
Nina
Hi, Nina,
Great post! Thank you for including me and my blog in your list. It’s especially nice that you found a photo of Bridget and Polly where Bridget isn’t showing her teeth in an unsociable snarl (She takes after me.).
Nepal? Sheesh. I’m thrilled I made it to Wyoming.
Sue
You’re welcome Sue. You’ve been a HUGE inspiration to so many people, and especially single ladies looking to get on the road. And hey, Wyoming is pretty out there 🙂
Nina
Thanks for including me. I’ve been traveling, mostly, solo for almost 40 years. Sure wish I’d been able to blog from the beginning, living in a Vega. I’ve never felt threatened but then I just go boldly forward with my intuition on full. Although I love to spend six months in my 5th-wheel home at Grand Canyon I miss rolling with more frequency. Still working on a fall/winter trip if I can find the right cabover at the right price.
Would love to see you on our path sometime Gaelyn. I’ve enjoyed your Africa pics & blogs for several years now.
Nina
Thanks for the mention Nina! Even I didn’t know about some of these fellow female solos, it’s interesting seeing how other ladies make life on the road work. 🙂
Glad I could introduce you to a few other bloggers. Sure enjoy your posts and musings on life and hope to cross paths with you at some point in the future.
Nina
Nina, I follow many of those, and just started to follow onewanderingspirit.wordpress.com, she is in a Casita and just starting out.
While along the California Coast last year we met this lady who was in her late 70’s, perhaps even in her 80’s. Her husband was a Captain in the L.A. Fire Department. When he retired they traveled for over ten years in a large Class A gas motorhome, visited every state, every Canadian providence, and even a few states in Mexico. He made sure she knew how to do anything and everything “in case something happened to him”, the fireman’s way of thinking she said. Around 2005 if I remember correctly he got a hernia, had complications and died from it. She downsized to a B+, and goes out for months at a time with her two dogs. Unfortunately she does not blog. Stays at KOA’s the most because she had fallen in 2012, re-broke her hip inside her motorhome, while at a KOA. They got her help, treated her very well, watched her motorhome for over 6 months for free, and now she will rarely stop anywhere else. That trip she was on was to the Tetons, Yellowstone, and on her way back to San Diego area where she lives, and she had decided to come down the coast of California again just for fun. I walked away from this encounter very very amazed by this lady. –Dave (GoingRvWay.com)
Thank you Dave for mentioning http://www.onewanderingspirit.wordpress.com
Yes I’m very new but have been following many of you for some years now, getting my inspiration!
Micky
Thanks for the blog link. She’s someone I haven’t seen before and I always enjoy discovering new bloggers.
The story of the lady you met is AMAZING! What an inspiring woman. Cheers for sharing.
Nina
Great post Nina! I know when I no longer have a partner to fulltime with that I will keep on anyway. It is a lifestyle I absolutely love. I read nearly every blog you mentioned including Judy and Emma mentioned in someone’s comment. These are very interesting and helpful women.
Just thought………….are there solo men with blogs? Without Tioga George, I don’t know of any.
There’s definitely some single guys out there, although I don’t know too many that blog.
To Simplify is a musician in a van who we met last year. Great guy & really fun blog.
New Age Nomad is another younger guy in a van. He enjoys boondocking most of the year.
Wondering Earl is a worldwide (and long-term) nomad. Not always an RVer, but he’s done more of it recently around Eastern Europe.
Russ On The Road just started out fulltiming more recently, but has already assembled a substantial blog.
Those are most of the guys I follow.
Nina
Thanks for the blog links Nina. I have been following RVSue & Becky for some time now, but was not aware of the other blogs. My adventure won’t begin for several more years now, but reading and learning from all of you will make my transition seamless. I am so inspired by all of you full-timers. Thanks for the post.
Good luck with all your plans, Shelly!
Nina
Cool stuff, thanks!
I’m definitely an avid solo female traveler, might be the RVer kind too. We’ll see though, it’d be nice to find a partner for life who also wants to do it. 🙂
Now you have me thinking of matchmaking….hmmm….single RV guys, single RV gals 🙂
Nina
Thank you for a long overdue tribute to the Amelia Earhart’s of the RV lifestyle. Brave, courageous, and bold…
Box Canyon Mark
Right on, Mark. As usual, you put it so very eloquently.
Nina
Great post Nina. I would have said when we first started out on this nomadic lifestyle that I couldn’t see myself doing this solo. Now I would say that I feel confident that I could, particularly with so many women pioneers out there now leading the way.
That’s great LuAnn! Your travels (and your travel style) has definitely changed alot over the past few years. RVing tends to change us in so many ways.
Nina
Thanks for the mention Nina! What a great post. When I was researching downsizing and RV travel I read Me and My Dog’s Barbara, The Good Luck Duck, RV Sue, Diana, and GeoGypsy among others. Now, after being on the road, some of the women I followed are among my best gal pals. Such a supportive group!
Hope we can cross paths one day! I’m planning a lot of boondocking in Arizona next year. I love following your northwest travels. We will get up there in a year or 2.
Safe travels!
Jeanne
Lovely to hear from you, Jeanne. I’ve been secretly following your blog for a while and have enjoyed reading about your travels and the many meet-ups you’ve had in New Mexico with other ladies too. Love to see that community out there!
Nina
GIRL POWER indeed! I will also add http://passagebound.me/ from a friend of mine who just returned from the NWT and will be heading to South America this fall.
Thanks for adding the link, Sherry!
Nina
I love to travel solo too. Although I’ve been married for 31 years, I have made some solo trips recently. Two years ago when our son deployed I flew from Sacramento to Oklahoma City to pick up his car and cat and drove back home solo. Then in April I flew to Yuma and went to Los Algedones for dental work, again solo. I know that if something ever happened to Ron, I would definitely travel solo without any hesitation. I enjoy reading Becky at IO. Now I have a few more to add to my growing list of RV travel blogs. Thank you for this post 🙂
You sound very much like me, Rene. I love travelling as a couple, but also enjoy solo outings. Travel is in my soul. If anything ever happened to Paul, I would like to believe I’d continue on the road. For now, however, I’m very very happy as a couple 🙂
Nina
http://kimbopolo.blogspot.com/ is solo rv’r I follow. I follow some of the others in your blog. Love rvsue, I tell everyone I meet on the road about her.
Thanks for this.
Great! Cheers for the link, Kitte.
Nina
Thanks soooo much for this post on solo women RVing! I’m going to really enjoy reading these blogs.
I dream about living in a tiny home and/or being a solo RVer, but the “out there alone” aspect does scare me…a lot. (I was much more fearless in my 20’s & 30’s and did a few solo extended adventures then.)
As I weigh options…the major appeals are living more simply/sustainably, not being tied down to one house (attendant costs/upkeep), and being freed up to travel to see these spectacular places.
The two biggest downsides to solo travel that I see are:
• proximity with friends here where I live (actually doing things together), and
• “groundedness” in community – particularly being a part of organizations that protect/steward/conserve nature and unique habitats (requires long-term, sustained vision and effort).
Thanks for letting me ramble a bit…even if it’s just virtually!
Cheers,
Moira
Very happy these blog links can provide some inspiration for you. We’ve personally found that alot of that sense of community, and especially the idea of contributing to society can be achieved through volunteering on the road. Plenty of organizations accept solo volunteers including National Parks, Fish & Wildlife, BLM etc. If this is an important part of your life, I’d definitely look into this.
We met a solo lady last year (sadly, she doesn’t blog) who spent 100% of her time volunteering in various Fish & Wildlife preserves across the US. She would give 1-3 months to each spot and then move on. When we met her she’d been doing this for over 4 years and had traveled all over the country.
So, just another idea for you! I have lots more info on volunteering in my “volunteering” tab at the top of the blog.
Nina
I just wanted to say that I love reading all the comments on here. I have been doing a lot of research regarding living in an RV full time. I really want to do this and could use all the information I can get.
Jeannie
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been on the road solo for over two years and love it! I know there are a lot of us out here, but we don’t always identify ourselves. As far as safety goes, I traveled solo for business for many years, and I think campgrounds are a LOT safer than hotels. I suspect they are even safer than our subdivisions and apartment complexes. And the best part is all the interesting people I have met. I teach online while I travel and tell my friends that I have the best office in the world in terms of surroundings and views.
The best thing is to travel and still take your clean bathroom and bedroom along with you. You cannot imagine how nice it is to have a full refrigerator and all your stuff along with you.
One funny story is when I first picked up my new motorhome (Class C, 32′ long). My son had taken me to the dealer, but since I had never driven such a big vehicle before, he was terrified to follow behind me. So he “followed” in front of me! (I suspect he checked his rearview mirror a lot.) My friends vary between those who are jealous and those who think I am nuts.
My kids were worried at the beginning and still worry a bit about my being bored or lonely. The truth is that I would be horribly bored and lonely sitting in my old condo until I died. The called me every night for the first month, but now I barely hear from them other than an occasional “Where are you now, mom”? I am more than happy to answer questions of potential solo women RVers, if they post onto my blog and send me an email address.
Thanks so much for telling your story Judy. I’m sure many gals out there will be inspired by it. Good travels to you!
Nina
Hi Judy I just wanted to say that I have been going through everything I own and letting go of so much unnecessary stuff that I have been hanging onto for years.( I live in a 600 sq. foot duplex). It is so exciting to let go of all the baggage that goes with it. It is a very freeing feeling. I am saving up and if all goes as planned should be able to have an RV by next summer. Here’s to a new and exciting adventure. 🙂
Good for you Jeannie! We too found the process of getting rid of stuff incredibly freeing. It’s amazing how much “baggage” we carry around in our lives both literally and figuratively.
Nina
What I am amazed about is that there is no sadness when parting with all these things. I have been off work for 2 1/2 years with a back injury. So I have not been able to go anywhere. My plan is to get an RV and that way if I start hurting to much or I get tired I can simply park and take a break for a while. Than hit the road again. I just have to get things in order and keep on sorting. 🙂
Yup, it’s a surreal experience. I had feelings of nostalgia about many things, but not sadness. My overwhelming feeling was one of freedom as each thing was let go. We kept a small storage unit when we moved into the RV and to be honest I wish we hadn’t…5 years later we’re still paying storage fees and I haven’t missed a single thing in there.
Nina
Hi Nina, I was also thinking about a small storage unit. The more I think about it the more I am inclined to give things to the kids and let the rest go. I have already downsized in clothes so much that I no longer need a dresser. My main thing is books. I love to read. Thanks for you comments. Have a great day
One other thing…. I don’t think you have to be particularly “brave” to travel solo in an RV, but I do think you have to have a sense of adventure and be able to accept the bad with the good. That’s what “exploring” is all about when you set off to see things you have never seen before.
So expect to be sometimes disappointed with campgrounds and places you go to. On the other hand, I have been pleased and sometimes even thrilled with enough other things I have found to make adventuring worthwhile. The option, of course, is to play it safe and stay home and be bored. My choice is to take a few chances, obviously.
My blog is at http://grandmajjb.blogspot.com/ if you are interested.
I am planning to retire in 1.5years.. I cannot get the idea out of my head to 1. Shop for a small (all inclusive) RV, travel around North America.. This is so cool to learn that I am not the only single woman to consider this.. How do I get connected to some type of advise and/or support group for the following information : 1. Purchasing an RV that is reasonable and affordable as well as doable for a 65year old(although very healthy) woman..2. Where are the best places to camp that are sSAFE semi rural (private) to include beaches and mountains..?? And 3. How do I get started.. ??
Well I’d recommend to start by signing up to the blogs of other inspirational solo gals first (see my links above). You’ll quickly get a feel for how they travel, what they travel in and how they find their spots. Many of these ladies are also very helpful and willing to answer comments on their blogs. It’s a tight-knit community.
Then I’d recommend signing up to a few RV forums (e.g. RV Dreams forum, iRV2) and becoming part of their solo threads. Lots of helpful folks (and fellow solos) on those forums that will be ready to answer any questions you have. Facebook has lots of active fulltime RV groups where you can connect with and ask questions too. These groups are great for detailed rig questions, practical questions etc.
Lastly there are also solo organizations out there (e.g. WINs) and several places you can attend learning rallies if you wish (e.g. RV Dreams and Escapees both hold regular learning rallies and boot camps. You don’t necessarily need to have an RV to attend). If you want “hands on” experience and to meet some folks face-to-face that’s a great way to get it.
I think that will get you started!
Nina
Just wanted to update and say I am still on the road, solo! It has been four years now, and I am still not bored or lonely. You really and truly meet the nicest people in RVs.
I am active on the rvwomen.com forum and suggest that you join if you want to learn more. It is not a huge group, but there is a core group of really active women. One thing you can do if you want to learn more about solo traveling as a woman is to attend one of the get-togethers, even if you don’t have an RV yet. And if none in convenient, just post where you live and ask to meet up with women traveling through the area or living nearby. (We get around, to say the least!) It can be really helpful to see how people really live in their RVs and get a tour of how someone has set theirs up.
I have met up with lots of women, even if it only for lunch together somewhere. It is really true that women who like this lifestyle really do have something in common in spite of differences in background, education, and experiences.
All fabulous tips Judy. Thanks so much for commenting!
Nina
Hi I know this post is pretty old but hoping it is still active. Just got my dream job of working remote 100% and am now toying with the idea of taking it on the road. I see challenges ahead in that area because I will need to be able to connect via wifi to do my job…8+ hours a day. So I will be a bandwidth hog lol. Anybody out there with any ideas/suggestions on how to manage that?
I love the comment that many would be solo travelers allow fear, uncertainty, and if I may add the negativity of family members to dissuade them from this lifestyle. When I read about others’ journeys, I feel a tug of yearning to do the same. I am going to research more on the staying connected part as that funds the other. All advice is welcome!!
We relied on internet for our work when we were in the RV so we had 3 different plans (Verizon, ATT, T Mobile). The redundancy was important to make sure we stayed connected. Plus we had boosters (antennas) and would research connectivity wherever we went (there are apps for that).
The internet space is changing all the time however so I recommend our buddies site “RV Mobile Internet”: https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/
They are also on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/groups/rvinternet/?ref=group_header&view=group
They have a premium membership too which is well worth it if Internet connectivity is your livelihood.
Best of travel to you!
Nina
“This fear can be so paralyzing that it completely derails their life and that’s a very sad thing indeed.” Seems you just told my story. I’m 61, single for over 10 years, spent 2 years caring for my mom with her dementia. Finally, after she went into a nursing home in April 2018, I had my boys help me obtain a truck and 30′ 5th wheel. I drove from MA to AZ to get it, stayed with a son until I cleaned it, outfitted it, and moved into it. Now, I sit maybe 5 miles down the road from his home, too terrified to move out on my own. It’s easy when my son is coaching me, or pulling with me. But, the truth is, I have become paralyzed by fear. My mom died in October, the holidays were hard, and it’s been much colder than usual here in AZ. Will I ever move on?
Oh Debbie I’m so sorry. You’ve had some major and most incredibly difficult life changes over the past years, so I can completely understand your sense of fear and worry. These emotions are all normal, and you would be inhuman if you didn’t have them. But you’ll also need to fight to over come that fear, and you’ll likely have to go outside your comfort zone to do it.
My advice to you is this. Chose ONE place to go, where you can meet-up with other single RVers. even if you need to ask your son’s help to get there. The big show in Quartzsite is coming up in a few weeks in AZ, and it would be the PERFECT opportunity for this. Read Judy’s comment below about the womenRV group meeting up there. They are the PERFECT group too. So why not JOIN THEM? You’ll be amongst likeminded gals, who don’t judge, who know exactly what you’re going through, who can help you overcome many of those initial fears. I think this would be exactly what you need to get you inspiration your looking for. Honestly join them…! Have your son help you get there if needs be, but do this one thing, and I think you will find it’s the first step is many positive steps for 2019.
Nina
Debbie, part of your problem may be that you have such a large RV. That size is good for long-term living in one place, but challenging to camp in or drive very far by yourself. You might want to try renting a smaller motorhome to do some traveling in–like maybe 22′ to start. (Motorhomes are MUCH easier to drive and back up than trailers or 5th wheels, which is why I suggest a motorhome.) Or, try renting a smaller trailer for traveling, while keeping your larger one sitting on a lot somewhere as a home base. You already have the truck to pull it, so maybe something like 15′ – 17′ long, but with a bathroom and a bed that you don’t have to make every day. There are several women from http://www.womenrv.com/forum/ meeting up at Quartzite in a couple of weeks, and they would love to have you join them. I am stuck in Oregon for a few weeks so will have to miss that get-together. They own a variety of size vehicles. (And one lady is more than two decades older than you!)
Kathy, bandwidth is a problem. I teach online classes and have two Verizon hotspots with “unlimited” data, but they do throttle you after a certain number of MBs. A lot depends on what you do online and how many very large files you have to transfer. No watching internet TV or downloading media!! These guys are a good source of technical information: https://www.technomadia.com/blog/