What Does “Home” Mean? Reflections from Our Full-Time RV Journey
One of the unexpected things about traveling full-time is the conversations you have with complete strangers.
Most begin the same way.
“Where are you from?”
After explaining that we sold our house and now travel the country full-time in our RV, people are usually fascinated.
Occasionally, though, someone responds with something we never expected.
“So… you’re homeless?”
That simple comment sparked an interesting conversation between us—not about being offended, but about what the word home really means.
Home Isn’t Just a Street Address
For most of our lives, home meant a house.
It had walls.
A foundation.
A mailbox.
Neighbors.
Like most people, we never questioned that definition.
Then life changed.
We found ourselves unexpectedly unemployed, decided to take a chance, sold nearly everything we owned, bought a travel trailer, and set out to explore America.
Suddenly, our address changed whenever we moved.
But our home didn’t disappear.
It simply came with us.
We Didn’t Lose Our Home—We Took It With Us
One of the biggest misconceptions about full-time RV living is that we’re constantly “away from home.”
The truth is exactly the opposite.
Our home travels with us.
Inside our trailer we have:
- A comfortable bed
- A kitchen
- A refrigerator
- A stove
- Running water
- Electricity
- A place to relax after a day of exploring
Most importantly, it’s where we share meals, laugh together, solve problems, and spend time with General.
Wherever we park for the night, that’s home.
Why the Word Matters
The reason that conversation stayed with us wasn’t because someone intended to be unkind.
Quite the opposite.
The comment was made casually.
But it reminded us that words often carry different meanings for different people.
When we hear the word homeless, our thoughts immediately turn toward people facing incredibly difficult circumstances.
People sleeping on sidewalks.
Families living in shelters.
Individuals struggling simply to stay warm and safe.
Those situations deserve compassion, understanding, and support.
That’s a very different circumstance from someone who has intentionally chosen a mobile lifestyle.
We’ve Met People Experiencing True Homelessness
During our travels, we met a young couple who had unexpectedly lost both their jobs while working with a traveling company.
They found themselves stranded in a campground with almost nothing.
No tent.
Very little equipment.
No real shelter.
Seeing their situation reminded us how quickly life can change.
We purchased a tent and a few basic supplies to help them through that difficult time.
That experience reinforced our belief that people experiencing homelessness face challenges far beyond simply not having a permanent mailing address.
Choosing the RV Lifestyle
Living in an RV certainly isn’t the easiest way to live.
There are tanks to empty.
Water to refill.
Propane to monitor.
Maintenance projects that seem to appear every week.
But every challenge comes with something extraordinary in return.
One week we’re watching wild horses on the beach.
The next we’re exploring ancient Native American earthworks.
Then we’re hiking through national parks or discovering charming small towns we’d never heard of before.
The freedom to experience this incredible country has made every adjustment worthwhile.
Home Is Built Around People
As we’ve traveled, we’ve realized that home has far less to do with buildings than it does with the people inside them.
Our trailer may be small.
But it’s filled with everything that matters most.
Each meal we cook together.
Every campground where we meet new friends.
Every sunset we watch from our campsite.
Every adventure we share.
Those experiences are what truly make a place feel like home.
Living Smaller, Living Richer
One unexpected lesson from full-time RV living is discovering how little we actually need.
Living in a smaller space encourages us to focus less on possessions and more on experiences.
Instead of accumulating more things, we’ve been collecting memories.
Photographs.
Stories.
Unexpected discoveries.
Conversations with interesting people.
Those have become some of our greatest treasures.
A Different Way of Looking at Home
People define home in many different ways.
For some, it’s the house they’ve lived in for decades.
For others, it’s wherever family gathers.
For military families, home often moves from one duty station to another.
For sailors, it may be wherever their ship is docked.
For us, home happens to have wheels.
And that’s perfectly okay.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, we’re actually grateful for that unexpected conversation.
It prompted us to think more deeply about something we had never really considered before.
Our home isn’t tied to a particular zip code.
It isn’t defined by a street address.
It’s defined by the life we’ve built together.
Every morning we wake up in our little travel trailer.
Every evening we park somewhere new.
And every night, wherever we happen to be…
We’re home.
Continue the Journey
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