The more I talk about different approaches to living, the wider variety of ways families go about their lives I see was happening in front of me all along. Recently I spoke to three families who travel the country full time with their families by RV, "road schooling" their kids, and then connected on the topic with Rachel Singer via Twitter.
Curiosity piqued, I reached out to Rachel to ask her some further questions via email. A look at what she told BabyCenter...
What does an average day of learning look like for your kids?
Our days include a great deal of freedom, which means they vary in terms of activities, but an average week includes various classes (currently gymnastics, science, art, ceramics, and swimming), time with friends, a homeschool park day, time in nature (including bird walks as Vivian is a birder), and time at home doing all sorts of things like reading (I sometimes say the library is our curriculum; both girls read a lot and I still read with each of them), writing (Vivian wrote a chapter book that’s on the shelf at our local library and she has her own blog; one of Celeste’s poems was included in an anthology of kids’ poetry; both girls collaborate on creating a monthly newsletter for family and friends), drawing (Celeste draws often, like her artist father), making, playing, building, baking, cooking, calculating, thinking, problem-solving, computing, experimenting, exploring, etc. Vivian also has an Etsy shop. Everything is self-directed with guidance as needed.
What do you think learning will look like down the line as they age?
I think they will probably continue on this life learning path and their interests, skills, and projects will naturally become more sophisticated as they age. Their learning has never been curriculum-based so typical high school subjects will likely only be explored if those subjects are relevant to what they want or need to know. I’m sure they’ll also become more involved in the larger community both locally and beyond as kids do in their journey toward adulthood. Time will tell whether college might be part of their respective futures.
Have you received any comments/criticism about your choices? If so, how do you respond?
Most people who know Vivian and Celeste can see “the proof is in the pudding” in terms of their accomplishments, abilities, and well-being. Early on when Tom was working outside our home in Los Angeles (doing Visual Effects), he received some criticism from colleagues who just didn’t understand how our children would learn “what they needed to learn” without any schooling. Because I was home with the girls (I resumed my acting career in 2015 after taking hiatus and doing some work from home), it took more time for Tom to recognize all the benefits and the fact that Vivian and Celeste were each learning all the basics and so much more.
The socialization comment is rather cliche at this point, and an unfounded concern for unschoolers who are so fully engaged with the world as most are; socializing with diverse ages and people is more natural and beneficial than being separated into classrooms with only peers of the same age. The only other criticism I’ve heard is that our girls are with their parents too much (Tom now has a home business) so there is a concern for some about their independence. To this I respond that unschoolers like our kids have a healthy independence that stems from their freedom and the fact that they are completely self-directed. It’s sad to me that such people view more family time as a negative when the bonds we have as a family are such a positive aspect of our unschooling lifestyle and the girls are so self-assured and of course do have time away from their parents. Mostly when people are able to see beyond their “school goggles,” they understand and appreciate family-centered natural learning.
Can you tell us a little about your family? What kind of equipment do you travel with?
Haulin' with the Oats: Chris and Jessica Oatman, Montana, 10, Makenna, 7, and Myla, 6.
We started our travels from Williamsburg, Virginia on May 26, 2014. We are currently in Springfield, Missouri for the next two weeks visiting with family and working craft shows. From here we will head to Cocoa Beach, Florida for the winter.
Our "home" is a 1977 Sunline 13ft Vintage Trailer. We've been living the full-time life for 1 year and 5 months.
Take That Exit: Heather and Jeremy Clarke, Liam, 8, and Hadley, 5.
We are originally in Olympia, Washington. We sold our house and nearly all our possessions and moved into a 30-foot Airstream Flying Cloud travel trailer. We are currently in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, but are headed to Washington, DC next week. We move often.
We tow our Airstream with a 2015 Ford F-250. We've been on the road since June 16, 2015 - so coming up on four months in October.
Yumfam: Mike and Jessica Yum, Noah, 6, Sam, 4 -- and Hannah our toy poodle (the most amazing animal on the planet).
We're from the Detroit suburbs but are staying in Oakland County, MI until the end of October. Then we are heading someplace WARM!
We have 32" Keystone Passport Ultra Light Travel Trailer pulled behind a 2003 Chevy Tahoe. We've been on the road since July 28, 2014.
What inspired you to make the leap to full-timing with a family?
Haulin' with the Oats: Living on the road is something we've always wanted to do, however, we just didn't think we could pull it off financially. Many years went by and many negative life circumstances happened throughout those years. Our son was diagnosed with cancer (leukemia) when he was 2.5 years old back in 2007. His battled lasted for 3 years which was a very stressful and mentally draining time in our life. His health was our main concern and in 2010 he took his last dose of chemo, praise Jesus.
Today he is a survivor, 10 years old and enjoying life. He does, however, have to visit St. Jude once a year until he is 18 and then he will continue to be evaluated for the rest of his life. Then on August 19, 2009, my brother - Sgt. Paul Dumont Jr., lost his life while fighting in Afghanistan. After those two major events we decided to take the chance and live a life of adventure and a life we wanted versus a life of what others wanted for us. We realized just how short life truly was and we wanted to experience all we could with our kids now.
Take That Exit: We had worked very hard to save money so we could upgrade our house and move to a different area. We were looking to move to Portland, Oregon. After touring many beautiful houses, nothing felt right. We asked ourselves - what do we value? We valued travel but it was sadly something we were fitting into weekends and vacations. So we decided to take a leap, minimize our possessions, travel for a year and spend more quality time together as a family.
Yumfam: We have always had a strong connection to nature and we regularly went tent camping. When we had our first child we decided to get a popup to make camping easier. We eventually moved into a bigger popup and, before we knew it, we were spending 60+ nights every summer, in our popup. Meanwhile, the housing market in the Metro Detroit area began to fall apart.
We grew tired of living in the suburbs so we put our house up for sale. We didn't know where we wanted to move and we were skeptical of the local housing market so we bought a travel trailer and decided to travel for one year searching the country for a new home. We are now in our second year and still don't know where we want to live and, to be honest, we are totally content living in our RV.
How do you decide where to go and how long to stay?
Haulin' with the Oats: We choose our destinations based off of jobs. We are not rich, we did not win the lottery and so we work like pretty much every other person in the world. Income drives our planet and like everyone else, we need money. For example, we spent our last winter in Cocoa Beach, Florida (6 months) where Chris worked for Ron Jon Surf Shop. After that, we traveled to Buena Vista, Colorado where he worked for a rafting company for (4 months). By doing this, it allows us to visit new locations, meet new people and share our country with the kids.
Take That Exit: We are really flexible about where and when we travel. We initially planned out the first 6 weeks - having reservations so we wouldn't have to worry about planning while learning the ropes of the road. But after that we are only planned out a week or two at a time. This keeps the pressure off and we can do things like travel based on the weather or on events or family. We have chosen places based on visiting family and friends, National Parks/historical relevance and because of personal interest!
Our broad plan was to head West during the summer, get to the East coast for the fall weather, head south to Florida by Christmas and then be to Arizona by April. That's our broad plan - following (hopefully) the best weather and the best seasons to be in specific areas.
Yumfam: We look at a map and look at all the places within a few hours of us. Then we sit up at night while the kids are sleeping and pick a place based on campground reviews, attractions, price and bucket-list items.
How did your friends and family react to the news?
Haulin' with the Oats: Our families weren't surprised really. We've always been an adventurous couple who traveled often and they knew that we don't do things the "normal" way. Our friends took it as a shock at first. They wanted to know how the kids were going to live while on the road and how they were they going to have a backyard. We told them that the United States is their backyard. Most people's opinions didn't and don't matter to us. Some are going to think it's awesome, while others are going to think you're absolutely nuts.
Take That Exit: Our family was a bit hesitant at first. But overall they've been very, very supportive. They watched us for more than 6 months as we researched, planned and prepared - and they knew we were serious about it. Of course they miss us, but they see the value in the travel, the homeschooling and the quality time together as a family.
Yumfam: They were mostly supportive. Some of our family expressed concerns about the boys but Jessica is a teacher by trade (and a damn good one at that) so anyone who knows us knows the kids are in good hands. However, she has a close family and she is especially close with her sister. They cry whenever we have to hit the road and Jessica gets homesick sometimes.
What was the process like getting ready to go?
Haulin' with the Oats: The process of getting ready to go began about 9 months before leaving. Over the course of those months, I began separating, sorting and purging all kinds of belongings. As it got closer and closer, things began to get trashed and given away.
The most stressful part were those last few days in the house when we had to have everything gone. In the end, I just wanted what was left to just disappear. We were done looking at the junk we'd collected over the course of our childhood and adult lives. We also had to find a place to camp for the remainder of Chris' military career, which wasn't nearly as stressful as downsizing.
Take That Exit: We decided the first week of January that we wanted to launch in mid-June after school got out. Those 6-months were the most stressful, overwhelming and exhausting months we've probably experienced as a family. Downsizing was a big part of the stress - we had accumulated so much stuff and I really wanted to make the most we could by reselling. This took a lot of effort on my part.
In addition to this we were getting the house ready to sell - a lot of work within itself. We also spent a lot of time researching travel trailers, learning how to tow, learning the ins/outs of RV life - it was all new to us and at times was overwhelming. I just kept telling myself - I can't give fear the audience it wants or we wouldn't do this - people do this all the time, we could, too. My husband and I were thankfully on the same page in terms of our goal - so we helped each other through the days when we questioned ourselves or when we were overwhelming.
Yumfam: Insane. Moving stuff to storage, finding a place to park the RV, dealing with potential home buyers, cleaning out the house, finding places for everything in the RV. When we finally left, it felt like there were 100 things we were forgetting.
What was your best day since full-timing like? What was your worst day like?
Haulin' with the Oats: We've had way too many "best" days since fulltiming. Honestly, it's the days when we're on the road, driving, and sightseeing. It's the days when we travel, have the windows down and are listening to the music. It's the meeting of new friends, the wonderful memories created and the experience of sharing new locations as a family.
The worst day by far was pulling into the Disney World Campground and having our older RV breakdown. We had planned on taking the kids to the Halloween Party but our plans didn't work out. We had to scratch the Disney Day, have our RV towed and find a hotel for what we thought would be one night. It turned into a week, we depleted all funds and were stressed beyond belief. It was the ultimate moment when we had to decided whether to throw in the towel or create new plans.
Take That Exit: Every day has things that I'm grateful for. Whether it's quality time with my kids, seeing my kids learn as we visit National Parks, visiting family we haven't seen in years, exploring together as a family, staying up late to watch the stars by the campfire and sleeping in late because nobody has to head off to work - this life has many wonderful things about it. I don't think there has been one BEST day.
As a family, every night, we say "5 things we are grateful for" and "5 things we've learned that day" - we all have a hard time keeping our list to FIVE. I love that my kids say, "This is the best day EVER" at least a few days a week - and it's not because of fancy toys, expensive amusement parks or other things that we might have done in suburbia. It's usually because they've spent the day running around a National Park, playing with mom and dad or exploring cool things like caves, waterfalls, historic landmarks and other awesome things.
Our rough days are few and far between - but we did have a water tank leak in Montana that really made for a stressful day - but we figured out a way to deal with it until we got it repaired in Minnesota. Sometimes if we travel too many days in a row - and don't take time to relax or unwind - our stress level and crankiness can get elevated (especially the kids) - but the great thing is, we can readjust our schedule and slow down as needed. We've gotten into a nice routine of travel days, exploring days, homeschool/catch-up days - and we find we need a good mix of those days to keep our sanity.
Yumfam: We all agree that our favorite moments are when we park the RV and head into the backcountry for a few days. We backpacked Yellowstone, Olympic, The Porcupine Mountains and the Smoky Mountains. The trip that stands out most was the 3 day backpacking trip we took in Baxter State Park (Maine) where we climbed Mount Katahdin.
The worst days are when there is severe weather. It makes me question whether living in an RV was a smart choice every time. When the storms pass an incredible feeling of relief comes over me.
How does your family afford full-timing? How do you work?
Haulin' with the Oats: We full-time by job hopping. We travel to the next destination based off of the jobs that lie ahead. Chris works wherever we plan on staying and by staying, we usually mean at least 3 months at a time. I also have an online hair bow shop on Etsy that allows me to work wherever we are.
Take That Exit: We had saved enough of a nest egg that we were able to buy our trailer and our truck with cash. We hit the road with ZERO debt and a nestegg in the bank. I am founder of QueenBeeCoupons and blog from the road - this brings in income.
My husband Jeremy was a high school teacher and he resigned from his job. He homeschools the kids while I work. Being debt-free helps a lot - living in the trailer and traveling full-time is much cheaper than the expenses we had in our house.
Yumfam: We own a business that I manage remotely. I am the founder and owner of a company called Quizzo Detroit. We host trivia nights at 50 weekly locations and we host corporate events for a growing number of clients. Because of things like Google Hangouts and Google Drive, I can run the office as if I am right there with them. Sometimes the distance between me and the business presents hurdles but things run smoothly for the most part and we actually experienced significant growth during our first year on the road.
What does school look like for your kids?
Haulin' with the Oats: Our schooling is a blend of many educational activities. The kids are technically in the 5th, 2nd and 1st grade. However, we don't do traditional school and rather educate them using many different tools. All three of them participate in the Junior Ranger Programs and have their own National Park Passport Books.
We try to visit as many National Parks as we can while heading to a new location. They do have some curriculum where they do the traditional handwritten work but we mostly do lots of hands on activities and take part in many programs throughout the country.
Take That Exit: Our kids have a specific curriculum through BookShark that we use. My husband does the teaching. We generally do school 4 days a week and for 4-5 hours at a time.
We supplement with lots of exploring. Museums, National Park Junior Ranger programs . . . there are so many opportunities to learn on the road - we are all learning, even when we don't realize it. It's exciting to see our kids piece together the pieces from the various places we've visiting - especially when it comes to history!
Yumfam: While I am working, Jessica pulls out all of the school stuff. We are a Montessori family so their school supplies are all hands-on works that they choose themselves. Jessica stands close by and observes the boys and gives presentations when needed. When school/work are over, we eat lunch and spend the rest of the day together. On days when the weather isnt great we check out the town or go to a museum. On nice days we go biking or hiking. IF there is a national park nearby, we explore and get our Junior Ranger badges.
What’s your monthly budget like?
Haulin' with the Oats: We don't really have a budget just due to the fact that our monthly income varies drastically from month to month. Because we travel from one location to another our bills and our expenditures will fluctuate. We live on very little and live a minimalistic life. Our income runs off of roughly $2200 a month.
Take That Exit: Being the owner of a frugal blog, I feel a lot of pressure to keep our numbers low because I worry what my readers will think. I know for a fact that our expenses have lessened every month we've been on the road - we're getting better at budgeting and making wiser choices based on our experiences on the road. And we are spending considerably less than we were spending in our house every month!
Yumfam: We used to spend $62 a day on our house (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities and cable). Since campgrounds include all utilities, we can find some pretty nice places in some prime locations and still live cheaper than we did in a house. When we move it's usually only a 3-5 hour drive and only 2-3 times a month so we allow for about $500 a month in gas.
We don't really budget things because, as I said, we spend less as a travelling family. But, in cases when the bank account gets low, we have a generator and everything we need to boondock and we are quite resourceful when it comes to shopping and cooking on a restricted budget.
What's next for you and your family?
Haulin' with the Oats: Our next adventure is to head south to Florida for the winter. We'll stay there until roughly April and then we hope to make a big trip out west. I don't see us quitting the fulltime life anytime soon. All of us have truly enjoyed the small home and the many adventures while being on the road.
Take That Exit: We are almost done exploring the New England area and we'll head south toward the Carolinas and Florida. I'm looking forward to slowing down this winter and staying in places for a couple weeks at a time - focusing on school and taking day trips.
We plan to stay on the road until early Spring of 2016 when we'll evaluate whether or not we want to settle down and if so - where. We'll do this as long as we are all happy and enjoying it.
Yumfam: More of the road. We plan to settle in Northern Michigan but we don't know when that will be...and it could change.
What message do you have for others who are flirting with the idea of full-timing but are perhaps a bit scared to jump in?
Haulin' with the Oats: You WILL have doubts. It's natural to be nervous and scared. We were definitely nervous about hitting the road but in all honesty, it was the greatest thing we have ever done. We have NO regrets once we got started. Our main concern was making money but once we figured things out and had some plans lined up, it kind of worked itself out.
You have to know that you will never be ready. Your ducks will never all be lined in a row because something will always come up. If you feel the urge to live this lifestyle, jump in feet first and enjoy the ride.
Take That Exit: I have so many people tell me, "you're living my dream!" and "I want to do this someday!" and I want to encourage them to figure out a plan and make it happen. Don't wait for your someday - you never know when or if that day will come. Don't worry and fret about the what-ifs. . . just do your very best to plan and prepare. The rest will fall into place.
This post I wrote about "no regrets, just gratitude" is really how I feel about travel so far. We are so grateful that we took this leap. We were working so much, stressed, busy, overloaded with stuff and life has taken a dramatic shift toward QUALITY time together and we are enjoying it so much.
Yumfam: This life isn't for everyone. It helps to have money. If you want it bad, go for it. I often think about my death bed when I am making choices in life. I ask myself, "Will I regret this in my final hours?" and how could I possibly regret living an atypical life of adventure with the 3 people who matter most to me in this world (and Hannah, the dog)?
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