RVing and Negative comments

If you're RVing or considering it, you'll hear negative comments.

After 13 years of living full-time in my motorhome, I still received negative comments from time to time.

It's easy to ignore the comments from total strangers who don't know me. These people have probably never taken a risk in their lives. And they're quick to tell me I made a big mistake by living the RVing life.

I should live a "normal" life

They tell me I'm wasting a lot of money, that I'm away from my family and friends, and they give me a long list of reasons why I should come to my senses and go back to living a "normal" life.

Note When it comes to losing money, I paid $27,500 for my 34-foot Class C motorhome, and 13 years later, I sold it for $25,600. I lost $1,900 in 13 years. It costs me less than $150 a year (or about $12 a month) to own my RV. I did almost no maintenance on it except oil changes, and I bought one set of tires.

The key to doing this is that you have to buy your RV at the right price. As my father always said, "You make your money when you buy something—not when you sell it." But that's a topic for another article.

With the Christmas holidays coming up, you may spend some time with family and close friends.

Unfortunately, you may hear some negative comments from these people. Some of the negative comments are direct, and some are subtle.

Other kinds of comments

Other comments I hear are interesting, but not negative. I often hear comments such as, "I want to live and travel in an RV one day." The sad truth is that these people will never make the leap and do it.

I've heard that comment many times during the 13 years of living in my motorhome, and not a single one of the people who made the statement has ever done it.

I have some family members who have bought RVs since I've been living in my RV, but, surprisingly, they're not the ones who said they wanted to do it "someday." They just did it.

Back to negative comments

When you hear family and friends saying negative things about your living in an RV or thinking about it, ignore these comments, and don't let them influence you. That's easier said than done. But if you're prepared for what you might say, that makes it easier not to let these comments bother you.

Bottom line: I'm sure some people who make the negative comments mean well, but they don't know your dreams, desires, plans, or the research you've done. The statements they make would apply to them, but not to you. There's no need to argue with them. You will not change their minds.

When I hear negative comments about RVing, I say, "You're probably right." That ends the argument, and there is nothing left for them to say.