6 ways to stay sane while living in a motorhome

“You’re living the dream!”, we are quite often told. Well, yes, we are, but it takes a while to work things out so it doesn’t become a nightmare.

Let’s face it, living in a motorhome is not for everyone. It’s all well and good to go travelling for a set period of time: you usually have a wish list of the sights you want to see and things you want to do in the allocated period, and then return home to your respective corners at the end of it.

But, if you live in an 7 x 2 metre space fulltime, as we do in Delvy, then there are a few strategies to put in place to remain sane and to continue to enjoy the experience.

Delvy gives us the freedom to enjoy the great outdoors in comfort.

1. Live in the moment

It’s not about putting your wants and needs on hold: it’s about doing what you want to do in the here and now in the space that you find yourself in at the time. If you find yourself wishing you were elsewhere or doing something else, then you’ve missed the point.

Wherever we are, an early morning walk is a fabulous way to start the day.

Nature is always full of surprises

2. Enjoy the outdoors

I mean truly enjoy it. Living in a motorhome is not like living in a house, obviously, as you are not shielded from nature. While nature can be a beautiful thing, it’s not always a bed of roses. There is no perfect weather all of the time and sometimes you can’t get away from it. When it starts pouring with rain and things begin to get damp and you’re cooped up in a small space, well, that’s life. Find an alternative comfortable spot in the interim. The same if it’s stinking hot. The local library is always a good hangout in either weather.

Not every day is perfect for exploring, so seize it when you can!

3. Allocate quiet time

If you are travelling solo then this is easy. If your partner is never more than arm’s length away then designated quiet time is a must. If you find yourself in the one spot for a bit it’s easy to break up the day and readjourn at morning tea, lunch etc. Watch that movie your partner isn’t interested in, go for a walk, read a book, do an activity that you desire – use the quiet time for yourself.  That way you'll get on each other's nerves far less, plus have something new to talk about when you next meet up!

Quiet time beside the camp fire

4. Have separate as well as common interests

It’s important to be able to do something together (or with like-minded people) as well as individually. For example, we both like to ride MTB trails, but I also like a solo bushwalk. My husband is a keen paraglider but I prefer to take photos. Most importantly, we both like the great outdoors and minimalist lifestyle. Plus it helps being each other’s best friend too. 😀

Riding buddies in Conway National Park

Bird's eye view, Great Sandy National Park

Another fun activity we enjoy doing together, boogie (body) boarding

5. Make loose plans 

Wandering around aimlessly can be frustrating and seem pointless. Create some variety, break it up. Set some goals and work around them. You might decide to pick up some work for a month or a season, or visit a particular destination, do some volunteering, or catch up with an old friend or family member. Create some sort of structure so you have things to look forward to and work towards. It may even include parking up the motorhome for awhile and doing something entirely different temporarily. We regularly get contract work as relief resort managers or deliver sailing yachts to give variety to our adventuring.

Visiting friends is all part of life on the road, but make sure you help out during your stay.
I always do a bit of gardening and Gary likes to fix things, 'cause he can.

It's hard to go past a day out on the water with friends

6. Live minimally

If you like all the mod cons and need all the toys to keep you amused, then you’ll find it difficult to adapt to the motorhome lifestyle. Living minimally is going without some things, like long hot showers, but more on this next time.

If your plan is to live the dream, then go for it. There is plenty to do and see, but being on the road fulltime is much more than a long holiday: it’s a lifestyle, so a bit of forethought can be useful for keeping the dream alive.

A love of the outdoors is a must to get the most out of the motorhome lifestyle