A few years ago, I sold my house, got rid of most of my possessions, and moved into an RV.
Whenever people find that out, they usually have one of two reactions.
“That sounds amazing!”
Or…
“I could never do that.”
The truth is, after several years of living on the road, I understand both reactions.
There are days when I wake up to a mountain view, step outside with my coffee, and think, I can’t believe this is my life.
There are other days when something breaks, it’s raining, the internet isn’t cooperating, and I wonder why I thought living in a tiny house on wheels was a good idea.
But overall, moving into an RV has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It has simplified my life, given me incredible freedom, and taught me lessons I don’t think I would have learned any other way.
Of course, there are definitely things I miss—and things I don’t.
What I Miss Most
A Long, Hot Shower
If you’ve never lived in an RV, you probably don’t think much about showers.
I didn’t either.
At home, I could stand under hot water as long as I wanted without giving it a second thought. In an RV, every shower comes with a little mental calculation.
How much hot water is left in the tank?
How full is the gray tank?
Do I need to conserve because I’m not hooked up to water?
Suddenly, something that once felt unlimited becomes very limited.
Let’s just say RV showers tend to be efficient.
A Real Closet
My closet used to hold clothes for every possible occasion.
Now it holds clothes for the occasions that actually happen.
Living in a small space forces you to be honest about what you really use. Those outfits you might wear someday? They don’t make the cut.
The upside is that getting dressed is much easier. The downside is that every once in a while I wish I had room for a few more options.
Especially shoes.
Counter Space
Who knew counter space was such a luxury?
Preparing a meal in an RV often feels like a puzzle. You quickly learn where everything goes because there isn’t much room for anything to be out of place.
I’ve become very creative with cutting boards, folding tables, and using the stovetop as extra workspace.
It works. Most of the time.
Having Family Nearby
Living in an RV has allowed me to visit family more often than when I owned a house, but it also means I don’t have a permanent place where everyone gathers.
There are times when I miss spontaneous dinners, quick visits, and being close enough to stop by without planning ahead.
Thankfully, the freedom of RV life has also allowed me to spend extended time with people I love, which is something I never could have done before.
Not Having to Secure Everything Before Driving
One thing many people don’t realize is that my RV isn’t just my home—it’s also my vehicle.
I don’t have a car following behind me.
That means every time I need groceries, have a doctor’s appointment, meet a friend for coffee, or drive to church, I’m taking my house with me.
Travel days aren’t occasional. They’re pretty much every day I need to go somewhere.
Before I leave, I have to make sure everything is ready to move. Cabinets need to be secured. Loose items need to be put away. Anything sitting on the counter needs to be considered a potential projectile.
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way more than once.
There have been plenty of times I’ve arrived somewhere and discovered a drawer opened during the drive or heard a mysterious crash somewhere in the back. Usually that means I’ll be cleaning something up when I arrive.
Most people can jump in their car and leave in a matter of seconds.
For me, even a trip to the grocery store requires making sure my entire house is ready for takeoff.
It’s just part of RV life—and honestly, after a few years, it feels pretty normal.
What I Miss Least
Cleaning a Big House
This might be my favorite part of RV living.
I can clean my entire RV in less time than it used to take me to clean one room in my house.
There are fewer floors to vacuum, fewer bathrooms to clean, and fewer places for clutter to hide.
For someone who would rather be exploring than dusting, that’s a major win.
Accumulating Stuff
Before downsizing, I had closets, cabinets, storage bins, and drawers full of things I rarely used.
I didn’t realize how much I owned until I had to decide what was worth keeping.
That process was harder than I expected.
Many items weren’t valuable, but they carried memories. Letting go of things felt like letting go of pieces of my life.
What surprised me was how quickly I stopped missing most of it.
Living in an RV taught me that possessions often require more of our attention than we realize. They need to be cleaned, organized, stored, maintained, and moved.
Owning less has felt incredibly freeing.
Yard Work and Home Maintenance
One thing I definitely don’t miss is the never-ending list of things that come with owning a house.
There was always something that needed attention.
The grass needed mowing.
The landscaping needed work.
Something needed repairing.
And if I didn’t want to do it myself, I had to pay someone else to do it.
Owning a home often felt like having another part-time job.
Of course, RVs have their own maintenance issues. Things break. Repairs happen. But overall, there is far less to take care of than a house and yard.
I don’t spend weekends worrying about mowing, trimming, pressure washing, or finding someone to fix something outside.
That’s time and money I’m happy to spend elsewhere.
The Pressure to Keep Up
One of the unexpected gifts of RV living is that it has helped me step off the treadmill of constantly upgrading.
Bigger house.
More furniture.
More decorations.
More storage.
More stuff.
Living in a small space makes you question how much you really need.
I’ve discovered that contentment has a lot less to do with what I own and a lot more to do with how I spend my time.
The Biggest Surprise
The biggest surprise wasn’t what I miss or don’t miss.
It was realizing how little square footage actually matters.
When I sold my house, I thought I was giving up space.
In some ways, I was.
But I gained something far more valuable.
I gained freedom.
Freedom to travel.
Freedom to spend time with family.
Freedom to visit friends.
Freedom to say yes when opportunities arise.
Freedom to go wherever God opens doors.
As my ministry has grown, that freedom has become even more meaningful. Living in an RV has allowed me to visit churches, connect with supporters, spend time with family across multiple states, and be available when opportunities arise. It has given me the flexibility to say yes when God opens a door instead of wondering how to make it all fit into a more traditional lifestyle.
The truth is, home isn’t a house.
Home is the people you love.
It’s conversations around a campfire.
It’s laughing with friends.
It’s sharing meals with family.
It’s feeling welcomed wherever God has planted you for the moment.
Do I miss certain things about living in a house?
Absolutely.
A bigger closet would be nice.
A longer shower wouldn’t hurt either.
But I wouldn’t trade this season for anything.
Living in an RV has reminded me that the things that matter most were never the size of the house, the amount of storage, or the possessions I owned.
The things that matter most are faith, relationships, experiences, and being willing to follow wherever God leads.
But if anyone has a solution for RV shoe storage, I’m all ears.