When I first started planning to full-time in my RV, I was greeted with a variety of responses from friends and family. Some felt I’d lost my mind and didn’t think it deserved further discussion. Others wondered when this “phase” of my eccentricity would pass. A few wondered why I seemed bent on turning myself into “white trailer trash” after years of working to have more; and some pondered what I’d do when I exited the tunnel on the other side of “this madness.” Once in a long while I came across someone who appreciated what I was planning and some even envied me for the journey I was embarking upon!

How does one answer all the questions posed in that last paragraph? Truthfully, I came to the conclusion you simply cannot deal with most of those ideas in a fashion that the requestors will find satisfactory. To me it was a decision based on both choice and necessity. My previous life choices left me facing retirement with no retirement funds save Social Security. That certainly would never support my then-current lifestyle – especially in Southern California.

Once I faced the issue head-on I recognized that I would, most likely, have to work for the rest of my life. Work, in the conventional sense, had never been an easy road for me. A Night Owl from the day I was born, making it to an office by 8-8:30 a.m. was not easy. My brain simply didn’t wake up until about 10:00 a.m. --- even with the mandatory 2-3 cups of really GOOD coffee (I like to grind my own coffee beans and never could drink the swill provided in most offices). Since the jobs I worked in often demanded overtime, there was little time left at the end of the day for things I enjoyed doing.

I liked to travel --- to see new things, meet new people. Working in a normal office environment generally put heavy limitations on traveling. A quick (often costly) flight somewhere (usually after pulling an all-nighter to get my desk in order) in order to enjoy as much time “on location” as possible. Think of all the scenery missed along the way. Limited time meant limited sightseeing. That road looks interesting? Sorry --- not on the agenda for this trip. Quick flight back to a desk piled high with things nobody wanted to deal with or problems someone hoped I would take the blame for. Was that REALLY a vacation?

Choices to be clarified; plans to be made. I picked up a book on retirement and took it on the commuter train one evening. After reading a few rather boring pages I decided to check out the Table of Contents. The words “Full-time RVing” popped off the page like an explosion! Wow --- something I’d never thought about --- but a very REAL possibility. The chapter was all of 3 pages long --- not much information for someone who’d never been in an RV, let alone owned one. But it made my heart sing. HERE was a viable idea. HERE was a creative way to move forward instead of falling behind. HERE was something new and fun to explore.

Without the Internet this process might have come to a screeching halt.  In 1999 the Internet was just coming into its own.  But there was still information out there that I could not find locally.  I found a wonderful group of single folks who owned RVs and started picking their brains --- gathering information from those who had successfully gone RVing alone.  Full-time RVing was rare in 1999.  You could practically count on one hand those who had actually done this.  There was so much to learn --- but it was exciting and I threw myself into the project with the dedication I reserved for researching a writing project or a legal project.  I made endless lists, joined numerous on-line groups (which I could access at any hour of the day or night so they fit my schedule), dragged friends to hear the few speakers out there who had done it, walked through hundreds of RVs --- none of which I could afford, and explored every avenue of RV life.  I even spent a week on campus in Idaho attending the Life on Wheels Conference --- I took all the “serious” classes on plumbing, wiring, maintenance, tires, etc.  I was determined to learn all I could about this new possibility.

Then came the hard part --- I planned to continue working from my RV. I had successfully hired out as an independent executive assistant and paralegal in the past. In SoCal contract employees were not as commonly hired as in other states --- especially in the legal field. That meant modifying things a bit. But within a few short months it became obvious to me that the growth of the Internet allowed me to be mobile --- as a Virtual Assistant I could work from anywhere as long as I had cell phone/internet/fax access and a good computer set-up. That was a good option for me from an RV.

At the time internet access was still a bit iffy. If one didn’t have money for a satellite connection, what options were available for Internet connectivity? WiFi wasn’t in yet. Connection via cell phone was the low-budget option and it didn’t appear to work very well. At the time it seemed to me I’d simply have to find some way to finance a satellite connection. How lucky I was that technology moved quickly in the intervening 10 years --- I now work with a USB broadband connection through a cell phone company and my connectivity is as good as the cable internet connection I had in SoCal. In an area where I cannot connect via my own broadband, WiFi cafes now abound. They offer good access at a reasonable price --- usually with good coffee immediately available!

Luckily a project opportunity came along which allowed me to start working as a virtual assistant from home while continuing my regular employment. That allowed me to perfect the set-up and organization of my “virtual” office. It gave me a chance to pick up some new equipment and to find out what worked and what didn’t. It allowed me to start building a client base.

Now I had a profession I could work at while living in my RV full-time. What did the RV life offer me? Mobility! What entranced me about the RV idea? The ability to move about at will. I spent weeks, months --- even years, trying to figure out how to describe my new lifestyle to the world. It was such a simple concept and yet getting people to understand the true purpose behind it often seemed to fall short of the mark.

My initial plan was to live in my RV full-time – something which, according to the Census Bureau, made me a ‘Semi-Affluent Homeless’ person (SAHP). When I heard that term I was not only offended --- I was filled with disbelief. First, I don’t consider myself homeless --- I have a good solid home --- it’s just mobile. Second, since I own a vintage 1978 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer and live on a relatively small income, I doubt if anyone would consider me affluent! Calling me a SAHP gave me a slightly sick feeling because I still needed to work, but obviously had a place to live!

Then one day I heard from a friend who was headed to Africa for “however long it feels good.” I asked what she was doing about her business. “I’m taking it with me! I’ve become a “Location Independent Professional” (LIP). I nearly fell off my chair! LIP --- what a simple way to describe exactly what I was --- I was no longer “living full-time in my RV and working from “wherever” as a Virtual Assistant.” (Always followed by questions such as “What is a Virtual Assistant?” and “Will you work for people where you are staying or will you keep the same clients and communicate via long distance?”) I was a Location Independent Professional! Yes --- the perfect moniker!

The fact is I am truly a LIP. I am not currently traveling overseas, as many do --- although I could. My laptop, a cell phone and a local internet café would suffice to keep me in business. For the moment I am enjoying the comforts of my own little house on wheels. It allows me to sleep in my own bed every night. And I am able to have my pets with me. Two Giant Schnauzers and a small parrot would complicate things a bit if I decided to spend extended periods overseas. But I’ve done my share of that already. Exploring the United States on my own terms is plenty for me right now. Being able to turn right instead of left at the next intersection is truly a joy. Enjoying the companionship of my critters, not having to face a desk piled high with work awaiting my return from vacation is beautiful -- life is good.

So --- what are you? What do you WANT to be? SAHP or LIP? Either one is an honorable lifestyle --- but either one requires transitional planningg. And you need to know where you are headed before you can plan the trip.

SAHP or LIP --- the choice is yours!

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K. Eckerle
Virtual Assistant/Paralegal/IndustryConsultant
Website: www.cardinalpointva.com
E-mail: assistant at cardinalpointva.com