Without much fanfare, we pulled out of our driveway, turned left onto our street, and began our very first RV adventure—just nine miles from home—to the Dubois County Fairgrounds Campground in southern Indiana. This local spot served as the perfect place for a shake-down trip: a short, nearby stay to test out our setup and uncover any issues before hitting the road full-time.
In theory, this was a smart and strategic plan for anyone beginning the full-time RV lifestyle. In reality? We found ourselves more ready than we thought. The systems were working, the dogs were adjusting, and the only things being “shaken down” were the bugs hiding in our clothes and hitching rides on the pups!
Originally, we planned to stay just a week or two. But thanks to some convenient timing and availability, we now have three full weeks to explore Dubois County—a place we know well but have never experienced from the perspective of RV travelers.
One big reason we chose to stay close to home was to be near our storage unit. We wanted to see if we had overpacked our RV (spoiler: we did) and whether we needed to order different or better supplies (spoiler: we do). Amazon has been working overtime delivering all the little extras we overlooked during our initial packing.
The long-term goal? To hit the road for a few months—possibly three to six or even longer. Eventually, we plan to settle down in a peaceful beach town, ideally in a smaller home or condo that fits our new minimalist mindset. But for now, it’s all about testing the RV lifestyle, getting into a rhythm, and learning what works for us and what doesn’t.
The Dubois County campground has been a quiet, woodsy, and surprisingly serene setting for our first stop. The weekdays are peaceful, and the weekends bring in a wave of family campers, bikes, and laughter. Our dogs have loved roaming the wooded trails and stretching their legs after months of pre-trip planning. Unfortunately, the Indiana ticks have also loved them! Every evening, we go through a full dog bug check routine, and the dogs have learned to accept it as the price for running wild in nature.
I’ve also come to appreciate the small routines that full-time RV living requires. Every detail—whether it’s managing our supplies, bug-proofing the dogs, or organizing limited space—matters more than it ever did in a house. Yet there’s a quiet joy in the simplicity, the problem-solving, and the sense that every day brings a little more clarity and confidence.
This shake-down trip may only be nine miles from home, but emotionally, it’s been a thousand. We’re learning, laughing, and letting go of more than just “stuff”—we’re shedding old routines, expectations, and the stress that comes with trying to do it all.
Our RV adventure has officially begun, and if the first few weeks are any indication, we’re right where we’re meant to be.