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If you do anything remotely unconventional, people will have opinions.
Some will whisper about your life choices over Thanksgiving stuffing. Others will straight-up tell you you’re making a mistake, as if you asked for their TED Talk on practicality.
I know this because I’ve lived it. After seven years full-time in an RV plus a 1,700 mile life reset, I’ve heard it all. Concerned family members, jealous “friends,” and that one coworker who insisted I’d be back in a cubicle within a year.
You can’t control their opinions, but you can control how much space they take up in your head. Here’s how to tune out the noise and keep rolling.
1. Remember Why You Started (And Make It Bulletproof)
Your reasons for this life (freedom, adventure, minimalism, sheer stubbornness) matter more than anyone‘s opinions.
If your motivation is flimsy, criticism will hit you like a brick to the face. If it’s rock-solid, doubts will bounce off like bugs on your windshield.
So ask yourself: What’s your real why? Write it down. Tattoo it on your forearm. Do whatever you need to do to keep it front and center.
When people question you, this is what you’ll come back to.
2. Set Boundaries Like a Bouncer at a Vegas Club
Not everyone deserves full access to your thoughts, your plans, or your decision to live in a 200-square-foot space with questionable WiFi. Some people get VIP access. Others stay behind the rope.
If someone in your life constantly questions your choices, limit how much you engage. Change the subject. Give short, confident responses.
How to Handle Common Criticisms
People love to comment on things they don’t understand, and full-time RV life confuses the hell out of them.
Instead of getting defensive, keep your responses short, confident, and to the point. Here’s how to shut down the most common criticisms:
❌ “I just don’t get why you’d give up stability.”
✅ “I get that. I’ve realized I’d rather have freedom than a mortgage.”
❌ “You’ll regret this when you’re older.”
✅ “Maybe. But I’d regret never trying even more.”
❌ “You’re running away from responsibility.”
✅ “Nah, I just prefer my responsibilities with a better view.”
If all else fails, hit them with: “I appreciate your concern, but I’m good.” Then change the subject to literally anything else. Weather. Sports. The merits of breakfast burritos over lunch burritos. (An easy debate to win.)
3. Be the Example, Not the Apology
You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your life, but sometimes, showing is better than telling. People fear what they don’t understand.
So post the photos. Share the stories. Talk about the things you’ve learned. Let them see how capable you are of thriving in a life they assumed would be a disaster.
And if they still don’t get it? Sounds like a them problem.
4. Find People Who Do Get It
Surround yourself with people who think your lifestyle is normal, because to them, it is. The right community makes all the difference.
- Instagram: Full-time RVers are all over this platform. Try searching for terms like #gorving, #rvlife, and #homeiswhereyouparkit. (P.S. Are hashtags still a thing?)
- Reddit: Great for deep-dive discussions on everything from boondocking spots to solar setups. Check out r/gorving and r/rvliving.
- YouTube: Tons of RVers document their journeys here. Search “full-time RV living” and go down the rabbit hole.
When you have a solid network, the noise from outsiders fades fast.
5. Trust Yourself. You’re the One Living This Life.
At the end of the day, you’re the only one steering this rig. Not your family. Not your coworkers. Not that random Facebook friend who thinks you’ll “come to your senses” one day.
You took the leap. You’re out here doing the thing most people only daydream about. So trust yourself. The doubts, the criticism, the unsolicited advice? None of it pays your gas bill.
You didn’t sign up for this life to make other people comfortable. So don’t let their opinions shake you. You’ve got places to be.
Your Life. Your Rules. Let ‘Em Doubt.
You can explain yourself until you’re blue in the face, but some people will never understand why you traded square footage for open roads.
They can’t imagine choosing a life where your backyard changes every week. Where your plans are dictated by the weather, your water tank, and whether or not that dirt road is actually passable.
That’s fine. It’s not for them. It’s for you.
And one day, when they’re trapped in another mind-numbing meeting or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, they’ll wonder what it would have been like if they’d ignored the doubt and gone for it.
But you? You won’t have to wonder. You’ll already be out there, living it.
Still Here? You Must Be the Human Equivalent of Well-Seasoned Cast Iron Pan.
Most people tap out early like tourists who underestimate Arizona heat. But not you. You’re built different. So why not pull up a camping chair with us on Substack?
