Ashlyn Hayes
Hello my fellow wanderlust-fueled friends! I want to share a bit more about me and how I found a way to pursue my passion for travel. If you’re like me, a vacation or two a year isn’t nearly enough. I desire to see the world and want to spend my days exploring with my husband and kids. However, there are bills to pay. The solution: we took a leap into full-time RV living and now I travel the country with my family as a healthcare worker.
If you have been considering taking the leap into traveling healthcare and/or full-time RV living, this article is for you. I’ll share not only the obstacles we faced, but also why I am 100% sure we were meant to do this and it has been a dream come true for our family.
Table of Contents
A Lifelong Passion for Travel
I certainly did not grow up traveling much with family, but I always knew there was more out there to explore. I remember being jealous of my classmates who got to go on vacation every year. I wanted to see the world so bad but didn’t think it would ever be in the cards for me.
I graduated high school, went to college, found myself under a pile of student loans and debt, and thought that would define my life. I got married, bought a house, had kids, and established myself in a career. I wanted to travel but there was never time or money. Sound familiar?
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Discovering Traveling Healthcare Work
It’s no secret that traveling healthcare work has become wildly popular. I remember seeing posts and videos online of all of these people going into travel nursing but never considered it might be something I could do, too.
In 2021, in the midst of a pandemic, my husband and I found ourselves at a crossroads. We were paying an absurd amount of money for a daycare that was continually closing due to illness, and as a result we had both exhausted all of our time-off from our jobs since someone had to stay home with our son.
On the verge of losing our jobs, we needed to find a solution. I saw a post on Facebook from a mutual friend about traveling and the lightbulb went off. “Why can’t we do that?” I got in contact with a healthcare recruiter and the rest is history!
Making the Leap to Full-Time RV Living
After many family discussions, a few “pros and cons” lists, and multiple budget spreadsheets later we decided to take the plunge. It wasn’t an easy decision – we had to consider the kids’ education, missing our family, our financial stability, and the challenges of living on the road. But the potential benefits outweighed our concerns. Within three weeks I left my full-time job, signed with a travel company, and headed out to our first contract.
How Traveling Healthcare and Full-Time RV Living Enables My Passion
Now, instead of daydreaming about travel between shifts, I’m living it! Each new assignment brings us to a different part of the country, allowing us to immerse ourselves in new scenery and culture.
One of the best parts of travel work is the flexibility. I can choose assignments in areas we’ve always wanted to explore. For example, we spent our first fall on contract in the Pacific Northwest climbing mountains and seeking as many waterfalls as possible. That same contract we spent Thanksgiving driving down the California coast and camping on the beach of the Pacific Ocean. It was magical.
Balancing Work, Travel, and Parenting
Of course, it’s not all sightseeing and fun. Balancing work responsibilities with our travel aspirations takes some planning. Here are some strategies we use:
- Research destinations thoroughly before accepting an assignment.
- Plan our travel routes to include interesting stops along the way.
- Save money to take a few weeks off between contracts to travel.
- Use my days off to explore local attractions and take short trips.
- Use a homeschool curriculum that is adaptable.
We’ve learned to be flexible and make the most of our time in each location. Not all contracts are created equal. More popular destinations often pay less, so you need to decide if your priority for that contract is incredible travel or saving money. It’s all a balancing act but it certainly pays off.
Unexpected Benefits
For our family, the benefits have been immeasurable. Our kids are developing an incredible sense of adaptability and openness to new experiences. They’re learning geography, history, and social studies not just from books, but from real-world experiences. We’ve met amazing people from all walks of life, broadening our perspectives and always inspiring us to see more.
Moreover, our family bonds have strengthened. Living in a small space and sharing new experiences has brought us closer together. We’ve learned to communicate better, solve problems as a team, and appreciate the simple joys of family time.
Challenges to Full-Time RV Living
Living on the road isn’t without its challenges. Our biggest challenge is missing our family at home, and I know this is a concern for a lot of families considering this lifestyle. We try to make stops home as frequently as possible, and always invite family out to visit us on the road. We schedule weekly Facetime conversations so the grandparents can keep up with our kids. It isn’t ideal, but it helps.
Another challenge is the space restriction. If possible, I recommend getting an RV where each kid has their own private bedroom or space. I think it’s important for kids to have a safe, private space to themselves. Also, learn from our mistake- make sure your RV has a second bathroom!
Lastly, a major challenge is lack of time together as a couple. On the road, you don’t have a babysitter, meaning date nights are few and far between. This is a drawback that we’ve had to accept. We have had a few contracts where I get close enough with coworkers to trust them to watch the kids to allow my husband and I a date night. Otherwise we try to arrange a date night every time we head home to visit.
Favorite Experiences So Far
It’s hard to choose favorites when every day brings new adventures, but a few experiences stand out. Taking a contract in sunny Southern California over the winter is certainly one on the top of my list. We enjoyed spending nearly every evening lounging on the beach and watching our kids play in the waves. It became a tradition to grab frozen yogurt on the drive home. This was pretty spectacular for us Midwest natives.
Another favorite experience was spending a summer in Colorado. My contract was for 3 12-hour shifts a week, meaning we had 4 days a week to travel and explore. Oh, and travel and explore we did. It was incredible!
Future Plans and Aspirations
Looking ahead, our bucket list keeps growing. We are National Park chasers, and our goal is to visit all 63 US National Parks. We plan to spend this winter parking the RV on another sunny beach. Alaska is on the itinerary for next year.
We don’t know exactly how long we will continue working in the traveling healthcare field, but as of now we don’t see an end in sight. Our kids are thriving, and we are living our dream of traveling the country.
Conclusion
Becoming a traveling healthcare worker has allowed me to fulfill my passion for travel in ways I never imagined possible. Not only do I get to travel the US full time, but I get to pursue my passion for travel blogging and travel advising.
It’s not always easy, but it’s always an adventure. We’re not just seeing the US- we’re experiencing it, learning from it, and growing together as a family.
To those of you dreaming of a life less ordinary, I encourage you to explore your options. If you desire to see the US while still making a living, traveling healthcare could be a fantastic opportunity for you.
What questions do you have about full-time RV living? Questions about travel work? Leave a comment below and I’d be happy to help!
