Dealing with loneliness or isolation on the road — RV life

How do you deal with loneliness and isolation while RVing full-time?

This is an interesting question, and the answer is going to be different for different people and based upon different situations. However, just because you might be RVing with a friend or spouse, it doesn’t mean you don’t face loneliness. You don’t have to be alone to experience loneliness.

It doesn’t matter who you are; you’ll feel lonely at some point. Even Christians will feel lonely. Think of King David.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, 
For I am lonely and afflicted. — Psalm 25:16, NASB

How you deal with loneliness depends on each person and the circumstances. Full-time RVing can be an incredible adventure, but it can also bring feelings of loneliness or isolation due to the transient lifestyle, limited social interactions, and being far from familiar support networks.

Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful. From personal experience to listening to others, these are just some of the ways you can deal with it. What works for one may not work for another, and that’s probably okay.

Build community on the road

The first thing you have to do is meet others. You can do this simply by forming relationships with fellow campers or joining RV clubs and groups. Many RVers connect through organizations like Escapees RV Club/Harvest Hosts, Good Sam Club, or Xscapers (a subgroup of Escapees for working-age RVers). These groups host rallies, meetups, and events where you can meet like-minded travelers. For example, Escapees organizes “Hangouts” and “Convergences” for socializing and skill-sharing.

You can also find RV rallies and festivals across the US. For example, there’s the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show, or Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. In addition, some RV parks have community events all the time, such as potlucks or bingo.

Personally, I’ve just formed relationships with others I’ve met on the way and haven’t joined a single club. But I’m also not a social butterfly.

Also, you should consider planning visits with family and friends ever so often. This can be old friends or new friends you’ve met on the road.

Leveraging technology

In this age of technology, there are plenty of apps to use for video calling (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc). Keep in contact with friends, new and old. You can even find communities online by using hashtags such as #RVLife or #VanLife.

I have friends both new and old that I keep in contact with and call often.

Consider hosting or warkamping

Taking on seasonal jobs at campgrounds, resorts, or events (like Amazon’s CamperForce) connects you with coworkers and locals. Sites like Workamper News list opportunities that often include social perks. You can also check with federal and state land agencies who often have positions such as volunteer, paid, or with benefits such as full hook-ups and stipends.

It is a great way to meet others and foster relationships. I hosted and was a steward for some time. I was able to make some strong and lasting relationships.

Develop routines and hobbies

In my post about spoon carving, I alluded to this. Simply put, it’s a great, inexpensive hobby that I enjoy along with photography and hiking when I can.

Diving into activities like photography, journaling, hiking, or some sort of art/crafting, which provide fulfillment and can lead to meeting others with similar interests. I can thank my friends for getting into whittling because it led to me living a childhood dream.

Pets are another great opportunity for combating loneliness or depression. These furballs provide companionship and can spark conversations with other pet owners at campgrounds or dog parks.

Ensure you are getting proper sleep, diet, and exercise. These three things are key for overall health. Don’t skip out.

Journaling

Consider journaling or reflecting on feelings of loneliness to understand and address them proactively. But more so, journal anyway, whether in a notebook or online through a blog. Share your story with others. But be real and honest. RV life isn’t all the glamour that many social media accounts make it seem. There are upsides and downsides. It’s for some and not for others.

Also, don’t overshare publicly. First, you want to think about safety. Always consider posting after you’ve left a spot, especially if it is easily identifiable. But also don’t overshare for your own mental health. While there’s nothing wrong with sharing personal experiences, excessively publicly sharing negative things is bad for you and others. We have to learn to deal with things internally, or we’ll never truly deal with them. Life is absolutely hard but we also have to learn to roll with the flow and when to give or take.

Spiritual matters

Last but not least, tend to spiritual matters. I don’t expect most of my readers to be Christ followers or believe in God. But, especially if you do, we must practice soul care. Our bodies need a proper balance and a healthy mind, body, and soul. I listen to messages, read, and talk to others about my faith. But never forcefully. Because in the end, you have to make that decision. It’s between you and the Creator.

If you enjoy going to church, remember, it is a little more difficult on the road and especially in the middle of nowhere. Just be ready to embrace people who think differently.

Most of all, be kind and thoughtful while respectfully considering others and where they’re at in life. We’re all at different places with different problems. We all respond to different things in different ways.

Be kind. Be love. Be light. The world is too dark otherwise.