Every now and then I come across a fellow traveler online whom feels like a kindred spirit. Such is the case for the couple I’m about to introduce you to. Though Mark & I have yet to meet them in person yet, I knew solely from Kym & Kevin’s Instagram (@33_and_free) that I wanted to know more about their story and journey to living on the road full-time. When Kym agreed to participate in our interview series, I was over the moon. What follows is a wonderful look into what it means to diverge paths with the status quo and create a fulfilling life outside of social norms. Road life isn’t for everyone, but for some it’s a ticket to freedom and a life rich with adventure. I hope you enjoy getting to know Kym & Kevin as much as I did. Enjoy!
How long have you been living on the road full-time?
We initially started our full time journey in 2016. After deciding that Los Angeles wasn’t the place for us, the decision to not start a family, and wanting something new had us looking for something different. The biggest question was where. We had always moved because of school or a job, but when the choice became about us, we didn’t know. Going somewhere for a weekend wouldn’t give us the opportunity to fully experience a place to call home. So in January we started looking at RVs and by April we had sold everything, quit our jobs (that we thought were our future and worked so hard to get) and started the journey to the next chapter in life. After a couple years we found it in Bend, Oregon. We were both ready to slow down, finding work/life balance (if that truly existed) and find the comfort of staying in one city. We were happy. However, within 6 months the itch started again, the desire started tugging at us almost daily, so every day we worked at making life on the road a possibility again, but this time without an end date. After 6 years we were able to do it and now we are on the road full time with no end in sight!
What has full-time travel provided you that stationery living could not?
Freedom. The freedom to explore more, experience places we didn’t know existed and while most people think of travel as hectic, we love it and we find we have more time together. It’s the freedom of being able to explore a place longer if you love it, less if you don’t like it as much that makes travel not seem so hard or challenging. Nothing seems like a waste when it truly is a chosen adventure. If there was another thing, as I mentioned before, it would be that it has given us is time togther. It seems odd that stationary life wouldn’t do that but when we were stationary, I saw my husband for maybe 2-3 hours in the evening and about 30 minutes in the morning. I was gone from my life every day to pay for it. My car sat in a garage at home, a garage at work. My animals hung out without me and I wasn’t spending time with the person I married. I spent it in an office with people I didn’t choose to be around 8-12 hours a day. There had to be something else. When you chose a certain path in life and decide to prioritize different things, there is something else. Now we get coffee in the morning, have lunch every day and can meet people for happy hour when we want.
I was gone from my life every day to pay for it.
Has anything surprised you about the full-time travel lifestyle?
When we initially started full-timing I didn’t realize a few things. None of which was even a consideration when we started. The first was that we met like-minded people. Well, we actually met people! People actually stopped by or actually wanted to meet. Then when that happened, there was no explaining why we were doing what we were doing. They understood, so we could immediately move on to getting to know each other because we knew we had common ground. There was no judging or questioning decisions and people even understood my introverted tendencies or need of space. The second was that we met a lot more couples without kids. Bend, OR was known to be where millennials go to procreate, so meeting people without kids was hard. It was an easy and difficult journey to the decision not to have kids and when that decision is made, you lose people. Intentionally or unintentionally it happens. Then it morphed into the questions of how do you spend so much time together. Finding other couples that liked to do the same thing was comforting. The third was how it was received by people. People are either envious and say they live vicariously through you or that you are irresponsible and should grow up and get real jobs. People are very opinionated about other people’s lives. We were never just another couple that they meet but that they may never see again.
What are some valuable lessons you’ve learned since pursuing this way of life?
When we first started full-timing in 2016 I hadn’t realized how consumed I was by working, commuting, socializing, etc. The only time that I wasn’t thinking about the next thing was when I was sleeping and some may argue that even then it doesn’t end. I realized it for the first time when we parked our fifthwheel along a beautiful river. We took our chairs to go hang out to let the dogs play and I kid you not, within 5 minutes I was uncomfortable. The quiet, calm and even soothing sounds of the river were uncomfortable, almost awkward. I actually went inside to watch tv and figure out how to start another spreadsheet of some sort. This was extremely odd to me because I loved the outdoors at the time. We hiked and camped every weekend before we left. But then when it was endless, it wasn’t easy. It took me 6+ months to really desire it and I finally could sit for hours just mindlessly watching the dogs play and enjoy the present moments.
Your rig looks awesome. Size-wise it looks just about right, big enough to be comfortable but not too big to be prohibitive in getting to the best spots. What do you love about it and what do you long for that your rig can’t provide?
We went from a 31′ fifthwheel to a 22′ B+. When we were full-timing and wanting to spend around two weeks at a place it was better having the fifthwheel. Now, we are a bit more spontaneous and go where we feel and so the size of our rig makes that possible. We can fit into parking spots, take our rig to the trailhead for an immediate drink or shower right after an adventure, or find amazing, hard to get to boondocking spots. We have stretchd the limits of her. Other than having a full bath what we love about our rig is that the windows are in the center of the rig. Always light and views. I wish ours had a bit more separation like the Ekko or some other comparable rigs, but we love this one. She’s rugged and proved her worth. However, as every RVer knows you are always looking for the next and always needing at least 3.
Last year you adopted an adorable street dog in Baja. Has having Anza changed anything about how or where you travel?
We lost all three of the animals that we started full-timing with within 13 months of each other. It was a tough year and so we took a break. Mostly for me to grieve. It took us three and a half years before we became curious and by chance, with so many last minute things that had to happen to put us in the exact location where Kevin would meet Anza. We hadn’t really talked too seriously about it but Kevin fell immediately for her. We haven’t had to change much about our travel yet, but we will see how that goes. Since we got her she has woken up in a new place almost weekly. Seeing grass for the first time, a pine cone or trees along a river. It has been fun watching how new things are for her. She is experiencing new places along side us and luckily those places are usually somewhere off-grid where she can run to her heart’s content.
What is some advice you would give someone dreaming of full-time vehicle-based travel but is nervous to take the leap?
This isn’t a life for everyone. It doesn’t need to be either but taking the chance, knowing you can work through challengs and breaking from the comfortable lifestyle that most are used to will show you what you are capable of. Living with no regrets and understanding that you can go back to a stationary lifestyle. It isn’t a make or break situation. You haven’t failed if you don’t like it. This is a lifestyle, not a vacation, so be aware there are challenges, it isn’t always a cheaper lifestyle. You have to want it.
Top 3 favorite pieces of gear or tech that you couldn’t live without?
I don’t really have any but I would say that the three things I wish that the RV dealership would have said we needed were the following; 1. Tire changing equipment, this doesn’t come with rigs; 2. Jumper cables with a portable battery. This is a necessity if you like boondocking and 3. More education about solar, inverters and batteries. One 120 watt solar panel is not enough for a 31′ fifthwheel with full-timers in it. That’s another story all on its own!
What are you most excited about for the future?
It has been amazing watching the progression and growth of full-time RV life (really whatever you want to call it). Watching some people move to boats (that will definitely not happen for us) to traveling internationally. We hope that we can drive to South America or throughout Europe. The goal is always where can we go that is new, that challenges us and gets outside our comfort zone to experience new cultures, meet amazing people and learn more about ourselves.
Thank you so much to Kym for taking the time to share this look into her full-time travel lifestyle! You can follow her and Kevin’s inspirational travels at 33_and_free on Instagram.
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In Kym’s comment about wishing for a rig with more “separation,” such as the Ekko – is she referring to the fact that the Ekko has a rear bedroom, enabling someone to be sleeping while another uses the front part of the coach? The Ekko also has basement storage = “separation?”
Thanks.
My guess would be that she is speaking of separation in regards to the sleeping configuration. To ask Kym directly you can send her a message on Instagram @33_and_free
Thank you.