Living in an RV changes how we do a lot of things. Living in such a small space means cutting back on clutter and simplifying life in a lot of ways. These changes can be found in every aspect of life, and the holidays are no exception.
For most RVers, gift giving and receiving during the holiday season must be dramatically reduced due to lack of space. Cooking large and elaborate meals becomes much more difficult, and traveling fulltime means RVers may or may not be near family for the holiday festivities. Still, we all manage to find ways to celebrate and enjoy the holidays to the fullest.
If this is your first holiday season on the road and you’re wondering how in the world you’re going to make your celebrations as memorable as they were when living in a stationary house, this is the article for you. Read on!
1. Travel to the fun
One of the most beautiful things about having a home with wheels is the fact that you can live literally wherever you want. That means you can travel to the fun for the holidays.
Want to be with family? Why not go see them? Prefer warm weather for the holidays? Head to Florida! Of course, if you want a white Christmas, finding that is entirely possible as well. We’ve even heard of families traveling to the best Christmas light displays.
2. Decorate the RV
Living in a tiny space doesn’t have to mean no decor at all, it just means the decorations get a bit smaller. We love putting up our tiny tabletop Christmas tree each year, and we’ve seen plenty of families decorate above their slides with lights and garlands.
Let the kids make some decorations to hang around the rig, and if you’ll be stationary long enough, you can even put up some outdoor Christmas lights.
3. Make memories through holiday traditions
No matter where we live, the best part about the holiday season is making memories as a family. We make a point of seeing Christmas lights several times each year, and visiting Santa is a must-do.
Find a few fun traditions for your family and fill the weeks leading up to any given holiday with joy. Your kids will never forget those times, and they will be more treasured than any gift or meal you could give them.
4. Go out for a meal
While cooking a big Christmas dinner is entirely possible in an RV, depending on the size of your kitchen, it may not be very much fun. If you’re intimidated by the idea of making a big meal in a tiny kitchen, ditch that particular tradition and replace it with a meal out.
There are plenty of options for places to eat during the holidays, and by choosing something you don’t usually treat yourselves to, you can still make the meal a special event.
5. Give experience gifts
We live in a 27-foot RV, and my son’s bedroom is the size of a full-size bed. We don’t have room for tons of toys, and that means opening gifts on Christmas looks a bit different for my family.
Instead of a mountain of toys, we give our kiddo one or two things he really wants along with a couple of things we need. Our big gift to our son (and to each other) is an extra special experience, and we request reciprocal memberships, gift cards, and other experience gifts from family who wish to send something our way.
This cuts back on the clutter without removing the fun of Christmas morning surprises.
For ideas, see this article: 9 Gifts For RVers That Take Up Little Or No Space
6. Celebrate with friends
Finally, and most importantly, if you’ll be celebrating away from family, one of the best ways to fill that void is with friends.
Finding friends on the road is one of the best things that has ever happened to us, and we now run into our friends all over the country as we travel. We now make a point of spending each Christmas in Florida in order to be near our friends and stay in the nice weather.
Having friends around on the holidays means you have someone special to share the celebration with, and that automatically makes the whole experience 100x more memorable and fun.
Not sure where to find friends? Most campers are pretty friendly, so you could go out and meet some right now. Attending rallies is another great way to meet people, as is joining a club such as Fulltime Families or Escapees.
These simple tips should help you create some new traditions that fit better with the RV lifestyle while still holding onto the joy of the season. Better get planning, though! The holidays are just around the corner.
