One week into full-time RV living, do we miss our house? Can we really share 400 square feet without driving each other crazy? And where are we going first? We’re answering six of the questions we’ve heard most since selling our Florida home and hitting the road with our doodles, Lottie and Rupert.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Sunshine Travelers Podcast. Same travel, new home.

IN THIS EPISODE
We share what our first week of full-time RV living has been like, what we kept in storage, and why we’re still finding things to donate. We talk about sharing a small space as a couple, dividing campground setup responsibilities, and the hitching challenge that tested our communication. Plus, we explain our holiday plans, what happens to the dogs and RV when we travel internationally, and why our first stops are close to home in Florida.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• One week in, we don’t miss the house—and we’re still downsizing.

• Our storage unit holds a few sentimental items, travel mementos, golf clubs and family belongings. We already think we could use a smaller one.

• We don’t have an end date for full-time RV life. We’ll keep going as long as it works for us.

• Sharing 400 square feet feels familiar after years of working from home and traveling together. Outdoor space helps, too.

• Dividing inside and outside tasks makes moving days easier, but clear communication matters when hitching up.

• Setup and teardown take us about an hour or more each move, so we’re choosing slower travel.

• When we travel internationally, the dogs will stay with friends and family, with boarding as a backup.

• Give yourself breathing room after selling a house and downsizing. You don’t have to begin RV life with a cross-country drive.

CHAPTERS
00:05 Our first week of full-time RV living
00:45 Do we miss the house, and how long will we do this?
03:47 What we got rid of—and what we’re still donating
05:35 What did we keep, and did we get a storage unit?
11:33 How RV life changes our holiday plans
12:07 Germany Christmas markets and a future group trip
13:30 What happens to the dogs and RV when we travel abroad?
16:02 Living together in 400 square feet
18:32 Splitting setup and teardown responsibilities
20:48 Our biggest hitching challenge so far
21:56 Where are we going first?
23:35 Why we’re starting slowly in Florida
24:40 Exploring St. Augustine and meeting other RVers
25:51 Help us find Florida stops beyond the theme parks
27:01 Coming next: what our RV and truck cost

YOUR HOSTS
Scott and Melissa are the Sunshine Travelers. After years of exploring the world and leading group trips, they went full-time RVing across the USA and Canada in October 2026 with their doodles, Lottie and Rupert.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• St. Augustine, Florida, including the Fountain of Youth

• Florida destinations on our radar: Mount Dora, Winter Garden and springs near Orlando

• Germany Christmas markets: we’re scouting a future small-group trip. Stay tuned for details.

• Dog care options we’ve used: boarding, Rover and TrustedHousesitters

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE FLORIDA STOPS
Have a favorite state park, local restaurant, spring or unexpected stop around St. Augustine or Orlando? Leave your suggestions in the comments. We’d love to add them to our list!

SUBSCRIBE FOR THE RV SERIES
Next week, we’re sharing what we invested in our RV and truck, why we bought new, and more from our time in St. Augustine. Coming up: monthly RV living costs, memberships we’re trying, a full RV tour, and more destination guides as we explore. Follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss an episode. See you down the road!

Keywords: full-time RV living, first week of RV life, RV living in retirement, RV living as a couple, living in 400 square feet, downsizing for RV life, full-time RV with dogs, slow RV travel, RV life in Florida

key topics

• The decision to sell their home and travel full-time in an RV
• How downsizing simplifies life and travel
• The process of choosing the right RV and floor plan
• Financial considerations and investment in RV lifestyle
• The emotional and practical aspects of leaving a permanent residence
• Travel plans and destinations in North America
• The role of pets in their travel lifestyle
• Future content plans including destination episodes and YouTube expansion