Barry finally made the leap after 3+ years of balancing remote work with our growing RV channel. Here’s the honest truth about what led to this decision and what it means for our future.
After three and a half years of Barry getting up at 5 AM to clock into his corporate job while we traveled the country in our RV, he finally did it. He quit.
Not because he got injured (though he did have a little mountain biking mishap with a tree recently). Not because he decided to sue his employer. He quit because after years of careful planning, calculated risks, and a lot of hard work, we finally reached the point where he could walk away from his stable paycheck and join me full-time on our YouTube channel.
The Reality of Remote Work on the Road
Let’s be honest about what “remote work while RVing” actually looked like for us. It wasn’t sitting by a stream with a laptop, sipping coffee while the sun rose over the mountains. That’s Instagram fantasy.
Barry’s reality was getting up at 5 AM when we were on Pacific time to accommodate his East Coast-based company’s schedule. It was sitting at a dedicated desk in our RV for 8+ hours a day, just like any other job. When people think about nomadic work, they imagine flexibility and freedom. The truth? Barry was more tied to his schedule than ever because he couldn’t afford to give his employer any reason to question his productivity.
“The last thing you want is for your boss to wonder if you’re out hiking when you should be working,” Barry explained in our recent podcast. So he was diligent – almost to a fault – about being the model remote employee.
Why His Job Became Even More Critical
About a year and a half into our travels, I unexpectedly got laid off from my digital marketing position. Suddenly, Barry’s income wasn’t just important – it was everything. His paycheck kept us on the road while I took the risk of building our YouTube channel.
The irony? His company didn’t offer health insurance. When I lost my job, we lost our health benefits too. We went through a period with zero insurance, then scrambled to get an indemnity plan. (This was right around the time I had my infamous fall off our RV’s side patio – an accident that many of you still recognize us by!)
So yes, Barry’s job was crucial. But it also wasn’t providing the security we thought we needed long-term.
The Financial Reality Check
Here’s what everyone’s probably wondering: Are we making enough from YouTube to support two people full-time?
The honest answer? Not really.
We’re not rolling in YouTube money. We’re not one of those channels pulling in enough ad revenue to live comfortably without any other income. What we do have is:
- A growing channel with loyal viewers
- Multiple revenue streams (our Amazon storefront, affiliate partnerships)
- Our full-time RV living course that’s been successful
- Savings we’re willing to dip into if needed
- A solid business plan moving forward
We’ve been married for 30+ years and have taken plenty of leaps of faith before – some worked out great, others had us falling flat on our faces. But we’re not afraid of calculated risks, especially when we can break it down to worst-case and best-case scenarios and plan accordingly.
What This Really Changes
The biggest change isn’t financial – it’s freedom.
For three years, we’ve been confined to weekend adventures because Barry had to work Monday through Friday. We’d try to stay in each spot for at least two weeks, but inevitably we’d want to explore on the one weekend it rained, then have to pack up and drive to our next destination on Sunday so Barry could be set up to work Monday morning.
Now? We can move on a Tuesday. We can explore on a Thursday when the crowds are smaller. We can chase better weather or stay longer in places we love without being tied to a work schedule.
But more importantly for you, our viewers, is what this means for our content. I’ve been working 50-60 hours a week building this channel while Barry worked his day job. Now we can share that load, which means better content, more consistent uploads, and the bandwidth to develop the projects we’ve been talking about for months.
What’s Coming Next
We’re not just winging this transition. We have concrete plans:
New Courses: Our boondocking course has been in development forever, but we’ve been stuck on the East Coast dealing with RV transitions. We recently got our new RV – you can see the full reveal here:
Once we get back West where the real boondocking opportunities are, we’ll finally film this comprehensive guide in our new rig.
Membership Community: Instead of going the typical Patreon route, Barry’s building a custom membership platform that will offer real tools and resources, not just extra content. Think trip planning tools, exclusive Q&As, and maybe even some in-person meetups and boondocking events.
More Educational Content: With both of us working on the channel, we can dive deeper into the topics you keep asking about – the emotional challenges of this lifestyle, the practical systems that actually work, and honest discussions about the stuff most RV channels won’t talk about. We’re also excited to take you along to incredible new destinations for those on-grid and off-grid adventures that will surprise and wow you – places we’ve never been able to explore properly because we were tied to Barry’s work schedule.
The Honest Truth About This Lifestyle
While we’re excited about this next chapter, let’s keep it real. Full-time RV living isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Moving into 300 square feet with your spouse and traveling constantly will test any relationship. We’ve been through three tornadoes (two in one day), equipment failures, and plenty of moments where we questioned our sanity.
But that’s exactly why we share the hard stuff along with the beautiful destinations. We want you to know what you’re really signing up for if you’re considering this lifestyle. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be, and the less you’ll worry about the unknown.
What This Means for You
If you’ve been following our journey, supporting us through our Amazon storefront, or invested in our course – thank you. You’ve literally made this transition possible. We’re not asking for charity; we’re building a business that provides real value to people considering or living this lifestyle.
If you’re thinking about going full-time yourself, our course isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. We’ve packed years of hard-learned lessons into a comprehensive guide that will save you time, money, and stress. The private Facebook group alone is worth the investment for the community support you’ll get.
Looking Forward
So yes, Barry quit his job. But this isn’t the end of financial responsibility or the beginning of some carefree adventure. It’s the start of a more intentional business focused on helping others navigate this lifestyle successfully.
We’re still the same people who will tell you the unvarnished truth about RV living. We’ll still share our mistakes alongside our successes. But now we’ll have the freedom to bring you even more comprehensive content and support.
My mom keeps asking when we’re moving back to Indiana. The answer is never. This is literally our job now – traveling, exploring, and sharing what we learn with you.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
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