Adjusting Back to RV Life: Home Is Where We Park It

After four weeks of hopping from one breathtaking destination to the next, adjusting back to life in a 40-foot RV—with two kids, two dogs, and a whole lot of laundry—felt like a reality check. The open skies, endless adventures, and new places had been exhilarating especially staying huge mansions on the beach of the Cayman, but now it was time to settle back into our version of normal.

Picking Up Frank the Tank

Our return to RV life started in Orlando, where we landed, picked up our Jeep, and drove two hours to Tampa to retrieve our home on wheels—Frank the Tank—from storage. Before leaving for our travels, we made sure the tanks, fridge, and freezer were completely emptied to avoid any surprises (trust me, a forgotten snack in an unplugged fridge in Florida heat is not something you want to come home to).

After giving Frankie a quick inspection, we headed to the gas station to fill up on fuel and propane, hoping to find water for the tanks. No luck. So, gallons of bottled water it was! It wouldn’t be the first time we had to improvise on the road.

The Frog Incident

Just when I thought we had everything under control, RV life had another surprise waiting. As I went to clean the sink, a tiny frog popped out of the drain to say hello. Let’s just say I discovered I can still jump pretty high. The rest of the fam, on the other hand, thought it was hilarious.

With that little adventure out of the way, we made a pit stop for cleaning supplies. A deep clean was in order—not just to flush out our unexpected amphibian visitor, but to reset our space after weeks away.

Back to the Basics: Training & Travel

That night, we parked at Cracker Barrel (shoutout to their free RV parking!) and then trained the next morning at Racquet Club of St. Pete—a place that holds special meaning for us. St. Pete is where our addiction to pickleball truly began, so every time we come back, it feels like a full-circle moment.

After a quick dermatology appointment for Ryler (reminder to everyone—schedule those checkups!), we hit the road again, heading south to Fort Myers. Our destination? Cypress Trail RV Resort, one of our absolute favorite places to stay. This spot has it all—a gated community, pickleball courts, a pool and hot tub, and a gym. Basically, everything we need to feel at home.

Reuniting with Max and Lexi

Of course, one of the best parts of coming back was reuniting with our dogs, Max and Lexi. While we traveled across North America, they stayed with an amazing family we found on Rover. Ryler made the drive to pick them up, and as soon as Lexi (aka Lily’s polar bear-sized cuddle buddy) walked through the door, she was met with endless hugs.

Grocery Haul & Settling In

There was just one last step before we could officially say we were back in the swing of things—a massive grocery haul. Off to Trader Joe’s we went, and $500+ later, our fridge and freezer were fully stocked.

By Day 3, we were back into our routine:

✔ Check-ins with the kids’ teachers via Zoom

✔ Assessments completed for their schooling

✔ Training sessions back in full force

Check out a clip from practice this week: https://youtube.com/shorts/5fxN7aMw5Os?feature=share

Life on the road is special, but so is coming back to our version of home. While we cherish the places we visit, there’s something comforting about settling into our tiny home on wheels, knowing that no matter where we park, we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.

“Not all who wander are lost—some of us just call it home.”