Tiny Living WITH Big ThingsPart 2
TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | APRIL 2018 11
By Amy Callaghan
The idea of buying a camper instead of building a tiny home was a big leap, but in the same direction. Downsize our entire lives and make sure
we won’t kill one another on our journey. It would not have all the amenities we wanted, but it was a start, and that’s what we needed. Having the
opportunity of being mobile and seeing more of Savannah and surrounding areas was thrilling, all the while still owning our home and minimizing in
one swoop. The thrill of having an alternative was enough to not kill our scotch buzz!
It still did not eliminate the odd looks from Robyn’s face.
Much to my surprise that look just ended up being gas, and we know better at our wise age to not trust that function.
Followed by a big YES, there was realization that NOTHING in our life is tiny. Frank Zappa is a handsome sixty five
pound rescue found roaming off Paulsen and Victory 6 years ago, he looks like Dobby now. I try to give him socks,
but he doesn’t get it. Also, he has an amazing story I would love tell another day. Opie is an adorable 70 lb. pit bull
mix rescued from a local kennel 4 years ago. Someone dropped him off for a weekend and never returned. He’s a
cuddler and literally wears a heart on his shoulder. They’re the best dogs I’ve EVER had and aren’t going anywhere
anytime soon. Robyn, who rescued me 7 or so years ago is 6’7” with an equivalent wing span. We measured and his
arms are longer than my legs! Most people don’t quite understand how big that is, now go and find a measuring tape
and please see for yourself.
Realizing we couldn’t do a basic camper that would normally make two normal sized people with tiny dogs content,
we had to go big with the tiny idea to accommodate a yeti human hybrid.
We spent every waking hour watching YouTube videos and reading as many blogs on RV living we could stand, researching all the different
variations of campers, RVs, coaches, park model homes, it was endless. Definitely sit through the brutal videos - you will have a lot more insight
on everyday necessities and what not to do. You will feel confidence just oozing from your brain. So much great advice we have taken to heart and
learned from their mistakes.
Alright, we were now confident pseudo-professionals at full time RV living. We proceeded to the local RV dealerships. The best question was asked
in the floor plan we loved, he said, “Can you see yourselves comfortable if you’re stuck inside for a rainy week?” We hung out for a bit, we started
chatting up and getting cozy. It actually felt like a place we could bring our boys and still not be on top of one another. We could host a few family
or friends at a time, but overnight would be limited. We’ve never had a large kitchen, but this place had more cabinets than all the places we lived.
We were in love and ready to sign … until we saw the price. The front living fifth wheel, brand new, started at fifty thousand. Still way more than we
were willing to spend, plus now we needed a truck to pull the beast. Seventy thousand was our max for the RV and the truck.
I felt like a journalist with the amount of research I had dug up online. First by scouring all the east coast RV dealerships and their inventory, going
as far to look in our hometown of Kansas City, MO. We would’ve made an adventure out of that trip!
We finally found the perfect fifth wheel in Myrtle Beach, SC. Robyn was available to go check it out one weekend. I had to stay back and adult. The
reports came in and he loved it, he could fit in almost every room comfortably. The living room is shorter than the rest, but he enjoys watching TV
while sitting, so good to go. Deposits paid, no fear of them selling it out from under us.
At this point, we are so excited about having a home that we haven’t thought about the truck situation. A home but no way of pulling it, haha jokes
on us again!
To be continued...