An RV Christmas

While we all know the reason for the season is not gifts, we are all cognizant that the act of giving and receiving is a huge part of the holidays. Whether you live in a traditional house or living on the road fulltime, finding the right gifts for our loved ones can be a challenge.  

This year will be our first Christmas since living fulltime in our RV and as many people know, space is limited. This can pose a problem to the extended family who may want to get gifts for their traveling families. I reached out to other fulltime families (some newbies like us, others who have been on the road for years) to see what they would ask Santa for this year, what is on their kids and/or pets Christmas list, how they feel about gift cards and how they will be celebrating this year. 

Our children are always at the forefront of our holiday celebrations. The way their little faces light up this time of year is precious. I know we will be maintaining a few of our holiday traditions, like driving around with hot cocoa and looking at Christmas decorations, watching The Polar Express, and baking cookies together. 

As far as the kiddos are concerned, the general consensus was outdoor toys. When you live in a small space, getting outside is a must! They've got energy to burn and you don't have to worry about how loud they get (mostly...). Beach toys, outdoor games, bikes, and scooters are all things that will be well received. Another hot craze and fun for the whole family is pickle ball. If you haven't given it a try, I highly suggest it! All of these items that are compact or easy to breakdown, which is a huge plus. We are always considering space & weight. One thing is for sure, 100% of parents agree- get the kids outside!

Road school is also a big part of these kids' lives, so laptops, e-readers, and learning tablets are also appreciated. Consider a subscription to Kindle Unlimited, learning websites (depending on age),  CodaKid, Masterclass, or any of the many other sites out there. Another route to consider is annual passes. A Reciprocal Membership Museum pass, hands-on learning experiences, or even a National Park annual pass is cool. Anything we can do to keep learning fresh, make it fun, and tailor it to each individual child is a huge plus. 

The number 1 thing on most traveling families' letters to Santa were solar set-up. If Santa could leave a solar setup under our tree this year, we would be thrilled! A lot of fulltime families like to have the option to get off the beaten path and not have to always stay in a campground.  Boondocking (as it is called) allows you to save money, increases the places you can visit, and enables you to get out on your own. These setups can be pretty darn expensive because there are a few different components needed to be totally "solar". While it's not something people expect for a gift, we can all dream...

As for some ideas that are more wallet-friendly, think of consumables. Many nomads try to keep on a budget and often personal preferences get denied for the more economical choice. Is your traveler a coffee drinker? Consider some nice, locally roasted coffee. Perhaps some fancy, specialty tea, or a fun new travel mug. I guarantee that is a guilty pleasure regularly denied. Specialty drinks are ALWAYS a safe gift. Whether the recipient is a mixologist, a wine lover, or a sporadic sipper there are so many options and price points to choose from. With all the different flavored syrups, specialty sodas, and local distilleries; you are bound to find something new and interesting out there. Or stick with old faithful and gift them with something you love. 

Pets are not to be forgotten and can be fun to shop for. While not at the top of the shopping list, they do appreciate all the love and as owners we appreciate the thought. All the cool cats are asking for new scratching posts and tasty treats this years. As for the poochies in our lives, they are sticking with the basics: Chew bones, new leash, and as always- TREATS!

The one thing that all of us travelers can agree on is that WE LOVE GIFT CARDS! Yes, it is true that they are "the easy way out, not creative, not very individualized, etc..." but in this case- they are the best. Living the road life is less about stuff and more about experiences. We are all in this to create memories, spend more time together as a family, and live a little bit lighter. By giving gift cards, you can gift experiences: museums, dinner out, trip to the movies, and other fun things. Then there are the necessities: gas, groceries, and every day items. When given gift cards for these items, we are able to save money for those bigger projects (solar...). Lastly, a few families mentioned a date night. As much as we love the togetherness, some adult-only time is refreshing. Dinner and a movie, a day at a spa, a round of golf on a nice course; all things that can be gifted and are very much appreciated. 

So whether your traveling family is out on the road these holidays or parked in your driveway, the act of gift giving should be fun and stress-free. It's all about the love and thought that goes into every gift. We should all try to remember that the gift of time and togetherness is priceless.  

Special thanks to these families that helped me out with my research :) You should check out their amazing adventures & give these folks a look and a follow:

elementaryexplorers   TinyHouseTravelers   TheBaileys   themindfulnomadic    lahrs.with.latitude    cruisingclemons

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