The first month of 2025 has come and gone, and while we didn't spend it in a camper as we had planned, it was still an eventful and productive kickoff to the new year.

When we say there were highs and lows, we mean there were a lot of highs and lows for just 31 days. We expected January to be a laid-back time to transition into 2025 and bide our time as we waited for our camper to be completed.

Boy, were we wrong!

Things to know:

2025 is off to a hot start. Despite not being full-time RVers as we had planned, January was an eventful month full of highs and lows. From camper updates to traumatic injuries, the start of 2025 has been a rollercoaster of emotion and unexpected financial swings.

January roundup for (soon-to-be) full-time travelers

Full-time camper build updates

We are extremely disappointed that our camper is now two months delayed. However, we are tempering that disappointment with the hope that the wait will be worth it. We’re trying to think long-term, and we will gladly practice a little patience in exchange for an exceptional and quality camper.

Thankfully, there have been a handful of updates that have helped us maintain our excitement and hope. Seeing even small amounts of progress lifts our spirits and keeps us focused on the good that is to come.

This month, we picked out colors for the cabinets, materials for the countertops, and fabrics for the cushions. We also settled on an integrated Starlink solution that should help us work full-time from the camper.

We can’t wait to share more updates (including actual photos and detailed information) very soon!

Our copywriting business booms

January 2025 was the most lucrative month of business we’ve ever had, and it was entirely unexpected. As you’ll see in a moment, this was a blessing we didn’t know we would benefit from so soon.

Not only did the business grow and thrive, but we also managed to sell our beloved two-door Jeep–a bittersweet necessity that unburdens us for the lifestyle shift on the horizon. Having this weight off our shoulders as our impending move to full-time RVing draws closer has been quite the relief.

All in all, January was a phenomenal month for us in terms of income, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Unforeseen expenses add up

We mentioned traumatic injuries earlier, and as you undoubtedly know, those can be expensive.

Toward the end of the month, our pup, Chowder, tore his CCL. This ligament is most easily compared to the ACL in humans, meaning that it’s pretty darn important to his health and mobility.

Because he’s a young dog–not even three years old–it makes sense to have his knee surgically repaired. Between x-rays, consults, surgery, and recovery, this poses a huge financial burden in the coming weeks. Thank God for our big January, right?!

On top of this particularly large and unexpected slew of expenses, we also had to pay our quarterly business taxes and purchase a new work laptop. We don’t typically include business expenses in our monthly roundups (not even on Patreon), but all of these things piled on at once!

We continued to explore our backyard

When we decided to move back to Tennessee, we committed ourselves to exploring the area often. It’s such a beautiful state that is absolutely packed with opportunities to hike, swim, off-road, and otherwise bask in the great outdoors.

It’s easy for us to fall into a routine and allow the mundane (work, the gym, etc.) to become all that we do. We didn’t want that to happen, especially because we planned to only live here for a year (you can throw in some bonus months as we wait for the camper).

So far, we’ve done a pretty good job of sticking to this goal, and January was no exception. Up until Chowder got hurt (near the end of the month), we were getting out and exploring, attending events, and seeing friends as often as feasible.

We went to the Garden of Lights at Rock City in Lookout Mountain, GA, tried new restaurants, and enjoyed a few of our favorite hikes. With Chowder’s recovery taking him out of the game for a while, we’ll see how we can adjust to stay active and adventurous.

It’s hard to believe the first month of 2025 is already over. Somehow, it both flew past and crawled by. We’ll keep you updated on the progress of the camper and Chowder’s health going forward, especially if you drop us a follow on Instagram!

In the meantime, feel free to engage with us in the comments below. We’d love to get to know you, learn from experienced full-time RVers, and grow our little community of adventurous souls.

- Riley + Hanna