Last updated on September 22nd, 2023 at 08:38 pm
One of the concerns people have when contemplating full-time travel is leaving behind friends and family. In this article, I’ll talk about how I’ve started making friends while traveling full-time.
Making Friends on the Road
I have to start by acknowledging how lucky I am to travel full-time with my best friend, my husband Sean. However, sometimes a girl wants to have girlfriends. I used to make friends at work, church, or through shared hobbies. When we started full-time travel, I didn’t really know how to connect with like-minded women on the road. I just met my first new RV friend, and as you can see here, we are two peas in a pod!
Social Media
I’ve just started engaging with other women on social media. It’s primarily been Facebook for me. I’m a member of many groups, but one of my favorites is Women Who RV. And if you’re worried about safety, you can just say that you’ll be in a general area, not the specific campground. Finally, via Chickery’s Travels, I have Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, which are all great ways to connect with others virtually.
YouTube
I also recently started a YouTube Channel. and have connected with a few kindred spirits that way as well. Sharing my goofy videos in which I show my crazy solo adventures really seemed to strike a note with other women who do the same thing. Here’s a recent example of a solo hike I did in Tennessee.
RV Rallies
We’ve also made friends at the RV shows and rallies that we’ve attended including Escapees RV club events, the Workamper Rendezvous, Full-Time Freedom Week, and FMCA rallies. Many people attend these events year after year and they become a type of reunion.
MeetUp
I also use a website called MeetUp to find like-minded women to hang out with. So far I’ve used it to find hiking groups and book clubs, but they have so many others as well. I especially like it for hiking because my husband is not as interested in the activity as I am and it is nice to have some company on the trail. No matter what your hobbies are, you’re sure to find a group along your travels.
Reconnecting with Old Friends
I’m reminded of a song I learned in summer camp many, many years ago. “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” Sean and I both grew up moving around and we also spent 20 years in the Air Force so we have friends all over the place. One thing that is really exciting about this life of travel is reconnecting with old friends. I recently spent time with one of my best friends from high school. It was so amazing to catch up on each other’s lives and reminisce about “the good ole days.” As we travel around the US, I can’t wait to reconnect up with others!
Be sure to follow our adventure and let me know when we’ll be in the neighborhood!
What are some ways you make new friends while traveling?
