Park Model Camper Life: 7 Reasons To Embrace It
The stress of modern life can be rather overwhelming at times. Many of us often live with a low-grade anxiousness and a sense of apprehension about the future. Sometimes it all seems like an unsustainable way to live.
There could be a better way. In contrast with a life of hectic schedules and a drive to acquire more possessions, some have embraced a more minimalist lifestyle. One that prioritizes human connection and experiences. This is the reason some have opted for tiny home and camper lifestyle by living in a park model home. Keep reading and find out how the park model camper life might just be for you.
What Is Park Model Camper Lifestyle?
First, you may be wondering what park model campers are. Park model campers are similar to tiny homes in a lot of ways, with a few key differences. Unlike tiny homes, park models are classified as RVs and are regulated as such. Tiny homes refer to a broader range of small living structures under which park models are sometimes classified. Here’s an article on the differences between park model campers and tiny homes.
Park model camper lifestyle revolves around living in a park model camper or tiny home. The small living space encourages living with fewer possessions and prioritizes living a life focused on experiences, relational connections, and financial freedom. There are many ways to do it, but some opt to live in a community of other park model campers, while others prefer to live a bit more secluded with just a few close friends or family.
This tiny home lifestyle could be something you do for only part of the year, such as in the summer, or a way of living year-round. Living in a park model camper for only part of the year may be more sustainable for most people, but it will require you to rent or own a second property and all the items that go with it.
You may be wondering if you can live in a park model full-time. To help you figure that out, we have a full list of tiny home park model regulations for every state that we serve with park model homes. Take a look at the table below to find the regulations for the state you would like to learn more about.
7 Reasons To embrace Camper Life
1. Freedom To Explore
Sometimes we forget how big and wild this world is. If you live in suburban America and work in an office all day, the world can seem quite tame and even a little boring. A park model camper can help you change that perception.
While park model campers are technically portable, they aren’t as easy to transport as a typical RV. However, this doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It’s possible to move your park model RV to a new location every few years and explore the surrounding areas while you live there. Interested in exploring the Rocky Mountains? Look for an RV park in Colorado. How about the west coast? Check out RV parks around California.
Even if you don’t plan on moving your park model camper, this tiny home lifestyle encourages you to spend more time outdoors and find adventures in your own backyard. Check out this article on micro adventures for some inspiration!
2. Affordable Housing Choice
One potentially huge upside to park model campers as an alternative to living in a typical house is cost. Not only are park models significantly cheaper than an average house, but all the associated costs of homeownership are less. Everything from insurance and taxes to heating and cooling costs can be much cheaper when living in a park model.
Prices of a new park model camper can vary quite a bit. There are budget options available for low as $30,000 and high-end luxury models that will retail for close to $200,000. There are plenty of great models available under $100,000.
In the first quarter of 2023, the median price of a house in the U.S. was $436,800. The difference between the two is significant and will probably continue to increase as house prices continue to rise.
3. Community And Social Connections
Our society is one that is becoming more and more disconnected. More people are realizing the need for actual human connection, and not just digital relationships. And yet, actually making friends almost seems like a lost art. According to an article from the New York Times, loneliness is an epidemic affecting our physical health.
The park model camper life can make a difference. Often park model campers are placed in RV parks, surrounded by other campers. The common interest in exploration and a minimalist lifestyle can foster connections between park model camper owners that are difficult to find elsewhere. And when it comes to winterizing your park model, the tiny living community is always there to support you.
4. Sustainable Living And Minimalism
We live in a culture that champions consumerism. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements about the next thing that will improve our life. In reality, it’s sometimes our attachment to those possessions that keep us from living a happy life. More and more people are seeing the benefits of minimalism, and are embracing it.
This aspect of park model camper life can be the most challenging and yet can be extremely rewarding. Living in a park model essentially forces you to live on less because you simply don’t have room to store your things. Embrace it, and you just might find richer, more fulfilling life.
5. Connection To Nature
When you live in a small living space like a park model camper, the outside world becomes your living room. While this may seem like an inconvenience at times, especially when the weather turns bad, the benefits outweigh the negatives. You’ll find new ways to enjoy the world and may realize you’re happier because of it. In fact, it’s a proven fact that being outdoors contributes to your mental well-being.
6. Flexible Lifestyle Options
The park model camper life also allows you to have a variety of lifestyle experiences. Whenever you move your park model camper, you can try a whole new range of cultural experiences. If you find that a particular area your living in isn’t for you, it’s much easier to move.
The minimalist lifestyle also gives you much more financial freedom, and keeps you from being tied down to a particular area. You’ll have much more flexibility to find an area in a culture you love and people you connect with.
7. Relaxed Living
As you realize that life is much more than the accumulation of things and career advancement, you’ll find yourself less stressed and focused on things that actually bring you joy. Contentment is a major part of happiness, and when you let go of the rat race, you may experience a more fulfilling life than you ever thought possible. The park model camper life could be the start of the life you always wanted.
Living in a Park Model Home: Is It Right For You?
Life is complex, and there are no quick shortcuts to happiness. Embracing a more minimalist lifestyle like the park model camper life is often harder than it seems. There are a lot of social media influencers out there who make it seem like this type of tiny home lifestyle will automatically make your life like a storybook, but it’s simply not true. Here are some questions to consider before taking the leap into this lifestyle.
1. Can I Actually Live With Less?
Minimalism is quite popular these days, so it’s sometimes hard to get an objective view on what it’s actually like to live on less than you’re used to. It’s best to ease into it. Try living only with the things you can keep in a park model camper for a while before actually selling your possessions.
2.How Will This Affect My Family?
Living in a park model camper gets more difficult the bigger your family is. Living with children in a small space comes with fairly obvious challenges. Even if you don’t have a family of your own, a park model camper isn’t an ideal place to have your extended family over for Thanksgiving dinner if this is something you like to do.
3. Is This Lifestyle Sustainable?
Can you actually thrive in a small living space? You may have to pick new hobbies and activities that don’t require a large number of items. However hard it may be to embrace this lifestyle, at least initially, there are some potentially pretty big benefits to living the park model camper life. Keep reading, and find the top 7 reasons to embrace this lifestyle.
Wrapping It Up…
The park model camper life isn’t for everyone. It can be hard to let go of possessions and your lifestyle, and sometimes it simply isn’t practical. However, embracing a more relaxed lifestyle focused on the things that truly matter is something we could all do better at. If you are lacking inspiration, check out our article with design and decor ideas for park models.
If you’re willing to take the plunge into park model camper living, even if it’s only for part of the year, we’d love to hear from you. At Zook Cabins, we offer a range of park models, from real wood models to modern styles. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!