It’s a horrible thought, but what if …?
What if your spouse should die? He or she may have been your RVing partner for years and years. For most of us, this time eventually comes: Age happens and one day we all move on to another place, often leaving a partner behind.
We hear from readers all the time who deal with this situation. We also see posts in forums, mostly from women, most of whom rode in the passenger seat during their RVing years, not at the wheel. They very often wonder if they could even drive or tow an RV.
What if this were to happen to you? Would you keep traveling with an RV after your partner died? Or would you hang up your keys? We know it’s impossible to say, for sure, before such a time should come. So we’re just asking for your best guess.
As always, we invite your comments.
A good friend of mine passed away. His wife downsized to a very nice Class B. Goes everywhere her heart and dog want to go. She is not just sitting and waiting to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
I’d like to think I would, but I would downsize to a Class B from our DP. Steve just knows so much more (and is more interested) in the various systems on our current MH.
If my wife died, I would give the Class A to my son and just stay home. I would miss her and would not need the added stress of trying to set up and break down camp with out her. We are a team and have been for over 54 years. I know if I passed she would quit as she doesn’t like to drive the coach, though she can if she has to.
If I was physically and mentally able, I would continue to travel with our smaller travel trailer. Our kids and their kids live in widely separated states. Most of my closest friends live in widely separated states.
I’d keep on trucking. And probably move around more traveling. It’s all about keeping busy.
After the ground stopped shaking, I would probably sell our little TT and put the old TC back on the truck to do some exploring and visit old friends. Might come back. Might not.
My wife and i purchased a Winnebago View at the very beginning of covid (I could see the writing on the wall) we’ve averaged about 10,000+ miles a year over several trips a year touring across the country visiting national State parks and other areas of outstanding beauty. Its been an amazing experience that we’ve shared together we feel very lucky to have had the ability to do that. So no, if she passed away I most definitely would not, nor would I have the desire to find another to sit by my side on the road. I’ve had many phases to my life but none that have come close to the last 4 years. We only met 5 years ago we’re in our young late 60’s. None of this would have happened without her….
We currently have a Class A. I would need to downsize to a camper van, if I wanted to continue.
“Would I likely keep traveling with an RV if my partner died?” Absolutely, and backing into campsites would be a damn site easier. 😂
We are full-timers for 8 years. My wife of 29 years passed away recently and I am planning to continue our lifestyle with our dog Roxy, a corgi/polm mix though we won’t be as mobile. It takes 2 to handle a 40 foot 5er.
I’m very sorry to hear about your wife, Steven. I hope you and Roxy have many safe and enjoyable travels. Take care.🤗 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I did.
I think that I would continue traveling if DW were to predecease (as the funeral home obituaries say) me. DW also thinks that she would continue RV travel, but not in our DP. She thinks she’d downsize to a class C or a truck camper.
I had a small RV before we were married, and depending on “how old” I am, if he passed before me, I would most likely downsize our large RV back to a smaller one and still go camping. I’ve always been the “wanderer” of the two of us…;-)
After 58 years of being together and the last 30 in one type of rv or another and both being in our late 70’s…..we have agreed that if either passed, the other would sell our 44′ coach and the RV Resort site on the Oregon coast and live out the rest of our lives at home. Being without my partner to share the joys of rv’ing, it just wouldn’t be the same.
I lost my wife 2 years ago and tried to continue RV traveling solo. But it is just of so little interest with no one to share it with. And it’s especially hard traveling through many of her special places without her.
Very sorry for your loss. I would want to continue but not sure I could either. We definitely enjoy these years together and travel as long as our health holds up. Sharing experiences .. the thought of losing her makes me want to cherish every day we have together in the lifestyle we so much enjoy.
I honestly don’t know if I could continue. As a retired minister, I have seen so many grieving widows/widowers who found that the things they had enjoyed as a couple only brought sorrow. Some have worked through it while others give up what they had done.
I have been camping (truck and trailer) for 20 plus years without my husband. He’s a 5 star hotel type and will not camp, or even step foot in the trailer. No matter, plenty of children, family and friends that do!
Good girl keep on going
I like to think I would travel the same amount, or more. It is such a tough question to answer until and unless it happens and one has to try and press on with anything at all. I feel like I would spend more time near our daughter and her husband.
I’m not sure what I would want to do. And at this point in my life , I’m really blessed to not have to make that decision yet..so no I didn’t vote
I’ve been an rver for 40 years (now 71) and definitely a wanderer but with a home base also. So yes, I would keep traveling solo if something were to happen to my spouse.
I would continue camping with our RV Chapter friends as we have been doing it for 52 years with a great bunch of friends that are there to help you in any situation. Why stop with our good health at 83 and 82 years.
Hmmmn, If the survey numbers are any indication, you have far more men reading the newsletter than women. I would have thought the opposite.
I would downsize considerably, but continue.
I believe if my wife passed I would sell the sticks and bricks and live in the RV. I would not need as much space nor the upkeep. And then could just travel near the kids and still not live with them.
I have continued to RV on a more limited basis since my wife of 52 yrs passed away 2 yrs ago. It isn’t as much fun and it has taken more adjustment than I thought it would. I do still enjoy it. I’m at a point where finding someone that likes to RV to travel with would surely be a good thing.
I definitely believe that I will continue to use my rv. We use it to travel between our two sons and my (DH) mother. This covers Fredericksburg, VA, High Ridge, MO and Tucson, AZ. As long as I am able, I can see no reason to stop using the rv.
If my husband died before me, I would sell the house and live in my camper. I do all the towing and bought the camper.