I’ve been traveling around in my tiny house RV for six months now. I’m very comfortable inside the small space, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few challenges along the way. Once or twice I’ve cried out in frustration, “it’s too small!” Other times I’ve been thankful for having less space to clean and maintain, and for the freedom it has provided.

A person jumps next to a tiny house being towed by a pickup truck on a deserted road. A dog looks out from the truck’s window. In the background, a sign indicating "End" subtly hints at the many Tiny House Lessons yet to be discovered.

Here are FIVE unexpected lessons my tiny house RV has taught me in the past six months:

1). I CARE MORE ABOUT CONSUMPTION

I know how much water I use on a daily basis  – approximately 15 gallons when I take navy showers. I know how often I need to dump the urine container on my composting toilet – every 3 days. I know how much propane I use per month – about 15 pounds. I have to physically empty my grey water tank, fill my fresh water tank, refill my propane tanks, dump my toilet, etc.

A small bathroom in a Tumbleweed tiny house, with corrugated metal walls, features a bathtub with a shower on the left and a composting toilet on the right. Shelves hold toiletries and towels, while a small window with curtains sits above the toilet.

I take navy showers and use the Nature’s Head to conserve water and propane.

Measuring my consumption in physical labor has made me more conscious of my waste. There’s a HUGE difference between seeing decimals and graphs on your monthly bill and having to physically refill your tanks. I use less. I waste less. I save more money.

2). I THINK BEFORE I PURCHASE

I have nightmares about clutter. In a tiny traveling house, clutter can mean the difference between owning three mugs or four. I don’t shop often, but when I do I have to know: 1). What purpose will the new item serve? 2). Can it replace something else and/or increase the functionality of my daily life? 3). Where will it be stored? If I can’t answer those three questions, I DON’T NEED IT!

Person vacuuming the floor in a cozy, cluttered Tumbleweed tiny house interior with wood accents, shelves full of books and crates, a wood stove, and curtains on the window.

I try to keep my kitchen counters empty. Everything tucks away and has a place.

3). I APPRECIATE THE IMPERFECTIONS

As I travel around, I’ve had the opportunity to tour many other tiny house RVs. Sometimes I swoon over a great space saving idea or an innovative layout. I call it “tiny-envy.” I have to remind myself that my partner and I had zero construction experience before building our tiny abode. It’s not perfect, but my house is still pretty darn cool. And it’s mine! When we were building I was so meticulous about everything. If something wasn’t perfect, I wanted to redo it. Now those imperfections that once made me cringe, don’t bother me at all. In fact, I kind of like them! Each nick, scratch and hole was a lesson and a memory.

4). “IF YOU BUILD IT, YOU WILL FILL IT”

This is sound advice from my friend and fellow tiny house RVer – Art Cormier. Guillaume and I recently modified our staircase to have a few extra storage compartments. And now they’re full! Uh oh…the clutter monster is knocking at our door! We’re going to have to think twice before adding any new shelving or storage spaces in the future. If there’s no place to put new stuff, I don’t need it! (See lesson #2).

A rustic wooden cabinet with a screen door displays various spices and dry goods, while a nearby wall-mounted knife rack holds several kitchen knives. In this cozy Tumbleweed tiny house, a window with a curtain can be seen in the background.

My kitchen cabinet. I own three mugs, two cups, two wine glasses and a bunch of spices. It’s full!

5). I’M LESS NEEDY

Perhaps my partner would argue, but I’m going to make an assumption that I’m less needy now than I’ve ever been before. I have less, but I want and need less as well. When I think about all the stuff I used to own and purchase, I feel overwhelmed. This small space has challenged me to unburden myself. I like the new care-free me!

A person sits on a cushioned bench using a laptop in a cozy tiny house with wood flooring and an "OPEN" sign on the wall, feeling as snug as tumbleweed nestled in its favorite nook.

Just for fun, here are a few more ways my life has changed from traveling in a tiny house RV:

I clean less. I shop less. I cook more. I consume less. I primp less. I dress better. I eat better. I sleep more. I read more. I watch TV less. I drive less. I play with my dog more. I hike more. I go to the gym less. I travel WAY more.