Earlier this month I had the opportunity to publish another article with E3 Camping and explore the idea of slowing down our travel and appreciating the communities and people in which we visit. I invite you to read the whole magazine here for free anytime.

If you prefer to read the digital magazine you can find those links at the bottom of this post! I know I prefer it too!

For most [E3 Camping] members, the strong sense of inclusion in a community of like-minded people is the most valuable and long-lasting benefit of an E3 Camping membership. When you see a fellow RVer on the road, you know you’ve found a friend to experience new adventures with.

At one point, meeting other RVers meant you pretty much only met your neighbors in the campground. If you were full-timing, it was hard to keep in touch with other full-time RVers while you were all traveling. Mobile communication has changed the ways to meet new friends. There are many in-person opportunities for gatherings and an explosion in digital ways to stay in touch and meet others. RVing doesn’t have to be a solo activity. You can make it as social as you want!

And you can take it as slow as you want.

There’s a shift in the way we are traveling, a movement you could say. Perhaps it was due to the health implications of the past couple years or maybe it started before that, as pushback from our busy everyday lives. The desire to slow down. To quite literally stop and smell the roses. In simple terms, it’s as small as taking the longer path at the trailhead or spending five more minutes soaking in the views at the end of the hike. The big picture includes immersing yourself in a whole new area that you never knew existed. Slow RVing is what we were made for and it’s time to appreciate the time.

To put it simply, slow travel is the opportunity to get off the highway and wander down the back roads. Off the beaten path where you can create a connection to a local area by spending a longer time in one spot. Savoring the local food, culture, music, people, and landscape. Leave the bucket list behind and author your own adventure.

When we slow down and gain a greater appreciation for the moment, that’s when beautiful things happen. Creating connections by taking the time to step inside the small coffee shop instead of the drive-thru and chat with the locals about where they suggest you should visit while in their area. Attend the nearby farmer's market instead of going to the big grocery store to spend your dollars locally at the same time you show mother nature a little love.

In fact, several studies tell us that slowing down is proven to be better for your mental well-being. Contrary to popular belief slowing down actually allows you to do more. When you take the time to slow down you gain the ability to appreciate the things around you and experience a greater sense of peace and happiness. Though for the average person slowing down can be tough to acclimate to at first.

The wonderful thing is we can start with the small moments now and build on them into something bigger. You could begin by slowing down the pace to your destination to keep safety your main focus and even stop at one of those silly roadside attractions. Not rushing the giggling kids through your early pancake breakfast in order to get a better parking spot and avoid a few crowds. It could mean that you don’t see every single sight at your destination and instead start planning your next trip back while absorbing what you do see for a longer time. Perhaps it means putting in the extra effort to make dinner at the campsite something special even though that means a few more dishes to wash later.

For me, it’s that moment I carve my bright green kayak through the water to the middle of a serene mountain lake and I set down my paddle to take it all in. The gentle way the waves rock my boat side to side. Looking around at the last of the winter's snow melting off the mountainside. The way the sunlight warms my body so powerfully at 10,000 feet. And I watch my children as they paddle their own kayaks, trying to beat each other to an imaginary finish line in the unofficial race that always seems to be taking place between three brothers. These are the moments where I deliberately force myself to take a step back and appreciate our time here. After all, we took the time to plan the perfect trip to an amazing destination, so why not slow down and bask in the balance? Find your stillness in this wonderful hobby we love. Challenge yourself not to come home from vacation more tired than you left.

Get out there and create your community.