What Happens When You Stop Waiting and Start Living? Many women dream about traveling. They imagine road trips, national parks, campfires, and waking up to a different view every week. But then reality steps in. What if something goes wrong? What if I can’t drive the RV? What if I’m alone? What if I’m not brave enough? This week’s Girl Camper Podcast guest, Jenelle Jones, understands those fears because she lived them. Before she became a full-time RVer, Jenelle had never driven an RV, camped in one, or even spent time around the RV lifestyle. Yet after retiring from a government career, she sold her home, bought an RV, and set out on an adventure that would last more than six years. Her story is a powerful reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward despite it. From Retirement Dreams to RV Life Like many people, Jenelle assumed retirement would mean settling down. She bought a lake house and expected that to be the next chapter of her life. But after a year, she realized something was missing. She traveled to Europe. She backpacked. She explored new places. Yet she still felt restless. Then she had a thought: “What if I tried an RV?” The surprising part? She had absolutely no RV experience. No camping background. No towing experience. No RV ownership. Nothing. Still, she bought an RV and committed to a completely different way of living. The Night Before Everything Changed Jenelle admits that she was terrified. The night she bought her RV, she paced her house and cried. Her home was already sold. There was no easy way to back out. Friends and family questioned her decision. Some worried about safety. Others wondered if she was making a mistake. But she made a choice that many of us struggle to make: She decided to trust herself. Instead of letting fear make the decision, she chose to move forward. Learning as You Go Many people think they need to know everything before they start. Jenelle’s experience proves otherwise. Her first RV wasn’t a good fit. She traded it. Then she bought a Class C motorhome and traveled to Alaska. Later she upgraded to a 36-foot Class A motorhome and spent years exploring North America. Along the way she learned countless lessons: How to navigate unfamiliar roads How to handle RV maintenance challenges How to recover from mistakes How to trust her problem-solving skills One of her favorite reminders became: “As long as I don’t die, it’s going to be a great story.” That mindset helped her navigate everything from mechanical issues to unexpected travel detours. Confidence Comes From Doing One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is confidence. Jenelle believes many women underestimate themselves. Whether you’ve managed a household, raised children, built a career, volunteered, cared for aging parents, or balanced all of the above, you’ve already developed problem-solving skills that translate directly to camping and RV travel. Confidence doesn’t appear overnight. It grows every time you do something that feels uncomfortable. For some women, that might mean towing a camper for the first time. For others, it might be something much smaller. Jenelle often encourages women to start by simply taking themselves out to dinner. Sit at a restaurant alone. Order the meal you want. Enjoy your own company. Small acts of independence create momentum for bigger adventures. Why Community Matters At Girl Camper, we often say camping is about more than campsites. It’s about connection. Jenelle saw the same thing throughout her travels. Whether she was leading RV trips, meeting people on the road, or gathering around campfires, she discovered that women thrive when they support one another. Many women arrive at their first Girl Camper event unsure of themselves. They leave with new skills, new friends, and a renewed belief in what they’re capable of doing. That’s the magic of community. The Journey Is the Point Over six years on the road, Jenelle visited Alaska, Mexico, Canada, dozens of national parks, and countless small towns. She explored presidential libraries, scenic byways, state parks, and places she never knew existed. But eventually, something changed. She wasn’t finished traveling. She simply wanted to travel differently. Now she’s looking forward to slowing down, spending more time in one place, and getting to know communities on a deeper level. Instead of racing to the next destination, she wants to become a regular at the local coffee shop, discover favorite hiking trails, and experience places like a local. It’s a reminder that every season of life offers new possibilities. What’s Stopping You? Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this conversation is that you don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need a giant motorhome. You don’t need years of camping experience. You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment. You simply need to take the first step. Maybe that’s joining a Girl Camper event. Maybe it’s booking a cabin. Maybe it’s renting an RV. Maybe it’s just taking yourself out to dinner. Whatever that first step looks like, trust yourself enough to take it. You may discover that the life you’ve been dreaming about is waiting just beyond your comfort zone. Thanks to Our Sponsors A special thank you to Progressive Insurance and RV Mattress for sponsoring this episode of the Girl Camper Podcast. Listen Or Watch the Full Episode In this inspiring episode of the Girl Camper Podcast, Jenelle Jones shares stories from six years of full-time RV travel, lessons learned on the road, overcoming fear, and why women are far more capable than they often believe. If you’ve ever wondered whether you have what it takes to travel solo, this conversation is for you. Because the answer might be simpler than you think: You do. Looking for more inspiring stories? Check out our entire Girl Camper Podcast playlist. https://youtu.be/sExL0fSPfPQ
