You, Me, & the RV

Remote workers Terri and Rick Morgan have traveled to 44 states in four years
By Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Remote work became a widespread phenomenon in 2020, but Terri and Rick Morgan took the opportunity to the next level. They sold their Texarkana-based plumbing company and traded it for what many think of as another type of pipe dream: working remotely and living full-time on the open road in a recreational vehicle.

“Owning a business didn’t really allow for a lot of travel time,” Rick said. “Even when we were away, we still had to conduct business. We had always said, ‘Well, maybe someday we can have an RV and travel.’”

When the last of their four children left home, the empty nesters realized there was not much holding them in Texarkana, so they began working out-of-town union plumbing and pipe-fitting jobs, traveling for short periods of time and returning to Texarkana between jobs. COVID threw a wrench into these plans, however.

“Around that time, there weren’t a great deal of union jobs because so much was on hold,” Terri said. “Also, the union jobs weren’t really giving us as much travel time as we had hoped. During that time, I found a company, ID Plans, that hired RVers to survey commercial property. I have been a contractor for them since the end of 2020, and Rick is semi-retired; I call him my driver.”

The couple uses their skills and experience to help one another on the jobs they do in the field.

“I have a construction background, so I can answer questions that Terri might have while we are on a property, and she has excellent computer skills that are necessary for the property surveys,” Rick said.

Terri, a field data specialist, said their travel must align with locations where there is work available. “In an ideal world, we would chase 70-degree weather, but it doesn’t always work out like that,” she said. 

But less-than-perfect weather does not stop the Morgans from enjoying the places they do go. Over the past four years, they have traveled to 44 states, always making time to find adventure and take in the sights. 

“My favorite place is easily the Pacific Northwest,” Terri said. “I loved the Bellingham, Washington, area. I would go back in a heartbeat. It’s hard [to choose a favorite] though, because we haven’t been to any place in the U.S. that isn’t beautiful in its own way.”

Rick, who appreciates a good outing for fly fishing, said he prefers Wyoming. “My favorite place has been Jackson, Wyoming, at least in the summer,” he said. “The weather is perfect, the scenery is great, and occasionally there are trout in the crystal clear water. We saw mule deer, lots of moose, elk, and even bears.”

The couple’s travels have also included many famous tourist attractions, including Niagara Falls, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and whale-watching in Washington state. Sight-seeing in San Francisco was especially memorable.

“When we were in San Francisco, we took a Go-Car Tour,” Terri said. “It was a small three-wheel motorcycle that had an iPad as a tour guide. The navigation system on the iPad basically tells you the history and fun facts of where you are along the streets of San Francisco. As an aside, I highly recommend doing tours rather than trying to figure out things on your own. It has saved us from so many arguments. It was very cool to get up close and personal with the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks of the city.”

While they have made a lot of memories together on the road, there are challenges that come with full-time RV living. Everyday errands like getting mail, filling prescriptions, making doctor visits, and getting haircuts have become more difficult. They also sometimes struggle to find a campground to park in at times when they do not have a schedule available far in advance. Perhaps their biggest obstacle is something that hits a little more close to home.

“Most of our family doesn’t really understand why we do this,” Terri said. “A lot of people think we are crazy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The Morgans, who are currently in Atlanta, Georgia, before their next job in Florida, encourage others who might be considering this lifestyle to take a leap of faith.

“Just do it,” Rick said. “Don’t wait for the right time. Just like you can’t plan for the right time to have kids, if you spend too long planning, it might be too late.”

Those interested can keep track of the Morgan’s travel adventures through their website, www.whereintheworldarethemorgans.com.com/, and at facebook.com/whereintheworldarethemorgans.