Experiencing a new and loveable hobby with her family, Ana Galvao found a new love for camping and decided that she wanted to live this life for a little bit longer. With Galvao’s children being homeschooled and her husband working online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they decided on making a change in her life. Ana’s family packed up their belongings, sold their home, and waved goodbye to their standstill home in hopes to travel the world in their newly bought RV: “The stars aligned [for us], and we decided to go for it.”
By selling their home and deciding to live in an RV, it allowed Ana and her family to “travel around the world, see new places, and meet new people.” Galvao’s family has formed many new and long-lasting friendships when meeting families at campsites, some in which they continue to make plans with when deciding their next destination. Ana and her family enjoyed being able to “travel around the country, while taking your house along with you.” They have all been able to see new places, make new and strengthen their blooming friendships; they have met two great families where they have “created a little village between us all.”
Ana’s children have made many close friends with these families as they meet new people each time they travel around Florida. Some of their favorite places Galavo’s family has visited in Florida include Venice Florida; Clermont, Florida; and Anastasia Island, Florida. Each destination gave them friendships that experience such beautiful places with families who they have grown to love. However, one downside of living in an RV that Ana mentioned was having to learn how to be handy, “It’s a moving house- things are bound to tweak and break.” Machinery on the RV can break and the family, like herself, have to know how to fix certain things to keep their home alive and moving.
While purchasing their trailer, it was a decision they made because their family loved being in the wilderness and camping. Since Ana and her family were already “familiar with camping, it wasn’t a huge learning curve” as they had already stayed in an RV prior, purchasing an RV was a decision made by the family as they would be able to adapt to the living conditions. Some of the requirements that were done is making sure the hook on the RV and Galvao’s own car fits and would be able to pull correctly. They were also given a demonstration on how the trailer functioned.
Ana gives her thanks to PPCHS: Pines Charter holds a special place in her heart. She made friends who she still communicates with, and Galvao gives credit to one specific teacher: Mr. Quigley. “He was the most influential teacher I had at PPCHS,” Ana mentions, remembering a singular moment of him stating how it didn’t matter where they sat in his class, as long as they were learning, he was okay with it. Mr. Quigley gave her the idea of homeschooling her kids, which she does as they continue their adventures over the mountains.
Wherever their RV takes them, whether it be out of state or to a place nearby where friendships await around the corner, the Galvao’s family has a bright path in front of them filled with adventure.
