RV Life with a Cat: Launching Season Two of the Journey

🚐 Back on the Road Again

Here we go again. Season Two of the 50 at 60 journey is officially underway.

I just picked up the Class C RV, loaded up the cat, and pointed the wheel toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. The goal? Check off a few more states, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, while testing the waters of RV life with a feline copilot. Penny and I are back at it.

🧺 Walmart Runs & Travel Plans

It started with a familiar routine: stock up at Walmart, check off the meal plan (thank you AI), and fill the RV with way too many bags, gear, and supplies.

I’ve tried to pre-plan a bit more this time. These summer trips can get stormy, and there’s a disturbance brewing on the Gulf. Still, I’m hoping for a little sunshine between rainclouds, a few quiet days of writing and reading, and maybe a chance to focus on photography in small spaces.

🐾 Traveling with Penny

Penny, my cat, is along for the full eight-day ride. She’s already developing her own travel rhythm. Hiding when it’s time to load the RV, curling up quietly once she’s in the bag, and then gradually exploring every nook and cranny once we’re parked.

We’ve done this before. Our first trip together was back in April. But this one’s different. Just the two of us in a Mini Winnie, driving through summer humidity, rest stops, and a rotating cast of campsites.

🧠 Thoughts While Driving

This leg of the journey feels different than my time in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest. Each segment of the 50 at 60project has its own flavor. RVing with a cat is a far cry from staying in cabins or B&Bs. It’s more intimate, more grounded … literally.

As I was driving, I started dreaming up a future leg by train. That’s the beauty of this project. It keeps evolving, and each chapter has room to surprise me.

🛑 Rest Stops, Routines & First Impressions

Florida’s roads have their own pace. I’ve stopped at just about every rest area so far. Not because I need to, but because it helps keep both me and the cat relaxed. Rest stops are a curious mix. Trucks, snacks, noise, quiet … like little travel waypoints with character.

We made it to our first overnight stop in a place called Hōmosssa (I may be spelling that wrong). The campground was a bit of a mix. Some permanent residents, some just passing through like us. I chatted with the front desk; apparently, 65% of folks live there year-round. Not a bad setup for $680 a month with utilities.

🍳 Cat Life & Campground Cooking

Once settled in, I made dinner. Nothing fancy. Heated soup and sautéed ham inside since there was no grill outside. Penny roamed the RV while I tried not to bash my head into another cabinet.

She slept great. Explored everything. Curled up under pillows. Climbed up into the dash. By morning, she was fully acclimated … more confident than our last trip. That alone feels like a success.

💡 RV Lessons & Little Moments

This part of the journey isn’t packed with dramatic adventures, and that’s by design. It’s about pace. About learning the ins and outs of life in a Class C. And about building a rhythm between me, the road, and the little life inside the RV.

Lessons from Day One:

Don’t leave the awning out when pulling away. (Almost did that.)
Check the tire chocks. (That one got me.)
AC noise will ruin your dreamy, quiet video plans.
The cat will always find the best nap spot before you do.

📍 Next Stop: Port St. Joe

Today, we roll along the coast to Port St. Joe. The scenery is classic Florida: scrub pine, coastal brush, and the occasional stilted house peeking out from the trees.

I’m hoping for a calm evening, a good sunset, and maybe a quiet moment or two to write. That’s the beauty of these days, they don’t always feel like much in the moment, but they’re adding up to something bigger.

Something worth remembering.