A family of 5 left Brooklyn to travel in an $18,000 RV full time. See inside their custom space.

Like many at that time, the O’Phalen family was at a crossroads in 2020.

Kate and Daniel were living in Brooklyn with their two kids and had a third on the way.

Kate was in grad school, and Daniel had a demanding job.

It was the bustling life that many people dream of when they think of moving to New York.

Then, the pandemic hit, and suddenly, everyone’s in-person commitment vanished.

The O’Phalens made it work in their apartment for a few months, but their lives weren’t as fulfilling as they once were. “Everyone was kind of cooped up and miserable,” Kate, 40, told Business Insider.

Their lease was up in June 2020, so the O’Phalens decided to rent an Airbnb in Maine for the summer.

They couldn’t have anticipated their decision would lead them to leave New York for good and embrace RV living, even if it comes with the occasional expensive challenge that can cost thousands of dollars to solve.