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Retirees from Maringá, in Paraná, changed their lives by exchanging routine for motorhome trips: first in an adapted Kombi sold at the end of 2024, then in a van with solar panels that turned into a minimalist home on wheels, heading to Ushuaia in a project started in 2020 by the traveling couple.
In 2020, after one of their ten grandchildren discovered videos of motorhome trips on the internet, retired veterinarian Renato Cardoso Machado, 72, and administrator Lúcia Moreira Machado, 68, decided to slow down. The plan was clear from the beginning: transform retirement into a journey, with a mobile home capable of crossing Brazil without hurry.
At the end of 2024, after years traveling the country in a high-roofed Kombi named Kathita, the couple sold the first vehicle and completed the adaptation of a van that previously served the family’s rustic furniture store. Now, Kathita II has become the couple’s new motorhome, equipped with solar energy and ready for the next big goal of the itinerary: to reach Ushuaia, Argentina, soon.
From Fixed Job to Life on Wheels
Before hitting the road, Renato built a career as a veterinarian and public servant, while Lúcia worked in administration.
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Life had always been marked by hard work and strict schedules. Today, the couple’s hustle boils down to packing their bags and deciding the next destination.
The idea of traveling in a motorhome started within the family when their grandchild showed videos of people living on the road.
Renato researched models and decided that he needed basic comfort inside the vehicle, with a high ceiling and a bathroom.
He found the ideal Kombi in Santa Catarina and designed, piece by piece, what would be the couple’s first home on wheels.
The debut of Kathita was in Serra Catarinense, the starting point for a routine that soon spread to other states.
Since then, the motorhome has taken Renato and Lúcia through cities in Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Paraná, always with the same spirit: travel slowly, enjoy the scenery, and collect stories.
Initially, their four children thought it was just a crazy idea. The family had never camped, and the change seemed radical.
Over time, however, motorhome trips became a source of pride. Today, children and grandchildren are excited about each new adventure and want to join their grandparents on the next routes.
What Is the Kathita II Motorhome Like Inside
With the sale of the first Kombi at the end of 2024 to a buyer from Campinas, São Paulo, came the next step: adapting the van that was at the old rustic furniture store.
The result was Kathita II, a compact, solar-powered motorhome designed for everyday life on the road.
On the roof, the couple installed solar panels that generate energy for household appliances.
Inside the van, there is an improvised double bed, TV, minibar, stove, sink, and cabinets with locks to withstand the swaying of travel. Everything was planned to fit into a small space without sacrificing the essentials.
The bathroom was also adapted: it includes a shower and sink, as well as a toilet with a compartment for chemical products.
This system helps avoid odors and allows waste disposal in public restrooms, without compromising the comfort of daily life. A gas heater ensures hot water for showers, fed by a 13-kilogram tank.
Behind every detail is the same principle: the motorhome needs to be self-sufficient enough to endure long stretches of road, with minimal dependence on external structures, without losing the practicality of a small home.
Minimalism, Water Conservation, and Routine on the Road
Renato and Lúcia’s bags carry only the basics. A few clothes, few accessories, personal hygiene items, and no excess.
Food is purchased from supermarkets and prepared right there in the motorhome’s kitchen. Over time, the couple learned that living with less means enjoying each stop more.
The limitation of the water tank also redefined their habits. The couple began to better control showers, dishes, and cleaning, always remembering that the motorhome’s capacity is finite.
According to Lúcia, the learning process was natural: life on the road teaches practical water and energy conservation.
In planning their trips, there is an initial route, but nothing is rigid.
If the weather changes, the route changes with it. The motorhome allows them to decide to stay longer or shorter in each place, leave earlier or arrive later, without the pressure of a purchased ticket or hotel reservation.
For the couple, this flexibility has become the greatest luxury of retirement. As Lúcia sums up, traveling in a motorhome is the freedom to go where the wind blows and turn any place into a destination, from a busy beach to a quiet spot by the roadside.
Safety First in Motorhome Life
Before each departure, Renato takes care of the motorhome’s maintenance, paying attention to tires, brakes, and mechanical parts. The rule is clear: travel preferably only during the day.
When night falls, they look for parking at gas stations considered reliable or at campgrounds prepared to receive travelers.
The couple also informs themselves with locals about safety conditions, suitable parking spots, and places to avoid.
Their children’s contact information is always nearby, ready to be called in case of any emergencies on the road.
There is another important rule: during travel, no moving around inside the motorhome. The bathroom, kitchen, and internal movements are reserved for stops, precisely to avoid risks and potential traffic violations.
In their daily routine, the couple wakes up, uses the bathroom, prepares breakfast, and usually stretches outside the vehicle.
With so many new experiences, they say they end up sleeping more in the motorhome than at home, resting from the good fatigue of adventures.
Motorhome as a New Lifestyle and Dream to Ushuaia
Living in a motorhome has become a new lifestyle for Renato and Lúcia, far beyond a simple way of traveling.
The road brought new habits, a different perspective on consumption, and a more direct connection with the natural landscapes along the way.
The couple adopted a truly minimalistic concept: letting go of the superfluous and keeping only what is essential. This applies from clothes to everyday objects.
In exchange, they gained more time to enjoy the natural beauties and the good conversations with people they meet along the way.
Another consequence of the travels is the friendships that arise at gas stations, campgrounds, and parking lots.
Traveling in a motorhome creates a kind of informal community, where drivers exchange tips, help each other, and share road stories.
For those dreaming of the same experience, Renato is straightforward: you can’t wait for the perfect car or ideal conditions to start.
According to him, it is possible to adapt a smaller vehicle, install a rooftop tent, and start shorter routes, always with planning and attention to safety.
The important thing is not to let fear win.
With Kathita II ready and retirement reorganized around travel, the next big milestone is already marked on the map: to reach Ushuaia by motorhome, in the southernmost part of the continent, crowning a life project that began in 2020 and continues, literally, as the wind decides.
And you, would you dare to sell your car, reduce your baggage, and transform your routine into a journey of travels in a motorhome through Brazil and all the way to Ushuaia?
É o meu sonho…mas tenho uma esposa medrosa… 🥹🥹🥹 Que o Bom Deus acompanhe o casal!!!!
Com certeza faria porém tenho uma Kombihome já montada em 2021 , simples e prática porém ainda não foi possível desapegar das coisas e do trabalho, sou aposentado tbem mais ainda trabalho, esse sonho ainda quero ter mesmo que por pequeno período de tempo .
Sim, já estou na Estrada tirando férias com a esposa e um casal de neto.
Muito bom mesmo. Se minha saúde melhorar, esse é o meu objetivo. Parabéns ao casal.