One Year After Someday

One year down the road, we reminisce on 365 days of memories that look nothing like anything we could have imagined, and, at the same time, is everything we had dreamed. Launching from our seasonal campground where we practiced full-timing to actually hitting the road, showed us that each of our journeys are unique in crafting our best lives. This journey, so far, has been one of growth, awe, resilience, community, love, and PATIENCE. It all started with the decision to act. To make a leap of faith toward our someday.

The initial decision to sell the house and hit the road was accompanied by the question, “Are we really doing this?” There were different layers and feelings mixed into that question then: Disbelief, trepidation, excitement and, mostly, anticipation. Actually acting on a dream is freeing and a bit terrifying at the same time. 

Back then we didn’t know what we didn’t know … but we both wanted something different. The finer distinction between a rut and a groove was but a blur in our lives and it was time to shake things up. We rolled up the rug under our previous life and took down the calendar with inspirational messages like “Every day is a gift”, “Seize the day”, and “Live life to the fullest” to actually act on them.

So after sleeping in 24 states and driving 15,000 miles our adventurous bucket runneth over. We’ve experienced 62 different campgrounds, from a one-night layover at an alpaca farm to an 18-night stay where we really settled in and experienced an area. The trusty truck and 5th wheel camper, sometimes identified as Bruce and Alice respectively, have taken us to three corners of the country so far. From Minnesota to Virginia, to southern Florida and across the United States to San Diego, and up to northwest corner of Washington state with lots of zig-zagging in between.

Along the way we have been absolutely blessed to take in the beauty of the lower 48 from sea to shining sea. There are certainly areas that didn’t shine as brightly as others, or speak to our own sense of awe and wonderment. But there are other areas that absolutely surprised us. We certainly hadn’t forecasted the level of awe and amazement that unfolded while seated in the grass watching a laser light show being projected on the face of a dam in the high desert and having a small group of deer pass peacefully on by. Even our stop at a scary RV park in New Mexico had us rethinking our assumptions after talking with the wonderful owner. We occasionally are asked what our favorite spot has been and it’s a nearly impossible question to answer. For example, how do we go about comparing the majestic beauty of the North Cascade mountain range to the metropolitan oasis that is the San Antonio Riverwalk? Both awesome but very different. Somewhere between the Jamestown Ferry in Virginia and the Lewis and Clark National Park on the west coast we honed our appreciation of the smaller moments that add up to a calendar year. We have learned that sometimes the perspective has to be adjusted for the eyes to behold.

Pedaling a bike is a wonderful way to slow things down and explore an area. Back in Minnesota the impediments to enjoyment typically included bugs or mosquitoes. Nation-wide exploration has adjusted perspective to include new questions, like “Does my bike ride include concerns regarding alligators, rattlesnakes, or bears.” There is really nothing to compare to the thrill of disturbing an alligator with one’s bike tires.

The courage to jump onto this wandering path has changed our definition of adaptability and flexibility. It forced us to evaluate our needs and wants such as how many hats do I really need and consolidating to six pillows on the bed (seriously, how many pillows does one woman really need… evidently six.) It has quantified for us what constitutes a BIG issue. For example, one of the early stressors was making sure that there was always a prearranged parking spot for “the house.” That led to some pretty frantic hops, skips and jumps to get from one campground to the next. We’ve since evolved and embraced the concept of changing life’s paths to fit our needs which includes boondocking when we can’t find a spot. Something about the stress in rearranging the lodging spreadsheet has disappeared and we no longer hold our breath waiting to see if a campground on our path has room. 

This has led to unique and interesting interactions with people and places. Like a winery in Colorado, the aforementioned alpaca farm, another farm in Florida with fainting goats, a nearly deserted coastal campground … and each one of those was made more memorable because of the encounters and conversations with people. Everyone’s life tells a story and we are getting the chance to be a roaming audience, to ask questions and hear things that might otherwise go untold. To get a glimpse of lives totally outside the norm of the Minnesota bubble we once occupied.

Along with questions from fellow travelers about our favorite places, we often get asked how we got started in the first place. That led to the successful publishing of our first book, “Deciding to Launch”, aimed at the adventure-curious folks who wonder about the hurdles and obstacles…of which there are plenty. As this adventure extends, looking less and less like an extended vacation and more of a lifestyle choice, we are afforded another opportunity to demonstrate adaptability. We are getting and ongoing education about navigating the nuances of our nation that operates on a fixed set of norms when it comes to choice of address. Things like one’s health insurance, voting, residency requirements, jury duty, and some banking decisions are designed for someone having a permanent, sticks and bricks location.

Does that put us at a crossroads? Perhaps, as the current political climate and subsequent discussions regarding health care could either be a fork in the road or a dead end. Other issues have evolved more slowly, but just as impactfully, on the budget. Such as the cost of fuel, both food for us and diesel for the truck. When we first ran the numbers regarding health insurance, and realized that we may not be able to continue this adventure, we were angry. That was refreshingly telling as it showed us that we are still enjoying this lifestyle and will work to be able to continue. Perhaps this is a tap on our shoulders to start thinking about how our adventure can coincide with helping others in some way or contributing in the communities we travel near. 

Time will tell if our adventure can continue but until then we’ll keep navigating the hurdles as they come while exploring and sharing our beautiful country. Our encouragement for you, after a year on the road, is to get out of your own way and act on behalf of your dreams. If you are already doing what you love- awesome! If not, ask yourself what is holding you back. You too may find yourself sitting in your home planning your next big adventure. We’ll be cheering you all along the way.