Appreciate What You Have

I have to say, for all the ups and downs I've experienced in life, I so appreciate them. With each new challenge comes opportunity. Opportunity, to see life differently or form a new perspective, to learn a better way and become more successful at the art of happy living.

I also believe that the more you're aware of having a limited amount of time, the more easily appreciation comes. There are examples of this in so many different scenarios. The obvious one being the knowledge of your own death but also in watching your children grow older, by treasuring a family vacation, savoring a meal, or just cherishing a moment that may happen everyday but suddenly feels like it comes once in a lifetime.

I love our lifestyle because it keeps the "time limit" front-and-center, without any sadness attached to it. Whether our location is amazing or not our style, we know we only have a few months. Whether we have difficulty relating to our co-workers or we make real connections, we only have a few months. It creates an environment where appreciation is central. When life becomes difficult, I work harder at appreciating the details. Then when life improves, it's that much sweeter, having experienced the contrast. As Randy Pausch simply put in The Last Lecture, "Experience is what happened when you didn't get what you want." That "down-time" is the chance to grow and improve. While the "up-time" is the chance to relish in your achievements. Both play equally important roles in the process of life. And certainly, the harder the challenge, the more important and gratifying the lesson.

Our last job was in a college, beach town in North Carolina. It has a quaint, historic downtown with brick-paved roads and horse and buggy. The large southern colonial and plantation style homes line narrow streets that are shaded by nearly three hundred year old oaks.

(The above portion of this post was written in May of 2010 but I never published it.)

I've experienced several things since then but this feeling still rings true in my everyday life. I look back over the past year and see how my perspective and subsequent choices have been influenced by experiencing what I thought I wanted, until I had it, then I realized I didn't want it after all.

Although I couldn't wait to get to North Carolina, as beautiful as it is, I also couldn't wait to leave. The humidity was worse then I remembered and the East coast vibe just doesn't mesh well with me anymore but I still cherish the time we had there. It was fun to walk the beach in the winter while the girls looked for shells. I'll never forget the amazing day we had when my in- laws came to visit. We saw the Aquarium and toured the Battleship but most of all we reconnected and created treasured memories. We also took the girls ice skating for the first time. When I think of our time there I also remember how the girls were really getting into food ...Food Channel, cake decorating, creating gourmet-looking meals and cakes with Play-doh. So when my mom came to visit (several times actually, but one time in particular) we decided to recreate a previous Melting Pot experience - fondue. So we all cut, chopped and prepared breads, veggies, meats, fruits and cakes for dipping. But just as dessert got underway, our youngest said she wasn't feeling well ... within minutes she was running for the bathroom (which she didn't make).  During the next three days we all took turns throwing up and bedridden. My mom's flight home was postponed twice and yet we still all laugh about that trip.

My point is, my experience there told me it's not the place for me and although I'll probably never live in North Carolina again, I'm so glad I went. I savor the memories and appreciate the reconfirmation that I'm meant to live in the West.
 

Long Time No See....

OK, I know it's been a long time since the last time I've posted anything. There are so many factors (and/or excuses) involved in my absence.

I'll start with my factors and move on to my excuses later. (Always the procrastinator.)

We left Wilmington in late Feb/early Mar and took our time traveling to Rock Springs. We drove an average of 2-3 hrs per day with a few layovers and arrived at the beginning of April. This last month has been an adjustment, to say the least. At each new park there is always an adjustment period but some how it has been more difficult here. Partly from work - the act itself. We spent the winter behind a desk, working 2-3 days per week max (other then covering the managers for vacation, and out-of-town business which entailed around-the-clock work). Then we had a five week break/vacation while we traveled here. Once we arrived, we had one day to do our "spring cleaning", laundry and grocery shopping before we started work. (Not by our doing.) We planned to arrive early so we could do all of this and get some sight-seeing in before punching a clock again. Unfortunately, the last set of winter workampers were leaving and the managers would be left alone if we didn't begin ahead of schedule. Of course, the bleeding hearts that we are, completed all of these tasks in one day, so we could begin work a week earlier then planned. How does this always happen?... because I still haven't learned to say NO, maybe? Jason and I have a saying we repeat quite frequently (to ourselves), yet haven't learned how to apply - "Poor planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on mine". Maybe, someday, I'll have the nerve to say it, instead of think it.
So now we're working five days a week with (quite frankly, a bunch of cranky old folks). It doesn't make for a whole lot of fun and slightly resembles (dare I say it...) A REAL JOB. We've been saying too frequently lately, that this is not what we're doing this for. This is not supposed to feel like work. This is not supposed to feel like a job.

In addition, having spent so much quality time with the girls over the winter season and during our road trip, I had major guilt about being away from them so much. Which isn't uncommon during the "adjustment period". It usually takes a week or so to get familiar with a new parks' rules, standards and allowances (so to speak). But, to make matters worse, the weather has not exactly been conducive to being outside. Usually, they get their stuff done and are outside by lunchtime, then they come hang out with us at work. With the weather so cold and the strict rules of the park, our usual routine has been modified. That being said, things have improved - both the weather and our "togetherness" during the day. 

Another factor has been a self-imposed stress regarding food. We watched the documentary, Food Inc, shortly after arriving and it answered all my questions (and concerns) about the food we eat. Unfortunately, it also lifted my veil of denial. And with me, once the veil has been lifted, I can't pretend not to know. This has caused stress for our family because, well, we love food, GOOD food. And as we soon learned, Rock Springs does not support organic food. There are three grocery stores in town, of which, only one carries an organic line. But, since there obviously isn't a following for it here, we are only able to buy the same limited options week after week, that being - a whole chicken and ground beef. This has made, what I consider to be the worst chore - going grocery shopping, even worse.   

You may (or may not) have noticed a change in my tone for this post. I'm trying a new thing - complete honesty (more with myself then you). I've decided to (try my best at) REALLY tuning-in to my state of mind, do a little less self-editing and expose myself for who I really am - the good, the bad and the ugly.

And now for the deeper truth, the reason for so many excuses, as to why I've been away so long.

I want to write. I actually love to write. And yet, I'm scared? to write. I'm not sure if that's the best word to describe the emotional push-pull that goes on in my brain. I want to do it full time and yet I can't picture it either. When I had five weeks of opportunity to play full-time writer, I didn't have a word to say. I want to say it, express it, get it all out and documented but then what? Do I really want to know what I have to say? Does anyone else? Do I even have anything to say? Do I have the character it takes to say my truth, even when it's not fun, pretty or interesting? How willing am I to expose all my truths for others (and myself) to judge?

For me, writing can be best explained by comparing it to a roller coaster ride. I can't wait to get on and have some fun. There is that excited, nervous, anticipation. Once I'm on the ride, I'm having fun, enjoying myself, taking in the pure pleasure of it. I then find out some minor detail (like there is a "possible" descent coming) and I, of course, allow it to trip me up. Now, I'm unsure, maybe I shouldn't even be on this ride. Then the ride takes it's usual ups and downs. A few sharp turns later and the slow chug upward begins. Then quite suddenly, the bottom drops out and that overwhelming feeling of "what am I doing on this ride, anyway" becomes front and center. That's when all the beauty and joy and fun becomes invisible to me because all I can see (in myself) is sheer fear and a sense of where am I going with this, anyway? What was I really expecting to accomplish? Wasn't this supposed to be fun? So I get off the ride (wanting to throw up) and then some time passes (hence the delay) and before I know it, I'm standing in line again with the same nervous, excited, anticipation (hence, I'm back).

So there it is. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God!

  

Leaving - Oh the Fun!

This is the best part of what we do....leave. Everything we do, the way we live, the "sacrifices" we make are all for this. Can you think of a time when you gave notice to your employer to quit? Remember the final two weeks, the countdown, the anticipation? Well, we get to feel like that two or three times a year. Built-in vacation time, is what we call it.  We always get excited when the time to move-on starts rolling around. There is excitement about the trip and about the destination.

This job is similar to subcontract work. We do not work for one company. We look for the work, negotiate the terms, gain employment and arrange a smooth transition from one park to the next. In each location, we work for a new company with new policies and new employees. Each state has different taxes and laws to learn too. (Did you know, it's illegal to pump your own gas in the state of Oregon?) With so many different factors involved, you can image, how each trip evolves differently. This time, our current employer couldn't afford to keep us on as long as planned. So...our scheduled three week trip just turned into five. SWEET!

Usually we take just a few days or a week depending on the distance we have to travel. This time, we plan to go slow, hopefully steering clear of the snow and enjoying the sights a little more. We'll be traveling over 2100 miles and visiting with at least two friends, in the next few weeks!.

There is closure in knowing you have completed a job and met your agreement. There is comfort in have no loose ends. There is excitement for the journey. And there is expectation in the job that lies ahead!

Happy Travels!

How to.... Beginning Stages

When people we meet, find out about our lifestyle, the question we get the most is: "How do you do it?" Of course, there are many facets to that question...(physically, emotionally, mentally, mechanically, educationally, socially) and I'm rarely sure which part they're questioning. So this blog (and more) will be dedicated to the "How to...." of RV living.
(Please use the comment bar to post "How to..." questions.)

We've been doing this for almost two years now. So I wouldn't say we're experts but we know our way around RVs. RVing is like parenthood; in that, the learning curve is huge. When your child is young, you quickly learn all the ins and outs, all the details necessary to handle daily requirements. Same goes for RVing. In no time, you become competent enough to know your own rig.  Or as George Lopez would say, "I GOT thiiiiisss!"  (Anyone who watched the show knows; he really doesn't "got this". But they always manage to "get it", in the end.) And it is much like that with RVing and parenting. You will have times when you feel overwhelmed but just keep trying until you get it right.

I'll start with mindset and purging.

Step 1 - Mindset
Before you can even consider purging, you must first be in the right mindset to live differently, "alternatively." The more you're excited and connected to the experience, the easier the process will feel. Alternately, if you're not 100% into it, each step may present challenges.  The best way for me to explain this important concept, is to give this example. When we were moving from Florida to Colorado, many of our friends (and family) thought we were crazy for "giving it all up" (the job, the income, the future, the house, the cars, the security - actually we got the same response when we left Colorado, to live this way). But one friend in particular, whose husband was considering the idea of them moving away, to live a slow paced life, asked me how I knew I wasn't giving it all up for nothing. My friend was struggling with the idea of making such life changing decisions, without any guarantee, that it would be worth it. And what I told her was: You know it's worth it; when what you have to gain, is worth more, than what you have to lose. If saying yes to a choice means not questioning the "could of", "should of(s)" later, then you're in the right mindset. But you also should be up for adventure, challenge and change. Be willing to be flexible, patient and embrace a minimalist lifestyle.

This lifestyle is not for everyone! When I say minimalist, I mean MINIMALIST. When we're at the store, it's more about what we need and where it will go than what we want. Frivolous purchases are rare since space is limited, which is a good thing! In a house, we "spring cleaned" once a year. Since living in a motorhome, we organize and reorganize every 2-3 months. Out with the old, in with the new!

Another important idea to factor in, is how long you and your loved ones can be in confined quarters and still enjoy each others company. You better love the one (or ones) you're with because it can put the best of temperaments to the test. I've heard, when people are put together in confined quarters, they either become closer or their differences become crystal clear. Thoughts, moods and feelings are all heighten when in small spaces. So when things go down, you just have to deal. There is no where to go (except outside), so you might as well work it out! But, if you use it to your advantage... just the sheer proximity to each of your family members and their thoughts and feelings all day, everyday, gives you endless opportunities to forge everlasting bonds and experiences to share and grow from. So as long as you love being with your family and/or (at least) being outdoors, then this may be the life for you!

Step 2 - Purge
Once you've decided you are ready to take on a whole new way of life, you need to downsize like you've never downsized before. A big part of living this lifestyle is about letting go. You have to learn how to let go of possessions, let go of fears (or face them) and let go of old belief systems. But first, you have to let go of your stuff! And no one is saying it's easy, it's just necessary, if you want to live this way. Does every "full-timer" sell everything? No, but the ones I've spoken to (who have kept their things in storage) felt they had wasted a lot of money over the years, storing stuff. By the time they returned to it; that's all it was, stuff. Everyone has items that will surpass time and space and those things should be entrusted to a friend or family member (or kept on-board, by prioritizing). But ultimately, you have to decide how much you're willing to spend to keep your things? Even small storage units can cost upwards of $700 a year and that's on the low end. It can easily be in the thousands. Which is why it's important to put a true value on your possessions. OK, so you obviously like them because you bought them, once. But do you like them enough to continuously pay to keep them? It's important to really decipher between what can be replaced and what is truly priceless.

Mindset and purging are important factors to consider, but not just to live this lifestyle, really for any lifestyle. How you approach your life and what you believe-in are primary components to the outcome of your life. The more connected and excited you are about life the more fulfilling it is. And by being in-tune with your family, you're making the most of your experiences. By decluttering, you can become more functional and organized which makes life more efficient. For me, living in a motorhome has heightened my senses on life. Foggy images are becoming clearer

May these small tips bring your pictures into focus!

Happy Travels!!

D

Central Oregon KOA - Aug 08 - Oct 08

So, we left Central California and headed to Central Oregon. We were much more nervous going to this park. The first park, we didn't know what to expect at all and weren't even sure if we'd stay in the first place. Now, we had an expectation. And we hoped there wouldn't be anymore employee drama. What we really wanted (and still do) was to have as much fun as possible while we work and have our kids with us to learn and enjoy life together.

Well we got what we wanted in OR. And we didn't have much time to worry since we were put to work straightaway. As soon as we arrived at the park, we were welcomed and shown to our site. We then had an hour to get settled and meet back. When we met up an hour later, our family was taken in by their family, right off the bat - and we worked through the day until 9 o'clock at night. That's how our stay was in Oregon; we were busy, and we all worked hard, and treated every camper and each other like family. And that's what made it fun. When you welcome guests to the park with your daughter by you side, your husband and another daughter escort them to their site, while the third daughter and the owner set up an Ice cream Social, that's when work is fun!

We learned so many great things at the Central Oregon KOA and were given so many cool opportunities. One, super fun experience was performing a controlled burn of a 20 acre field. The field sat along side and behind the campground. Jason and I may have a tad bit of pyromaniac in us because we really enjoyed ourselves. =-9

By this point, we had been living in our "camping" motorhome for about four months. We had not felt hindered at all by our living arrangement but we were starting to see what was really out there. Being as we had never owned a motorhome before and now we were seeing all kinds. So once a week, we drove 30 minutes to Redmond to stock up on groceries. Each time we went, we'd see this motorhome sitting on a small lot near the store. Everytime we passed though, no one was there. Well, that got us thinking, so we spent a day looking at motorhomes and fifth wheels. This was the first time we had ever looked at RVs in person, with the thought of living in one. Eventually, we decided that a diesel pusher would be the best option for us - for many reasons. (1) Our goal is to spend more and more time traveling and less and less time staying put. That being said, with the kids - it's much more fun to travel when you have all the comforts of home around you while driving. Sitting in your living room while you travel is always better than sitting in a back seat all day. (2) When traveling by motorhome, there is no real packing. Sure you have to secure your things, so as not to have your belongings slide off counters or fall off shelves. But preparing for travel in a motorhome is not the same as packing for a road trip in a car (or truck - if you're pulling a fifth wheel or travel trailer). (3) In the diesel pusher, the engine is in the rear, (under the bed) hence, pushing the motorhome. When the engine is in the back, it frees up precious floor space in the front of the motorhome, between the driver and passenger seats. In a gas motorhome (like our first one) the engine protrudes up through the floorboard creating a hump between the seats. (4) Diesels typically have a longer wheel base which means they are on the larger side and give even more square footage.

So we finally decided to stop in and look at the motorhome, on the little lot, with no one ever around. Again, no one was there, but we found out that all the RVs on the lot were on consignment. We did alot of lifting each other up and hoisting to see in the windows. What we saw impressed us. Although it was dated, the price made it a steal. Still, the price was more then we had. So, we went about our lives for the next few weeks, until Jason (being the avid internet surfer and researcher that he is) found the motorhome from the small lot - online. It was for sale, for even less than the price it was listed for, at the lot. So we contacted the company and asked to meet, so we could explore the inside. Once we got inside, our entire mind-set changed. Suddenly, we pictured how much more comfortable life could be with so much more space. 10 more sqft! :) Going from a 27ft (189sqft) motorhome to a 37ft (296sqft) motorhome equates to a gain of 107sqft. That's a huge difference when you're talking about such a small space to begin with!

So inevitably, we bought the motorhome. I imagined it would take an afternoon to move all of our belonging from one to the other, being as we just got rid of what seemed like EVERYTHING WE OWNED. WRONG!!! It took us about four days to get all our things out and into the new place. Since then, we've done some upgrading, updating, reconfiguring and replacing - to make it more our style and feel like a home. Now we have "basement storage" and althouth it's not nearly the size of most homes' basements, it sure helps.

Our time in Oregon was action packed, fun. We worked all different hours, with many split shifts (working 8-11a, 4-9p). That would have been dreadful for me in the "real world" but when you live where you work, it's fun. We would go in; open the office/store, collect garbage, mow the grass, clean out fire pits and check campers out. Then we'd have 5 hours in the middle of the day to go swimming, hiking or ride our bikes. And then, we'd go in for the evening to; check in and escort guests to their sites, sell and deliver ice, firewood and various other camping items, having ice cream social and generally helping campers have a nice stay. We also bought and sold a car. Bought a motorhome and traded another. All in just 2 1/2 months!

Life is meant to be fun! And although we all think of fun differently, I hope that, whatever you spend your time doing in life, it's fun for you!

Happy Travels!

D

The Beauty of RV Living - July 2008

So let me continue the story, where I left off...
It's difficult to filter through all of the memories in my mind and decide which ones to tell, but I'll try my best. I'd love for this blog to have a "stories around the campfire" feel. Especially the stories that come out late in the evening, after everyone's had a few drinks and all guards are down. But for now, I need to just get you up to date and then we can delve deeper, peel the layers, and get to the nitty gritty.

So we're in this tiny town in central Cali (N of Fresno and S of Yosemite National Park) and we're working with a variety of people who come from very different backgrounds. Now, take a second to image how this lifestyle works. People who live in RVs don't do it because they love small spaces. They do it because they love the outdoors and want to spend more time outside. (Plus you get to move your house everytime you're ready for new scenery.) So, as a workamper, even if you're not working, you see your coworkers everywhere. As you walk your dog, hang out at the pool, play a game of pool in the clubhouse or do laundry, they're there. (Imagine EVERYONE you work with living on the same street as you.) The combination of coworker personalities' with the fact that everyone lived on-site, over time, created a tumultuous work environment. Thankfully, we stayed out of it but we still became the go-to people, who heard each story from all sides. These differences caused quite a bit of drama that began to snowball until finally a "fight" ensued. Nothing physical, just a culmination of several different factors that all came to a head. During the same time; the managers gave their resignation, a workamper couple was warned of their pending termination (which lead them to quit prematurely), money went missing, police were called - you can begin to see the tip of the iceberg. All the stories I'll tell at the "campfire" are the ice, that built the berg, of which the tip, is atop. (That almost sounds Seussical.)
I'm starting to feel like I'm trying to create one of the Reader's Digest condensed novels, that my mom passes on to me. It's not as easy as they make it look - by the way!

Ok, so the shit hit the fan! Thankfully, we felt the rumbles prior to the eruption so we had already started searching for work at other parks. That's what this is all about, right? Our home is on wheels! That's one of the luxuries of living this way. If you don't like where you're at - you change it. There's no house to sell or boxes to pack and move, just put the key in the ignition and pull away. Although we still believe in two weeks notice, we've learned that workampers are notorious for leaving in the middle of the night. So anyway, right when the hoedown became a showdown, the job in Oregon came through.

Yeah baby, time to hit the road! (I've been meaning to get that song.) Willie always comes to mind when we're pulling out of a park ... "just can't wait to get on the road again". It was perfect timing because we were beginning to feel the roots grow out of the motorhome.

So that was our first lesson in the new mobility of our lifestyle. Go when you want to go, stay when you want to stay and never compromise on what's best for you and your loved one.

Happy Travels!

D

Holy Days - 2009

Happy Holidays and New Year!

The holidays always seem to heighten my state of mind. During stressful times, the holidays have felt like a weight - on my shoulders, on my heart, on my mind. But during times of joy and peace, the holidays feel enriching and fill me with appreciation. This year has been the latter.

We started the holidays off with a great Thanksgiving week. Jason, the girls and I packed up our little wagon with luggage, (12hrs worth of) entertainment, our two dogs (a rat terrier and a pitbull) and ourselves. We hit the road in the early morning, to make it by dinner time in South Florida. We hadn't taken a road trip in a CAR in a long time. We are used to making lunch, going to the bathroom and doing Highlights activities while we travel. The girls, as always, handled the long car ride like champs.

We then spent a day driving by our childhood homes and the homes we owned. Our older girls had memories of these homes but our youngest didn't. This lead to all sorts of memories, within our family and as children ourselves. It's amazing how, throughout different times in your life, you revisit the same memories and you view them differently. Your perspective shifts and life experience whispers in your ear.

We then spent a few days of good, old-fashioned, quality time with both sides of the family. We soaked up hours of fun-loving entertainment, talking and hanging out with the nieces and nephews. When we left, some were in elementary school and now they're in middle and high school! The baby is now in kindergarten! We also spent time catching up with the adults and of course, enjoyed plenty of food and drink.

By the time the vacation was over, our hearts and car were bursting at the seams. We enjoyed our time there and are still talking about it. The time we spend bonding with the kids was immeasurable. We also spent most of a day outfitting our car with a roof rack and cargo container - just so we could get all of our stuff home.

Christmas this year was fun and quiet. The five of us spent the day opening presents, making food, and playing with all the new toys. Ahh, another year of precious memories!

The new year has begun with another level of appreciation for family and loved ones, friends new and old, and most of all my children. I've enjoyed reconnecting with so many people this holiday season. I appreciate the differences that we each bring to the table. And my perspective has changed so much in the past few years that I am able to cherish each moment without prejudice. I've learned to follow my heart, or listen to my gut, or whatever you want to call it when you start tuning out other peoples' opinions and knowing and doing what you think is best.

Of course, "absence makes the heart grow fonder". So I always find more reasons to appreciate the ones I love, when I don't see them every day. ;) On the other hand, I enjoy spending each and every day (24/7) with my girls. And although (I feel like) I appreciate them each day, I now realize, I have just touched the surface. Today, the girls left on a two+ week trip to FL with their grandparents. WOW - forget what I said about life experience being just a whisper, some times it's a yell, and you hope it doesn't become a scream. Either way, it only takes one moment for life to present an experience that shows you an even truer sense of appreciation.

So, thank you 2009 for all the life experiences that have brought me to this wonderful point in my life! And thank you all (whose life I've crossed paths with) for enriching my life!

..... to a new year!

Happy Travels!

D

Yo S KOA - April 08 - July 08

So we began working again at Yosemite South KOA. This was a fun job for many different reasons. One, was our schedule. Two, was our job description and duties . And three, was the location of our motorhome within the park.

When we began working, the season hadn't really started yet. (What's considered the On-season is Memorial Day to Labor Day.) Since we started in mid-to-late April, we helped the managers get the park cleaned up and ready. We spent a good, four or five weeks: cleaning the clubhouse and kitchen, repairing and painting a 16x8ft outdoor movie screen, and cleaning and reorganizing a concession stand. Once all of the other workampers arrived, we got our official schedules, uniforms (t-shirts) and name tags. Our name tags said Activities Team. We were scheduled to do pool maintenance and work on projects on Weds and Thurs. On Fri and Sat nights we ran a BBQ dinner at the pool/clubhouse, followed by concessions and a movie. Then on Sat and Sun mornings we ran a pancake breakfast.

This was all so much fun! We got to interact with the guests in such a great way. The girls enjoyed serving the guests and helping with the sales at the concession stand. They also had a tip jar out at breakfast, dinner and the concession stand. Some weekends they would make $15 or more. We ate a lot of pancakes, bbq chicken and tri-tip (a popular cut of beef in California), popcorn and snow cones during that time. =)

The great part was that our motorhome was right next to the clubhouse/pool area. We took, maybe, a hundred steps to work each day. The clubhouse had a full kitchen with a serving counter, a fireplace with conversation area, a big screen tv and stereo, low game tables - with a variety of boardgames and puzzles to choose from, several dining tables, a pool table and restrooms. The clubhouse sat atop the highest point in the park with views of the pools and the Sierra Nevada Mtns. Just outside of the pool area is where the movie screen, concession stand and basketball court are located.

At this park, we met some of the nicest people we know. Our girls and their girls hit it off - right from the start. We met while hanging out at the pool (between pancakes and bbq). They extended their stay and we all became fast friends. They even visited us in Cody this past Fourth of July. Perrymans - you Rock!

So the honest truth is - life is life - it's all what you make it. Just like anything in life, if you see an image or hear an idea and you idealize it then you've missed out on the depth of the story. Nothing is "perfect" in life but it can be ideal - it all depends on where your head is.

During the time we stayed in Coarsegold, CA, we lived in a 27ft camping motorhome. I say camping because that's what it was meant for - camping, not living. We were bursting at the seams but we didn't mind. We were busy having fun and appreciating the ability to live like this. We were still amazed that this was our life. We felt like we were on an extended camping trip. But during our stay there, not everything was perfect. One night after work, it was about 11:30pm, we were just settling in to bed for the night when we discovered it. It - being a leak. When we started watching tv, I noticed drips landed on the bed in front of me - at a rather rapid pace. The worst part was that the area above our bed was where we stored ALL of our clothes. So, if you follow the dots backwards ... are you starting to form the picture? Our clothes had been absorbing water for two or three days during a torrential downpour. (Mind you, just weeks later wildfires were only 8 miles away.) By 11:30 on that specific night, they had absorbed their limit, thereby allowing it to rain on our bed. After a failed attempt at catching the water in a container, we went to plan B. This consisted of bagging and removing all of our clothes. Then we put every towel we own in its place. What followed was a LOT of laundry and the new knowledge of repairing and maintaining a motorhome roof. ;)

The point is, regardless of lifestyle, life is life. Never perfect but always our own ideal. We all handle our blips and dramas in our own ways. But as we learn to appreciate and have perspective on our own lives, we also learn to just enjoy the journey.

Don't turn blips into dramas!

Happy Travels!

D