As we mentioned yesterday, we have completed our maiden voyage and survived. But, there are still some housekeeping details to address between now and 2013. As great as it was to be on the road, by last week we were both ready to be at home base again. Part of this angst is due to the tempo of our trip.
We went at it full-speed with the intent of looking for things to break or go wrong. Not that this is the "wrong" thing to do--it is just wearing on a person. We didn't really get into the full time frame of mind. We wanted to be tourists as badly as we wanted to try on the full-time lifestyle.
We knew this going out. We weren't going to fool ourselves by saying this trip was a full-time practice run. That would have been a sure disaster. Instead we looked at it as a trial by fire road trip to get the ants out of our pants. We had been waiting since March to get out and experience our Coachmen, and to tell the truth it was driving Mary and I crazy.
For those of you considering full-time, remember it doesn't have to be an "all-or-nothing" venture. It takes time to ease yourself into a new and unknown world. Someone wrote that there are campers and there are RV'ers, and that the two are neither mutually exclusive nor are they all inclusive. On any given day we can switch from one group to the other.
We have to allow ourselves to accept that change in status and not feel one or the other is off-limits. May be that is the problem with labeling people and actions? We create a stigma that causes us to be in denial and feel ostracized from one group for fear of being ridiculed. If we travel, whether full time or just on the weekends, we all have a common bond. I believe the majority of full timers started out as weekenders. If even for a short time, somewhere they were out in the environment and that made an impact that lasted their whole lives.
When we were sitting in the private parks in Shipshewana and the one in Wisconsin, Dells, we noticed how quiet the parks were. They are both great places, we would highly recommend them to anyone, but there was hardly any life after 8:00 P.M.
The public campgrounds on the other hand were noisy (not loud) and busy into the wee hours of the night—11:00 P.M. or so—and people were walking with their dogs, cleaning out their boat or ATV. Music was playing—mostly at an acceptable level—as folks sat outside their trailers, grilling hamburgers or steaks.
Though we loved both settings, we found ourselves relating to the public parks and appreciating the atmosphere that existed in the public parks. Does that mean we are not ready for full time on the road? Probably not. It does mean we enjoy being out where people are having a great time away from work. Where they aren't just living another day just like the day before.
Mary and I are making plans to stay at a local campground just outside of Asheboro, North Carolina in a few weeks. It looks like it is somewhat of a “resort” as it is near the NC Zoo and has seasonal sites available. Wouldn't it be nice to find a group of people who enjoy living as much as you do?
If you travel—by any means necessary—camp in anything—hostel—even if you hotel / motel your way around the state or country, you are experiencing your WANDERLUST—and we salute you!
NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST!!!
Tim and Mary
Re-energizing in Bunnlevel, NC
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