Reality hits

Well, it is less that 2 weeks until we are both done, party a little and then start our travels and the reality of all that is exciting but also a little crazy.  We are still finishing up doctor and dental appointments, getting ready for our party, getting the rig shaped up and now we find we need to put new tires on the truck. We have noticed a slow leak on the inside rear passenger side tire. We have a tire pressure monitoring system that we turn on periodically (especially before towing) to check the pressures of both the truck and 5th wheel tires and that is how we discovered this. After careful checking we could see where the tires are beginning to crack between the treads. They are over 4 years old and have almost 50,000 miles so it is just time. Just learned how to read on the tire the manufacturing date - never knew you could do that. So on top of an already crazy schedule we need to research and buy 6 new tires.
I am finding all of this a little overwhelming and have trouble shutting the brain down at night so I am not sleeping all that well these days. I also find myself getting a little more emotional. I am so excited for the future but saying goodbye is harder than I thought it would be. Gabe came for dinner on Sunday and I found myself getting all teary even then. There is a party Sunday with my coworkers and I think that will be a little emotional for me too. When I was planning and researching and it was in the distance it was easy but like I said reality has hit and it is definitely harder than I thought it would be. I've been trying to go out and read about the travels of other full timers just to keep my eye on the goal. 
And guess what ---oops no we didn't get a puppy. Our neighbors in the park this week have a new golden retriever puppy and there is nothing cuter to photograph than a puppy - so enjoy Kate the pup, we certainly did.  

Comments

  1. The Gypsy G-MasAugust 17, 2010 at 8:25 PM

    It wasn't too long ago that I was feeling much the same way. This lifestyle change sure seemed easier when it was in the distance. When the time came, there was a lot of "are we really doing this?" and "wow, we are really doing this!". Some tears were shed, but now that we have several months behind us, we are so thankful that we did it. After all, if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it! Good luck. I know it's been a long transition, but you're almost there. Keep going! It really is worth it!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. RV Khronicles of KevelynAugust 18, 2010 at 7:27 AM

    I had all the same feelings and emotions you are having. Change is an emotional time, even if it's a good change.

    I had many sleepless nights where it felt like my brain was churning and churning. I have to admit I finally gave in and took a Tylenol PM a few times. It helped me get a few nights of good sleep when things got too bad. I now sleep like a baby :)

    There were quite a few times I was reduced to tears by one thing or another. Reading about the experiences of other fulltimers on forums and blogs was so helpful. It made me realize everything I was feeling was just part of the process and very normal.

    I'm actually feeling a bit emotional again these days. In a few weeks we will leave, and I won't see my mom for about 8 months. I know she'll be fine, but it's another emotional time.

    Enjoy your last weeks of your old life!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Urban Life

Image
The view from our balcony I have been thinking about this post for awhile. When we are not traveling I find it hard to sit down and write but I have wanted to tell you about our new digs and what living downtown has been like for us. Another balcony view We moved into a one bedroom apartment on the west side of the river in the downtown Cedar Rapids area. This is a brand new building that actually they are still working on. The first floor is businesses, floors 2 and 3 are apartments and floors 4, 5, & 6 are condos. We love the building. Every apartment and condo has a balcony that looks out over the river and the McGrath Amphitheatre. Our little apartment in this building is 767 sq. which, after living in our 5th Wheel for 7 years, seems huge. We feel these apartments were well thought out. The kitchen is wonderful. It has a large island (all  solid countertops - quartz I think) with a large sink and plenty of seating room . We started by buying 3 barstools but found
Read more

Time for me to learn to drive this rig.

Image
Trail at Squaw Creek park Yesterday we moved back to Morgan Creek park (about a 15 mile drive) and I drove the rig! We have always said that I needed to start doing this but I never seem to do it. The first year I think John just felt he needed to get proficient at all the driving & parking things before he had me do it and then we just got lazy. It was just easier for him to do it. Recently friends of our that we met in Tucson, John and Terri had a very harrowing experience that reminded us why we both need to be able to drive this rig. John they think had a seizure while driving, luckily not towing but still it is amazing that they survived it. What this meant is that now Terri had to do the driving back to their former home town Sacramento and like me she had not done much driving. She did great and they are now coming off the road and starting a new phase of life. All of John's test look good so far and we wish him the best and hope that it was just a one time isolated
Read more

Three plus years of full timing....what have we learned

Image
Zion National Park,  Utah, December 2010 Harris Hawk at Sonoran Desert Museum, Tuscon Feb. 2011 When we left Cedar Rapids it began our 4th year of living and traveling in our RV. The last three years have flown by and we are still not ready to go back to a sticks and bricks life. We have traveled a lot of the western US but even with time out there all three years there are so many places we have yet to discover. This year will be our first going south and east, all new places for me and many new ones for John. I think one of the things that I learn every time we find somewhere new is how beautiful this country is. If you slow down and take the time you will find amazing things everywhere. I think the thing I appreciate the most about this lifestyle is that freedom to take it slow. BLM land near Quartzite, AZ in January 2011 Putah Creek, Winters CA in Jan.2013 Crater Lake, Oregon, fall 2012 Diamond Lake, Oregon, fall 2012 When we first took off we were
Read more