What the hell are we actually doing?

Well I am quite sure I’m still trying to figure that out myself. In the baby stages of my dreamings, the vision was to travel the United States in an RV indefinitely….going off grid as much as possible, essentially just blowing in the wind and exploring parts of our country that we’ve never seen. I figured I would indulge my little homeschooling fantasy throughout the experience aswell…. I mean really it’s the only option, but my heart was already there. Matt and I love to travel. Our relationship was built on getting in the car and driving and just seeing what we could see. We didn’t get to do near as much of it as we would have liked before careers and children. Now we have absolutely torn up the southeast, but there is SO MUCH beyond that I have just been ants in my pantsing to see. I’ve been feeling called to get back out in the big wide world.

So, I couldn’t get Matt entirely on board with the above mentioned plan. Seeing as how he owns and runs a construction management company, he had some reservations…….so I had to tone it down a bit. I should say that at the beginning of the year I left my job as a labor and delivery nurse for Emory University Hospital Midtown after just shy of 10 years of dutiful service. It was a very, very difficult decision, and not one that was made lightly. I loved my job deeply, but I felt the universe steering me in a certain direction and I chose to listen. This was in February, right before COVID really took hold. If I hadn’t left when I did, I would surely still be working my little butt off up there with all of my beloved Midtown women’s health co-workers. If any of you are tuning in, I miss you and love you dearly and you are in my heart and thoughts always. I could have never walked away from my job in healthcare, during a healthcare crisis (so basically I got out just in time)… and honestly I carry some big guilt around with me that I am not in the trenches with my work family. But, that decision I made in February is really the clincher that has allowed us the option to get where we are right now….. Daniel Boone National Park in rural Kentucky.

Matt and I had been growing disillusioned with the rat race and the constraints of modern society and the stress placed on families just trying to get by. The inevitable disconnect that happens with the “divide and conquer” mentality. I had been feeling so stuck and out of control of my life and I wanted to break the cycle and try a different path. Initially it felt impossible. ( I could write a book on all of the events that led me to this point and all of the thoughts I have on how ass backwards everything is in this modern world, but I will spare you) But I pumped myself up on taking the reigns of my own life. I believed that anything is possible, and I allowed myself to see the possibilities. People that know me well would say that I’m resistant to change, and historically that is accurate. So a lot of you are probably a little surprised that I was able to cut the cord so easily, but in my heart of hearts I’m really a gypsy.

So getting back on track……… it took a little longer to convince Matt of these drastic lifestyle changes. And rightfully so because he doesn’t have a job he can set aside quite as easily. But he did begin to get his mind out of the box, and he started brainstorming ways to manage his business in a different way…. maybe, possibly, even from afar?

Well COVID and lockdown was just the little push that he needed to see…. that it could work…..

So now we are taking this a little more seriously. We are thinking that maybe we could just take numerous smaller RV trips and that Matt’s work would dictate how long each trip would be able to be, and then that would determine where we went for each trip……with layovers back at home in between. It isn’t exactly what I have in mind, but I am definitely willing to compromise if it means doing anything that resembles the wanderlust I am seeking.

We really commit to making the dream a reality towards the end of this summer, and begin shopping RVs and thinking about the trips we want to take, etc, etc. I would say within two weeks of making that decision, we got thrown a curveball….

Matt was presented with a business opportunity in Colorado. It would require a 6-8 month relocation… but holy shit Colorado??!!!! How can we not, right? But hold on, my RV dream? What about my simple life, home on wheels? Our chance to see the world at our own pace, with all the beauty to behold, and memories to make, and so many things to learn???? I will now try to condense a few weeks worth of discussions and sometimes even fights between Matt and I regarding the new life vision now being funneled into a different direction…….

Matt- Well, how about we RV out to CO and camp some epic spots along the way?

Me- Well, okay I can kind of get on board with that but I want to do it for at least a couple of weeks. But wait, where will we stay in CO? Are we going to live in the camper there?

Matt- Well how about we rent a house up in the mountains and get a real winter experience…..snow, skiing, snowboarding?

Me- Okay Matt, hell yeah sign me up. Can we still RV after we get to CO?

Matt- Absolutely, when we grow weary of the cold and snow, we can take some trips southwest and go to all those national parks on your list.

Me- Done. Sold. Its a deal you sweet man.

We left our Atlanta home in the care of our beloved, long time babysitter Bekah, and her lovely husband and baby girl. They are taking care of the homestead for us and we are forever grateful, and so at peace knowing they are there. We packed almost nothing, and basically just took what we could fit in the camper.

Matt is working remotely a little bit everyday. I decided to place a temp hold on real “schooling” until we get set up in CO. We certainly do something educational everyday, it’s just dictated by where we are and what we get in to. We have crazy Timber dog with us, but left Mo kitty, chickens, and fishies in Bekah’s care.

So there you have it in a nutshell. We are meandering our way to a temporary relocation in Breckenridge, Colorado. I am definitely struggling daily, as the whole RVing part is feeling rushed and not quite the full on camping lifestyle that I want so bad. I am reminding myself daily, that while the vision has shifted, we are still on an epic journey and living life in a new and exciting way, and most importantly by our design. We are in a bit of a time crunch to get out to CO before the snow really sets in. We need to get to our rental home, unpack, and then take the Shadow Cruiser down to Grand Junction to store for future trips. If she gets stuck up in the mountains with us because the snow and ice has set in, we won’t be able to get her back out until spring. We are extremely privileged to be able to do what we are doing, and are fully conscious and appreciative of the beautiful life we are getting to live. We did sacrifice a lot to get to this point, and while it was very difficult at times, it ultimately led us here. All we want and need is inside this little home on wheels. It was so easy to leave all the “stuff” behind. Much, much harder to leave the friends and family behind, however, we shall we return…. We are proving to ourselves right now, that as the Avett Brothers say, “ We are happier with nothing” I felt like I owed everyone an explanation, I hope that answers some questions! If you ever have any thing specific you would like to know about, please ask! I will get back to the trip soon. Stay tuned!