Sunday - Day 42 - Gain is Good Growth

Our kids are a product of who we are, what we teach them, through our actions and how we show them our love every day.

I have been told, I couldn't do what you're doing, especially with small kids. It intrigues me and I ask myself, "Why do I feel living in an RV isn't any harder then living in a house or an apartment?" I certainly don't think my kids are better behaved. I don't think I'm different from most moms. I have all the same kid hassles, I get frustrated over the same things. My patience wears thin, it's part of parenting.

I do try to focus on all the benefits that are in my favor, which in turn make my life easier. For example, the pool I don't have to maintain, the park in my front yard, plenty of bike riding space, a bunk house cave, and freedom. James is learning independence and he is learning to adapt to a new environment, but he is also learning from the examples John and I set.

If I focus on the easy aspects of living here, that's all he'll learn and remember. He has no preconceived notions of how life "should" be. I find his growth fascinating with each of our moves. John asked James today, did you like the Texas apartment better or living here in the campground better?" James didn't skip a beat. "I like them both, dad!"

I know living in an RV has brought our family closer, physically as well as emotionally. Even when all the kids are over with their friends, it's been a cool experience. We are in close proximity, we talk and laugh and listen. It's quality time all the time. How could I trade that for separation in a big house?

I use to live in a big house in Texas, back in another lifetime. I only used three of the ten rooms on a daily basis. One room was never furnished. It was a little sad when I think back to those seven lonely rooms.

When, we lived in our small cabin I thought we needed a bigger house, but now I realize we just needed less stuff. Funny, how perspective can change everything.

When we lived on the third floor apartment in Texas, it created challenges at times, but we soon didn't think twice about climbing the stairs, with groceries, a dog and a baby, we just did it.

I currently don't think much about showering in a camper these days. I just do it. Interesting how those things that we 'think' make life harder seem to always get easier with time. They get easier and our minds adapt to those things we can not change. The things we can change allow for tremendous growth, and only short term pain. The expression, "No pain, No gain" sounds cliche, but those four small words have incredible value. I believe short term pain, is always better then long term un-fulfillment.

I also believe anything is possible with a good perspective. Life is truly short, and when I'm on my death bed I want to be able to say, "I've done everything I wanted to do, at least once." As a result my kids will have benefited from my own life experiences. My hope is they will carry similar passions on to their adult lives and then to their own children. They'll have memories and stories to be shared and passed down with each generation.

I look forward to hearing James share childhood stories with his children. He'll talk about living in the campground, with grandma, grandpa and baby Ty and driving to the beach in the orange Jeep, with no doors, and life was good.

Saturday - Day 41 - A 'Lil bit of country

My husband and I lived in Dallas, Texas for seven months before moving to Florida. We took a little bit of Texas with us when moved back.


Living in Texas was new for my husband, while it was my second time living there. I had been residing there when we meet in 2005. I share this because I saw a change in him after living in Texas, a change I'm sure I already went through, but never thought much about it until now.

We both bought cowboy boots, my husband started to appreciate and listen to country music and he had a whole new understanding for the word, "Country". It was a lifestyle, not just a 'sad song'.

I also grew to appreciate country music my first round of Texas living, and I understood the difference between Dallas and Fort Worth very quickly. I always loved the laid back lifestyle of Fort Worth's cow country. I always tell people Fort Worth is truly what people think of when they hear Texas. While Dallas is cosmopolitan and transient. If you want boots and cowboy hats on real cowboys see a rodeo at The Stockyards in Fort Worth,TX, they won't disappoint. I probably would have moved to Fort Worth if we didn't find ourselves back here in Florida.

I share this to lay the backdrop for my husband's new found mind set. Short of a cowboy hat, put a pair of cowboy boots on his feet and he's become a new man.

There's the style, incredible BBQ and a lifestyle he opened his mind and heart to. It's a state of mind you never truly understand until you've lived in Texas for a while.

So here we are living in our RV at a campground, palm trees surrounding us and this morning my husband has on the country top 20 countdown. I kid you not. We were drinking our coffee, and the atmosphere was light and freeing. I had this undeniable urge to dance. Anyone who knows me, knows I'd give Elaine from Seinfeld a run for her money.

Ty was watching me with all smiles and he too began moving to the music. Ty and mom dancing and singing. My husband was taking it all in with pride. It was one of those spontaneous, happy movie moments. (I should add we standing on the table singing with air mikes, but that would be taking it a tad too far.)

I felt as if our life has come full circle. My husband and I moved from Florida four years ago, we've been on a life journey that has taken us right back where we started when we were first married. We are new again, free from judgement and happy. We have everything we need in life, yet to outsiders it may not seem like much.

Today was a positive reminder that a relaxing lifestyle coupled with good music that speaks to our inner soul and a family full of smiles is all we need to keep us alive and well.

A little bit of county goes a long way, even in our sleepy little Florida beach town.

Friday - Day 40 - It's Raining Squirrels

One very important thing to remember while living in an RV is to pull the shades down as soon as it starts getting dark. People look in. I know this, because I do it.

You can see people eating dinner at their little tables, sometimes you can even see what they are eating. You can see the color of the fabric on their outdated furniture. The fabric was probably hideous when they bought the camper, but the older the camper the worse the interior gets. I think someone in the RV design industry finally figured this out and started making the interior less repulsive, but it’s only recently you can find these fine specimens.

It's hard not to look in other campers. As an RV owner there's curiosity around layout and at the heart of it, we just want to see if the other guys camper is nicer than our own.

When checking out the other guys RV it has to be a casual peak; you can't look too obvious, as they can see you a lot better than we can see them. You really wouldn't want to strain your neck craning it while checking out their digs.

I was curious and had to know what other people saw when they looked into our RV. It was dusk and the television had a movie on for Ty. I took the garbage and the dog and casually walked by our camper peaking in our big window. I was very shocked at what I saw. It was like a movie theater. Our TV isn't huge, but it looked huge considering it is the only thing that can be seen from the outside. Anyone walking by can see what we're watching at anytime. They could pull up a chair and some popcorn and enjoy the show.

While they are watching, they may catch the best show yet. Today I witnessed a squirrel falling from one of our trees. Two ladies walking by saw it too and were a bit freaked out, they thought it was a bat. I told them it was only a squirrel falling off a high branch. He landed with a thud and scurried back up the tree. I have never seen anything like it before.

Maybe the squirrel was trying to peak inside someone's camper and lost his footing. I bet his little squirrel friends were laughing their tails off.

Thursday - Day 39 - Out the Window

Although the day was not as rainy as I had expected it to be, it was dreary and the boys and I didn’t have any place in particular to be. I caught up on things I’ve been putting off, or needed Wifi for and kept the place tip top clean. (Ty dribbles crumbs everywhere; it’s a never ending battle.) I even squeezed some CPA exam studying in. My most interesting studying however, was outside the picture window, it’s like my own personal reality show minus the commercials.

As of today, we do not have neighbors on either side of us, there’s one vacant camper across the way and another occupied camper directly across from us, but I rarely see the owner and his dog. It’s almost as if we have our own little sandy road, except for the squirrels.

There are a ton of squirrels everywhere and they all scurry when the golf carts drive by in a fury. Except for when two young girls passed by, one was steering, the other pushing their golf cart along the sandy road. Poor young things, their cart must have run out of juice along the way. I bet they are visiting their grandpa.

The larger then average lady in her mu-mu raced along in her golf cart with a miniature creature, some call a dog. I think the little thing was wearing clothes, probably a miniature mu-mu.

So many pet owners walking their dogs. Some are big and some are small. There are times I don’t see them, but I know they are close when Rabbit’s in a frenzy; I’m sure he thinks his friends are coming over to play.

When there’s not a golf cart meandering on by, there are people on their bikes. Nice looking older men or women, sometimes couples, riding by looking so happy and relaxed. I suppose when you live in a campground it’s hard not to be relaxed.

My son is the youngest cyclist. He owns the road on his bike, the squirrels fear him. He rides fast and he rides with purpose. He rides in his pajamas. I’d say he’s pretty relaxed and at home. I believe he’s had his pajamas on for three days straight. He’ll change when we go out and he even managed to put his T-ball uniform on last night, but as far as he's concerned the campground is an extension of his home and he'll wear his Spiderman pajamas to the office, to do laundry and pretty much anywhere he pleases. I’m sure the retired folk get a huge kick out of him. I bet they wish they had their own Spiderman pajamas, to wear around the campground.

Wednesday - Day 38 - Rainy Night

There is nothing more fun then camping in the rain. Listening to the sound of the rain on the roof and knowing we're all safe and snug in our beds is the coolest feeling in the world.

It's actually suppose to rain for the next couple of days. If we're trapped inside while the rain is coming down, I won't have any complaints in the new RV. My pots wont be needed to catch leaks and the outside power cord won't be playing snap, crackle and pop. I won't feel cooped up, because we have so many windows and there are multiple rooms to move around in. I can already see myself looking out the big picture window as the rain comes down, enjoying each and every moment. It's reminiscent of snowy days growing up in NY, but better since it's not as cold and there's no ice to scrape in the morning.

If we were having a thunder storm, it would be a totally different experience. I anticipate it will be an event worth sharing when we find ourselves in the middle of a big thunder storm. In can imagine John would be out of town during our first bad storm, and the boys and I will be scared silly, together huddled my bed.

Tonight it's just a little rain to appreciate and savior. Camping brings the rain closer and louder in the most soothing way. It's so simple, so safe and snug in the rain.



Snug as a bug, while the rain
comes down.

Tuesday - Day 37 - My Favorite Things

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”

By the end of our first day in the new RV it had transformed into a home.  I had no idea it would feel so warm and comforting after only one day.  Life was more normal then I had suspected,  it was easier, and exceptionally nice.

I cooked dinner, in my new kitchen, for all the men in my life. (Jack too).  I had an inspiration for today's blog as I looked down into my over sized sink.  "I love this sink," I thought.  What else do I absolutely love in this place?  As dinner simmered, I grabbed a phone and began capturing images of all my favorite features in the RV.

"Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things"

My favorite Sink:

Of all my homes in the last seven years, this has is absolutely the best sink I have ever had.  It’s white, it’s deep and it’s wide.  It will fit everything I throw in it, including the kitchen sink.  Seriously, if this camper has given me anything exceptional, it would be this sink.

My Favorite method of cooking:

I love cooking with gas.  We almost bought an RV with an electric stove, imagine.  Growing up I only cooked on a gas stove and it’s by far the superior method of cooking.  I love my gas stove top.  All of my homes, the apartment in TX, the cabin in GA, the beach house in FL, they all had electric.  

I will sing the praises of my gas stove top.

My favorite bedroom door:

I have to admit, I have never had a bedroom with my own door to the outside world.  How many people can say they have a door in their bedroom?  Okay, maybe some of us have a door to an outside deck, but this is a door to leave the house, and it's in my bedroom.  It’s actually one of two doors in this RV, and I never thought I’d enjoy having a door to my bedroom so much.  I think I also like it because I can outsmart the dog.  If he is itching to go out, trying to escape out one door, I can close him off in the RV and leave using the other door.  Loving the door.

My favorite place to keep laundry:

I know I have shared this feature before, but the laundry chute is still my favorite feature.  It keeps all my laundry out of sight until I am ready to wash it.  The laundry chute is my favorite place to keep laundry, in the basement with a direct route from my bedroom.  I can keep filling it up until I don't have any clothes to wear.  Oh the joys of a laundry chute!

My favorite pantry:

The pantry, considering it's in an RV, is spacious and just the right size.  I can reach everything, it’s not too deep that I‘ll loose things in the back, it’s not made of wire racks so small items fall through, it’s the perfect size pantry.  Clearly my favorite. 

My favorite Window:

My favorite window is the picture window.  I love sitting by it and I enjoy watching people and cars drive by.  I can also keep an eye on James when he's riding his bike.  The best part is I can see out, but they can’t see in.  My favorite place in the whole camper is in the chair by my picture window.  I think it’s the cats favorite place too, he sits on the table and looks out constantly.  He is my little lurker kitty.

My favorite Step-son:

What more can I say.  It's Jack.  He’s been chillin’ with us for two days.  I love him and I love that he’s willing to spend time with us on school nights.  He’s amazing and my absolute favorite step-son. 

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things"

Monday - Day 36 - Area 51

It was a test of patience and a test of will moving from our old to our new camper and then to our brand new spot, area 51, today. I have not been feeling like my happy, good natured self while staying in Georgia last week. I hadn't had one decent night’s sleep. My little one, Ty, was up frequently, he was not feeling well and refused to sleep in his crib. I was also not feeling well, my allergies were horrific, my head was in a fog the entire time. Although, I am beginning to feel somewhat normal today, saying I was ‘a bit’ of a grump while moving would be an understatement.

The new and old campers were parked next to one another while we transferred our belongings. After moving our super comfy, custom mattress over to the new RV, John started tossing our bedroom items out the window of the old RV for me to place in the bedroom of the new. The more stuff that was piled on the bed, in the closets and on the tables, the more irritated I was beginning to get. An overwhelming feeling of unsettledness was beginning to take over my already sleep deprived brain.

All I kept thinking was, we are never going to get these things organized. I was in my very own, moving into a new camper hell. We have all been there, haven’t we?

John rhetorically asked a question I have heard before, “Why do you hang up ALL your t-shirts?” I swear it pushed my already sensitive state of mind over the edge, mainly because I don't, but he may as well have said I was an ugly fat troll, and it would have had the same consequences. My irritation turned into full blown beast, as I continued to pull items out of ‘The Beast’ into the new RV. James was constantly under foot until I gave him the business, John couldn't say a word without me jumping down his throat. I’m sure anyone listening to us (me) as they passed by had quite a reality show to witness.

As some point I became silent and stewed and thought deeply. I thought about why I was in such a foul mood when I’d been joyfully anticipating this day for so long. I internalized if I would ever feel safe and settled again. I thought about this blog, how could I even begin to spin this day into a positive, when it felt far from special. As I thought and contemplated my life, I couldn't help but wonder what was eating me, other than not feeling well, what was making me feel like something was just not right.

I continued moving things in silence. John and I found a moment to hug and reconnect, regardless of my earlier outburst. I found myself feeling slightly better knowing all our crap was at least in the new RV, even though it looked like a tornado hit the inside. I had stuffed dishes and cups, clothes and food in every nook and cranny I could find. I labored mentally and physically, feeling uncomfortable in all senses of the word.

My biggest, most unsettled feeling was where to keep the boys clothes. For some unexplainable reason it was really important for me to get the boys settled in and to find a place for all their things. It just seemed like a monumental task.

John moved the new RV into our new spot, Area 51. This is when the veil of uncertainty began to lift, just a little. I investigated our new site, from all angles and instantly knew I’d made the right choice. There is not a site directly in front of us, we have a big picture window in the back, allowing a nice view of the quiet, palm tree lined road. We have plenty of space for the boys to play, to sit outside and to enjoy the entire area where we've parked.

John turned on the AC and a little country music while I grabbed a beer. I told myself, I am going to start feeling like my normal self again. While John worked outside, my first task was to get the boys clothes in place. I ultimately moved Ty’s little clothes three times, I felt certain I laid them to rest in the best cabinet. Although, there is ample storage, determining the best use of each specific area to maximize space can be challenging. Where to store kitchen cookware, dish towels, beach towels, sheets and pillows is done with purpose. Each area was designated to my satisfaction, dishes and cups were restacked neatly, the panty was well organized, bathroom items strategically placed with room to spare. I felt more at ease with each organized draw and cabinet. I saved my own room for last and still need to do more work on it, but overall the place is perfect and to my standards.

I did feel a bit possessed earlier today, maybe I was adjusting to my ‘Area 51 Demons’ or are they Aliens? I pondered if it was due to making such a huge commitment or simply not having a clue as to what the future holds. I do know there are many adventures to come, and I will continue blogging each day. I also know sitting here, with my back to our beautiful picture window, as I look out over the entire camper, I am doing so much better. I am home and it is more then I had hoped for.

The spot is excellent, the boys are happy; the animals are calm and enjoying their new space. Check out the photo of Rabbit, so presumptuous in the new chair as if it was placed there specifically for his enjoyment. (I pulled him off after I snapped the photo.) John is totally enthused, he repeatedly has told me it feels cozy and he is very happy we bought this particular RV. Jack, my step-son, is staying tonight and tomorrow night, he learned tonight that his Boy Scout camp will be at our campground this summer. Such an ironic coincidence.

It’s coming together one day at a time in Area 51.