Monday - Day 64 - Hail, Hail, The Beast is Gone!

We officially sold "The Beast" today, to the nice family who came by this weekend to see it.

Emilee had come by with her two children and another couple on Friday. The kids had fun and played with bugs while the adults inspected the camper from top to bottom.

When the little girl saw me today, she asked where James was.  She was hoping to see him.  I was surprised she remembered his name, I had no idea James made such an impression on her.  James is a sweet boy, but I often forget the impact he has on others, especially on sweet little girls.  I had to break the news that James was with his dad in Georgia.  She looked a bit disappointed.

Emilee's uncle came with her to drive the camper to her house.  He looked it over and had some concerns. He asked me a few questions, but soon discovered I was a middle man and wasn't able to answer anything with as much detail as my husband.

I immediately had concerns Emilee's uncle would have too many reservations about purchasing our Beast of a camper.  I remained positive, but felt there was a chance we may not make the sale.  I was hopeful Emilee's emotional investment would be enough to seal the deal.

After a few phone calls to her husband, Bryan, he gave the okay over the phone.  He told Emilee, sight unseen, to make the purchase and take their new camper home.  I breathe a sigh of relief.

Our husbands had spoken over the phone many times and both were on the same page regarding full disclosure regarding any previous issues with the camper.  Emilee and I managed to make the exchange without our husbands present.  We both signed two bills of sale, one for each of us, I signed over the title and she handed me a cashiers check for the agreed upon amount.

As they pulled away I wondered if I should have taken John's Gator plate, and I noted all our bumper stickers from previous trips we had taken. Our destination map still stuck on the side of the camper next to the door.

Watching our old RV pull out of the campground felt good.  She is in good hands I thought and I know many new memories will be made by the great family who purchased it.  It was the right time to sell and the next step in our journey.  An era has gone by and I look forward to what the new era will bring.

Sunday - Day 63 - Stimulating our 5 Senses.

What is about the beach and sun that puts our spirits in a calming state?  

Daytona Beach

People are drawn to the beach in droves. We lay or sit all day on the beach, in the sand and swim in the salty water.

We try and prevent sand from getting into our drinks and our food.  If we have kids they will most definitely get sand in every crevice of their body which will find its way into our cars.  The beach is a messy reality, but we love every bit of the experience.  We go back for more no matter how much sand gets tracked in the house.

James eating sand, one of his first visits to the beach
New Smyrna Beach, 2008

Ty's first trip to the beach
Daytona Beach, 2012

Coming home from the beach, sun-kissed, is equally as satisfying a feeling. After I'm all cleaned up, refreshed yet sleepy, I think, "What a heavenly day at the beach." It's no wonder the most popular vacation destinations are at the beach.

James
Myrtle Beach vacation, 2010

Marcella
Myrtle Beach vacation ,2010

Other then the euphoric beachy feeling we get from spending the day at the beach, there are also health benefits to taking in the sun. Taking in the sun at least two times a week, for twenty minutes increases our vitamin D intake.  This will contribute to lower blood cholesterol, which in turn will fight heart disease. Vitamin D also regulates our immune system.

St. Augustine

I personally think taking some much needed time to relax at the beach will give anyone a health perk. Stimulating all five senses at the beach will put anyone in the right state of mind. Smell and taste the salty air, listen to the waves crash over the shore line, feel the sand between your toes and see the infinite ocean. It's an incredible energy to replenish the soul, a well deserved fantasy fulfilled for our entire being.

Rabbit enjoying
New Smyrna Beach

If I could live anywhere other than in our remarkable RV it would be by the ocean, where I could treat my five senses to the salty air everyday of the week. Maybe we need to pull into a campground, closer to the ocean, where I would wake up and listen to the waves every morning.

James
Camping in St. Augustine, 2010

Ty's most recent trip to the beach
New Smyrna Beach (yesterday)

Saturday - Day 62 - Ironic Reality

Watching our kids mature and grow up is bittersweet.  We love that they have become independent, yet long for one more moment of their childhood, which seems to have slipped away.

My step-daughter, Haley recently turned seventeen.  She went to her prom today with her boyfriend.  When I met Haley she was nine, almost ten.  She was cute, bubbly and loved her daddy to death.  I learned early on not to get in the middle of their relationship. They have a very special bond.

Haley & her daddy!
(the day James was born)

Taking photos of Haley today, all grown up, was a sobering reminder of how fast our children grow.   Haley looked stunning in her dress.  She and her boyfriend took beautiful photos together.  I could not help but consider the similarities her prom portraits, in the garden setting, would have with her wedding day.  Even if we have to wait another ten years to see her get married, it too will feel like an instant in time.

Haley and her boyfriend before prom.

Haley and her daddy on prom day.

John and I have the advantage of having younger children to hug and hold and cherish before they too grow up on us too.  I find on days like today, we watch them closer and hold them tighter.

The drastic difference between our seventeen year old and almost seventeen month year old is enormous, however seeing them together is a sobering reminder at how quickly our children find their way and move on to living their own lives without us.  They don't need us in the same way. They love us, but do not depend on us for the same things.

Haley and her littlest brother.
17 years vs. 17 months

I am grateful John and I made the decision to move back to New Smyrna Beach.  Living in our RV was the best decision we have ever made and I would not trade a single thing.  Living in close quarters with our boys at a time when our older children are moving into the next stages of their lives is an ironic reality.  My little boys are sweet and precious exactly how all my stepchildren were when I met them.  Holding on to these moments is all I want to do before it's time to move on to something new.

Precious moments to cherish
James' Birthday, 2011

Friday - Day 61 - In Good Time

Seeing a turtle on the side of the road is a good excuse to pull over and gawk. We did just that and enjoyed the view.

We warned James not to get too close, turtles are deceiving faster than you would think and will snap at you if you get too close.  We were close enough to get a good look and a few photos.

Turtle Watching in New Smyrna Beach
(on the side of the road)

Turtles are funny creatures, they have a bad rap for being slow, but they are surprisingly quick on their four feet.  I am fascinated at how baby turtles always know which direction to head into the ocean right after they are hatched.  It’s a long journey, but many will make it and survive, all in good time.

Many things take time.  Selling our old camper has taken time. I am a true believer, that when the time is right we will sell it.  We have it priced right on Craigslist and have had interest over the past few months.  We were also showing it when we lived in Texas.  "The Beast" has been on the market for a total of four or five months.

Today we showed "The Beast" to a really nice woman, her two kids and another couple, her friends who came along to help.  The woman's husband was out of town, and her friends, specifically the husband, were helping her look "The Beast" over.  I thought, this could be to our advantage, if she liked it, based on a woman's perspective, they would definitely buy it.

"The Beast" 

I overheard the husband, of the friend, ask our prospect if she liked it, and she most definitely did.  I was confident they would purchase our camper.  Ironically this was the only time I went with John to show our RV, I had a hunch we would be meeting with serious buyers.  As it turned out, it was a good fit for their mission.

Even the possibility of selling created no sad feelings; selling ‘The Beast’ now would be good, it is the right time to let her go.  Although, it took time, I knew she would sell, all in good time.

We went to sushi dinner later that evening.  John knows how much I love sushi; it was a pseudo date for me, with our boys.  James ate an entire order of edamame, a whole salmon roll and a few pieces of the fancy rolls we ordered.  It took some time before he was brave enough to eat sushi, but today was his day to dive in and enjoy. I am amazed at the things he does and how he does everything in his own time.

John and I ordered a very spicy hurricane roll made with liquid wasabi.  We were warned it would be hot, but we ordered it anyway.  It was one of the hottest things I have ever eaten, but yet there was something incredibly enjoyable about the experience. With every bite the wasabi exploded in my mouth, bringing me to tears.  It was an experience incomparable to any other I have had.  The spiciness was initially over powering, but it subsided gently and soon was completely gone.  With each piece I ate, the experience was a little more bearable.  It got easier each time.  I left the restaurant with a clear head and I was satisfied. I’ll order a Hurricane Roll again.

Beware the Hurricane Roll
@NSB Yu-Mi Sushi & Sake Cafe

 I slept well that night, and dreamed well too.  I’m not sure if was the reassurance we may sell “The Beast,” the Sangria I had with dinner or The Spicy Hurricane Roll.  Or maybe it was my comfort with my surroundings and the beautiful weather. Whatever the reason, I am feeling good that everything happens all in good time.

The Turtle Racing Away!

Thursday - Day 60 - Wild Animals

I woke up in the middle of the night, the entire RV was shaking.  It was my own version of an earthquake in my world of simplicity.

I was half asleep trying to understand, what could possibly be outside, while the dog paced back and forth in the living room area, moving the entire camper as he ran from one window to the next.  I had never seen Rabbit worked up like this before. That dang dog!

In my dreamy haze, I peaked out the side window expecting something big and scary to be peering back at me.  And then I saw it, it was a huge, menacing, big clawed raccoon!  He had his puny little eyes set on Rabbit's dog food I had left outside the night before.  No wonder Rabbit was so uptight.

I knew I would either have to find a way to get the dog food inside the camper or I would be cleaning up a huge mess in the morning.  Not to mention, I would have to buy more dog food.

I scurried outside, quick as can be, grabbed the food and darted back inside.  My heart was racing, I was panicked the raccoon would fight me for his next meal.  Relieved I made it unscathed, I did feel a bit silly once I was safe in the RV.  I can laugh about it today, but seriously that raccoon was a creepy sight.

A few minutes before James walked by
with his own creature.

James enjoyed his own encounter with a wild animal, specifically a wild reptile.  He stomped into the camper with excitement. "Mom, I caught a lizard and his tail fell off, and it was STILL alive!!".  Up until this moment, I had thought I heard it all from this child.  He was fabulously intrigued that the lizard was still alive with no tail.

A bit earlier, James walked past the window with something dangling in his hand.  I leaped to the conclusion it was the lizard's tail.  James ultimately caught the sad little creature in one of our drinking glasses, one I will never be drinking out of again.  I had officially ventured into that little boy realm of life most mother's try to avoid.  Deep down, I knew I needed to embrace it, yet it was difficult not to be utterly grossed out.

 I cautiously told James I thought the poor little guy was withering away.  And to please wash his hands with soap when he was done.  Later that evening, James referred to the lizard as, "his lizard," apparently they had bonded before the lizard's passing.

James with his withering creature.

Wild animals, both day and night.  I'm sure they'll be more in our camping world.  Did I mention the alligator in the lake?  I'm just relieved there are no bears prowling around. The alligator probably ate them all.

Wednesday - Day 59 - Special 31 Delivery

Getting packages at the campground seemed hard when we first moved in.  After 59 days I would have to disagree.

About a month ago John ordered a package from Oregon.  He gave the company our PO box address without realizing it would be delivered via FedEx.  Instead of calling my husband to verify our physical address, someone took it upon themselves to find another John Nelson living in the same town and the package was delivered to him.

Now, I'm sure if my husband ordered something for me, this scenario would have turned out very differently. However, my husband ordered high end, deliciously smelling, shaving supplies from The Art of Shaving. What we thought would have been a simple explanation of wrong identity became a modern day "Seinfeld" episode. (I can not make this stuff up)

John made a dozen calls to both the shaving company and to FedEx.  As a result, he learned all FedEx needed to do was knock on the other John Nelson's door and retrieve the package.  It sounded easy enough, however, the other John Nelson was not going to give up his shiny new shaving supplies.  They were his and no one was going to tell him differently, not even an intimating stranger in a purple uniform.

After seriously considering knocking on the other John Nelson's door himself, my poor husband finally received a new package from The Art of Shaving.  It only took a huge hassle and a month longer then anticipated.  If we had only known.

I too had a packaged delivered and it came today. Thanks to my friend Audra and all her fabulous totes, purses and bags from Thirty One Gifts, I could not resist purchasing a new beach bag, especially with all the charity promotions she does.  She is currently holding a fundraiser to benefit Boston victims, check out all the  details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/468470609888777/ .

Ty helped me open my box!

My package also came FedEx, but the process was a whole lot easier.  I had given Audra the campground address and I didn't need to be anywhere in the vicinity when it arrived.  I walked over to the campground office/general store today and there was my package, sitting in the mail area, waiting for me.  I scooped it up and here I am with my incredible new multipurpose bag, which I will be taking to the beach on Sunday.

Love my new bag!

Visit Audra's Catalog 

https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E3144827&from=DIRECTLINK

The simple life, here in the campground, even receiving packages.

Tuesday - Day 58 - Our Inner Child

I have two sweet boys who give me affirmations every day that I'm their favorite mom.

My five year old tells me so and volunteers hugs and kisses all day long.  My little guy lives to snuggle.  He finds his way onto my lap just to hang out.  If I'm lucky, he will give me big opened mouth kisses, it's silly and  sweet.  At his tender age, it's how he knows to show his love.

Ty giggles with delight when I hug him back with tickles and lots of kisses on his neck.  He finds this hysterical and comes back again and again for more.  James jumps in on the fun, because he won't miss a chance to get in on all the laughter.  These are the moments I know I'm being the best mom I can be.

I make sure the boys are fed, and bathed and happy.  If a bath gets skipped a dunk in the pool will do. They are little boys and being clean, all the time, simply isn't a top priority.  As a mom, I always make sure they have the appearance of being clean, clean clothes, clean faces and NO sticky hands, ever.

I watched the boys at the pool today, they didn't have a care in the world.  Ty's pants were falling down, James hijacked Ty's float because it's funny.  James made waves while two older ladies took a dip in the deep end.

Carefree Ty!
Let's hope his pants won't fall down when he's an old guy.

James could spend all day at the pool,
Even in Ty's float!

Before we left one of the ladies dove down to fetch James' goggles. She was sweet to offer, I hadn't made it all the way into the pool, and diving down was not on my 'to do' list today.

When the lady sat down to dry off, she showed off her newly painted nails to her friend. They were multicolored and tie dyed, something my step daughters would have sported a few years back. They were adorable and I told her so. The lady said she was living her "second childhood," I thought about that and smiled inside.

Do we all live second childhoods at some point in our lives, or do only certain personalities types?  I noticed the lady was much more upbeat and friendly. She had the appearance of living for the now; diving down to fetch James' goggles twice, swimming to the deep end to check the pool temperature on the duck floaty.  She was lively and chatty the minute she came to the pool.

Two ladies making waves in the deep end!

Her friend was sitting by the pool silently reading, when we arrived.  She was quiet and shy.  She looked over at us a few times, but I suspected it was because my boys were loud, making tons of noise.

Both ladies were very nice. One embraced her actual age, while the other embraced her inner child, living her second childhood.

I wonder when my boys transform from little boys to young men to grown men and then finally to old men, if they too will embrace their inner child.  The happy, carefree sweet boys they are today.

Childlike in every-way!

Happy to sit in a draw!

Monday - Day 57 - 'Even Though'

I love the sound of the rain on the roof, even though it's really loud and occasionally wakes me up.

I love being close to my boys all the time, especially when they are sleeping, even though James does not understand the words, "lower your TV, it's too loud."

I love that James enjoys playing outside, in the rain, even though he tracks wet sand through the RV.

I love being snug and cozy in the camper and having everything I need in the world at my finger tips, even though our clothes cabinets need to be reorganized often.

I love my quick morning clean ups, even though I'm vacuuming at least twice a day to get all the sand and dirt cleaned up from my son and the dog.

I love when the door is open and the breeze is blowing in through the screen door, even though Ty likes to throw things outside the opening of the screen door.

When we can't find something,
we check outside to see if Ty threw it out.

I love when the entire camper moves even though it's because the dog just jumped on my bed.

I love my mini fridge and spending less on groceries, even though buying two gallons of milk is totally out of the question.

I love sitting at my booth style table while working on my laptop, even though the internet is spotty.

I love the vacation living environment, and the current quiet season, even though it's been raining more often.

I love my kitchen with the excellent deep sink, even though I have limited counter space

I love waking up to see James made his bed with his new Star Wars bedding.  There is no 'even though' for this......

Freshly made Bed!

Sunday - Day 56 - Survival

Once upon a time we all lived in caves.  Our only purpose in life was to protect ourselves from wild animals, find food and procreate. Not necessarily in that order.

These days we still protect ourselves, but we protect ourselves from hurt feelings. We look to outside sources to make ourselves feel good, through our preferred vice or social media. What is it that gets you through your day?  I have my own guilty pleasures, Starbucks, Sushi and mindless TV.

However, over the years, I have given up on things I once considered things I could not live without.  I discovered I could survive without the things I once enjoyed regularly.  I would not consider myself to have an addictive personality, but I can understand how easily someone can become attached or addicted to specific things and the feelings associate with those things.

As a society we eat bad food and drink alcohol beverages, we play computer games and follow sports, we take prescribed drugs and enjoy our caffeine beverages. We over indulged in many things because it feels good.

We buy expensive things to look good or make ourselves feel good. We give gifts and attend church, because it feels good and we like to see others smile due to our own good deeds. We own homes and take vacations, because it satisfies a need inside, a need to be happy, fulfilled or relaxed.

I wonder how we evolved to be the humans we are today, with no knowledge of what it feels like to have access to less, own less, without instant gratification.  Microwave ovens and drive through windows give us instant food. On demand Movies, TiVo, Netflix and Hulu give us instant entertainment (with no interruptions), our cell phones and text messaging give us instant communication.

Our children do not know what it's like to wait for anything for more than five minutes.  My teenage children get instant affirmations with how many likes they get on Facebook and Instagram in one minute.

I have thought all these things through and wonder what society would do if it all just went away one day. Would we adapt and survive? Or would we wither away like the dinosaurs?

We all need a few dinosaurs to chill with!

 I was inspired for this blog attending a three year old birthday/pool party yesterday, the theme was Dinosaurs. We enjoyed good food, fine drinks and great company.  All the kids splashed in the pool, we ate dinosaur cake and the little kids found candy hitting a dinosaur piñata.

What's more fun than a dinosaur piñata?

The expression is Priceless on a Cake

We are far from our dinosaur ancestors and the cave people who followed, but our instincts for survival have not disappeared. How long would we survive with less and how much less could we survive with?

Saturday - Day 55 - Dilemma

We made a trip to our storage unit today. A myriad of emotions flowed through my being.  It was an experience I will avoid in the future... if possible.

The second we opened the storage unit I looked in and flatly spoke, "What are we looking for again?" The task felt daunting, although I knew John would take the brunt of the hard labor, moving heavy boxes stacked high above.

On our last trip to storage, we managed to get though about half of the boxes looking for something of importance, I cannot recall what. This trip we planned to go deeper, deeper into the abyss of the cave containing all our stuff.

Entering the Cave!

With each box I broke open, a flood of memories and emotions poured out. Ty's crib bedding and mobile, he'll never need to use it again.  My baby won't be a baby when this box gets moved out permanently.

A kitchen box containing my favorite pasta bowls, which I've moved multiple times over the years; one slipped from John's hands and broke my prettiest bowl.  It could probably be glued and admired for its beauty, but I left it, at the bottom of the box, broken and alone, until I find a future use for my favorite pasta bowl.

With each box I opened, I felt like I was uncovering a treasure chest, not knowing what I would find, with anticipation would it contain what I was looking for?  Each flip of a lid brought on shock and disappointment. Shock of, "oh, I forgot I owned this," and disappointment of, "it doesn't contain what I was hoping for."

My mission was to find twin bedding for James' twin bunk bed in the RV.  He is currently using full size bedding from his previous RV bed and it falls all over, spilling onto the floor.  His familiar, Spider-Man twin bed sheets would be perfect for him, a little piece of his home in Texas.

We didn't find the twin bedding, and it's killing me that I've no idea which box it is in.  John found all the items he seeking out.  I handpicked a few favorite toys for the boys.  I found a few things for myself, stuff I could probably do without.  My biggest find was a bag full of spices. Oh the joy.

Overall, the entire time, I had this unsettled feeling of dismay.  I like my stuff, but have no use for any of it now.  I could not even remember what I owned, until I opened a box with unbridled enthusiasm. It made me think hard, will I ever need it all again?

Will we ever own a home to put all of it in, the furniture, the large flat screen TV, the incredible washer dryer I loved to use?  The kitchen aides, wine glasses, mixing bowls and baking pans, I get along fine without any of it.  If I never need it all again, when is the right time to purge? It's an awkward dilemma, one I will put away for now, in my storage unit.

The Unknown of what's to come.

Friday - Day 54 - The Same, Yet Different.

The campground is virtually empty. I am actually surprised people have not moved in for the weekend. So far, I have only seen one guy come in with his Class C across the way. A young guy who seemed friendly enough when I was out walking Rabbit, right before it down poured.

Otherwise, there's something serene and calm about having an entire campground all to ourselves. I don't worry if the dog is barking while I vacuum or if Ty is screaming for a bottle. The squirrels don't care how much noise we are making. It's great. We go to the pool and no one is there. The entire pool is ours. I'm not complaining, it's actually kind of nice.

Our roads aren't busy. James speeds down the road on his bike, and I don't worry. He is aware of his surroundings and he knows to watch for cars, but he truly has free range.

I like having neighbors and I enjoy meeting new people, but I'm also enjoying my wide open spaces. There are full-timers at the campground, but we are all going about living our lives. It is quiet and peaceful.

John told me he did meet a few people at the pool today. My social husband will be acquainted with all the full-timers before summers out. The atmosphere with only the full-timers is very different then with the snow-bird, vacationing party goers.

I made a quick trip to Publix today for groceries, while John was with the boys at the pool. Our fridge was literally empty.

I observed others and occasionally feel very out of place, especially when I do not have the boys with me. There is a wide array of individuals; whom I find myself taking notice of. There's the typical older generation of ladies, who smile while going about their uneventful business. Then there's the younger generation, the eccentric couples and the young, tattooed, multi-colored haired moms, some are younger grandmoms, three generations of interesting folk.

The young mothers desperately try to control their children, holding on by a thread; willing their kids not to scream too loudly in the grocery store. The older ladies, watch, smile and nod with sympathetic understanding. I sense they are remembering the days when their little ones were small. Although, it was a long time ago, their memories are still fresh in their minds.

It's a familiar scene; I receive the same nods when I am shopping with my boys, piled high in the grocery cart. I am usually distracted as my five year old peppers me with questions. If I'm lucky the sixteen month old has a full belly, and is all smiles waving at people passing by. The same older ladies smile and watch as I go about my own business. I acknowledge many with a knowing smile, often forgetting that the boys are engaging with everyone who smiles at them. They are sweet, friendly and happy, a perfect combination for the grocery store ladies who adore little, fat checked boys. Ty gets every time.

I realize all moms have so much in common, coping and riding out the tantrum storms, both at home and in public. It’s a daily battle to maintain our sanity. As different as I feel from many of the young mothers, I see out in civilization, I am extremely emphatic. Managing our hungry, grumpy or sick children in public is always a challenge. People tend to stare with judgement, society's stigmas on how a mother should look regardless of how well her parenting skills are.

At the root, no matter how old we are or how we look, even the older ladies, privileged to be great grandmothers, as mothers we only see one another's struggles and we understand what it’s like, we have all experienced the same things. We are the same, yet different.

When I left the grocery store, a twenty something year old guy was taking a photo of my car. Perplexed I wondered why, until I saw the Jeep next to mine. How ironic! I took the same photo of the Jeeps; they are same, yet different.

Thursday - Day 53 - Sneak Peak

We went to see my stepdaughter's dance performance tonight. She is an incredible dancer and I tear up each time I see her perform. She has grown up so much since I first met her and she has gained so much confidence. I wonder how I'll feel in another seven years when she's twenty-one and on her career path.

I personally think she could make a career of dancing, but based on her academics, and her career goals she will most likely follow a different life path.

In tonight's show, I saw a few girls who could pursue dance as a career one day. They were the girls who looked liked naturals on the stage. Then it crossed my mind, what do the girls who are good, but not great do? They have ability and talent, but they aren't the best. Are these the same girls who grow to be older women, the same ones we see at weddings who can bust a move regardless of their age?

John shared an article with me from The Wall Street Journal, "Not Content to Sit on Porch, Florida Retirees Rock On".  It's about the aging baby boomers reliving their youth at dance clubs all across Florida. They are residents and snow birds who are filling the dance clubs, especially during the winter season. These club goers call themselves snow-caps and consider themselves "living" compared to the old folk up north who are only "surviving". They dress in slinky outfits, drink, have fun nicknames and are living it up while they still can.

Babyboomers - Party On!

I imagine they were the vibrant young people in their generation dancing and singing and enjoying their youth.  Today age is only a number and dancing is a state of mind. They don't think they are too old to enjoy life and they are living their lives for the now. Maybe they have found the true fountain of youth, the one that states, if you don't think you've aged, then mentally you haven't.  Dancing is good for the soul and they are proving this.

The baby boomers know they have nothing to lose and many are living the way they wish they lived their entire lives; free and on the edge.  I also suspect many of them always lived a full life and are continuing to do so together at the clubs enjoying their retirement whole heartily.

Regardless of the reason, there is an entire market of club dancers being catered to in Florida, and they are moving and grooving to classic rock, singing their praises loud and clear.  Many of them are also retired living in RV parks during the winter months.  Some will even be my neighbors come fall.

It's an underground dance party.  I wonder if I'll be reliving my own college club days when I'm actually retired one day, not simply pretending.  There's an entire stage of my life I haven't even tapped yet.  I'm sure my children, when they are all grown up, will see me having a good 'ol time while they are restricted to early nights home, taking care of their own children.  I am grinning at this thought.  There is so much to look forward to.  I'm thrilled I get a sneak peak of what will lie ahead, fast forward 25 years.

Wednesday - Day 52 - The Anchor

Saying good-bye to the Graf Family was a solemn reminder that I am the anchor at the campground and many of the people I will meet are ships passing through. I waited and watched as The Graf family drove out of the campground, I stood there, holding Ty, waving good-bye. I didn't feel sadness as much as I felt the impact of my new reality setting in.

My farewell to The Graf Family reminded of saying good-bye to my family in New York.  It’s hard to leave, but I know I will see them again.....eventually.  I knew they had to move on, but the thought and the reality were two very different things.  I will miss Alex, Bob and Daphne. They are the first family who I felt a strong connection with.  My thoughts and prays will be with them throughout their journey and I plan to stay in touch with them until they come back to New Smyrna Beach again.

The Graf Family 

I thought about their reality, on the go, moving from event to event, state to state.  How difficult it must be to continually move, while working so hard.  There's a romantic view of being on the road exploring and visiting different parts of the country.  That is a reality I hope to make for myself one day, one that is a very different life compared to what The Grafs are doing.  They are a hardworking family, doing something they love, but are on a tight schedule and have specific places to be all year long.  I honestly don’t know how they do it, but they do. What really is impressive, is they never complained, appeared so calm about getting packed up to move on and I love that their family is tight. It's an interesting lifestyle especially with a teenage daughter. I imagination they'll have the most incredible memories to look back on, having meet people all over the country.  It’ll be interesting to learn what’s changed for them in the year until we see them again.

Look for their truck, next Oktoberfest or Festival you attend
http://www.schnitzelsngiggles.com/

James drew special pictures today with Daphne.  He woke up this morning, while I was in the shower and the first thing he thought to do was visit The Grafs. He came home with a bunch of art work.  He really enjoyed spending time with them.  James is learning so much about living here.  I’m not sure he understands all the dynamics of people coming and going, but as time continues he will learn it is part of this new experience we call life.

James enjoyed his time with Daphne

We went to T-ball and dinner tonight with all our kids and our friends, Greg and Chelley. Happily, I know they won’t be moving on, we get to keep them close. We had a fabulous time chatting and enjoying one another’s company. We are also like family and it is easy spending time with them.  There are no judgments and I know they care for our kids the way we care for theirs. "It Takes a Village” is exactly how I feel when I’m with them. We look out for one another’s kids and it feels natural. Greg and Chelley always ask about our older kids when they are not with us and our younger kids all get along like brothers.  I love them to pieces. I’m not sure how we got so lucky to have them in our lives, but I tend to think there was a little divine intervention in our life paths.  I will save that thought for another blog entry.

To good friends, new and old, close and far, it’s always a beautiful day when we can share it with the ones we love.

My daughter Haley and her boyfriend, Ross, at dinner tonight

Tuesday - Day 51 - In Area 51

It’s Day 51 in Area 51. I love the sound of that.

Today is an important day for me. I told my cousin, who I am very close to, that we are are not buying a house and we are living in our RV indefinitely.  He is the first family member, from New York, who has not been following my blog, that I felt I needed to do a little explaining to regarding how our lives have evolved. He understood, but I’m sure it seems foreign to him, having just bought a house for his family.  He expressed, as long as you are happy that’s all that matters.  That was his way of giving me his seal of approval, which means a lot to me and I knew he meant it.  I managed to blurt out, I am not a conventional person and I think that helped explain it all away.  I like to do things that are different, because I can and no one is stopping me. I know my cousin won't judge me because I am honest, and you can’t judge a person for sharing their true feelings now can you?

I am happy.  Maybe my idea of happiness is hard for others to comprehend, but it’s one of those things that until you have experienced this lifestyle, there’s no way to one hundred percent understand how it feels, but I know people who care about me will try to understand.  My cousin has grown up like a brother to me and I can sense he respects my life choices whole heartily.  Maybe after I send him this blog entry, he will start reading about my journey and he will have the answers to his questions without needing to ask.

The ultimate unconventional lifestyle!

A few other things happen today, let me start with the garbage I was picking up at 8am   I am 95% sure a raccoon got into.  My garbage sprinkled on my faux lawn was an unexpected vision this morning.  I knew I should have taken the garage out to the trash last night, but I forgot.  It was not a big deal. I picked up all the gnarly remains and was not even upset.  In fact, I felt I gave the raccoon or whatever rummaged through
our remains something to enjoy.  What was even more eye opening were the ants that had gathered.  As soon as I took what was left of their feast, they all marched away, one by one.  I found it interesting
how quickly they left in a perfectly straight line.  Fascinating.

"The  Ants were marching one by one.
hooray, hooray."

We bought Elmo a leash with a personalize tag yesterday.  Now we won't worry about someone stealing him.  He will be safe and sound, even if he’s romping around in the rain, someone will know he has owners who love him.  We love the cat and now the world will know Elmo, the cat, is loved too.  His tag is a big heart, compliments of James.  The local pet store has become quite the exciting hang out.  I used it to chat with my cousin today while James checked out the little rodent animals.

Elmo's new tag.

My dog is a character.  He didn't run away today because my husband bought him a choker collar last week.  He did run away yesterday, but I out smarted him and called “CAR!!!!” Rabbit made a 180 and ran back thinking he was going for a ride in the 'Big Orange Jeep'.  I caught him just in time. The jeep is immaculate thanks to John, and there was no way that hairy creature was going to find his way into my car.  He is a mess, that dog, but to my surprise today, he apparently decided lying on the picnic table is more comfortable than lying under it. Does anyone remember the show “Mad About You!” and their dog that stood on the dining room table in the opening credits?  I always got a huge kick out of that dog.

Our very own "Mad About You" dog

My day hadn't peaked until I received my personalized weighted Hula Hoop, from Daphne. She did a fabulous job creating my a Hula Hoop just for me. I picked out a few colors, but she picked out the rest and I love this thing already.

It's my perfect hoop.

Look at me go! Breaking in my hoop.

Having this Hula Hoop is my connection to Daphne and her parents. They have made an impression on me.  I was invited to have dinner with them tonight.  Which by the way was exceptional.  It is difficult to put into words what I feel, but this family is the real deal.  They are warm, giving, caring and loving. What you see is what you get.  Alex, Bob and Daphne have become an extension of me and my family.  The connection was effortless and sincere. I truly do not know how they do it, but they open themselves up and allow others to make themselves at home.  It’s a beautiful thing. I wrote about them in detail on my “All The Good People" blog, but now I can write about them on a personal level.  I will be saying 'Good Bye' to them tomorrow morning.  I will not see them again until they find their way back to New Smyrna Beach next year.  I will pick up on my experience with The Graf family in tomorrow’s blog, because tonight I am not ready to say, “Good Bye.”  I may have just met them, but I know I will miss them the most.

I continue to be reminded every day, I am in the right place, doing the right thing.

Monday - Day 50 - "Alternative Lifestyle"

I don't often volunteer to people I meet that I live in an RV at the local campground.  I hear myself saying “we live close by” or "we live in the area".  It's just easier.  I do, however, like the thought of being a nomad, it’s unconventional.  My husband likes the phrase "alternative lifestyle." Maybe we are in phase one.  I'm sure we'll come up with all sorts of ways to live as our lives continue, because the truth is, once you've crossed over; it's hard to cross back.  Getting a taste of something different builds confidence to try new things.

My husband recently shared an article with me, I was fascinated with it.  A Duke University Graduate student, Ken Ilgunas, lived in his van while attending school to avoid going into debt.  He lived in his 1994 Ford, Econoline, he called it his "Van Dwelling" and described the experience as a "financial awakening.”

Ken Ilgunas' 1994 Ford, Econoline

I realize this sounds extreme, yet I get it.  I can absolutely relate.  Ken goes on to discuss the details of his day to day life.  He learned to adapt with less and the one thing he discovered he needed most was not material things, but “a meaningful role to play in society.” His memoir, “Walden on Wheels: One the Open Road From Dept to Freedom,” will be published on May 14, and an adaptation of this book was printed in the New York Times on April 14th.

It's really not that crazy.  In hard economic times, people find creative ways to live with what little they have.  Less truly is more.  My less is significantly more compared to Ken Ilgunas the graduate student.  I'm living the life of luxury in my roomy RV; I have heat, electricity, running water, multiple beds, the internet and a bathroom that flushes.  I almost feel bad for living with so many modern luxuries.

Inside Ken's Van

It is all about perspective now isn't it?  As Americans we forget how ‘rich’ our lifestyles are, we forget that the rest of the world lives with much less than we do.  We  appear to be excessive and even extravagant. Are we lucky for our birth given rights, or oblivious to our fortune?  Are we similar to the children born into mega wealth, having no knowledge anything different, with no conception of life on the other side of the wealth?

At the end of it all, life is truly only about happiness.  Are we happy? Satisfied? Fulfilled?  No amount of money can buy any of those things; everything else is simply pie.

I tend to wonder if the United States is targeted for attacks, like the one today, because we are a privilege nation; not only in material things, but in our apparent freedoms.

In retrospect, I started this blog entry admitting I have not shared my “alternative living choice” with people freely.  I’m ending it with a new awareness, as it is my duty to share with whoever will listen.  Especially, considering I’m not living this lifestyle due to hardship, but as a choice.  We all have choices in life and I’m learning to make the hard ones every day, yet it feels easy.  I’m choosing freedom over and over again.

Hats off to Ken Ilgunas

 Our life is our own, make it a good one.

It's Day 50, a milestone.  

Please share this blog entry with someone whose life or lifestyle you admire and are inspired by.