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.

Sunday - Day 35 - Getting Hitched

Driving back to Florida from Georgia with our new home in tow was a bit more challenging then anticipated.

We planned to pick up the camper at Camping World's parking lot even though they were closed for Easter Sunday. John was adequately schooled by Al the RV technician at Camping World the day before. Confident, John had no reservations about hitching the camper to the Suburban. We however, do not live in a perfect world, and sometimes things just do not go as planned.

We left the house at 8:20 in the morning, and arrived to get the camper about an hour later. We could have arrived sooner if the cat hadn't decided to pee by my feet unexpectedly forcing us to make an unplanned stop. That was a tell tale sign something was going to go awry.

John and I worked to get the car lined up with the hitch. He hooked everything up, but had problems with one of the sway bars. It kept popping off, viscously snapping forward both before and after we started moving. It appeared to John there was a defect with the length of the bracket holding the sway bar in place. A millimeter longer and we would have been off on our way.

I called the 24/7 roadside assistance that came with our purchase. After I spoke with two women in customer relations, a gentleman from a local service company called us from his Church service. John ultimately spoke with him twice and he was apologetic for the delay, but he let us know his employee, Ben, would be arriving to assist us shortly. John assured him we were appreciative and empathetic considering it was Easter Sunday.

While waiting for Ben to rescue us, we ate lunch in our new home. Both slides were pulled out and we made ourselves at home munching on egg salad sandwiches, made from James' colored Easter eggs, along with turkey and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In the middle of a deserted parking lot, we were home.

Ben, our RV tech, eventually pulled up in his white stenciled service truck. He worked out a fix with John, but didn't have a suitable part in his truck. He decided to head back to the shop with our bracket and weld on a fix. He was young, but smart and we entrusted him to get us back to Florida safely.

Meanwhile, the kids lounged in the camper, listened to music, napped, read, and engaged in social media, on their phones. The boys laid on their bunk beds. James put on his pajama pants, made up his bed and ate Easter candy.

John and I unpacked clothes that were in the Suburban. We also settled in an patiently waited wondering how late we would finally get back to Florida. We made the best of our idile time. It soon started to rain. We closed both doors. It truly felt homey and safe. The best part, we all agreed, there were no leaks in the new RV.

When Ben arrived back, he had the bracket fixed perfectly. He and John were able to hook everything up 'without a hitch' (not literally). We finally made it on the road at 2:30pm, a mere five hour delay.

It was not the easiest start to our day, but leaving without the camper attached would have been far worse. Instead, we spent our day appreciative of the help we received on Easter Sunday and enjoyed a little family time while we waited on a fix. Deep down we all knew we would reflect on this day well, the day we ate Easter dinner in the parking lot of Camping World.

Even when things don't go as planned, patience and staying calm is all we can manage over the things out of our control.

Saturday - Day 34 - It's simply a Camping World

We finalized all our paperwork today at Camping World in Oakwood, GA. We sincerely had the easiest transition acquiring our new home.

I am sincerely grateful for the incredible staff who were so easy to work with and made our entire experience from start to finish a positive one.

Mark is one of the most sincere salesmen I have ever met, no pressure and very knowledgable. Meeting him first in December and then again yesterday was like seeing an old friend. Jason had us laughing, while we crossed t's and dotted I's in financing, again no pressure, and he simply got the job done. Al was our RV technician, not only is he such a nice guy, but he is also a Florida Gator fan. He and John hit it off instantly. They all took incredibly good care of us and the day just flew by, solidifying that we were in exactly the right place doing what was meant to be.

My favorite part of the day was being introduced to a fantastic couple, with two boys, who are considering being full time RVers like us. We shared our experiences with them. She is already home schooling her boys, which makes their family perfect candidates to be full time traveling RVers.

John and I were enthusiastic to show them our new camper we had just purchased. We shared with them all our favorite features, including ample storage, the laundry chute and the advantages to the unique layout. I look forward to staying in touch with them as they continue on their journey.

Meeting this couple helped reinforce some of the reasons I began this blog. Living full time is still unique to our demographic and sharing all the benefits to those who are interested, is something I am passionate about.

I found one thing really Interesting. John and I compared notes on what we shared with the couple, we each professed there was not one downside we could think of living full time. There are so many unknowns before you make the move. It is hard to articulate the emotions you experience once you cross over, but answering their questions felt very easy and natural.

My best advice to anyone, even considering living full time, is try it out for 30 days. It will change your life.

Friday - Day 33 - Journey To our Home

We left at noon today and spent the entire day looking at travel trailers. Based on what John found on line last night, The Radiance by Cruiser was sure to be the one to best suit our needs.

On the way to the dealer, before we even pulled onto the main road, John gets an email from the Class A, Motor coach broker. He recalculated the deal for us significantly, and was working hard to make the deal come together.
Ultimately our principal would come down and payments were more reasonable. He was also willing to take our current Class C for a substantial trade in value.

It threw a wrench in our new plan, and it laid heavy on our minds as we continued on our journey to discover what else may be out there. "What if we could purchase the dream 'Land Yacht'?" The deal was enticing. I knew it was going to be an interesting day.

We went into the first dealer and looked at half a dozen bunk house campers. We were still uncertain. Back and forth we looked and compared and narrowed our choices down to two. I was concerned about storage, John had his own reservations. Not one camper had everything we were looking for.

Right before leaving John peeked in one more, 'The Kodiak'. It was even nicer than the others, brighter and roomier. It was so close, but a few things stood out for me. Instead of a bunk house, it only had twin bunks without a separate room. My biggest concern was storage for the kids clothes, otherwise it was an excellent fit.

We left even more perplexed, not feeling confident about any one option. John and I were still considering the motor coach bus. We knew it had the most storage, was a much better value, but the lack of sleeping areas and no dinette were still obstacles.

While we took the kids to dinner, I checked out the brochure for The Kodiak. I discovered it had a bunkhouse floor plan. I was sure it would be better suited for us. John was determined to make sure we didn't miss a thing and we reluctantly decided to drag the kids to one more dealer on the way home, Camping World of Oakwood, GA.

We almost didn't stop, but two of the kids had to use the restroom. I told John, "Maybe there's just one more camper we haven't seen and it'll be the perfect fit." He smiled knowingly. We both truly felt as if we'd seen it all. Nothing was going to compare to the Airstream Bus.

I looked at brochures while John talked to Mark, an incredible salesman we had met on an earlier visit one cold and rainy December day. He remembered us fondly, especially Ty. As we walked down the line of campers, I showed Mark the only brochure I grabbed for a 'light weight' camper model. He smiled. He was trying to determine which one to show us first, and that would be the one. He shared with us that the floor plan would be totally different then the ones we had already seen. Most of the bunk houses have all the same layout, however 'The Keystone Premier Bullet' was going to open up our minds to something totally different.

(Keep in mind, we walked into the dealer fifteen minutes before they closed. We really didn't think we'd find anything different.)

The floor plan was refreshingly new. It had a large dinette and comfortable couch, both convertible beds, two arm chairs, a twin over full, slide out, bunk area, a rear master bedroom with a door, tons of storage and a pantry. My favorite feature was the laundry chute. We each knew, including the kids, the minute we walked inside, it was exactly what we needed and what we wanted. The price and weight were consistent with expectations. And the kids were ready to invite their friends over.

We left, satisfied we had made an exceptional deal which included three mounted flat screen televisions. It was ninety minutes after closing and we were all ready to go home.

John and I plan to go back tomorrow to finalize paperwork. By Monday morning I'll have a new camp site and a new camper, all moved in and ready to go. Our journey is only beginning.

When you least expect it, life gives you exactly what you need.

Thursday - Day 32 - happy new home

In the last two day John and I have learned a lot looking at campers on-line. Finding a bunkhouse camper has come down to three key things.

Is there a wraparound dinette?
Does the bunkhouse have a slide?
Is there an outdoor kitchen?

Then the secondary questions are always:

Is the fabric tacky?
Can we pull it with the Surburbn, (is it under 8000 pounds)
Are there doors, not curtains dividing the bedrooms.
Are the counter tops made of corian?
Does the kitchen table have sturdy legs?
What's the layout of the bunkhouse? What size are the beds, twin, full or futons? How much storage is in the bunk house?

We have come to terms with living in a bunkhouse camper and although it's not nearly as sexy as the Airstream Class A that we originally picked out, there are a number of perks I am looking forward to.

• I am happy James will have his own space in the bunkhouse and hopefully his own TV and play area.

• The layout will be different and more consistent to our life both with and without all our kids.

•The master bedroom can be accessed from both sides of the bed.

•We will hopefully have an outdoor kitchen which includes a mini fridge, a grill and a sink.

•The campers with the outdoor kitchens provide additional storage in the bunkhouse instead of an additional bed.

•I'm enthusiastic about moving into a newer camper with nothing breaking down, leaking or malfunctioning.

•Having a larger space and kitchen area to work in will be ideal.

Overall, it will be a step up from what we are currently living in.

I am truly enjoying the lifestyle. I have to admit, while being in our cabin his week I found myself using the bulk of my time cleaning. I've done at least six loads of laundry, washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, cooked, vacuumed and picked up behind the kids, mainly James. It's a never ending cycle. I am looking forward to my small compact space in the gorgeous campground we call home.

What I clearly have learned overtime is anywhere I am with my family is home. Whether it's in our camper in Florida, a cabin in Georgia, an apartment in Texas or even visiting my mom in NY. The bricks and mortar are irrelevant, home is where we make our happy memories with those we love.


Photos below are new and old memories from all of our homes.

Wednesday - Day 31 - Wants & Needs

Often life sends us signs we deliberately ignore. It is often difficult to distinguish between what we think we want and what we actually need in our life at any given moment in time.

A perfect example is how we ultimately purchased our home in Cleveland, GA. While on vacation in Helen, GA, almost six years ago, John and I took the kids to look at a few homes in the area. We fell in love with a gorgeous little home on top of Pink Mountain with a spectacular view. It was exactly what we wanted. On the way down the mountain we passed a home with a "For Sale By Owner" sign. We took the phone number to call, but never did. We assumed it would be out of our price range.

We made an offer on our perfect little vacation home, with its quaint rustic decor, and learned it was taken off the market, the owners were not ready to part with it yet. We went back to our home in Florida discouraged, but continued to check listings to satisfy our wants.

Two months later, John found our current home on Craigslist, it was all wood inside just like we wanted, it was significantly cheaper then the first home with more square feet. When we went to see it, we realized it was the "For sale by owner" home we had passed while looking at the other home on Pink Mountain. Our home was waiting for us the entire time, the uncalled phone number still sat in our car.

Inspired by the first home, we decorated our new home in the same rustic charm, with log beds, a bear table and hand made rustic patterned curtains. We made it our own and it was exactly what we wanted.

The ironic piece is at the time we purchased this home we had not anticipated living in it full time, however, life circumstances took us to Georgia for three years. This home was exactly what we needed for full time living. We have almost two acres, two drive ways, and a garage. The house we originally wanted was high on the mountain, had a narrow sloped driveway and a dangerous drop down. James was a toddler when we moved in 2009, life on a daily basis would have been difficult on that steep driveway. Our home was not huge, but the other one was smaller with only a loft upstairs for all the kids. The living and kitchen areas were also smaller, and there was not enough room for a dinning table to seat all of us comfortably.

Thinking back, I reflect on how life gave me exactly what I needed, which ultimately became exactly what I wanted. That other house was not what we needed as much as what we thought we wanted. I see that now in hindsight and it gives me faith regarding other life events.

I share all this with purpose. John and I had to reevaluate our dream of owning a 'Land Yacht'. We fell in love with our dream after seeing and feeling the possibilities of what could be; beautiful modern decor, soft leather interior, quality of the design and make of the vehicle and most importantly, the most value for our dollar.

Life threw us a road block, the financing piece came back twice the anticipated interest rate, payments significantly higher. We discussed and weighted all our options. We choose to let this dream linger in the background for a few more years when it would be better suited for all our needs, not only our wants.

We knew going in we were sacrificing sleeping arrangements for all the kids in order to gain living space. For me, my first glimmer of doubt was seeing my 12 year old's face drop when he found this out. It was then I began wondering if this wasn't the best solution for our entire family. I find it funny how life changes things just in time to satisfy all our needs.

Without a motor coach on our horizon, we are still in need of a newer camper. We have restarted the search, revisiting bunk house campers with plenty of sleeping for all five of our children. Even though the oldest will be off to college in a year, we still have plenty of traveling to do and much time together at the campground. Keeping all our children happy and satisfied is an important priority for both John and I. Spending less money will keep us fiscally secure and we will keep our goals in line with other future plans.

I enjoy having options for our future. Who knows if we'll ever decide to buy a house again...... maybe one day, in the meantime its reassuring to know we have the choice when those needs are ready to be fulfilled, but right now I'll manage one dream at a time.

Photos below are of our our cabin (dreams fulfilled) & of the Class A motor coach (dreams of our future)

(Cabin living Room)

(Cabin Kitchen)

(Motorhome Living area)

(Motorhome kitchen)