We’re nearly there…

We are within 11 days of our prospective leave date and the realization has come that we will not be leaving just yet. There are some loose ends that need to be tied up, and a lot of prep work we still need to handle. We can’t push our leave date back too far, but waiting a few extra weeks late and cutting a few corners as far as things to see and it will all work out.

The whole idea that this is actually happening is still pretty crazy to me. We are going to be living in a movable house, for at least 6 months, travelling the country. Who am I?? As outlandish as it is, I am so excited to get the prep phase over with so we can start moving in – organizing and decorating and making the RV our home. And then, of course, get on the road and see what we can see! I don’t think I’ll believe this is happening until it’s REALLY happening.

I do have some fears about this trip. First and foremost, the thought of returning home and not having a job waiting for me. This isn’t a fear that needs to be addressed immediately, but it is something that keeps coming back around. I’m trying to have faith that this trip is what my brain and body need to get it together and be able to live my future life to the fullest: with a desire, a motivation and a purpose for something bigger that I haven’t yet felt in my life. I foresee a lot of soul-searching going on over the next six-ish months. Most times when the no-job fear creeps up, I ruminate for a few days and then push it to the side. I know I will figure it all out.

The very outdoorsy lifestyle we’re about to embark on brings about some other fears: bears, wolves, snakes, spiders, scorpions – to name a few. This fear is a bit more under our control – in the sense that we can educate ourselves on the danger and take steps to avoid it or address it appropriately. This means we have a few things to buy for protection. These include, but are not limited to: Bear Spray, a blacklight to spot scorpions, an airhorn to ward off an angry bison, a snake bite kit & snake identification book, a spider identification book, and a diesel first aid kit (which we already have). That leaves us then with the task of researching how to deal with larger threats.

Another fear is the Stranger Danger. This includes the following practices: keeping blog posts fairly vague, just incase, being aware of our surroundings (thank you, Mom, for reminding me of this any and everywhere so it truly is second nature to me), and proceeding with caution when meeting others. Under this umbrella also lies game plans for emergencies and security issues.

When I took on the task of planning the trip, I definitely did not realize I’d need to plan more than sightseeing and the route we’ll take. It’s much more involved. However, the actual route planning is coming along nicely. I’m about halfway through. Because of our leave date being pushed back some, I feel that we will need to skip some sights. At this point, we will be a bit pressed for time and some locations are a bit out of the way. I am currently working on the route, so this may not be accurate!

As if all of that planning isn’t enough, I also have my own personal agenda here. Often I find myself daydreaming about  how I could improve/change my habits/life during this extended vacation. I think about having a very peaceful morning routine. In my mind, this includes (in order) a meditation, some writing, and a slow yoga practice – ideally outside in the sunshine. I’d like to back away from technology some and experience a different type of life. I want to take the time to get more in touch with myself (gut feelings, intuition, etc can all be clouded by the day-to-day grind), and really work on figuring out my life’s purpose. Giving myself this time and opportunity to find what I love to do is important. When we return I want to be able to pinpoint the type of work I could be happy doing and stay happy doing it in the long run.

I have more free time now and will be truly in the thick of RV planning and preparation. I will be updating more frequently – which is actually another goal I should have listed. So, stay tuned! The adventure is just beginning… 🙂