I wrote this post over 2 1/2 years ago and I just came across it. It still rings true today and I wanted to share.
Also, I am bringing back Off Topic Friday…
Today I am going to start a new post called – Off Topic Friday. Why you ask? Well…sometimes I think I have some interesting stuff to talk about yet it doesn’t always pertain to adventures and/or tykes. So this will give me a time and place to ramble and since it will be every Friday you can choose to look and read or… not. Completely up to you. You can also tell me that I am crazy and the content stinks and get back to the adventures and outdoor topics instead.
So, here is my first Off Topic Friday post:
The other day I read a feature at everythingmom.com about families that have sold all their belongings and have hit the road to travel across the country in either a travel trailer or motorhome. They have no agenda, no time commitments and no excess belongings. These are families with children, families whom have left six figure incomes and families whom have wanderlust. These families are blogging about their journeys and their adventures and I have to admit I am a bit jealous. We LOVE to travel and the thought of being on the road as “full timers” has always appealed to us. Yet, we like the stability, friendships and experiences we get from being planted in one place.
In 2005 hubby and I took a 4 month road trip across the west. We made a home in a small T@b trailer (Harvey as we called him) pulled behind my hubby’s first love, his Toyota Tacoma. We had our mountain bikes mounted to the roof of the truck along with a rocket box to store gear and toted our young pug – Bierstadt, along.
What an amazing trip it was. We saw fascinating small towns, met and still keep in touch with wonderful people, experienced some incredible scenery and ate some delicious and unique food. We were very fortunate to be able to have the time and the means to take such a trip.
To do it now, with a child, 2 dogs, sell all of our unimportant belongings and house and just cruise the highway is appealing and yet scary. The scary part for me is how it would affect our son.
How would it affect him socially?
What about stability?
Would he get the education he needs and deserves?
What if we get tired of traveling and have to start over?
What about him bonding with other children and creating long lasting friendships?
So many questions and yet how do you really answer them? How do you decide what lifestyle is best for you and your family when both feed different sides of you.
I think we will always have the desire to be “full timers” but the reality is we will stay planted until our son has left the nest. We will live vicariously through the journeys of these other families and one day, yes, one day when we retire we will be called “full timers”, too.
Have you ever gotten wanderlust? Thought about selling everything and hitting the road? Are you a ‘full timer’ already?
I’m jealous! awesome pics Melissa! My son is 14 and girlfriends son is 8. We have talked about being “full timers” on the river once the kids are grown.
Thanks! We have so many pictures from that adventure it was hard to pick them.
Full time river rats would be awesome! Thanks for sharing!
We talk about it all the time. I like to think that I’m chiseling away at any doubt. Could be procrastination too I suppose.
We even looked at tear drop trailers this weekend! We work on our plan every day it seems and I know that at some point we will hit the road.
I doubt it’s procrastination. Definitely could be doubt and fear. It’s kinda scary to uproot and get rid of everything. At least I think it is. One reason we haven’t done it. I’m a scaredy cat.
Thanks for sharing!
Love your “off topic fridays” idea! I just publish off topic all the time! I know homeschooling isn’t for everyone. But one thing I love. I can be teaching on the road, on a beach or in our backyard. I can re-arrange our schedule. Plain and simply…it works for us and I love the flexibility
.
That is exactly why homeschooling is appealing to me. The flexibility is huged. I’m still thinking about doing it with J-Man but the gallery has put a kink in some plans right now. I have about a year to figure it out. Thanks!
I think about it often. VERY often. But with the kids, I just can’t imagine doing it, for the reasons you mentioned. We hit the road often enough now that it temporarily takes care of the wanderlust. But as soon as the kids are both off to college… Mom’s hitting the road, with no return plans set in stone, lol.
The little trips here and there sometimes temporarily relieve the wanderlust and other times it makes me wanted to do it even more. We will certainly be full timers when J is out of the house. But will we be while he is home?
That is the question. haha
Hahaa. I think about this all the time. Someday we’ll do it. My husbands job does not pay a whole lot, but at least he has summers off, at which time we are greatly looking forward to being homeless! Summer can’t come fast enough.
Jealous that you have the summers to take off. Gives you some practice for when the time truly comes.