Oh my!  Where has time gone?  I have been neglectful in keeping up the blog on a regular basis.  This was not my intention when I started it.  The original purpose for creating it was to document travel to Ecuador.  In a broader sense, I wanted a medium from which I could continue journaling my “trippin’ on experiencing life” beyond this one particular trip.

One thing is for sure.   Life has not been dull or sedentary!

For now, I’ll provide a quick update.  The month-long trip to Ecuador was an awesome and life changing experience.  It is a country worth adding to your international travel “bucket list”.  You won’t regret it!

Within a few days of arriving in Cuenca, Ecuador I found myself filled with unexpected emotions and contemplating the future in a way I had not anticipated. A deeper, different sense of self emerged.  I embraced every opportunity to experience Ecuador with wonderment while I was there, but realized that the timing was off for me to embark upon a relocation there.  All of a sudden there was a desire emerging to hit life’s “reset” button in a different way.  It seemed time to shake things up in a way that would allow me to be adventurous yet reconsider how day-to-day life plays itself out.

With no job, no commitments and no family to return to in the Atlanta area, I was free to consider any and all options for the “what’s next”.  Atlanta had always been viewed as a stepping stone to somewhere else and something else but my time there was briefer than anticipated.  I transitioned quickly to setting my sights on visiting family and friends while experiencing and exploring more of the US.   Actively seeking a new home base or employment would be put on the back burner for three to six months.  For the time being, I wanted to return a retirement and a full-time travel status.

No grass was going to be allowed to grow under my feet upon returning to Atlanta.   I was ready to determine and embrace what might lay ahead.   My first priority was visiting my son, Toby, and his family in Texas.  Next was setting the wheels in motion to become a full-time RVer.

I was anxious to spend time with Toby.  We were due a visit but as a Mother, I, also, needed to see firsthand how he was doing dealing with the death of his best friend, Rusty.   Like so many, it was hard not to question why God chose to take Rusty home (as he was in his early 50’s).   He died in the tornado that ripped through Canton, Texas several months ago.  Recognizing a little girl was at risk of being struck by debris, he darted to protect her.   The little girl walked away without a scratch but Rusty’s fate was not the same.

It was heart breaking to have my son share of his grief and talk about how much he misses his friend when we visited.  I found myself struggling to find words to comfort.  I did remind Toby that while it might not be consoling, Rusty died a hero.  He had a gift for saving lives.  Not only was he instrumental in saving the little girl; he had a big hand in him (my son) still being alive.

Spending uninterrupted, one-on-one time with Toby over a three-day period was special!  I count my blessing and am grateful for my son’s life! At the same time, a Mama’s heart hurts when her son is grieving.

Returning to Atlanta from Texas marked the beginning of a major life change.  The month of July passed quickly as I busied myself preparing for a nomadic life as a full-time RVer.  It was fun to explore RV options.   A major factor in the selection process was determined by wanting to able to pull one with my existing vehicle.  With weight limitations in mind, I purchased a 17 ft r-Pod.  It’s a cute, teardrop shaped travel trailer.

Next item of business… establishing my residency in South Dakota.  South Dakota is one of the few states that doesn’t impose a state income tax.  To generate extra revenue for the state, full-time RVers can establish residency in the state with relative ease.

I traveled to Rapid City, South Dakota on July 4th to take the necessary steps to establish my residency and register my vehicle and RV.  The South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles location I visited had their process down to a science.  I was in and out in less than 20 minutes.

Over the next several days I enjoyed exploring the Rapid City area and taking a drive through the Badlands.  I met Canadian RVers, Gordon and Karen, while staying at Americas Mailbox Lodge and RV Park.  We went to dinner together one evening, ran into each other at a pullout near Mount Rushmore National Memorial one morning and went to the local Flying J for karaoke one night.  Gordon is a huge karaoke enthusiast; his karaoke equipment traveling along wherever he and Karen go.  It’s been fun to stay in touch and keep up with their whereabouts.

Back home in Atlanta the process of locating a storage unit, purging material possessions in a major way, and moving the remainder of my household belongings to storage began.  In the end, I eliminated over half of what I owned.  I primarily stored enough furniture to furnish a one bedroom apartment, winter clothes, kitchen items, memorabilia and photos.

As much as I love nesting in a home and possess sentimental attachments to its furnishing, I didn’t know how I would deal with the process.  In the end, surprisingly, it was not that difficult or emotional.  The things I parted with found new appreciative, needy homes.

During the official storage move, a tiger oak piece with curved glass arrived at the storage unit with the glass broken out.  The movers were distraught but I managed to remain calm!

What a relief it was to get to this point in the process.  Taking to the road with the r-Pod was only a few days away!!!  All that remained on the “to do” list was cleaning up the apartment and packing down my vehicle and the RV.  The RV was momentarily stored at the RV dealership where I purchased it (2 miles from where I lived).  Exhausted, I retrieved it and pulled it to the apartment community the night before departure.  On the morning of July 30th, I turned in the keys to the apt and Buddy, my cat,, and I took to the road.

I worried about Buddy because there had not been opportunity to acclimate him to our new home.  He had always traveled well and adapted quickly with each move.  But would he this time?  He and I were, also, embarking on this new journey without going on a trial run with the RV.  Talk about faith.  I was putting it to the test!

Over the course of the next two months Buddy and I traveled over 5,000 miles and visited 15 states.  I think Iowa and Michigan were the only two states I hadn’t traveled to previously.  I am happy to report Buddy adapted well and quickly found ease with our new lifestyle.  He takes up about sixty percent of the real estate in the travel trailer.  In a 8 x 17 foot space that doesn’t leave much room for me and my belongings. LOL!!!

Initially, I traveled straightway to Alabama upon leaving Atlanta to pick up my daughter, Betsy.  How could I not include her on the first leg of this new trippin’ life experience.  We traveled to Pensacola, Florida for a few days.  She was a natural at assisting when it came to setting up at the RV park.  To be honest, she could handle it all on her own.

Fast forward…life can turn on a dime.  Plans to spend the winter in the Snowbird destination of Arizona was to become an unfulfilled dream (or so I thought) for the 2017/2018 winter season. This came about as a result of my youngest brother, Tracy, asking me to work with he and my sister-in law, Georgia.  They started a home insulation business serving the Couer d’Alene, Idaho and Spokane, Washington areas a year ago.

Buddy and I spent the fall season settling in here in the Inland Northwest area. With the r-Pod not being appropriate winter accommodations in this part of the country, Tracy graciously set up his 4 Seasons fifth wheel for us.   Being in the fifth wheel is like moving from a micro-tiny house to a mini-mansion!  Don’t know what to do with all the space.   For now, Buddy and I anticipate being in the Idaho/Washington area until spring (or who knows when)!

I will always treasure time spent with family and friends over the course of the summer months.  Especially having an opportunity to be Aunt FerFer to my dear, two-year old great-niece, Kailee.  Another special visit was with, Anne, one of my best friends from previous years living in Portland.  She now lives in Columbus, Ohio.  I really miss her and our photography outings!

Seeing new sights and visiting new cities served to increase my appetite for more exploration rather than curtailing it.  I now realize how much more of the US there is yet to explore.

There were new friends made along the way as well.  What immense freedom, pleasure, richness and value envelopes life!

Until next time, I’ll be trippin’ on new life experiences here in the Inland Northwest and around the country!