TOUR AMERICA 2019: DEMING, NEW MEXICO – LAND OF ENCHANTMENT

Places We Have Called Home In 2019

Home Is Where We Park It:   Dream Catcher RV Park, Deming, New Mexico

September 30, 2019

Temperature 86

Observations About Life On The Road

Ah, what another beautiful morning.  I awoke without a care in the world and a sense of all is right with the world.  Amazing what a great night’s sleep can do for you.

We sure do need to update our business card.  It’s just the two of us now so we need to change that line.  Perhaps we should also include our personal email addresses.  We’re going to be working on over the next couple of days or so.

I sat myself down today and I said self: What have you learned so far about the full time RV life?

I’ve put together a list of sorts, sorry if you don’t like reading and just like pictures, all I have to offer today is a list.  My thoughts, not in any order, but my own humble observations after almost two years of living on the road.

• I’ve learned from a noted editor of an online RV newsletter that we don’t live in an RV, we live in an LV.  Difference?  A RV is a recreational vehiclet hat most people use to go on vacation, they use it for a short period of time and then return home.  An LV or living vehicle is what we full timer’s call home and live in 365 days a year.  Now how about that!
• that it is possible for two people to make any size and type of house – including an LV – a home, all it takes is a good deal of love, patience, cooperation, and especially the willingness to forgive and forget as often as necessary.
• that what makes this so much fun is being together, together going places we’ve never been before, and together seeing things that we may never see again
• that this lifestyle is as much about the journey as it is the destination
• that there is no one right rig, remember the old saying, different strokes for different folks. We’ve met couples living full time in sixteen foot travel trailers, another couple living in a twenty nine foot class C, others in all sizes of class A rigs, others will have nothing less than a forty five foot diesel pusher.  The important thing is, they’re all out there living their dream
• that you have to decide for yourself what you’re comfortable with in terms of where you call home. Some will never stay anywhere other than a private resort with full hookups and all the amenities.  Others like living off the grid.  Some prefer state parks.  Others National Parks.  Some prefer a mixture of all of the above.  Find what is right for you and don’t worry about what others are doing.
• that doing with less is not an issue, but actually gives one a sense of freedom. It’s amazing what you can do without, those things in the past that you had to have to make your life complete gradually fade and are no longer important nor necessary
• that regular monthly maintenance of your rig is a must.  You have to keep after everything from front to back, from top to bottom.  You can’t wait to go home to fix it, you are home wherever you are parked so do it now
• that even with monthly maintenance things are going to bust, break, go hay wire and just down right fail at the wrong time.  You’re also from time to time going to find funny pieces of plastic and what not on the floor and wonder, What is this?  Trust me in time you will discover what broke and left behind that little piece of plastic!
• that you have to take the good with the bad, you have to roll with the punches, take it as it comes, don’t live in fear of what if rather when things go south just take a deep breath, relax, and either noodle it through or find someone who can help you fix it
• that you can’t control the weather nor can anyone else for that matter.  But you do have a choice, too cold, then either bring out some extra blankets or turn around and go south again. Too hot, either turn on the AC or go north or maybe find a place at a higher elevation where it is cooler.  You get the idea
• that you get what you give. Treat people as you want to be treated.  Approach even a stranger with a smile and almost always you will get a smile back
• that buying and wearing t-shirts from places you’ve been is a great way to start a conversation
• that people are fun to talk to, so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with someone you never met. You’d be amazed at what you’ll learn
• that as someone once said, there are no strangers in this world, only friends waiting to be discovered
• that there’s nothing wrong with just sitting still from time to time. As we’re coning to learn, one doesn’t always need to be on the go.  Sometimes it’s worth it to just plan some down time
• that the USA is an absolutely amazing and beautiful land. From sea to shining sea it is full of fascinating and wonderful places and people.  Around every corner is something or someone new just waiting to be discovered.  There is no better way to find this out than being on the road
• that no matter what is in front of you, you need not fear for always waiting for you around the next corner is the God of our faith.  He doesn’t necessarily make life easier for us, but He does make it possible to get through no matter what comes our way if we only trust and obey

There you have it.  I’m sure I’m missing a few observations but the above I consider to be the most important.  So what do you think?  Want to try it?  It’s not for everyone but for those of us who are doing it, there’s no better way to live each day to the fullest.

Thanks for joining us today on The Road of Retirement.  We always enjoy having you with us and reading your comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road!