Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Enough of this bug

We have spent the last 2 weeks with a bug.  It started with my 6 year old and worked its way up through the family.  I am just getting over it.  I can't wait to be on the road homeschooling and avoiding these nasty illness that are harbored in classrooms.

So proud of my hubby

I moved to DC in 1997 from New York.  The opportunity of owning my own business, a deli, was an opportunity that I just could not pass up.  So I packed up my stuff and left.  I also left behind Rob, boyfriend at the time unsure if he would decide that he should follow me.  Neither one of us had great a career, we had jobs.  Rob was working with an electrician hoping to get licensed.  I worked for a roofing company as a secretary, gagging.  Green grasses awaited.  The deli was owned by my cousin which allowed me to pay it off without giving a down payment.  The hours were long the work was hard, but in the end it was well worth it.  Rob finally decided to come down in 1998 with the intention of finding a job but I realized that I needed him in the store.  We worked our butts off and paid off my cousin in record time.  We married in 1999 and had our first in 2000.  Everything was moving very fast.  Through all of this Rob never had a chance to take any of his "stuff" out of the boxes he moved them down here in.  That is until today.  He has dwindled down his 6 boxes to 2 and has come across some very interesting memories.  He has parted with so much and it gives me a warm feeling all over.  For years I had been saying to go through your stuff and get rid of what you do want.  He would get so mad, it's my stuff and I'm not getting rid of it.  I love that he has embraced the idea of life on the road enough to get rid of his stuff.  I even hear things like, by Christmas we should have enough money.  Then I hear but what are we going to do to earn money, which worries me greatly.  I know it will all work out though.

Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel....

Sunday, March 4, 2012

RV's are cool

Well I tricked the kids into taking a ride with me today.  I must say they  were very good about being dragged to look at RV's.  We left just before lunch and I bribed them with food.  Once we ate the rest of the ride was a joy.  My younger two love getting in the RV's.  The big one (11) is always reluctant at first but then joins the fun.  I had called around before I left asking if they had bunkhouses with lofts.  The fella at the dealership assured me and then once I was there I learned it was not so.  Normally I would have been annoyed at having driven such a distance and the cost of gas but I decided I was going to pick his brain.  He was very nice and answered all my questions.  We saw some bunkhouses but without lofts.  Then we saw one without bunks but a loft and my children demanded that I buy it on the spot.  I am glad they are excited about our future.  I was also informed that there will be another RV show which will be family oriented.  I hope this means more than a few bunkhouses to look at.

Looking forward to the weekend....

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Researching Rigs

Yesterday we attended the Maryland RV show.  Our focus was 5th wheels and found that most of the models they were displaying were not geared toward families.  They were beautiful and we look forward to when the kids have flown the coop but for now it was frustrating.  We saw two that would be the best fit for us, Keystone 5th wheel toy haulers.  We have a long road ahead of us before we decide on a rig.  Now I will be focusing on RV dealers and finding out if they have rigs we are interested in on site to look at.  I definitely do not like this part of it.  I don't want to make a poor decision. 

In the meantime we are separating what we will be taking with us and getting rid of what we don't need.  I feel much more relaxed and at peace knowing that if not in 3 months then definitely within the year we will be on the road.  I sure hope someone out there is in the market for a deli in an upscale DC neighborhood. 

Looking forward to getting on the road....Brigid

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Huge Step Taken

Well I have taken a huge step.  I purchased "How to Hit the Road 2012" and I read over Fulltime Living RV Income Strategies and I can excitedly say that we are well on our way to living our dream.

 "How to Hit the Road 2012" was so informative and really put my mind at ease.  I will recommend this to anyone considering this lifestyle.  The tips on what we have to do from writing in our notebooks, to having a garage sale, to even the finders fee for selling our house are all strategies I will be using. 

Next week we will be attending the Maryland RV show and getting a better idea on the type of RV we will get, used of course.  I will be lurking on the forums about rv's to get a feel for what people like and dislike so I know what to look for at the show.

I still have many questions that I hope folks out there will help me out with.  I know there will be surprises and setbacks along the way but I would like to hear from anyone who has tips, hints and strategies to ease my stress.

My husbands biggest worry is making money on the road.  I am curious to know from those who make money on the road, do you save any of it?  We will be selling our house, but don't expect much of a profit.  At present we own a deli in Washington, DC.  We plan on selling and since we own it outright and owe no one money that will be our nest egg.  The sale of  the house I hope buys us the RV and a tow vehicle.  Reading Fulltime Living RV Income Strategies really inspired me.  I plan on doing this immediately so that when we hit the road money is coming in.  We will definitely do some workamping.  Blogging of course but I don't expect much from that.  I am creating a website that will cater to family travel on a budget but again don't expect much from that.  Any thoughts on what else we can do to make some money? 

I can't wait until all the pieces fall in place.  We look at pictures of where we want to go and read blogs about where families on the road have gone.  We hope to meet you all one day on the road but until then, safe travels to all.



Monday, February 6, 2012

Looking forward

While we are past the dreaming stage and well on our way to leaving stage, there is much we have to do.  I have downsized greatly, but it never seems to be enough.  I go through everything and think will I use this in the RV.  I know most things I won't because I won't be spending much time in the RV.  I plan on being on the outside as much as possible. 

I love cooking.  I am going through all of my kitchen tools and trying to figure out what I absolutely cannot live without.  The rest I will donate.

I plan on having each child have a set of towels and sheets that they will be responsible for.  Clothes won't be a problem.  Their toys will be.  I keep trying to explain but I don't seem to get through.  What do your kids have with them that can absolutely cannot live without?

A lot of our stuff will go into storage, and by that I mean hopefully a family members basement.  I am very excited about this phase of our lives. 

Hoping our dashes cross...Traveling Momma of 3

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Dashing through life

I have sat here long enough and it is time I start my blog.  I had an epiphany the other day.  I realized I am happiest when I am in my car driving.  It doesn't matter the destination, I love to drive.  This of course fuels my travel passion and if I could be on the road traveling with my family, well that would be Heaven. 

How can I achieve this life? is a question I ask myself every day.  I must ask it out load constantly because my kids are wondering the same thing.  This is a blessing because it wasn't that long ago that traveling was a four letter word to them.  Even my husband Rob is now saying this is where I want to go.  I would like to do this or that.  It is music to my ears and I am researching and planning like nobody's business.

I also realize that I am a gypsy.  I don't like the idea of being tied to a house or one place.  I have friends and no matter where I travel in this life they will always be my friends.  My husband says wherever his family is is where he wants to be.  My children are young, 11, 7, 5.  They have not formed lasting friendships yet and I do worry about that.  I do feel though that forming strong family bonds far outweighs childhood friendships and when all is said and done I know my children will have plenty of friends all over this country and hopefully the world.  I strongly feel that the education they will receive will enable them to achieve anything. 

So where am I going with this.  Like so many others who have chosen the nomadic life, so are we.  The economy has taken a toll on our business and thus our home life.  We are burned out and want to decompress and get back to what really matters, our family and enjoying life before it kills us.

I watch so many people work to live and I am not a fan.  I want to enjoy life.  We are conditioned to believe that in order to have a great life you have to get a college education and then immediately get a job that pays well to achieve the American dream, which we all know is dead.  I am not of the school that you must get a job that pays well.  You need to get a job that you love and want to do or it will never be satisfying and you will become another working to live person.  I do believe that you need a college education and you should never stop learning.  I want my children to experience all that life has to offer before they need to become a part of the working world.  They can then use all that they have learned and experienced in their years of traveling to choose their "field of dreams".

There is a poem I stumbled across on a full time RV families blog, Living their dash.  The poem is called "The Dash".  It is the dash between when you were born and when you died.  It represents your life.  It really makes you think.  What have you done?  Did you live your dash the way you wanted?

 Up to this point I have lived what was handed to me.  Now I am going to live what was meant for me.  I am going to make my dash something that I truly enjoy and I truly enjoy traveling.  Along the way I plan to make a difference in the lives of people who are living the cards they were dealt and show them that their is more to life than those cards.  You have to be willing to make your dash something worth living.  You don't need loads of money.  You need to really enjoy making that money.  You need to follow your passions and dreams and recreate your "American Dream".

May our dashes cross on this road of life....