It’s the story

Since arriving at Carrabelle, Florida, we’ve been doing at least one long walk along the beach each day.  We tell ourselves it’s about Maggie getting exercise but in truth there’s more to it than that. As we run into others with dogs we’ve found most are like us–we all want our dogs to enjoy some off-leash play time on the beach.  So there’s an unspoken code amongst us like-minded animal lovers as we unleash our dogs to run and play on the beach. It also gives the pet-parents opportunity to talk and learn more about one another. Everyone we’ve encountered on this beach seems both happy and friendly.  Not a bad crowd to surround yourself with.

Recently we met a couple whose story was similar to our own — selling of home and possessions to travel and live in a Recreational Vehicle (RV) full time.  We shared how some of our family members struggle with understanding our choice and how many describe our lifestyle as gypsies. We laughed about needing to return once a year to the “old stomping grounds” so we could keep our doctor and dental appointments. And there’s always the agreement about how this lifestyle simplified lives and the shared acknowledgment of not realizing how much we were being “owned” by a house and processions.

Maybe it’s the area or maybe we’re getting to a point where we’re more open to listening or maybe the stories have a greater significance to us now. Regardless the reason, the people and their stories are fascinating.

We’ve met a woman with two rescue dogs who moved here permanently a few years ago after repeated visits to the area. “Life’s short,” she said, and she loved the area, the beach and the relaxed lifestyle, so why not. She had her own rules on when to leash her dogs, Shamus and Blondie–always around small “bite-size” dogs and if a someone was struggling with multiple dogs– a friendly free spirit and who liked her dogs to be free as well.

And then we met an “older” man who was sitting at the picnic tables with his loaded touring bicycle resting nearby against a restraining wall.  The conversation began with him asking if we knew of any good restaurants in the area and expanded to sharing our individual stories. He shared that when he retired from somewhere just outside of Washington, NC, he became a couch potato, became overweight and in questionable health simply watching life go by. He’d noticed all these active and slim bicycle riders on the road and thought maybe he’d try bike riding. His first year of riding he logged 6,000 miles and a lost of 100+ pounds. It was then he was ready for this year’s adventure. In March he set out from San Diego, California to ride solo across country to St. Augustine, Florida. He’d averaged 40-80 miles per day and was only five days from finishing. He stopped in Carrabelle to get something to eat and bed down for the night. His wife was at home eagerly awaiting his return.  He said he wished she was with him but absent of her, he preferred to travel alone. He talked about some of the people he’s met and assured us there were stories he could tell. We asked him what must have seemed like endless questions and he was clearly one of the most interesting people we’ve met yet.

Then there’s the friendly “older” man from Indiana who’s been spending winters in Carrabelle for more years than he can remember and was quick to tell us about restaurants and local sights.  He said the locals describe this area as “an old Florida drinking town with a fishing problem.”

And there’s Debi, the song writing, guitar playing musician and her rescue dog Mojo. Debi has lived in a 5th wheel for the last five years and jokes about playing and singing in local establishments to keep Mojo in dog biscuits. Another free spirit enjoying living her life and not being owned by it.

And the Jacksonville, Florida, couple visiting the Carrabelle area via boat, enjoying the small town feel and the ability to get away from the hustle and bustle of the beaches at home. They volunteered  they were working toward being be able to live permanently like this, too.

So, if I had to define one thing about this RV lifestyle odyssey I’d now say it’s about collecting stories.  Some are historical stories and facts, some are stories as evidenced by natural wonders and there are those personal stories found when you least expect them. And, of course, each of their stories adds words, sentences, paragraphs, pages and chapters to our own story.