I use to believe (or perhaps hoped) there would come a day when I would know all there was to know about myself and with that full insight I’d have a clear path mapped out for the future. Now as I reach my mid-sixties I realize how wrong I was to believe that nonsense.
What I hope for now and what a great deal of this RV adventure is about, is discovering what and where makes me happy and brings me satisfaction. More then I care to admit, I use to believe “things” would make me happy and acquiring things would provide me a high level of satisfaction or happiness. Yet I quickly experienced what a huge relief it was getting rid of those things when we started this lifestyle.
I believe Bonnie and I travel light for full-time RV’ers. A number of our cabinets are almost empty and our “basement” storage isn’t nearly full. In part this might be because our first RV had less storage then our current one so we started with less. But moreover, we no longer find pleasure in acquiring things. It’s certainly a 180 from how we use to live. Interestingly there are lots of full-time RV’ers who seem to fill every spare inch of their storage and are in constant search for more space and more stuff. To each his own and I understand how easy it is to expand to fill your surroundings. But I/we don’t ever want to go back to acquiring things for the sake of acquisition. And I’d like to believe even if we returned to a stick-and-brick home we would not get caught up in the acquisition of goods.
As difficult as we imagined it would be to transition into a full-time RV lifestyle we believe it might be even more difficult for us to transition away from it. We’ve had lots of discussion about this over the last several months and we can’t seem to imagine what that process would look like. Maybe there’s a reason we can’t see it yet.
– Lawren Leo, Love’s Shadow: Nine Crooked Paths — Storm clouds over Carrabelle Beach, Carrabelle, Florida
As you can see these photos were all shot at a wide angle and I think that’s kinda where we are with our thinking — wide open to the possibilities of the future. We’re certainly not ready to quit RV’ing yet but we’re open to doing so if something more appealing comes along.
A wonderful series of images and a great post with some lovely insight. You are living a life style many would like to live. More importantly, you are enjoying it. This simplicity of life is something our culture could sure use more of. I place myself in that category, also. Loved this post! Thanks!
Thank you, Monte. For sure this period in our history will not be one noted for its simplicity but yes simplicity still does exist for those of us who search. However, I’m not certain we always recognize those simplicities of our own lives…kinda the grass is always greener type of thing. :-)
Well, being in my mid-50s and thinking about retirement, I often wonder what I’d do. I still have no clue about that, just yet, as I am still enjoying the job, my casita (little house), and my life, for sure. I’m not entirely sure that I’d be cool with the nomadic lifestyle, but who knows. I’ve never done it before. It’s great that you have a wonderful traveling companion to share those miles and experiences with you. Very cool.
Lovely shots of the beach and quite apropos considering your wide-open thinking about what you may want to do “when you grow up” :D
Paul, I might see how long I can milk this Peter Pan thing…and never grow up! We each dance our own dance so a nomadic lifestyle doesn’t suit everyone. Actually I don’t think there is a final destination we need to reach in life, just as long as we keep enjoying the journey. Thanks on the images! :-)