When does a year ever go as planned!? 2024 certainly didn’t for us. We’re holding 2025 very lightly in light of how this year devolved. Other than to escape the winter weather in the Midwest, we have NO firm travel plans, all of the ones below are able to change as needed. And we feel it’s the right way to approach this life right now. Our daughter told some friends about us and they asked,
“Where do your parents go?”
Her reply has become our mantra,
“Wherever they’re needed.”
Challenges reside in any lifestyle, ours was not exempt. Here are a few of the highlights from the year…
Let’s start with finances…
We spent a good portion of this year waiting on payment for work on a contract. It gave us valuable insight about the world of contract work. Specifically, how to manage payment, find reliable work and decide whether or not it was actually a viable path of revenue. The learning curve was a bit steeper than we anticipated.
It set us back several months, kept us house bound a few times, and taught us about extreme frugality. Not all bad things. We are glad to say that all of our learning has stood us in good stead, and we are now on a path of reliable contract work with a ‘value for work’ pay scale. Bruce’s current contract is full time, easy for him, friendly, low stress and it pays well and on time.
And the commute is a dream!
Next, the truck/RV…
We knew, going into this adventure that repairs, hiccups, damage, and breakdowns would be part of the journey. Bruce has been diligent in maintaining the truck and keeping the RV in top shape, but stuff still happens. Spring plans had to be juggled on the fly when our dealership did planned repairs to the RV. And eviction from Extended stay was a big shock. Nimble was the word of the day! And we never want to wonder, how we would have made it happen without good friends.
Our fall travel plans had to be set aside to deal with our truck breakdown. Reservations to cancel, and a reunion missed. It took about 4 weeks to get a proper diagnosis for the truck, but it is repaired and running well. Friends of friends loaned us a car when needed. And eventually we not only decided to stay here for September, but through the holidays.
Because of the plan change, we’ve been able to serve some local people, be available to our youngest daughter, and visit with a cousin of mine who lives an hour away. And we also spent time exploring the area. Covered Bridges, waterfalls, Balloon Festival, Nashville IN, Ricky Skaggs Christmas concert, gorgeous fall weather drives…
Indiana does not disappoint.
And we’ve learned that plans, whatever they may be, are always subject to God’s all protective oversight. Because of our switch, we were spared the severe hurricanes that passed through the Gulf last fall.
Lastly, our health…
Bruce has had the flu, his 4th or 5th round of Covid, and now, at Christmas, the Norovirus. We all came down with that one! I started the domino fall on the Sunday before Christmas, Bruce fell on Christmas Eve, and Carolyn fell on Thursday. We did what we could for Christmas, but most of the dinner went home with the kids, and we went to Aldi’s for cans of soup. Blessedly we’re all recovering.
Adventure awaits, with excitement around every corner.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine all the places we’ve been this year, and the sights we’ve seen. Road life is kind of a ‘where you are is where you’re at’ world. Terre Haute feels like it’s always been our home, though that’s about to change.
A couple of weeks ago when the weather had us wrapped in blankets, running the heat all day/night and our electric fireplace was doing a lot of the heavy lifting, I began to explore some southern options for winter. It’s one thing to go through winter in a secure house, it’s entirely another thing to do it in an RV.
A cracked sewer hose destroyed 2 days of life, our sink faucet freezes at the sign of 20 degree weather, and the propane and electric bills are greater than we imagined. Staying warm is as expensive as staying cool. Eextreme weather on either side, in an RV, is not easy, no matter how much ‘weather packaging’ they add to the unit.
I was looking into Gulf Shores AL and called out to Bruce, from my workshop,
“There’s a resort in Gulf Sh…”
Before I could finish he said,
“Book it”
Turns out he’d been looking too…
So as of January 16th we will be traveling to Gulf Shores RV Resort, in Gulf Shores Alabama, for 3 months, (these 3 month stays are kinda nice). It’s a full service resort with heated saline pool, hot tub, pickleball courts, gym, trails, fishing ponds and warmer weather. We’re excited!
It was 70 degrees there yesterday…
We’ll make our way back to Michigan the week leading up to Easter. Tentative plans to stop in Huntsville AL and see the space center, and maybe a trip to the Cincinnati Zoo are on the list. Bruce is speaking on Easter Sunday, at the campground we stayed in last summer. And we’re planning to be in Detroit for the rest of the spring/summer.
We even have an RV space prepared, in the neighborhood of our church. A generous gentleman has an empty lot that he’s set up for us, and we can park there indefinitely. Cement pad, electric, water and sewer hookups and walking distance from the church. We’re breathing a big sigh of relief at the idea of settling into Detroit in stages. And we’re looking forward to having a semi-permanent mailing address again!
Though this year didn’t unfold as planned, we still experienced God’s goodness, protection and provision at every turn. And we are thankful, soooo thankful. Whatever the future holds, we know He is our ultimate navigator and we rely on his guidance daily.
And maybe, just maybe, I’ll get to see a gator in the wild this time…
Good read, Cinda. I saw a gator one time while golfing in Florida, sitting in the tee area of my next hole. I decided then and there that I was not in any hurry to finish my round!
I can imagine! I hoped we’d see one when we were in a semi-remote part of SC. The campground had a resident one for awhile. But nope.