I’m digressing a bit today. I have it in mind to write about Bruce and to pay him the kudos he’s due. He celebrated his 68th birthday last week. Still going strong despite quadruple bypass surgery, multiple job changes, even losses while learning to manage mental illness through the years.
Whadda guy!
When we began to plan our travels, we both came to this idea independent of each other, but at the same time. I held it in my mind for about a month before saying anything to Bruce. Miraculous for me as I usually think it and it comes out of my mouth. I have no idea how long Bruce held it, but it was a blessing of monumental significance for me, to know we were holding it independent of each other.
You see, I’ve been accused over the years of being a bit dominant, pushy, mouthy and dictatorial as a wife.
Hard to believe right?
Bruce has often been seen as passive and accommodating of my demands, (BTW, he loves knowing people think this about him).
HA!!
I have a secret! I don’t think anyone would ever guess it about me, but here it is,
I crave routine, rigidity, sameness and can be a stick in the mud
The joke in my family growing up, was that my dad thought a 10 mile trip from home required a hotel. He was happiest vacationing in the backyard or garage with a ball game on the TV. He can watch a movie, located in Paris, and his travel needs are met. Family BBQ’s, gardening and local events are enough for him. With the exception of Pismo Beach, he’s just not that adventurous. He has lived in his house for 60 years!
I could have been content to be exactly like him
But I married a man who saw possibilities everywhere. If he didn’t like a job, town, house, change it! Relocate? Why not?! In 43 years of marriage, IL is the state we’ve lived in the longest and we’ve moved 3 times within this state.
For our honeymoon Bruce wanted to take me to Hawaii. IF I’d been more adventurous I probably would have told my parents to ‘deal’ with not having a 2nd reception in CA and might have insisted on going there. But being a good kid who wanted to keep peace, and enjoyed the familiarity of friends and family in CA, I settled for Lincoln City OR and Carmel by the Sea. I was 22 years old, a native Californian who grew up up 2 hrs from Carmel, but had never been there.
Told ya!
All this to say, I don’t come by this kind of life inherently. I can’t tell you the number of times we moved and I said, “this is it, we’re staying forever” only to be uprooted again when a job disappeared and we had to follow the employment. I never wanted to leave Beaverton, Bend, Plesanton, Santa Cruz, and I’d even made my peace with Phoenix. Our last address was one that I prayed they could carry me from when I died, (not to be morose or anything).
And here we are. No permanent domicile. We have a house, but it follows us, and we live where we wish. And it’s all due to my adventurous, not afraid of challenge, driving guru, husband. Of course, his influence has shaped me through the years, and I’m not nearly as rigid as I was or could have been.
But never let it be said, that I’m the dictator!
He continually tells people that we’re going to live this way for another 2 years, he has a financial plan to accomplish. I needed a reason to agree to this lifestyle and the financial plan was the ticket. BUT,
This means we’ll be 68 & 70 when we land somewhere
Time will tell, many things can happen or change, but holding a plan lightly is a way of life for us. It always acknowledges that God can interrupt our plan and we’ll adapt, but at the same time, we aren’t without a vision.
My husband is filled with vision! And blessedly, his visions are usually accomplish-able . He’s not a dreamer, he’s a practical visionary. Right now he’s envisioning us owning electric assist bicycles. He has it in mind that we’ll need them when we stay in places for weeks on end. Neither of us has the joint capability to hike as much as we would like, but bikes are a different thing.
I lobbied for a tricycle
So while this lifestyle is a joint idea, truly, it totally belongs to Bruce. He’s the one who has the adventurous spirit, the curious mind, the ‘can do’ attitude, and the vision to see it through. I’ve always been along for the ride. And I’m thankful that who God created him to be, has been an antidote to my more rigid ways. I’m treasuring this time in our lives for the memories we will share forever.
But I still haven’t been to Hawaii
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