Coming Out Of Hibernation (And On The Road Again…)
It’s been 84 years…..
Well maybe not quite, but I know it’s been a long, loooong time since I last posted. This has been the longest gap I’ve had in my blog since I started writing ~9 years ago and for those of you who were worried I really do apologize. I don’t know if it’s years of constant blogging on the road that’s finally catching up to me (blog burn out, perhaps?), or because our life has changed SO MUCH since we moved. Either way, I really needed the time away to figure it all out and I’m still (in many ways) working on that and trying to find the “new me”.
Our Life Has Slowed Down (And Drifted Off Social Media)
Part of it is that our life has changed so dramatically from our nomadic years on the road in the USA. Here in France it’s become slower, more personal, more “fixed”. That’s been a good thing all-in-all, but it’s also fundamentally changed the way I interact with the world and I’m still trying to find the proper balance in it all.
While we were traveling around the USA we were 100% nomadic and interacted constantly through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the blog. It allowed us to create a community while we moved, keeping in touch with the world seamlessly, and reaching an audience I could never otherwise have connected with. I am SO thankful for that time.
But Social Media can also be a rather soul-sucking endeavor. It can take over your life and, if you let it, pull you into an artificial world of interaction that can somewhat overshadow the real one. Over 9 years of writing, my blog morphed from a simple way to share my travels with a few friends & family to something much, much bigger, along with all the good (and bad) that comes with that. I loved it, but I also lost a bit of myself in it.
When we moved to rural France that all changed in an instant.
The online world is not at all a focus here. Instead of internet interactions, things happen face-to-face. So, if you wanna meet folks you meet them in real life, and if you need to find a business or someone to fix your house, you ask around and find them through word of mouth. It’s all rather old-fashioned, and if you’re used to “instant online gratification” it can seem terribly frustrating and slow. But it can also be a refreshing and soul-enriching change.
So slowly but surely over the past months I’ve been on that path, disconnecting from Social Media, trying to re-find a balance in our new life and re-evaluating how I’m going to move forward with it all. Complicated “mind stuff” if you will…
So What Now? Will You Still Write?
Well, yes. Like an old bear I’m slowly coming out of hibernation and have decided to ease my way back into writing and sharing online to see how it feels. I love the creative process of what I do here, as well as the interactions I have with all of you, my readers, so I’m starting back up and will see how it goes. It’s going to be a process, and I may have to tweak a few things, but I really want to give it a try.
Plus it helps that we’re traveling again….
The Motorhome Is Finally On the Road…..in SPAIN!!
After MANY MONTHS of delay, LMB is finally on the road. Whoooo wheeeee! We’re currently on day 2 of a mini-trip abroad to Spain and so far, all is going well. It’s not going to be a huge journey (just a few weeks or so), but it’s been a looong time coming and should help me shake the cobwebs out of my blogging retreat.
Part of the reason for the delay was due to the fact that we waited more than 2 months for our permanent license plates to arrive.
Originally we were supposed to get the plates in mid-November (last year), then that got delayed until mid-Dec, then end Dec and so on. The wait was endless, and in typical French fashion, absolutely impossible to predict (“ils arrivent bientôt”, “they’ll come soon” was the only answer we could get). FINALLY a few weeks ago, our motorhome registration was approved in the French system, we got our “carte grise” (our official documents), and we were able to replace our temporary plates with permanent ones.
The latter actually happened ridiculously fast, once everything was approved. We simply showed up at the dealer with our finalized registration and they created new plates for us on-the-spot. They printed the plate number from a big paper printer, laminated it with with some hard plastic using a hand-roller, and gave us some rivets to attach it to the motorhome. Literally 10 minutes and they were done…..voila…!
It was a classic French story. It took absolutely AGES to get us “into the system” but once we were in, it all flowed like butter on a hot day. C’est comme ça!
Then We Spent A Few Weeks Getting LMB In “Ship Shape” To Roll…
Once we’d been “legalized” we started working to get the motorhome ready to leave for her mini-trip abroad.
An important part of that was figuring out how to “cat-ify” the interior for our two feline family members. That mean finding viable spots for cat litter, cat scratching pole, cat food etc. It’s all a bit of a jigsaw puzzle in a mini-rig, but we “think” we’ve got it figured out. Once these two weeks on the road are up, I’ll know if we did it right (or need to make adjustments) and I’ll report back on the blog with what worked and what didn’t. Should be interesting…
The other big prep was organizing our big rear storage area (the rear garage). We have a BIG space back there, but we also wanted to bring quite a bit of “stuff” including our bicycles, tools and various other bits and bobs, and it all had to be reasonably easy to access. So we bought an expensive (but very useful) pull-out bike-rack from FIAMMA, and then did LOTS of careful measuring before we drilled our very first holes into the floor. Terrifying to do, but ultimately very satisfying once we got it all set-up. So far, this is working out well very indeed.
Then we worked on our bedroom and closet. I made some fitted sheets for our crazy-shaped mattresses (first time I’ve ever done that, but I figured it out!) and then I spent several days playing with various hanging ideas, hooks & other stuff for our super-mini-itty-bitty closet. It took quite a bit of mental 3D organization to put it all together, but I think I made a good start. Again, we’ll need a few weeks on the road before I can report on how well we did with it all.
Our final prep was making about 10,000 trips back and forth to the motorhome to load her up. Since we’ve only ever full-timed before, this was a totally new experience for us, so it took WAY longer (and was much more exhausting) than it needed to. Now that we’ve done it once we have a list and I think we’ll do much, much better the next time around…we’ll see!
So, I’ll See You Down The Road, OK?
That’s the major update for now. Suffice to say I’m back and we’re on the road, so hopefully the blog will pick back up again as I shake out those cobwebs….À la prochaine!
So glad to hear you have been happy! Looking forward to hearing about your adventures, even if only every once in a while. ❤️
Thanks Anne. Much appreciated!
Nina
So good to hear from you and to know that all is well. I completely agree that social media can be a soul-sucking vortex, which is why I’ve never had a Facebook account. But I do love blogging as a journal of our travels and as a way of connecting with like-minded friends. I hope you do continue blogging, but only if it nourishes your soul. 🙂
Happy travels!
The soul-nourishing aspect of life has definitely taken over since we’ve moved….not that my soul wasn’t nourished before. It’s just different when you’re “sitting still” more. It’s an adaptation.
Nina
Hi Nina & Paul! It was so exciting to see your post in our email this morning! It’s great to hear that your new life has become so real, and so well-paced. Of course we were also eager to read about your being back on the road. Your new rig looks fantastic, and we can’t wait to see and hear more about it. We’re hoping to get back to Europe in the next year or two and would so love to see you. Miss and love you both. – Peter & John
We’d LOVE to see you guys too. Would be a fab meet-up.
Nina
So great to see you again!
It was great to hear from you again and know all is well. Yes, European life has a different vibe and pace, but we found easy to get used to. Glad you are doing a trip in your new RV and look forward to hearing about your adventures when you are ready to share. SM can be a suck in that needs to be kept in balance with your life at any particular time. Peace and Love, enjoy your new life! Ron
We really are enjoying the slower and more directly connected pace of life in the French countryside. It’s something I’ve lost over the years (the internet has taken over everything), so it’s almost like stepping back in time. Although it can be frustrating at times, I’m really digging it.
Nina
Great to hear all is well. Did I miss news about your dog? You only mentioned making accommodations for the cats. I understand that’s dogs don’t need such accommodations (litter box etc) but the fact that Polly is not mentioned has me concerned. Safe and happy travels !
SORRY!! Didn’t mean to worry! Doggie is fine. The only reason I didn’t mention Polly is that she really just adapts instantly to everything. As long as we’re together (as a pack) she’s happy and she doesn’t really care where that is. She’s doing well, and there will be lost of pics of her coming. The cats are more difficult, at least as far as getting them accommodated to a new space.
Nina
Yay! Looking forward to your travels. Totally agree with the pit of social media. Enjoy the time unplugged. What great opportunities for adventure. Safe and exciting travels! (Can you do both? ;0)
Glad to see you are back and doing well. Love the bike rack inside the rig! Photos of the French countryside are stunning.
Great to hear from you guys again! Ahh, Life. It changes like seasons and that is how it’s meant to be. Not only exploring our changing surroundings, but exploring our changing selves. Good for you. :-). Enjoy your trip; the new motorhome looks great!!
It is so nice to hear from you again! I’ve been thinking about y’all! I figured you were regrouping to a new way of living in Europe. I laughed at the 10,000 trips to load up the RV since I think that’s what we do as vacationers every time. Since full-timing is still a plan for the future, I haven’t wanted to buy a second set of everything for the TT.
We are looking at trading the TT in for a 25 or 26 foot diesel Class C. I hope you talk more on making the smaller storage work and what you did for the kitties. I have a new adoptee since our KatyKitty passed last November. She was grumpy about traveling in the truck but settled when we parked and had her spots in the RV. Our new kitty is a bit skittish still but she’s been with us only 6 weeks.
I honestly didn’t realize how much work goes into packing a rig for travel. I walked ~4 miles (according to my phone) just going back/forth and up/down those stairs to get stuff loaded and arranged.
I’ll definitely be talking more about the kitties and what I did for them. They’re somewhat grumpy travelers too.
Sorry for your loss. It’s lovely that you’ve taken a new kitty into your lives.
Nina
Glad to here from you and glad there was nothing seriously wrong. Blog burnout is not uncommon and social media is something that many of us need to de-emphasize. Don’t put any pressure on yourself and get back to enjoying the blog for what it is. A way to update family and friends. You have done a great job with your research and the information you provide but don’t feel obligated to do it every post. Safe Travels!
yep you are back and you haven’t lost it…
Like everyone above, so glad to see you posting again. I get how you could be burned out!! I did find myself wondering about you guys last week and was so happy to see this post this morning. A dose of Wheeling It and The Wynns always makes for a nice Sunday morning with a cup of coffee.
So good to hear from you. We, too, had a big change. We downsized from 42 feet to 24! It’s taking come creative solutions to fit everything. We haven’t taken our first trip but we are anxious to get on the road. At least I can now help with the driving.
Your pictures are wonderful. We will be in France this fall on a cruise. I will wave to you.
You’ll love how easy it is to drive a smaller rig. We are already DIGGING it big-time. But it’s definitely a different experience to “live” in compared to the ultra-luxurious mega-beast RV we had in the USA. Lots of adaptations needed!
Nina
Was so glad to see your blog post this morning—happy camping!!
So glad you are back! I was missing your obsessive(in a GOOD way) posts and worried that something untoward had happened. Hope you share your Spanish Journey with us. Bon Voyage!!
YAY! It’s good to “see” you all again…..We missed you and look forward to some completely foreign travel blogs! We send our love.
Yay! Really missed you both and the 12 Paws. Looking forward to following along on your short journeys abroad
Steven and I were just talking about you guys in the past couple of days. We arrived in France about 10 days ago and settled in just south of Paris while we searched for a motorhome. We were specifically looking for a Hymer B 544. We found one near Toulouse at the very same dealership you purchased your rig from, only a different location. We made the trip down and last Friday we signed the contract and made our down payment! We pick her up March 22! Now we have three weeks to play, shop and hang out in Paris.
So glad to know you are traveling in LPB, hope that all goes well for you both, the kitties and Polly. Very good to hear from you!
NO WAY!!! That is awesome news!! The B544 is a lovely rig. We looked at that model and really liked the layout. Congrats on the new-to-you rig, and enjoy your travels.
Nina
Hello Nina and Paul,
Glad to see you are “back” and on another adventure doing what I know you love. You continue to be an inspiration in my own somewhat limited travel these days.
I’ve been in the Indio area since Christmas, but took a day trip out to Borrego Springs a few weeks ago, drove down Rockhouse Trail, and reminisced our first meeting.
Bob and I rarely were as social as we were with you two. We enjoyed our few outings with you. All the best , Kathie
How lovely to hear from you Kathie. I’m so sorry for Bob’s passing. It was such a blessing to meet you both on the road, and enjoy the time that we did together. I’m sure it’s a huge adjustment for you, but knowing you, you are handling it with grace and positivity, just like everything you do in life. You are an inspiration to us all.
Nina
❤️
You can count me among the people who were a bit worried about your lengthy absence, which is pretty weird since we’ve never met. But I guess that’s the whole point about social media…. you make great connections and build community, but it can all take on a life of its own. People you’ve never met suddenly have expectations of you and your once-fun writing hobby can quickly become a job. I can totally see needing a break, especially after such a huge life change and while adapting to a new environemnt where people don’t spend all day every day staring at their phones.
Anyway, I’m glad to see you writing again and relieved to hear that all is well. I look forward to hearing all about your European travels!
Hi. I think I started following you during your “sabbatical.” I’m looking forward to reading your posts. I LOVE that bike-pull-out garage. We have a little 12-foot travel trailer called Bobbie with no under-trailer storage, so we carry our bicycles in the bed of our truck when we travel. Someday we’d like to move up to a 16-foot trailer. I wonder if we could get a bike garage in that like you have… hmmm… anyway, just dreaming here. I’d love to see some pictures of the inside of your RV if you ever decide to post them. Happy trails, or rather, bon voyage!
I’ve seen some amazingly creative bike solutions for smaller rigs. I know many folks rave about folding bikes. They can REALLY free up some space so they’re an option if you’re more of a recreational (town-type) biker. But they’re also expensive and IMO not as good for all-around biking as a “real” bike. We’re really happy we found a solution for ours.
Nina
Love the pictures and new bike rack! So glad you are back! Can’t wait to see and read about your adventures in Europe. Be safe and enjoy.
Lovely post! I kind of envy you the lack of social media. Too much of a good thing is still too much!
Facebook and all of that can just become a time and real-life sucker.
I often comment on how absurd it is that everyone walks around with a personal phone on their body! I think back to the days when I was a child and such a thing was utterly unheard of, we just enjoyed our lives, in real time.
Enjoy that lovely French countryside and your journeys in your new, adorable little motorhome! Looking forward to hearing more of your adventures!
God bless you ~
Good to have you back. And that you’re solving your RVs Tetris challenge.
Happy to hear from you again! I owe our first two years of happy FT life to you & your blog. We learned about insurance, establishing domicile, boondocking, places to visit, beautiful hikes…..the list is endless!
Was happy to see the email saying you’d updated the blog. Was a tad worried about you all and the paws. Envious that you’re in France — love the country and the people.
As others have said, it was exciting to see a post from you in my email. I had wondered how the new smaller rig felt to you. Good to hear you are doing well. The creative part of blogging is the best part I think. Backing away from the social aspect is a good thing too, just not all the way.
You are so right Sue. I just need to re-find my balance again. It’s more of a process than I imagined…
Nina
Pleasant surprise to see and read your post today! We’re glad all is well! Rig is looking sweet. I’m sad there was no Polly pic 🙁
I was just wondering about you and your family….I’m so glad you are doing well and updated your blog. I read your blog from the beginning and it has been an inspiration to me and my honey. In fact we are off to City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico later this week. We’ve been full timers for just over a year and have used your blog for advice, campground reviews and just great reading time.
Cheers to you!
So happy my older reviews are still being used. You’re going to LOVE City of Rocks. Such a cool and unusual place. ENJOY!
Nina
A few of the other blogger / YT channels I follow have gone thru the same “Bogger Burn-Out” recently too. Throw in a complete change of scenery (Country) / the slow document gathering being in your new home and country you could see it coming. Looking forward to your life & travels in Europe, and it “differs” from the go go world us American’s see as the norm.
Nina & Paul,
Your pictures are as usual beautiful, almost calling them beautiful is not enough. Your description of slowing down to become climatized to the life around us should give us all pause to think. I was beginning to get a little worried about you two but thinking about the transition that you have been going through it now makes sense…Looking forward to your adventures in a foreign land…Thank you!
Your 10,000 trips comment made me smile. We just make two trips a year–7-8 weeks in the winter and a month in the fall. And because we have a constant mouse problem when it’s parked, we remove everything from the RV, wash/clean, etc. and then pack it up in four big plastic bins inside the RV until the next trip. We just returned from our winter trip Wednesday, and I hope I will soon recover from the 15,000+ steps I racked up doing all the cleaning/packing on Thursday. I am happy to say I got it all done while the weather was dry and warm. And these last two trips were the first with a cat that we had adopted this time last year–our dog has traveled with us since the beginning. The first trip with the cat, we apparently also brought along a pregnant mouse so the cat was kept busy one night catching tiny mice that my husband threw out into the empty camp space next to us–hopefully no one showed up there very soon. She’s a great traveler but the cat box does take up space and the fact that she uses it in the middle of the night and then spends ten minutes covering it for all of us to listen to is annoying, but her company is well worth it. Love to hear of your adventures and ideas–we use many of them and are thankful for your sharing.
Your kitty comments made me laugh. Yup, I recognize all of that…the middle-of-the-night litter runs (and ridiculous amount of “covering up” time), and the space needed for them to spread out and have their “spots”. I’ve always maintained that you need FAR more space to travel with a cat than with a dog LOL.
Nina
I can relate to the middle of the night cover ups. One of ours is particularly stinky so that’s always fun.
Oh yeah the stink bomb!!! Taggart does that. I always know when she goes #2 LOL.
Nina
Wow wonderful to hear from you once again! I would love to see Europe, of course I still have some relatives over there, a few that I have even written to a time or two although none of my french side relatives are known to the family, we do have a cousin (second or something like that) living in the Black Forest region of Germany, and lots of relatives up in Sweden. We have been stuck in the frozen Dakota’s for this winter as my family has suddenly found the Cancer strain, both my sisters are suffering brain cancer, and mom has finally gone to the nursing home at 93 years of age. So it is that I am trying to sell off her property for her, help my sisters, one of which lost her husband last Christmas to kidney failure, through their personal trips though the hell of their brains being eaten by the dreaded desease, on sister is seeing it take her whole body. Sad really. GOD how I miss the nomadic way of life, we only had 3 yeas of it before last summer exploded with sadness. Thanks for letting us know how things are going “over there.”
Oh Jerry, my heart breaks for you. That is a lot of difficulty to handle all at the same time, both emotionally and mentally. I can’t even imagine. The deaths we’ve had in our family over the past 2 years have me super aware of how difficult end of life can be, especially as folks age and their health deteriorates. I wish I had some fabulous words for this, but I know these are incredibly tough months that you can only take one step at a time. I wish you and your family the best, and hope that one day you’ll be able to find that freedom on the road again.
Nina
So great to hear all is well. I have always been one to imagine the worst but the bright side to that is that reality so often turns out to be so much better. Having done the reverse in terms of personal vs webbased ” I know the difference and had a pang of longing for the personal. Ah well. We are planning to put in many miles this year so perhaps instant access will be a benefit. Can’t wait to hear of your travels!!
So glad to see you’re back! I wondered why I haven’t seen your posts lately. I even looked in my junk file to make sure they had not ended up there. We are finally going to purchase our first travel trailer in a few weeks. I’m going to reread your older posts and I look forward to hearing of your new adventures!
In Spain!!!! I hope I could see you… Pilar
Good to see you back on the road! I can relate to the “packing the RV” stress. We only pack once per year in the late summer to head to warmer climes and it is by far the hardest part of the trip.
I have so much more respect for this aspect of part-time travel now. I’m going to have to get much more organized in the future.
Nina
Like many, many others I was so glad to see your post this morning . . .totally love reading about your travels but also understand that we are just a part of your life . . .please know that whenever you post we will love it but understand your need to recharge . . .
Glad to see your blog.and what beautiful pictures . Looking forward to any thing you post when ever . Safe travels .
Nice to hear that all is well and look forward to seeing where your first road trip takes you. I dread the day we stop fulltiming and have to actually “pack” for a trip. We get spoiled carrying all our worldly belongings around everywhere we go.
That bicycle rack is very clever!
I NEVER appreciated how much WORK it is to pack an RV for a trip. And the work is the same whether it’s a 3-day trip or a 3-month one. Much respect for those who part-time regularly!
Nina
HURRAY!! You are back. Thank you.
“an artificial world of interaction that can somewhat overshadow the real one”
Exactly how I felt about Facebook until I became a nomad! Unfortunately, also one of the easiest ways to keep connected to the community.
Welcome back to camping. Love the photos – pure bliss!
Yup, it’s really, really hard to stay connected and yet disconnect at the same time. While we were traveling fulltime FB was a solid source of interaction. I enjoyed it, but it also became a drag in some respects. That said, I’m still on FB and still participate in online communities, especially thro’ FB groups. Since we moved I’ve joined multiple French living, and European motorhoming groups that have already provided me with invaluable support. It’s a love/hate thing 🙂
Nina
What a treat to see your e mail. I look forward to reading about your trips, as you write so beautifully and the pics. Thank you and write when you feel like it.
I just came to the blog yesterday to see if I was missing anything, and now here you are! Good to see you, but understand why you took the needed break.
Am certain your “soul-sucking” comment about SM & FB was spot on. Exactly why I refuse to do either. Your archives remain a go-to source and I sorely miss your regular updates. However, I’m glad you’ve traded “real life” for the electronic one and am elated to hear that you and Paul are doing well. That baby coach of yours is a jewel!
Glad you are back!
So wonderful to ‘hear’ from you again! We will be following your journey closely. I love your writing style. It is clear you enjoy writing!
That bike rack is a thing of beauty! That was always our first issue with any RV – where are we gonna put the bikes? I am looking forward to seeing where you go and what you see.
The bike rack has been AWESOME! We were hesitant to spend so much money on what is basically just a pair of aluminium rails, but it really works flawlessly. So far we’re very, very happy with this mod.
Nina
Wonderful to see you back on the road and doing well “over there”! That fog pic is surreal – love the mystery.
Can’t wait to see how all the mods work out – and what you’re seeing in Spain.
I’ve stepped away from my blog for a couple weeks and I can feel it nagging me to get “caught up”. I promised myself I wouldn’t let it become a job so I have to go easy on myself 🙂
It’s super hard to find the right balance when you blog, and (especially) when it gets bigger. It’s always a push-pull between wanting to blog, but not wanting it not to become a job. You’ve been blogging a long time, and have a bigger following now, so I know the pressure is there.
Nina
Glad to see you on the road again. Please tell us about your motor home. We also travel with 2 cats. They sleep together in or on their “heated bed”. In our case a 110 volt heating pad underneath the mattress cushion. Made for pets. Once they have a GREAT bed they don’t sleep with us. Keep the greasy side down, and continue to blog. Sanford
A heated “bed” for the cats is an awesome idea. It’s something I’ve thought about, but didn’t implement this time around due to space issues. I’ll definitely update on what worked & what didn’t for us.
Nina
Oh, so glad to hear about your recent activities! I am delighted to read your blog, but I understand how you have to take time to live life as well as write about it! Eager to hear about your first trip in the new RV.
Nice to see that you are doing fine in Europe.
The family finally paid off the home equity loan on Friday. Now all I have to do is convince my wife to full time RV, the best retirement choice health wise for me. Anyways I will probably go down to Indiana in May to price out my dream travel trailer even if my wife chooses to stay at our current house just to see how much it would have cost to purchase it. Next best choice would be to move down south so I can go swimming. If we stay at the current house, then you might see my wife over in Europe as she has mentioned that is where she wants to take her vacations in the future while I have no interest in going over to Europe.
I do have a couple of questions for you:
With 5G coming out in a few years, will the WiFi Elite Ranger Pack and WeBoost be compatible with 5G technology wise?
The Elite Ranger is a device to help pick up WiFi signals, so 5G doesn’t apply to it (it’s not on the cell network). For WeBoost however, they will (eventually) be compatible. No offerings are out right now, but they’ve released a video on 5G and will be (I’m sure) offering stuff that is compatible down the line. You can see their video here: https://www.weboost.com/blog/5g-the-future-of-mobile-connectivity
Nina
Thanks for the reply back. I just wanted to be certain on things like that as the dream travel trailer will cost more than usual since I want things like the Elite Ranger to be factory installed and don’t want to waste time by having to have another RV dealership do the work.
Email notification doesn’t seem to want to work for me since you moved to Europe. Or did you turn that off?
Complete stranger here. Actually we met in Prescott Arizona. Anyway, following your blog and I have to say I got a little worried about the silence. It’s great to see you post again. Maybe you should just post less often so you can find the balance you desire.
Welcome back. Put that Rv on a boat and come all the way back.
One day….maybe one day 🙂
Nina
Great to get an update and it all looks good. Wishing you all the best in your adventures.
AND, we just had to let you know that we are Campground Hosts at Cape Blanco State Park in Oregon and absolutely love it. You previous reviews of this absolutely beautiful location are spot on. Just love it here and we know you did too. Hope you find similar locations in your travels. We’ll be posting up some updates on our facebook site: namasteinmyrv.
All the best,
Ray, Leslie and the cattle dogs
Oh wow, you just pulled my heart-strings in a BIG way. Cape Blanco…one of my fav places in the world. I know I’ll pine for the day I go back, no matter how many years away that is. ENJOY!
Nina
Nice to see a post. Seems lots of changes coming. Social media can be a suck. Have fun on the road. I’m curious about a cat scratch as I’m now owned by a cat and will soon move back into my RV.
Took me ages to figure out the cat thing in our smaller rig. So far (after almost a week on the road) I think my “mods” are working. At least the cats haven’t complained tooooo much. I will definitely update on how/where I put everything.
Nina
Hi Nina & Paul
It was so nice to see a blog from you. Glad to hear your back out venturing a bit.
Nina…Please tell us that Polly is with you and doing well. No mention of her is concerning.
Yes!!! Of course. She’s definitely with us. Lots of pics coming.
Nina
I was so happy to read your latest post!! You’ve all been in my thoughts quite a bit and I figured that the down-time was a nod to the process of giving oneself the space, time and quietness needed. We’ve just transitioned out of our home and back to full-time living in our WeBeGon (a 25-foot Class C) – which we originally intended to be for part-time travel! Sooooooo, learning to manage smaller spaces and take time for self have been key. Looking forward to the next evolution of Wheelin’ It!
Glad you are all thriving – Imkelina
Oh how exciting!!! That’s a major transition and I am SO happy for you. Wish you the best of travels!
Nina
I can so understand where you are at this point in your new life adventure. While we are still state side, I am going through the same mental issues. I still don’t have a grip on this two different life styles. I am trying to plan a three month spring trip but it just has a different feel. Prior, it was our life and only home so planning was different. Now I am not sure how to plan and feel about where we stay…should all be on the go, go, go…can we still just live and stay home in the MH while on a shorter trip!!?? How do you do this part time!? I am still struggling with this whole new life. We love our new house and new town, but I do miss the road. And packing the MH…ugh! This is also new for us. I have done it twice now and have made it easier by buying duplicates so its less to carry out. But it still takes 22 trips (I counted). Thank goodness the MH is happily right here on the property under its own fully covered area right by the garage. As you can see John has also gotten out of the blogging thing. He will blog again once we hit the road, but he was never fond of blogging about daily life. He is enjoying the break from blogging. It is time consuming, as you know. Love how easily your bikes slide out!! Very slick! Enjoy your maiden voyage. Looking forward to your report.
TOTALLY! You just summed it up so well. Those are all the same feelings we’ve been going through.
The planning for part-time travel is completely different. Instead of planning by season for the year, we’ve got to think about a short trip and where we want to go in that limited time….do we move all the time? or go slower like we typically prefer and see less? how far do we really want to drive?
Plus I’ve been struggling with the blog in the same way (blogging about our daily life just isn’t the same). Transitions, transitions…
Nina
Who knew becoming part timers would create all these emotions. It is good to read your thoughts. It helps me with my upheaval of emotions.
What a relief!! LuAnn has been helping Frederika with some stuff back at Jojoba Hills (we’re in Oregon at the moment for my cousin’s memorial service and visiting friends and family), and we were asking if she had heard from you. Understand completely and have always wondered how you did so much online. On the other hand, it has been a great and rewarding read all these years. Just really, really glad you are all ok. Didn’t help that we recently lost our old friend of many years, George Lehrer of ‘Tioga and George’ blog… People become so attached to regular bloggers. It’s an interesting and somewhat unusual form of relationship – but relationship it is. When so much of one’s inner and outer life is public, it’s hard for people not to feel that they know you, and become a little addicted to their regular dose of vicariousness (is that a word?). BTW, my acquaintance of many years, and Paul’s investment buddy, Gary Antonacci, has bought a trailer and been RVng around. He came within a hair’s breadth of spending a couple of days right after Xmas at Jojoba, but cancelled at the last minute. (Tell Paul that next week we will be spending a couple days with my old friend Ken Fisher of Fisher Investments. When I met him he was living in a treehouse in Northern California…) All best, and health and happiness to all of you, bipeds and quadrupeds alike… Pete & Frederika
I’m trying to figure out what LMB means? Is it the make or your motorhome or it’s name?
It’s the nickname of our new RV….LMB = “La Mini Bête”. She was introduced here:
https://www.wheelingit.us/2018/11/18/say-hello-to-our-new-european-rv-la-mini-bete/
Nina
Thrilled to hear you received your plates and are on the road again. I too have stepped back from social media and am really enjoying the respite. I had a laundry list of things I wanted to learn but never seemed to have the time, but now I do. We are keeping our fingers crossed that our paths will cross this fall. As we get closer to our departure date (September 1), I will be in touch.
Very much looking forward to it Lu!
Nina