Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash
To everyone who has ever said that RVing requires flexibility…
I really don’t want to hear it.
No, really. My husband will attest to the fact that I’ve basically been throwing the adult version of a toddler’s tantrum.
Because RVing requires flexibility.
I’m talking to myself, of course. Every list of RV “wisdom” we’ve ever compiled has contained this profound maxim. Of course, it’s the truest thing that’s ever been true. But sometimes you don’t want to hear your own advice.
For us, 2017 happened.
2017 in summary:
- We completed just shy of a year in one region, due to my pregnancy and Caspian’s pediatrician appointments. So we were out of our travel rhythm. As we got back on the road at the beginning of June, packing up and setting up took longer; the drives seemed longer; we felt tired as we tried to get back into our old groove.
- Feelings aside, I actually am more tired, considering I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in nine months. Speaking of which, we have a baby now. Said baby’s effects on our work schedule and every other schedule don’t have anything to do with RVing. We would’ve had transitions no matter what. But this has still been a major change for us.
- Just as we got back on the road, everything broke. Everything is a hyperbole, but it only takes a few things going haywire for you to feel like your RV is basically crumbling around you. We went without jacks for almost three months, which I don’t recommend. Then our main AC unit went out in the dead of summer. Et cetera, et cetera.
- At the end of July, Eric was diagnosed with diabetes after exhibiting some serious symptoms that eventually drove him to the hospital. The changes we’ve made as a result of his diagnosis have been positive, and we’re already feeling in better health than we probably ever have. But my new shopping/cooking schedule is insane for me (historically, I haven’t spent a lot of time in the kitchen, and now I’m making three keto meals a day). And, while it used to not matter that we had nothing to eat for breakfast the next morning, now it really matters because it’s vital for Eric to keep his blood sugar up. My kingdom for a dozen eggs?
- Somewhere in the middle of our month in Asheville, mid-August, life seemed to be stabilizing. We completed all our RV repairs. I started making weekly meal plans and doing all the grocery shopping at once. We were loving Asheville and finally felt like we had a moment to breathe and enjoy our travels again. We left Asheville this past Saturday and landed in the most beautiful national forest campground. But I woke up crazy sick on Sunday, which made our travel day on Monday really challenging.
- But things were looking up! We arrived in the Savannah, GA area. I adore Savannah. We spent one night here in 2014-our first year on the road-and I fell in love. I’ve been dying to return for the past three years. Then Hurricane Irma made her presence known. Today is my first day of feeling better and only our second full day here, and we’ve decided to evacuate tomorrow. I’m so bummed.
Thus, my tantrum.
It’s been three months of doggie paddling-feeling like I’m just starting to get above water when another wave comes. And RVing can make things harder; there’s no doubt about it. Not having a reliable doctor nearby, or not being able to find a service technician for your home, can be just enough to make one of life’s challenge seem insurmountable.
But I’m in a bit of a personal bind. As much as I should be able to excuse myself for being disappointed, frustrated, and a little bit angry for having to face so many challenges lately, I can’t. My faith dictates that challenges are placed in my life to grow my character. So as much as I want to sit in all this, I need to get a good night’s sleep so I can knock out my work in the morning and pack up for our drive inland, away from the hurricane. And as I do so, I say a prayer for all those who can’t move their homes and belongings away from the storm.
Because while RVing requires flexibility, the seriousness of our circumstances is really just a matter of perspective.
-B
