Wow. It was a year ago we retired, sold everything, and started our travels in the RV. A year ago!! Looking back it seems like a lifetime ago, so much has happened in that time. September 27, 2019, I retired from my position of 30 years at the Freehold Public Library, Paul had already retired in March. Our home had been sold, 90% of our possessions sold or given away; we were living in Dexter, our RV. On October 8, we headed out on our new life adventure and what an adventure it turned out to be. We traveled most of the east coast: from Vermont down to Florida, visiting friends, family and beautiful places. FairyStone State Park in Va., Okefenokee Swamp in Ga,, Herkimer Diamond Mine, NY, and the Everglades in Fl, truly stand out. Florida has many memories in itself: The Manatee in Blue Spring State Park, all the amazing bird life at Okeechobee, getting to visit with our grandson Brandon and his folks, and of course there was the RV repair fiasco that enabled us to be amazed at all the iguanas at John Prince Campground. We left Florida in mid February and continued our travels westward. Falling Waters State Park, seeing the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi, Lake Claiborne State Park in Louisiana, Hot Springs Nat'l Park, Arkansas were highlights but yet so much more as well.
We arrived in Texas mid-March and suddenly the world as we knew it was no more and never will be again. For 46 days we were locked down at Lake Tawakoni Campground due to COVID-19. We were so fortunate to be in such a lovely location with great people. Twas during this time when the 'it really hit the fan. All our reservations we had were cancelled, no going to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Badlands. Heck we didn't even know if we were going to have any place to stay as campgrounds were closing all over the country as well as state borders. Again, we are so thankful to Thousand Trails for making it possible for anyone at one of their campgrounds to stay put indefinitely (where the states themselves didn't say otherwise). Our son-in-law, Kevin, who was not suppose to be deployed until mid-June/July, had to leave his family and report to the ship in April leaving Sara alone with the three boys not knowing when he would be back (we still don't: some time between late December and March is the possibility.) If that wasn't bad enough it was soon after this that they received the diagnosis both younger boys have Autism. To add to the emotions, it was during this time with me stuck in Texas, my daughter in Washington, and my son in New Jersey, that we received the news their father had passed. And we could not be together. We also found out we were to be grandparents again, our Miss Karen will be having another child in October. Turbulent time, yeah you could say that, and this was how it was or worse for so many people and yet till this day it continues. We kept making plans and having them change, our heads were spinning.
It was during all this we made a life changing decision. As soon as we were able we were hightailing it out of Texas and making a beeline to Washington. That turned out to be the very end of April. We left and only stopped each evening to sleep. Making reservations as we traveled, never sure if the campgrounds would be open when we got there. Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana went by in a blur. Such beautiful countryside though, I look forward to someday spending time at each. As we traveled I was busy trying to find us a place to live in Washington as we had decided to remain there while Kevin was gone to help anyway we could Sara and the boys. They needed us, we needed to be there. How so very odd renting an apartment sight unseen and then having to buy furnishing online as stores were not open. It truly amazes me how well it all came together. We even bought a car through CarMax without seeing it first. What a crazy world to live in but so thankful this was during a time when we could buy online. What would we have all done at other time?
So by Mid-May, we became residents of Washington State. Wow, huh. The RV is in storage, we have an apartment, a car, and two plots at the community garden. It is a beautiful state, the mountains, Puget Sound, the trees, all incredible. We were able to take Sara and the boys to the Pacific Ocean for several days in the RV. What fun to watch them play in waves. Things are still crazy, there is no in school classes only online, they have finally been able to start scheduling assessments and going to Occupational Therapy. More services should be soon available for them all. So we juggle schedules and who goes where when. our garden does well, we have been canning, cooking and making the best of things. We are adjusting to this life and often talk about what will be next. That is truly up for grabs though we do plan on doing more traveling once Kevin is home and they reestablish their lives. Will we go back to fulltiming, extended trips of a month or so, your guess is as good as mine. Who knows where or what we will be doing this time next year. If nothing else, this year has taught us one must be flexible, determined, find enjoyment whenever, wherever one can and yes, keep you sense of humor as best you can. Follow your dreams where ever life leads.
What a difference a year makes!! Be well my friends. When time are so crazy remember: This too shall pass.
Thanks for being a part of our journey. And yep, we still look at each other and say "What are we crazy?!?!?!
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