Willie Nelson.
Most everyone is familiar with his hit song, On the Road Again. You know…
“On the road again. I just can’t wait to get on the road again. The life I love is makin’ music with my friends. And I can’t wait to get on the road again. On the road again, goin’ places that I’ve never been, seein’ things that I may never see again…Like a band of Gypsies we go down the highway…”
This is pretty much the theme song for our life right now. Seriously.
Every time we get in the truck to head to our next destination, this is the song we play. Three years ago, it became our theme song every time we’d hop in the Jeep or Tahoe to go on a trip, or even just a daily drive through the mountains. Now, it has extended into our 52 week road trip. When we drove out of our driveway as we began our journey, we played the song. Now, every time we leave an RV park to head to our next city, we play the song.
Charley requires everyone to sing along. Out loud. If this doesn’t happen, he plays the song again until everyone follows directions. I guess it’s a dad thing. None-the-less, this song has now become the theme song of our lives and our epoch48. Since we are always on the road. Again. And again. And again.
So, how is life on the road, you ask? It’s been 5 weeks since we left our home in Colorado and headed out on this 48 state adventure, and I have to say that things are going well.
People keep asking if it’s been hard to adjust to the smaller space and living on the go, but in all honestly, it hasn’t been hard at all. Yes, it’s hard to be away from my home, my family and my chickens, but I didn’t have any issues to the new routine of smaller and simpler living, although I do miss the work of taking care of my flock. Ask me come winter time if I enjoy being in a smaller space with 3 other people, a dog and a chicken, and maybe I’ll have a difference answer – haha!
I wasn’t sure how long it would take to adjust to the smaller living quarters, different routine, new surroundings each week, sometimes several times each week. The first week it just seemed like we were on our yearly vacation, so it wasn’t that weird. But, we never went home, so it soon became the norm and it didn’t take much to adjust. It just happened.
I can adapt quickly to new situations. I’m not so finicky that I can’t leave my comfort zone, but I do sometimes miss all the room in my house back in Colorado. Breathing room. Alone time room. Use the bathroom or the shower without everyone 10′ away from me room. Kids, separate yourselves from each other room.
I no longer have a set laundry day or grocery shopping day. I ride my bike around more than I have in years. Showering in a room with 3-4 shower stalls is not uncommon, and carrying a disposable coffee cup around filled with quarters for doing laundry at the RV Parks is normal. Meals are simple, baking is in small quantities and paper products are favored over dinnerware. And attending a new church, in a new city each week isn’t as uncomfortable as it was in the beginning.
This is our new routine. Our new reality. And I am okay with this.
Along with all of the new, daily changes, we are experiencing amazing adventures. We’ve spent time in Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Flaming Gorge, Sawtooth Mountains, Great Basin National Park, Redwood National Park, South Lake Tahoe, Coastal Beaches – and we’re only in week 5! We’ve served at local Rescue Missions, gone fishing, hiked trails, visited ghost towns and old mining towns, caves, waterfalls and seen some of the largest trees I’ve ever stood next to. We witnessed 100+ seals sunbathing on the shore. We’ve spent time at the ocean and tide pools viewing barnacles, mussels, starfish and anemones. I’ve watched our pug experience the ocean for the first, and possibly last time (she wasn’t a fan) and Sweet Oli, our chicken, sunbathed on the fine sand of Clam Beach in California. We’ve nearly melted in 120 degree heat in Hurricane, Utah and pulled out our sweatshirts, warm pants and UGG boots for the cold July nights in Arcata, California.
We have definitely experienced so much already, and I’m sure there is no comparison to what lies ahead of us.
Life on the road isn’t what I thought it would be. Listening to other people tell their story, you tend to think your experiences will be the same. In any area of life, we should know this isn’t the case. There may be general similarities, but for the most part, each person, each family, creates their own, unique story. And that is what we are doing.
We have had to learn how to become a family that likes to be together. All the time. We’ve faced bad moods, cranky kids, cranky adults, out-of-control animals, long and hot car rides, loud neighbors and small spaces. We’ve missed our families and friends and had to mourn the loss one of our chickens back home that passed away while we were in Utah. This was heartbreaking and something I don’t plan on doing again while on this trip. The kids have had to learn that the friends they meet at the RV parks, they soon have to say goodbye to. We’ve had to master the routine of getting the 5th wheel ready “for the road”, then setting up shop once we arrive at our new, temporary landing place. I am now a pro at this.
But, we’ve also experienced more conversation, mom and dad telling stories of our childhood that makes our kids laugh. We’ve played games, watched movies and as a family, served those who are less fortunate than us. We’ve taken bike rides, experienced God’s beautiful creation together, and we’ve even thrown in a few naps here and there.
I, personally, have learned how to slow down a little. My mornings now consist of getting up before the family, pouring a cup of coffee, heading outside to read and watch my chickens on the chicken cam back home. I turn on the mic at the coop and listen to the roosters crow, the ladies cackle, all while I sip my coffee and read. Makes me feel like I’m at home again.I’ve started doing things that I’ve put on a shelf for the past few years, like crocheting and journaling. I spend time making jewelry, reading books, hanging out with the kids, chilling in the sun in a camping chair, and watching Hallmark movies. So many Hallmark movies.
This road trip will benefit all of us in so may ways and on many different levels and I’m learning to embrace how this will bless us as a family, as well as those we are fortunate enough to serve.
I hope our journey and adventure will inspire you to reroute the journey that you are on in life. Stepping out of your box and comfort zone. Trying something different and exhilarating. Embracing a new routine. Spending more time with those you love. Experiencing God’s beautiful creation. Serving other people. Living on purpose. Living with passion.
Five weeks down. Forty-seven weeks to go. Until we talk again, you’ll be sure to find us on the road. Again.