Big Plans
John and I were always trying to find a way to become Full-Time RVers. Meaning that we would live in our RV. All of the time. Everyday. For most people this probably sounds like the silliest dream in the world. WHO LIVES in their RV, you ask? Lots of people do. Trust me. There are many, and they are of all different ages.
The two biggest issues that held us back from doing this were – income and insurance. Insurance was absolutely our biggest issue. With John’s medical history and medical needs as a diabetic and testicular cancer survivor – he met our annual family deductible on his own in less than two weeks each year. The plan for meeting our income needs were for John to find out how soon he could retire, and for me to find a way to work on the road. It seemed like a long-shot, but it was something we were learning more about.
John was looking forward to retirement. Being a state employee, he was eligible for retirement at age 55, although most teachers weren’t taking this early retirement as often as they had in the past. We were blessed to have a passion for a career that could offer this and other benefits that other professions could not. Having had careers in fields other than education, we were always very aware of the blessings and the benefits we have been entitled to. At age 54, a state employee can schedule a meeting with the state to discuss retirement financial plans. They won’t talk to you until after your 54th birthday. John turned 54 in April, 2017 and looked forward to meeting with the state over the summer to discuss his plan. That meeting never happened.
Knowing, even without that meeting, that Full Time RVing would probably not work out for us, we decided to take advantage of the benefits that our job provided. We could be on the road during every single break that we were given. This gave us a lot of options, and would satisfy our need for the open road, while keeping the things that we needed, namely – insurance. We were experienced campers. having camped at every level of luxury during our 28 years together. All the way from “glamping” with electricity, toilets, TV’s and a microwave to canoe camping where you dig a pit in the ground to go to the bathroom and carry everything you need with you, without electricity or showers for days; we loved it all. We had lived in our camper while on the road and while parked at different sites for weeks at a time. We took extended trips in our camper several times and always craved more.
While in the hospital, we talked of little else. Everyone who worked in our room became aware of our love for camping, traveling, geocaching, and some of them even got to
help John learn how to physically get back into the camper with his mobility limitations.
One day, John looked at me and said, “When this school year is finished, and you have the summer off (he knew that he wouldn’t be working at all this school year but had the goal of returning for the next year), we are going to pack up CeeCee and go see Alicia in California.” It wasn’t a question, but more of an order.
“Absolutely,” I replied. “Alicia would love for us to come and see her!” We hadn’t been to our oldest daughter’s home since she had moved to California from our home in Wisconsin in late 2016. I texted her right away and she was thrilled by the idea. There was an nice RV park very close to her home. So our summer plans were set!
After John died, camping and traveling were not something I was thinking about. Escaping the universe, yes…. but not an extended camping trip. A few weeks after his funeral, I was sitting in my classroom and I remembered his order to go to California as soon as the school year was finished. I immediately thought “I’m going to do this. Yes, why shouldn’t I? He would want me to.” I immediately began planning the trip. As I planned, more and more things began to cross my mind. Here is basically the path my thoughts took:
- I cannot drive all the way to California as the only driver with two young girls unless I stop along the way.
- If I”m going to stop, I want it to be a memorable stop, not a WalMart parking lot or an overnight in a rest area.
- On my way to California, I should stop at Kansas City because we wanted to go there to sample BBQ that we saw on Food Network shows.
- I should also stop at Rocky Mountain National Park. We love the national parks and this isn’t really out of the way and I have all summer.
- I have all summer.
- All summer.
- After visiting Alicia, I should go to Seattle. We were supposed to take a train trip there in July 2017. The tickets were already purchased and I needed a doctor’s letter to get a full refund.
- I should go to the Grand Canyon because we had to cancel that trip when my mother fell during Spring Break one year. She needed me to be by her side in order for her to eat and take her medications.
- I should go to Galveston because we had to cancel that trip last Spring Break because of the pain John was in.
- I should go to Acadia National Park because we had cancelled that trip as well due to John’s health.
- I should just do a massive road trip!
And so the idea was born! As one of my many bizarre coping strategies, I had counted the number of days that John was in the hospital. I also did this because there were many times that he was so completely out of it and when he became more alert, one of his first questions was always, “How many days have I been in here THIS time?”
He was hospitalized for a total of 83 days between April and October 2017. Eighty-three days that were stolen from him. Stolen from us. And the purpose of the trip I am now planning is…….. to take them all back. For him. For me. For our family. For healing. A hiatus of healing to slam the door on the past seven years of our life that has been spent in almost constant crisis mode.
I’ve shared this plan with a few people to see what the reaction of other’s would be. Almost everyone has gotten goose pimples at the idea, and have been competely supportive. Others have just stared at me, wondering if I was serious. I am. Please leave me a comment telling me what you think. If you think I’m crazy, don’t worry, I’m already aware of that! I envision packing up CeeCee with the littles, the pets (minus the lizard), and my new atlas, selfie stick, and backpack – ready for adventure.
While is sounds like an amazing adventure, the reality of this decision is starting to stare me in the face. There are projects that I need to do at home, especially since I wasn’t here last summer, either. I want to do the trip as ONE big trip, and not come home until it is done. The reality of being on the road for 83 days with at least two daughters (the bigs are unsure if they can be with us for all or only part of the trip), a dog and a cat in the southern heat of summer is presenting some logistical challenges. But, I am determined!
I intend to post the entire trip on this website, on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I’ve been planning this since November, waiting for the right time to share my plans here. My school has told me that they will support whatever I feel that I need, adding that they have administratively felt that no one should have to go through what I have had to deal with over the past five years that I’ve been there. I am blessed for this, I know. I won’t get paid for the days that I’m gone, but I won’t suffer any major consequences by taking the time off, either.
Read all about the Must See Stops I made along the way!
- Must See Stops Series
- Stop 1: Kansas City – Day 2 of 83
- Stop 2: Taylorsville, CA – Days 9 – 13 of 83
- Stop 3: Seattle, WA – Day 21 of 83
- Stop 4: Zion National Park – Day 36 of 83
- Stop 5: Grand Canyon South Rim – Day 42 of 83
- Stop 6: Albuquerque, NM – Day 49 of 83
- Stop 7: Philmont Boy Scout Ranch – Day 51 of 83
- Stop 8: Galveston, TX – Days 55 – 58 of 83
- Stop 9: Exeter, NH – Day 73 of 83
- Stop 10: Acadia National Park – Day 75 of 83
Even with the typically long summers where there is no school, I would still have had to ask off for one week in order to leave in June and return before the start of the next school year in late August. My school recently (a month ago) approved a major calendar change for next year where we will have a more extended school year by starting three weeks earlier in August with students. This has left me with a dilemma for my trip. I have three options, but more on that another time.
For now, I just wanted to share the plan of my trip:
Around North America in 83 Days… A Hiatus of Healing.
Now that I’ve posted it, I HAVE to do it!
Post your thoughts below, both supportive and critical comments are welcomed!
