hotel nomads, for now

Ah, just when we think we are ready to hit the road, we hit another stumbling block, instead.

So, as I pack up our belongings to move, not into our dream RV, but yet another hotel, I guess I will be examining tiny living, hotel style for at least a few more months. Sigh.

In the first few hours, I planned on just abandoning the blog for the time being. But then, I realized that even full time hotel living is a unique experience, very similar to the RV life. We are now moving for the 12th time in 14 months.

I have two more hours to pack up and move on over to our next 'campsite'.

Much like any campground, the views can be spectacular. Right now, I have a stunning view of the Santa Cruz mountains from my second floor window. Trees are flowering in white, purple and pink glory.

This next move will place us closer to the San Francisco Bay, but still a bit far for any water views. A twenty minute drive will take us down to the shoreline.

 

Just a short drive from Blackhawk mall.

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camper lifestyle

I love photos. And, anytime I can come up with a reason to post one, two, twenty, I will do it. As I try to fill up more hours waiting to hear back on so many details of our RV essentials-financing, warranties, inspectors, etc, my nerves are exploding. 

So, I decided to calm them down by reminding myself that, yes, I have spent my entire life preparing to live the RV lifestyle. 

Way back when I was too young to understand how mosquitoes could bite my toes through the screen of our families Starcraft popup, when they were pushed tight against it. After all, there was a screen. I have spent the warm summer nights camping. 

First in said tent camper, with my mom sleeping on the inside edge of one bed with us two little girls one one side and daddy and older brother on the other. Bigger brother, yet, got the drop down table. We were camping in style, that's for sure.

Then, not long after, my dad upgraded up the the super duper Holiday Rambler. Everyone had their very own bed. And a window, too! 

I loved those late night KOA pull-ins where we all climbed into bed, exhausted and fell asleep to the sound to the cars whizzing by out on the nearby interstate.

Photos-Sisters: top Badlands in North Dakota. left Polaris, MT. Right Virginia City, MT.

Since camping didn't always mean long summer days, the photo above was taken during a duck hunting trip with by father. We spent this long weekend in late October 'chillin' up in northern Minnesota during my either grade year. Uncle Jerome kindly took the photograph.

Time slips by quickly. While I was pregnant enough to barely fit into the trailers during their RV shopping, the parents upgraded to a Fremont Travelmaster. The little man blowing bubbles was born during their maiden voyage.

We had many, many trips of our own in the parental's RV through the years.

Including a two week trip into the middle of nowhere beginning when this little man, our fourth, was only ten days old. He 'walked' across the headwaters of the Mississippi River before he was a month old.

Hiking through Interstate State Park in St. Croix Fall with our FIVE children.

And, enjoying the views in Teddy Roosevelt National Park . Since I am the one taking the photograph, you can not tell that our six and youngest child is soon to join our family.

 
With two older sisters busy with high school activities, we packed up the mini van and drove the kids down to Disney World. Their first fancy  type motel trip.

Eight years later, we are back at Disney World with the two still at home. 

We become world travelers by flying across the Pond to England and France.

Then, as years continue on we get back to our rustic camping roots in Yosemite National Park. We fit in the Grand Canyon and a bit of New Mexico, as well.

Nothing will ever beat a nice weekend at the lake with family and friends.

 

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a new beginning

young family camping in late 1980s

Today, we start fresh. I will sprinkle a few posts into this blog to give an idea of where we started from, but this is truly where we begin our RV life.

Forest River Sabre 36BHQ

Eight years ago we moved from my dream house on an acre and a quarter with a pond in the backyard and a lake off the front to the life of contract living. A six bedroom house (for our six growing children) with a beautiful bay window in my bedroom looking down on my duck filled pond. A fireplace, vaulted ceilings and large laundry room to boot.  I spent the year it took to sell our first starter house, I also help design, creating my dream vision.

We have moved sixteen times in the eight years since moving to the West Coast. Dream house or not, I was more than ready to go on our new live adventure west. Kids grow, life changes and it was just time to do something new.

To be someone new.


Since then, there have been multiple teeny tiny apartments, each one costing more per month than our monthly house payment.

Many years were spent down in Southern California, with warm, sometimes sweltering sunshine. Disneyland, Hollywoodland, boat parades, whale watching and more, all intermixed with our day to day living.

Moving from the long winter, blink your eye short summers of Minnesota, to sunshine and sandals was worth the shoe box size living. Even on those 117 degree days.

Yes, I personally took this picture on a whale watching tour out of Newport Beach! Great day!

This last contract moved us up into the Bay Area of San Francisco. Thinking we would only be here for 12 months, we ultimately chose to stay in extended stay hotels. We have now doubled our former house payment for a small hotel room, and that is still cheaper than an apartment up in the East Bay near San Francisco.

There are three adults living side by side by side.

And, I know there are great things about the Bay Area. Still, there is one quote I read once, I don't recall where, but have repeat many, many, many times since.

"The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco."

 

Golden Gate Bridge Fisherman's Wharf   winter 2019

Husband's contract was thankfully extended for another six months, with an additional six month possible. Two years is the max on any contract, so we will definitely be moving, again, after that.

Still, the idea of three of us, in a hotel room, for another whole year.

NOPE.

We have talked for many years about buying an RV trailer 'someday'. We have just been waiting for the right time. As we tentatively dip our toes in the water of trailer life, I still am wondering if today really is 'someday.'

Entire family on destination camping trip for son's wedding. 2018

I have spent the past few weeks-months-years on research patrol. Learning anything and everything I can about living small. We choose to believe this will not be difficult, due to our 14+ months living as hotel nomads.

But, all of the research does not seem to be making things easier. I just discover more and more things I need to worry about. Things that will cause problems/disasters. Reasons to be completely terrified by this entire idea of a house on wheels. Bathroom tanks. Walls that slide.

Financing, warranties, finding an actually affordable place to park this rolling beast while we are stationary for the next few months, just to name a few.

Yes, the more I read, research and discover, the more terrified I get.

We are in our eleventh different location in those few short months. Packing up and shuffling around is exhausting. Could having all of our belongings already prepacked in our mobile home sweet home really be the yellow brick road heading towards our emerald city...

or is it the cliff we drive off?

Photos taken at Monterrey Bay right after we went and look at the RV we intend to purchase, if everything falls into place.

But, for now, I guess that is just a story for another day.

My Pinterest board: Home Sweet Rolling Home



And, just is case there is a bit of a lag between this contract and the next contact, I found this:
http://workampingjobs.com/workampingjobs.php

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