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.
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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