In 2020 my husband and I flew out to Las Vegas and rented a car and drove for a week. We visited Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. We stayed in a different town each night, explored Route 66, spent lots of time at the Grand Canyon, drove through the Navajo Nation, put our feet into the Colorado River, and had the trip of a lifetime. Then, in 2021 we decided to explore some more. We flew to Rhode Island, went to Salem, Mass for the day. Drove up to Maine, spent the night and drove back to Rhode Island to catch a flight to Chicago, where Aaron had to do a day of work. From there we flew out to Bozeman, Montana and spent the next 4-5 days exploring Yellowstone National Park. We again stayed in a different town each night and used a different entrance to the park each day. It was another trip of a lifetime. We started talking a bit about traveling full time, but knew it wasn’t a possibility with our careers. In 2022 life happened and we didn’t get a vacation. The urge to travel kept getting stronger. And then…opportunity knocked at our door.
Aaron was offered a promotion which included the opportunity to work mostly remotely from anywhere! So, after some discussion, he accepted and we bought our new home, an Airstream. He towed our future home to our house, and we began the process of getting it ready to be our fulltime home on wheels. For Aaron it was love at first sight, for me it was a strong liking with some trepidation as well. Reality of our decision was kicking in and I started to get anxious about all the things that needed to be done before we could begin our new adventure.
I told my family and they were all happy and excited for us. I told my friends, and again only got joy and support. Then, I went into work and gave them my notice. That was one of the hardest things I did. I worked with the most amazing group of people and it was hard to tell them I wasn’t going to be there with them every day. They were so happy and supportive of my decision even though it would make their work lives more difficult. And for that I will be ever grateful.
Next, it was time to deal with the house and all the STUFF! What were we going to do with everything we had accumulated over the years? My kids made it a bit easier by deciding they would like to rent the house from us and wanted everything we didn’t want to take with us. So basically, I had to box up pictures and donate clothes, pack a few personal items too hard to permanently part with and leave all the furniture items, kitchen items and linens for them.
While I was dealing with all of that, Aaron had basically moved into the camper in the back yard. He added solar panels, a cellular router with multiple carriers, and made other small modifications to make our life functional. I stayed in the camper on the weekends but until it was closer to time to leave I was going to enjoy the house. I still had the dog and cat (they were also staying with the house and kids) and house to care for as well as continue working full time.
Finally, my last day of work arrived and freedom to roam was creeping closer and closer! I gave myself a month to finish getting the house sorted, go on a cruise with my mom (WHAT A GREAT WEEK WE HAD!), and get all of my remaining clothes and personal items moved into the camper. I had time to spend with friends that I knew I wasn’t going to see for a long time, and also was treated to an AMAZING dinner at Salt Ritz Carlton Amelia Island by my friends from work. It was the most special evening. And then it was time to say goodbye to the sticks and bricks life and hello to the nomadic life we had been dreaming of.
Wandering Cindi 