One Month In...
Some thoughts on our new crazy, fun adventure!
I thought it would be nice to share some thoughts from Melissa and I on this new season of life… this crazy, fun adventure… now that we are just past the 1-month mark.
We got Brinkley July 1st, but we didn’t officially start living in Brinkley until July 14th, the day we closed on our house sale. So we are just now past the 1 month mark and here are some thoughts.
First, from Melissa…
We've been on the road for about a month now and I love this Crazy Fun adventure! In this new season, the Lord has heightened my awareness of His incredible faithfulness to protect us and provide for us! He is truly Yahweh Roi, The Lord Our Shepherd!! We've been divinely shielded and graciously provided for in countless situations.
I'm also more aware of all I have to be grateful for, especially the things that I tend to take for granted like electricity, hot water for showers and cleaning dishes, a comfy bed, a flushing toilet (!), a solid roof, clean drinking water, a washing machine, family and friends who have been willing to make the effort to stay in touch, a sweet and friendly puppy, a kind and understanding husband. ❤️
Brinkley is a lovely home. I've been delighted to find how easy the kitchen is to use, with plenty of counter space and storage space in such a small area! The small space is also a great reminder that love keeps short accounts! Since we can't avoid each other for more than a few minutes, it's best to resolve miscommunication or aggravation in the moment. 😀
And Clifford! Love that truck! It's super funny to watch people's reactions to Clifford. Boys stare with wonder and then say, "Look Mom!", at which point the moms look with a semi-horrified expression as they notice the spikes on the front wheels. 🤣🤣 Seriously, we've seen this multiple times.
It's been so fun to explore new places and take walks in new areas! Penny is especially happy to have so many new scents to enjoy and people to befriend!
Speaking of meeting new people, it's been funny to observe people's reactions when we share that we're full-time adventurers. Sometimes there's a stunned silence followed by a barrage of questions: How do you get your mail? (They forward it from our Escapees address.) Where will you spend Thanksgiving and Christmas? (Anywhere we want!) Can you still order from Amazon? (Yes, thank goodness! 😅 Most campgrounds will hold a package for us, and at our current spot, the UPS driver comes right to our campsite with a treat for Penny in his pocket every time! 😀)
BTW, feel free to ask us questions about this life - we love to share what we've been discovering!
Then others comment that they've thought about that but just can't make it work for one reason or another. And a select few have already been happily on the road full-time for many years and are willing to share encouraging stories and helpful tips (thanks, Tom and Kathy!)
And, from Dan…
I’ve always loved camping. I’m sure it stems from trips growing up… from backpacking with my dad and siblings, to road trips, to trailer camping down in Mexico, and probably cub scouts + boy scouts to top it off. There’s just something about the challenge to it, and the adventure of it, and the different rhythm of it.
So now that I’m one month in, I’m struggling to find the right way to pin down this new season. Is it a work rhythm? Well, yes. Very much so. Is it a play rhythm? Absolutely! As much as we can fit in. Is it a explore rhythm? Of course! So much to see (and do!) Is it a relax and chill rhythm? Oh yes. The patio is especially nice for that.
You see, it’s actually all of those things wrapped up into one. It has the thrill of camping and the pride of working and the chill of relaxing and the wonder of exploring wrapped up together… it’s all of those. And I’m still adjusting to that.
There are worries, for sure. I worry that Clifford will break down (he is a FORD after all). I worry that something on Brinkley will break or mess up and I won’t know what to do (actually, that’s already happened multiple times even in month 1). I worry that I’ll make a wrong turn and get stuck in some bad road situation where I can’t turn around or something. And I worry that something bad will happen… crime, flood, sickness, whatever.
BUT, as Melissa has said in her bit, I’m learning that the Lord provides. And especially that this is a season to LIVE and not waste mental or emotional space on worry. “Set that aside, Dan. There’s crazy fun adventure to be had!”
So I’m embracing this new rhythm, thankful for Starlink which gives me rock-solid internet, thankful for Brinkley, an amazing RV (and amazing company behind it), thankful for Clifford who pulls Brinkley like it’s nuthin’, thankful for Melissa for embracing this adventure and being the perfect partner in it, and thankful for friends and family who are supporting us, praying for us, and encouraging us along the way.
The first part of this adventure was a whirlwind as we high-tailed it to TX to get Brinkley registered and get new drivers’ licenses. Then we high-tailed it to Steamboat to spend time with our daughter, my sister and my parents, then we high-tailed it to Longmont to spend time with our son and some friends and co-workers. THEN we high-tailed it to Wisconsin… and began to learn a different rhythm.
These last two weeks here in Door County have been the rhythm I was hoping for. Very “recombobulation-esque” (not a word, but should be). And I hope and pray the coming weeks (and months and years!) will remain in that same rhythm.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Cheers!
Dan & Melissa & Penny & Clifford & Brinkley
