After nearly 9 months of full-time camping in The Tiny, I am presenting my state-of-the-union report.
Something Old, Something New
I bought a membership to the Thousand Trails campground system, which means I have my choice of some 160 campgrounds and RV parks around the country where I can stay for 2 or 3 weeks at a time for no extra charge.
So far, I’ve camped at 7 different campgrounds, and visited 2 others. I thought that in all these months I would have traveled further up and down the state and across the country. But I have circled around in about a 200-mile radius. I’ve stayed at one particular campground (which is near family and friends) at least 6 times. Another one I’ve stayed at 2 times, and I have stayed once each at the other 5 campgrounds, with reservations to revisit at least one of those in the next few months.
Some people get very excited about visiting a campground that’s new to them. I find myself excited about visiting a campground I have already been to. I like knowing where the areas are that I will like and feel comfortable in. With my set up, I need a specific type of site that provides the privacy I need. It’s not like pulling a 40-foot Class A motorhome into a slot, opening the slides, and hooking up the power, water and sewer. I need a specific setting for The Tiny and the tent-like awning I set up in front, and for the dog yard I set up on the perimeter. Once I’ve been to a campground for a few weeks, I get a sense where I want to be. So the second, third or fourth time, I’m likely to end up in a good place for me. I look forward to the day when I’ve been to my favorite 10 campgrounds 10 times each and when I pull in to look for a site, I’ll know exactly where to set up.
Nothing Borrowed
I am a new fan of radio host Dave Ramsey, who is a big proponent of having no debt and paying cash for everything, including houses and cars. What? No car loan? That’s what Dave preaches. I’m getting on that train. Before I took off in The Tiny, I incurred debt for my new Durango, for The Tiny and work done to get it ready, for major dental work, and for the dog’s emergency care. Suddenly I’m swimming in debt. Even if much of it is secured by assets, it’s still debt. And as they say: The borrower is slave to the lender. Luckily the hemorrhaging stopped many months ago. My new program is to pay all this off in one year or less, build my savings, and then no more borrowing. If I am to buy a different or bigger trailer, it will be paid for with cash. This makes me feel differently about The Tiny. I’ll be living in this little pod of satisfaction for at least a year, so I feel new energy to make it just right for me. Getting some big loan for a fancy Airstream is just not in my future.
Lots of Blue
My hair continues to be blue. I have blue quilt on my bed. I have some blue pillows and curtains. My dog is a blue merle. I never knew I liked blue before taking off on my trip. And maybe I never did. But now I like blue. Embracing and accepting change is probably the biggest lesson I’m learning on my journey. I change my campground every 3 weeks. My neighbors at the campground are on their own 3-week rotation. One day they are there, and the next day they are gone. And then you meet up with them at a different or the same campground later on. The stores I shop at change. The towns I visit change. The places I walk my dog change. So it’s been easy for me to acknowledge: Now I like blue. It wasn’t a struggle.
So that is the state of the union of my mind and body. This journey has gone surprisingly well. I’ve escaped the loneliness and overwhelm I feared. There has been no downward spiral. I feel connected and whole. I’m infused with a deep peace and happiness I don’t recall feeling before. The simplicity of my belongings is a tonic I didn’t even know I thirsted for. The massive exposure to nature is likely the main reason for my happiness. I believe I am a primitive soul not too far from a nomadic ancestral past.
Hey, thanks for checking in with me and hearing my stories. I really appreciate the connection.