Just a few thoughts on my first two weeks on the road. And since I am a female it may pertain more to women than men.. :shy:
1. You will over pack. Since I am traveling with (2) cats and a dog who have never liked being in a car I brought along a large dog crate for the cats and a small one for the dog. After the first day they now ride on the couch. I have winter clothes, summer clothes and three jackets of various warmths. It is 80 degrees in Georgia - I don't need a jacket.
2. The first time you boondock at a Cracker Barrel in some strange city because you are too tired to drive you will be thinking "what am I doing?" and then you will sleep all through the night after a good meal of course.
3. Any mechanical problem, after you have had your vehicle checked and re-checked will again have you asking "what am I doing"? And then you will find a mechanic and have it fixed.
4. Traveling without a plan can be expensive. Traveling with a plan means you have to adhere to a schedule. Sometimes you have to choose. As noted in another thread this lifestyle isn't free. Gas, food, laundry, campgrounds or Cracker Barrels all involve some expense . The good thing is you have more control over how you wish to spend your money. I haven't found any "free" camping here on the east coast, but I have paid as little as $9.00/night to stay in the National forest - without hookups.
5. Some of the best tourist attractions are free.
6. If you aren't enjoying yourself - make a new plan. If it isn't fun it is not worth doing. I could have been miserable staying in the place that I left. When I find that I am getting cranky it just means I have to change what I am doing. This is my dream and I am going to enjoy it.
7. Fear of every imaginable thing that can go wrong will pop up occasionally - you just have to tell yourself that you have it under control. My first few days, especially with my vehicle problems were a little scary. But now, not so much.
8. I have met some great people by introducing myself to them. I have had great, random conversations with people from all over but I had to take the initiative. So say hello to your neighbor.
So far this has been an incredible adventure. I opted to only go with free wifi when I can get it which means I go for days at a time without it and that presents its own challenge too. But instead of being online I write letters, I talk on the phone, I talk to my neighbors if I have any, I walk the dog, read, and just enjoy the moment. Has it all been wonderful - no, some things have sucked like the refrigerator dying, getting the sewer hose stuck and having to pry it off with a screw driver in the freezing cold, early morning hours, paying $25 to go to a tourist attraction that was NOT worth that much money, having your GPS route you down a road that turned into a goat trail and there's no way to turn around, asking for directions to a place for the second time and learning its right around the corner - but I am having a wonderful time and I am finding I am a whole lot more than I thought I was. And nothing beats that.
1. You will over pack. Since I am traveling with (2) cats and a dog who have never liked being in a car I brought along a large dog crate for the cats and a small one for the dog. After the first day they now ride on the couch. I have winter clothes, summer clothes and three jackets of various warmths. It is 80 degrees in Georgia - I don't need a jacket.
2. The first time you boondock at a Cracker Barrel in some strange city because you are too tired to drive you will be thinking "what am I doing?" and then you will sleep all through the night after a good meal of course.
3. Any mechanical problem, after you have had your vehicle checked and re-checked will again have you asking "what am I doing"? And then you will find a mechanic and have it fixed.
4. Traveling without a plan can be expensive. Traveling with a plan means you have to adhere to a schedule. Sometimes you have to choose. As noted in another thread this lifestyle isn't free. Gas, food, laundry, campgrounds or Cracker Barrels all involve some expense . The good thing is you have more control over how you wish to spend your money. I haven't found any "free" camping here on the east coast, but I have paid as little as $9.00/night to stay in the National forest - without hookups.
5. Some of the best tourist attractions are free.
6. If you aren't enjoying yourself - make a new plan. If it isn't fun it is not worth doing. I could have been miserable staying in the place that I left. When I find that I am getting cranky it just means I have to change what I am doing. This is my dream and I am going to enjoy it.
7. Fear of every imaginable thing that can go wrong will pop up occasionally - you just have to tell yourself that you have it under control. My first few days, especially with my vehicle problems were a little scary. But now, not so much.
8. I have met some great people by introducing myself to them. I have had great, random conversations with people from all over but I had to take the initiative. So say hello to your neighbor.
So far this has been an incredible adventure. I opted to only go with free wifi when I can get it which means I go for days at a time without it and that presents its own challenge too. But instead of being online I write letters, I talk on the phone, I talk to my neighbors if I have any, I walk the dog, read, and just enjoy the moment. Has it all been wonderful - no, some things have sucked like the refrigerator dying, getting the sewer hose stuck and having to pry it off with a screw driver in the freezing cold, early morning hours, paying $25 to go to a tourist attraction that was NOT worth that much money, having your GPS route you down a road that turned into a goat trail and there's no way to turn around, asking for directions to a place for the second time and learning its right around the corner - but I am having a wonderful time and I am finding I am a whole lot more than I thought I was. And nothing beats that.
