Let the selling begin....

I had a day off work today.  The sun was shining it was beautiful, so we decided to start selling stuff.  It didn't hurt to much because I have too much stuff.  We took one of the boys out to dinner and put the rest of the money in our solar kit fund.  It is nice to see these things go to good homes who can really use them.  And it is nice to be rid of things.  Our plan is to move stuff into the garage as we sort through.  List as many things as we can and take the rest to our community garage sale at the end of May.  At the wnd of thw garage sale a donation truck will come so nothing has to come back home.   That will leave us one month to figure out how to get rid of the rest.  It doeant hurt yet but I am sure it will.  Our goal is to only have one medium size tote of memorabilia for each member of the family.  For us that is ten totes.  It is a lofty goal. But I believe I am up to the challenge.  I already have Easter and Halloween in the garage.  I just have Christmas and then the storage will be cleaned out.  I find that I am more excited to get rid of all of our stuff than to tell friends what we are doing.  I often look at things and wonder why I felt the need to haul it across the country four years ago.  Seems a waste to me now. My house is getting lighter now I just need to figure out the waistline.

A Diabolical Plan

So we came up with a plan.  Invite the kids to the RV to play games.  They always ask to play games and we never have time.  So we make time, in our future home.  Seems sinister I know but I gotta come up with some way to stop the incessant whining.  I mean I have teenagers I expect a fair amount of whining but you would think I proposed living in a concentration camp.  So we are being sneaky. I know they are mostly sneakier, three of my kids are growed up, but I gotta try. If I don't fight for my family who will?  So today we play games in the RV...tomorrow I might send them into a panic and cook.....if I don't convince them living on the road is the best plan I may convince them I have lost what little sanity I have left, either way I am going to get some family time if it costs me my sanity.

A Training Weekend...just the two of us

Well our first weekend out.  We only managed to argue once.  After an $80 trip to the RV store Tony got the  RV level.  The dogs are enjoying the woods and the ranger stopped by to chat. I don't want to leave.  I think of how nice it will be to play games with the kids.  Ride our bikes around the woods and just enjoy life in general.  Next time out we bring the kids.  At least, the ones we can corral together.  Hopefully we are a little more organized then.  It was fun playing with the solar and seeing how much juice we could get even in the rain.  So many things to learn before this becomes our life. But for now we just enjoy the view and the company.

Gearing Up

We took the RV for a little drive this last weekend.  Just to dust off the snow,  check all the gismos and gadgets before spring and summer really spring upon us.  About halfway through our travels a women yells at us that our spare tire is about to fall off.  Sure enough it was hanging by a bolt. Swinging around in circles without a care in the world.  Now we can't be sure if it was the long winter that loosened the bolts or it was a wondering child or two with a few tools and some time, but tightening up bolts on randomly mounted objects is going on the list of checks to make while your in the long dump station lines of summer.   Our 20th anniversary just passed and we are heading out for a rousing weekend of boondocking. Just me and my much better half, and if that turns out well we will bring the hooligans and see if we can survive a weekend without cell service, electronics, and other devices that compete, and often win, for our time.
On a side note another man flagged us down because he loved our car engine.  I am going to miss Montana a lot if we actually get out of here. 

Split Decision

I think the hardest part is that we haven't fully commited.  I think we are making plans hoping that someone or something will change our minds.  We aren't crazy.  I fully believe we will have more family time.  That we will become closer as we trek across this nation. And I know we will fight and argue.  My children will complain that I give them to much work. A dog may even run away and be lost for a bit. But we will have each other. If this lasts 1 year or 40, there is no way we can replace those memories together as family.
So you have to be asking yourself what is the problem then?  Why am I not shouting it from the rooftops ready to hitch up the trailer and ride?  I think it is because of the unknown. It is scary. Any chance to stay is familiar and safe so we cling to the dreams and ideas.  If I am truly honest with myself though I know this is the life I want to live.  The one where we ride bikes as a family and play marco polo in the pool.  The one where we read Harry Potter by the Campfire, and have Feed the transient cook-offs, the life where we loved to serve others as a family and find great joy in being together.  Somewhere between the 5th and 8th kid I lost it, but with this lifestlye I can get it back.  It wasn't easy the first time and it will be twice as hard this time. But when I look at the garage sale pile multiply daily I realize this stuff never did make me happy.  It was with my kids I found my greatest joy and I want them to know and remember that.

A journey of a thousand miles

I still spend most of my day wondering what the heck I am doing and if I am ever going to admit to people this is how I want to live. I don't mind telling people of my trip last fall, but there is something about intentionally living on the road that makes me nervous to tell others.  In my head it is the most exciting scary thing I can think of.  I figure it is a lot like someone telling me how awesome a roller coaster ride is.  I won't argue the point with them, because I accept it as a reality of their feelings, but you won't catch me jumping on that band wagon.   So I sit silently by with only my trusted friends, and a few people who have already stumbled onto my blog, waiting with giddy anticipation for July 1, when I officially become part of this country.  Not a Pennsylvanian, ohian or Montanian, but an American.  Absorbing all the country has to offer" one mile at a time.

Divided

So, yesterday we were faced with a choice.  Do we apply for a job and put off our adventure until a few more kids graduate or do we move forward. I will admit we are divided.  Part of us wants to stay in this beautiful valley and part of us want to set out on an adventure and we didn't even tell the kids about the job opportunity.  The night before we reserved a spot at Glacier National Forest for two weeks to begin our adventure. Two weeks trekking through this beautiful area before we depart. We are starting to do more family things already and we haven't even left.  I am excited for the adventure that lies before us no matter how long it takes to begin.