We seem to have acquired a habit on the road. Every day we’re scheduled to cross a state line we tend to do a deep clean, from top to bottom. We’ve termed it The State Line Shuffle. 
Thankfully, this shuffling takes us about 30 minutes. In that time we (and by we I usually mean I) put away toys, books, computers or other things, sort clothes that need to be washed at our next location, and rehang or refold the rest. Then we (I) grab a rag and the spray bottle and wash down the fingerprints that have graced our walls, clean up the sinks, wipe down the shower and clean the toilet. Then I sweep and hand-mop the floor with a second rag. Justin then takes that second rag and the spray bottle to wash the bugs off the windows. We may or may not throw the fridge somewhere in there for good measure.
We don’t always do it at the state line, but Justin is threatening to drive us across the border every week anyway.
My view from Louisiana
We’re now in Louisiana, in a little town called Keatchie (pronounced key-chie), about an hour south of Shreveport. So small in fact, they don’t even have their own grocery store!
It’s beautiful and quiet and the serenity feels so good. But it’s lonely not feeling connected to a tribe. I’m making the most of what it is but I’m looking forward to driving into New Orleans and Baton Rouge and meeting new people and finding friends.
In the meantime we’re hooping, playing games, watching movies, playing online and relaxing. Zeb is hoping to do some fishing in the neighbor’s pond soon and Justin is excited to have found a boatload of free veg oil for the RV. Next weekend we’ll be celebrating with the locals at the annual crawfish festival.
But for now we’re just trying to stay connected to each other as Justin attempts to go back to work and we attempt to find a tribe.
So, tell me tribe, how’s your weekend going?
My name is Tara. I am a mama and a lover, a full-time nomad, a passionate devourer of Life and an Organic Life Coach.
We’re completely alone (again) in a big campground for 2 weeks! Friends coming next weekend though. But we haven’t gotten to experience the tribe yet, so we’re okay for now. Have fun!
I got my garden in! That’s about it. Things are weird here right now.
I happened across your blog just in time to let you know about our local unschooling beach/park day down here in Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville (it’s across the lake from New Orleans). There’s a bunch of kids (including my own) who are around Zeb’s age! Hope you make it down this way! Are you on facebook? You could see photos from previous park days on my facebook page (Denise Deeves). We’d love to meet you guys, too!
So far nice and relaxing, took my little one to a bday party at a bowling alley, cleaned my kitchen a bit, and the rest of the weekend is going to be a whole bunch of nothing!
Between cleaning up my neighbors yard and putting rabbit fence around our new garden our house is in need of a state line shuffle. You guys could make it all the way to West Virginia before we are done.
I just saw the new Robin Hood movie. I very much recommend it. Alan Doyle does a fantastic job playing himself *drool*
We are in Jackson, MS. If you come this way let me know. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and hear some experience living on the road. We are considering the same. So far, no luck finding the right set up in an RV though. Anyway, please feel free to say hello if you get this way!
Lizbeth
There’s something very therapeutic about those deep cleans.
We’ve got family in town for a wedding we attended today. Tomorrow, we’ve got a birthday party for a wee friend. A weekend of celebrations to be followed by a week of returning to a calmer rhythm.
This weekend is going super well – not smoothly but well none-the-less. Made my first etsy sale (and was so surprised at how excited I got!) – took daughter to B-day party and went thrifty while waiting for – got asked out on a date (of course I declined but it sure felt nice – I’ve been all PMSing and feeling old and ugly so it felt really good) – and bought a little tent so we can camp this summer cause I’m really doubtful the trailer will be road ready for this year
This morning started w/ cuddling in bed w/ Eli and Hubby
and being talking ever so sweetly into making everyone waffles and being cranky and overly emotional and having Hubby hug me and ask how he could help – really nice to feel supported.
Oh and we all watched Bill Engvall 15′ Off Cool (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0926757/) last night and laughed so hard it almost hurt! This after hanging around the table listening to an old Bill Cosby routine together – so really, life is good!
I need to do the cross state shuffle… not crossing a state in the RV but boooooooy does it need a cleaning! Supposed to do laundry today, yeah, I’m online LOL!
lovin your vibe mama! Heading east by any chance?
If only I had state lines to remind me to clean…
“State line shuffle”, I love it. You’ll like this, too: today George and I walked into an open RV at a closed car dealership near our house. We’ve been looking at this *little* (emphasize the little part) motor home for weeks b/c the price is only $2900. It was brown and stinky and stuffy and would need a total re-do, but I think it would be livable for summer times at least…not that we can buy this one b/c the money isn’t there yet, but we’re really imagining this thing. Woo hoo!
Love it when little rituals create themselves!
We had family in town for a gorgeous weekend and will spend the week getting back into our flow, focusing on business stuff and enjoying the warm weather together. I’ve got some birth activism stuff on my plate this week too.
Hey, you’re really close to Natchitoches, LA where I lived for a year and a half while teaching at the University there… cute town. It’s where they filmed Steel Magnolias and they’re prett proud of it.
LA gets really neat when you get way down in Cajun country.
Have fun.
funy isn’t it, how we humans are creatures of habit, and even when all around is changing, we make routines and patterns out of what we are doing.
We had an awesome weekend, starting with me getting my haircut, then going to a craft fair a friend had organised, then to the County Show with the family. Yesterday we found a quite river beach and played in the sun all day. It probably doesn’t have the same impact where you guys are, but the whole weekend has been sunshining and warm, and it’s been absolutely blissful. Today we are chilling in the back garden, my beautiful girl is nekkid and in and out of the paddling pool, and we are so so enjoying the sunshine. Happy times – hope you are having happy times too.
Lisa,
Too funny. I have been trying to get Heidi to entertain the idea of a little home for us, as my job just approved my ability to work remote full-time once the transition is complete, but she is not biting yet, but we are talking about moving back to Colorado to be more near family again. I really envy you adventures Tara.
In Frith,
Devin
wow you are close to us here in southeast texas…just a few hours away.
this weekend we went to the farmer’s market, a wedding, worked in my own garden and with our chickens, and smiled with our peeps.
travel safe!
We were on the road this weekend! Not as much fun when you have to be strapped in a little car with a toddler who doesn’t sleep!!!
That place you’re staying looks beautiful!
We ripped the propane and black water tanks off the RV to be replaced. Fixed a fuel line, checked brakes, replaced the fuel pump on the generator, replaced the transfer switch, repaired the exhaust pipe and put fluid in the rear differential. Removed and washed the sofa and the dinette cushions.
Scrubbed, washed, vacuumed, dusted, sorted, cursed and coughed LOL
We’ll be ready to get back on the road in a matter of weeks.
We still have to replace the oven, batteries, driver window, awning, captains seats, and toilet and install a solar system, extra water tank and new shelves for the former closet (to be pantry).
How is it more work the second time around?? ;-p
The coming and going of the road tribe is always hard, but it gets easier when you start to see how often you will see people again and again, and how many opportunities there are for new people.