Where We Began

I told you I’d tell you my current location later. That’s because it comes with a rather lengthy explanation.

We’re back where we began, in Las Vegas.

And we’ll be here for a little bit. No, not “home” because it has a distinct “not home anymore” feel to it. Which feels really good to me, I might add.

Those of you that have been reading this blog for any length of time probably remember how I feel about my hometown. That is to say I’m less than crazy about being here. In fact, I’m pretty sure when I signed up for birth, I thought it was going to happen in some other place. I’ve been a wee bit resentful ever since. Las Vegas has some great things about it, but it’s just not for me.

So what, you may be asking, are we doing back here? Well, I’m going to tell, complete with headlines, because that’s how I roll:

The Story

About a month ago began a really bumpy ride. A long, seemingly endless string of frustrations. The kind that force you to stop and ask “What the f*ck is going on here??”

No joke, it was insane. First, a major water leak that ruined some of our things and soaked our beds. Then the injector pump stranded us at the side of the road. Then it was the alternator, then the batteries, then a strange wire that runs between the two, then the glow plugs, then the shocks, then the driveline, then a timing belt, then the veggie oil’s fuel pump. It was a domino effect and each time we fixed one thing, something else would break the very next day.

Nearly four weeks of this people!

If it hadn’t been for friends meeting us in Albuquerque and traveling with us, keeping us sane and safe should anything happen, I’m pretty sure we would have ended up killing each other. I’ll spare you the ugly details. Because having friends nearby makes all the difference. But through the experience, one really cool thing happened:

We suddenly became really clear on what we wanted.

As thoughts of “settling in” long-term in New Mexico were dancing in our minds, we knew we were not ready to settle down. We aren’t ready to stop yet.

And the more we sat stranded in New Mexico, the more we felt it was time to put up or shut up, make the decision, commit, one way or the other. And so we did. We talked, the three of us, about what we wanted. And we all came to the same decision.

The Decision

We’ve decided to stay on the road for as long as we can.

The world and the economy are changing: peak oil, climate change, recession/depression, war and corruption. While some people see that as a sign to play it safe, we’re feeling pretty damn good about taking more risks. We’ve taken advantage of a huge opportunity, one that may not always present itself.

Life and circumstances may not always allow us to travel, to meet such amazing people, see such rich and diverse things. Life is uncertain and sometimes volatile and it’s all the more reason for us to enjoy what we can while we have it. For some that means loving fully the place they are, or the people they’re with.

For us it means loving fully not having a place yet and enjoying  the road with each other. We want to give Zeb the opportunity to explore and experience. We want to explore and experience with him. We don’t want to put this off until Someday because we all know life never guarantees us a Someday.

Neither of our dreams is without sacrifices. We can sacrifice Now for the security of a permaculture, off-grid home or we can sacrifice a home for the adventure of a lifetime.

Not exactly an easy decision. But I’ve learned something about my sense of security. It’s a myth. It’s a false sense of something being there that doesn’t even exist.

The world is a dangerous place to be. Life is inherently messy. It’s full of hairpin turns and steep drop-offs and unexpected landslides. And we can sit far from the edge and feel secure but the risk is still there, maybe even greater, since we’ve made ourselves sitting ducks dependent on something outside our own daring ingenuity.

There is no protecting ourselves from danger; there’s only missing out on opportunity.

Ironically, as soon as we all made the decision to commit to this life, as soon as we got clear and cohesive on what we wanted,  Ol’ Benny stopped giving us trouble. I guess sometimes decisions we’re avoiding will just demand our attention.

Where We Are Now

So that brings me back to Las Vegas.

After committing, the pieces fell into place smoothly and effortlessly. Benny is a great RV, but he’s not cut out for full-timing. So we need to upgrade and we needed a place to crash while we work out the details. My parents not only had a place for us to park, they have a handful of projects custom fit for us.

Justin is going to be installing a pergola, building a tool shed and probably helping to landscape a yard. After that he might be doing their crown molding and maybe a few other home improvements for them. I’m also helping my mom transition into a Real Foods, gluten-free diet.

And we’ll be using the time to sell Justin’s gasoline truck, sell Benny the Brave and various other things and purchase a diesel truck and a 5th wheel. The 5th wheel has been Zeb’s idea for awhile and he’s finally sold us on it. What can I say; he’s a persuasive kid.

We’re also using the time to focus on working for ourselves. We have money to raise while we’re here, new ventures to launch and new ideas to investigate. Having this time at my parents’ place to focus on those things is an amazing blessing.

We’ll be here for three months, working, eating, playing with friends and enjoying the things we really do love about Vegas.

And come the beginning of the year, we’ll be back on the road.

Shameless Plug

The next three months are going to be crunch-time for us. Big projects, lots of work and more needed if we want to make this happen.

We would love your help.

Do you have a project you want done? Have you been considering scheduling a coaching session? If there’s something you need that we can help with, we’d love to work with you! You can check out our services here. (Travel may still be an option.)

And if you’ve benefited from this blog and from my writing in any way, if I’ve inspired you or if you just have a crush on my husband (because who doesn’t?), and want to send your support, would you consider donating to the cause?