An Uncertain Future
Or is it?
It is difficult for many to leave what was once familiar. We find this in relationships where they no longer relate. With people who should be leaving a job that makes them miserable. Or when we leave a place we lived at for so long it was ingrained in us. When we exchange certainty for uncertainty it is extremely uncomfortable and often frightening, but necessary and often rewarding.
We left it all behind in 2021. Divested ourselves of our belongings and hit the road, trying our hands at RVing full-time. It was hard to leave but with a strong will and determination, we did just that. Our future was not firmly planned but it was also not quite uncertain.
Then, this summer (2022) we had to return to Anacortes, WA for medical reasons. We were fortunate to find a place where we could moochdock on a friend’s property for over three months. When we left in 2021 (the first time) It was difficult, but it was even sadder and somewhat harder to leave now (the second time.)
This time felt more final. Would this be the last time here? This time as we left Anacortes, the future felt more uncertain and not as comfortable. A change was coming and we were not sure we were ready, yet?
We learned a lot in our first year on the road — about RVing, about ourselves. Some of the expectations weren’t quite what we thought, yet we found unexpected and delightful surprises. We learned we are not meant to be road warriors, nomads, people without a base. Being stationary for three months confirmed that suspicion about ourselves. Yet, we aren’t quite ready to give up the RV life. Such a conundrum.
In February 2023, it will be two years since we started this journey and we have decided it is our goal date to find a home base. But where? We have some limitations and requirements we would like to meet when deciding where to next. Washington state had been our home for over thirty years but the cost of living had priced many of us out and forced us to look elsewhere, so the cost of living and more affordable housing is critically important. We are aging and should probably stay close to medical facilities, but we don’t want to live in a large city. SUNSHINE is at the top of the list but would not prefer extreme heat, or extreme cold. There is no “ideal” place but there must be a place that we can call “home.”
As we journeyed around the country, part of that journey was to see if any one place had good vibes. Did it call to us and say, “this is it, this is where you should be.” Though nothing screamed at us, we did receive a few whispers.
While on our journey there were places that felt like possibilities and were worth consideration. Only two places were close to suggesting this is the place — Michigan, but the winters are too cold and Florida but the summers could be extremely uncomfortable. Tennessee and Georgia also said maybe. They certainly met the more affordable goal and would definitely have more sunshine. We liked SW Utah and parts of Arizona but we have concerns about hot, hot summers and the water situation.
Life on the road was uncertain at first; unknown roads, where is the next gas station?, will we fit in the gas station?, towing for the first several times, learning the new skill of backing up, and so much more. But doors opened and the uncertainty turned into an adventure.
An uncertain future often comes with a door, that once opened, welcomes you in and shows you the next possibilities in life. It will invite you on a journey that is wondrous, exciting, and sometimes emotional healing.
It is okay to be uncertain, even frightened, but each moment will take you to that next journey you are meant to be on, open your heart and mind and just follow, you may not know where the road will lead you, but they say it is the journey that is more important than the destination.
