Letters from the RV

Okay, bringing everyone up to speed (from our Bon Voyage article), we bought a camper recently and spent over a week in it in June. It had to go in for maintenance, but as soon as it was completed early this month - we've been hitting the road!

HEADLINE: We love the RV experience and hope to make it a part of our life fOrEvEr. I often share with Mike and the boys that once the boys are older, perhaps in college*, I want to buy a small and cozy van with just enough space for Nina, Mike, and me - or just me (if Mike or a friend aren't down for the adventure that day). Either way, besides the RV, don't be surprised (if God grants me the years and the capability); I am the great grandma/auntie who disappears in her van (and boat) to explore the continent and emerges to make tons of loving visits. It's my kind of lifestyle, but more on that later.

*those who know me well, though, know that I probably won't be able to wait. If it's God's will and Mike is in agreement, I'm jumping. This picture below, by Dino Reichmuth, perfectly illustrates my vision.

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Family Travel

In our first year of marriage, my grandmother gave me the book "Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class." Ashley and I read it together, and I would share excerpts I loved with Mike. One thing that struck a chord with Mike was the idea of people working during the week and then traveling to Martha's Vineyard or their lake house on the weekends. This became a dream for him for a long time. The dream became a touchable reality when he worked beside people who lived that lifestyle (cramped apartment in the city and a family home in the Hamptons). And if there is one thing about us, when one of us dreams - we become united in that dream - praying, working, and saving until it's a reality.

But for me, I was introduced to the idea of having a second home at a young age. Part of it was because my parents had a short time with a timeshare, but also through the girls at my high school. I realized that traveling meant going to a second home for most of them. While it's undoubtedly dreamy to spend summers in Martha's Vineyard or at a beach, for me, it took away from the true essence of traveling. And for us, if we spent money on a second home, we definitely would not be keeping up a vibrant traveling flow. Don't get me wrong, a second home by a body of water is lovely, and I would be overwhelmed with gratitude to experience it (and it's a fabulous investment).

But I just need a lot more movement and seclusion in my life. Folks laugh at me, but I truly need time to disappear. In silence, solitude, or when invisible in a crowd of people, I am reminded that I am but a speck of sand on a beach, and that keeps me sane.

But then, post-COVID traveling felt different: so much mOnEy, staying in someone else's space, worrying about the cleanliness, constantly eating out, paying for the dog sitters/kennels, the cons of sharing space (noise, living out of a suitcase and cramped elevators). Then there was sharing a small room with our boys; although lovely, it was sometimes challenging because they'd wanna go outside IMMEDIATELY and EARLY, and what does that mean? We all have to get ready, put on our clothes, go downstairs... Now, again, I love traveling and will continue...but my desire to travel often was weaning.

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Why an RV?

Mike and I have been enjoying camping together since our youngest was about one year old. Initially, we mostly camped in cabins, but it was pretty expensive, similar to hotel stays. This was particularly true because most cabins did not allow dogs. As we continued our camping adventures through Gather Forest School, we discovered that while we both enjoyed camping, we sometimes disagreed on the camping style. We tried every kind of camping – trailers, yurts, tents, and cabins – and found the RV was our family favorite.

If used, the RV offers cost savings and practicality. It allows us to bring our dog and cook homemade meals. We can go camping no matter the weather, although I know some backpackers are hardcore and would go regardless. For us, it enables travel regardless. We can wake up and stretch outdoors in our pajamas without noise pollution or friendly conversations. It also gives us a lake house feel with the ability to work during the week and travel to the coast or to the lake on weekends.

And we aren’t alone. Our during COVID-19, article on BIPOC Glamping Here.

While on longer breaks, we can travel beyond the southeastern coast and experience a more secluded yet communal lifestyle. We've visited upscale RV resorts (Savannah Lakes was a favorite) that offer communal living with all the amenities and remote spaces (Henderson State Park, Destin Fl.) surrounded by natural beauty where your closest neighbors are only readily visible if you stroll around. We've also stayed in crowded campgrounds (James Island County Park, SC), closely packed together with humans, nature, and animals. Then there are RV trailer parks, which felt like apartment buildings where long-time residents stayed inside their RVs most of the day. Although friendly, these places had more of a neighborhood or apartment-building vibe than an authentic camping atmosphere.

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Our Slow & Gentle Cadence:

We prayerfully will be RVing and potentially van-roaming for life. That said, I cannot see myself not having a home base. I love being an educator and working with children. In fact, after our boys are no longer homeschooled, I have dreams of dedicating more time to the public educational landscape. Whether that's with Grassroots and Gather or back into public education, my life is devoted to the well-being and safe development of children. Mike and I also like the idea of our boys being able to visit "their home," and I am deeply drawn to the frugal and homesteading aspects of life at home. However, we also seek adventure, and at least every two weeks, we want to wander, whether in a van, boat, train, car trailer, or airplane.

Moving from home to the road blesses us with a slow and gentle existence. We aren't hurriedly packing or frantically making plans—we get to just go at our own pace. And y'all, if there is one thing I desire for all of us, it is to move at our own pace.

Until next time, friends!

Polepole,

Shelby