2 years ago we left our driveway for the last time.  Hard to believe it’s been that long, time has flown.  As we finish year 2, we’re so thankful that this year was much less eventful and complicated than our first year.  We figured out quickly that we needed to slow down.  We’ve traveled less miles, been in far fewer states, only added one new state to our states “RV’d in” list and determined that flying for family visits was a lot less complicated, although we miss having our home with us. 

 Just a few facts:

• Yr 2 we towed the 5’ver 40% less miles than Yr1

• Yr 2 we only had one full weekend occupied by a relocation vs. 8 full weekends of driving in year 1

• Year 2 only had 7 nights of enroute stayovers, vs. year 1 we had 16 nights of one night stopovers enroute 

• Year 1 we stayed in 45 different locations (excluding the one night stopovers) with only 1 stay being 4 weeks in duration, all others being 2 weeks or less, year 2 we only stayed at 26 different locations and had 4 different times where we stayed at least a month.

• Each year included 10 art shows, future years will include 6- 8 as we’ve slowed the business down a bit.

• Yr 1 – very little vacation time between my corporate job and Dale’s art show schedule, year 2 we managed to fit 2 vacations in, one in our home on wheels as we traveled through ID and the second one a cruiseJ

• Yr 2 included twice as many miles bicycled and probably more than triple the number of miles hiked.

• One the financial side year 2 was much less expensive, more money went into savings and yet it felt we were living a bit more extravagantly with more time to vacation and enjoy more weekend time, you know, we had more LIFE!!  Year 1 also included a lot of expenses that I classify as “one time expenses”, solar install, trading out the furniture, tool boxes / roof rack for the truck to haul art show “stuff”, etc.  Year 2 did included replacing both the truck and 5^th wheel tires, but overall a less expensive year.

 So what’s in our plans for year 3?  That is still a work in process.  My work status has changed and teleworkers are no longer in my company’s staffing plan.  So we’ve got a couple more months of traveling in Western WA and ID based on my Dale’s art show schedule and then may become static for a while as we continue to evaluate options, finances, etc.  as I’ve shared in a previous thread.  http://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t60382690/an-unexpected-change-in-plans/.   We’re operating with 2 sets of plans for the winter, not really sure yet if we’ll be in the Northwest or Southwest. 

 Life continues to change, but we are still thankful for the opportunity to enjoy this full time life.  We’ve had to remind ourselves that our original goals were to downsize, reduce expenses, give more and save for an early retirement.  Thus far we’re achieving all of that, so even if we’re not moving around quite as much and perhaps not being exactly where we want to be for the winter time frame, we are still grateful for the simplification of our life, thankful we’re out of debt and we have lots of options as we continue this full time life.

Interesting snapshot. Thanks for sharing. It does seem like you are enjoying life more and having it cost less to boot. Awesome.

Brian

Wow, Ruth!!!!

You might have more time for "enjoying life" if you weren't keeping track of all the dates and stuff that you did in traveling, sitting in one place, etc.  Even being retired, I wouldn't be keeping that good of a record of events.

Slow down some more, Girl.

Terry

Dale, do you have a web site for your art work?  I'd like to see what you do!