The Aura frame sits silently, automatically changing the view every five seconds. First, a wildflower strewn meadow and flowing creek … flip … a thunderous and glittering waterfall …flip … giants called Sequoia trees that smell like life and command reverence … flip … acres as far as the eye can see of washed reds, pinks, blues, and greens in the Painted Desert … flip … a fog shrouded art deco bridge along the rocky Oregon coast … flip … acres of flowers pop with color in an Iris Garden … flip …
Were we really there?
Memories of RV Life
Our RV life became surreal. The only proof is in our memories and the digitally shifting pictures on the Aura frame. There was a modern day journal too. Armadillo Tails, a blog page, shared when filled with gratefulness of life still lived and enthusiasm to share our travels.
Ken and I were back-country canoe campers in the early years of our relationship. Most weekends would find us somewhere on a river or at least looking for a new one to paddle. The memories are fading as well as the old pictures printed from 110 film cartridges. He remembers some events, I remember others. The pictures are harder and harder to find. Then we had another daughter. The canoe was too small so we purchased a sailboat and continued making memories with both our girls. My wish is we had kept a journal of those wonderful canoe and sailboat trips. It would be a reminder for our oldest daughter, who as a three-year-old perched on her throne of bedrolls, made memories of rope swings and alligators, clear tannin-stained rivers, and large-mouthed bass. And for our second daughter, of being rocked to sleep by the gentle lap of waves on the boat hull at night and days in the sun, skin turning golden while she snorkeled the reefs of the colorful Florida Keys.
Our Country in Chaos
By mid-March of 2020, along with the rest of the country, our lives became chaotic when Covid halted us at Medina Lake RV Campground in Texas. Here we must give a shout-out and thank you to Thousand Trails. Other full-timers struggled to find an RV park amid closures and varying state laws. Thousand Trails members, currently in place, were able to stay.
Pandemic information and state rules changed weekly, so after three months, we made safety plans and with our small but mighty tribe, left Texas to continue traveling.
Hard Decisions
Life was brewing chaos for Ken. His doctor said he needed to return to South Florida for surgery. We made arrangements and returned in October of 2020, spent the holidays with family then moved back into our stick and brick to prepare for Ken’s surgery in January of 2021.
Did I mention we moved back into our stick and brick home? A Piano, RV Life and Goodbye was posted to the blog as we prepared for Ken’s convalescence. The decision to move back into our home was a good call. He could have never come back to the Bigfoot (our class C RV) for a recovery that required the first month in an assisted-lift recliner. His recovery continues as I write this post. New full-time nomads often ask, “What about medical care while you travel?”. Our answer, you need to plan and prepare for all contingencies because life can quickly go sideways.
The housing market was on fire, and it was a good time to make repairs and put the house up for sale. In addition, we were anticipating the birth of a new grandbaby and knew continued travel would require a larger coach for an aging pet and his parents. With plans made, we felt good about how all these happy events would play out. And they did. Albeit not as easily or happily as we anticipated and not on the projected timeline.
RV Life Became Surreal
Even in the best of times, these life events would be challenges. Add that life is one big curve ball to plans and expectations, throw in a little Covid lockdown, and it explains our current state of wonder about how RV life became surreal and the explanation for why we are still in Florida, sitting in our new coach, looking at amazing pictures flip past on a digital screen.
Were we there?
Yes, we were there!
Armadillo Tails’ blog is there to re-read and remind us of the feelings and emotions, the mouthwatering restaurants, stunning views, and the experiences we had while traveling our big, beautiful country. I am happy to have chronicled the journey. And sorry to have stopped.
Going Forward
Ken and I will remain in Florida for the rest of this year and polish off the details of the major changes to our lives. We are learning about our new coach, spending precious time with grandbabies, healing, and organizing for retirement. The plan is to travel again. But we want to start with peace of mind about our health, our new to us Newmar diesel pusher, our family, and our future life plan.
❤️️❤️️
There hasn’t been much time to write throughout all this chaos and change. Maybe that is an excuse, maybe not. Our memories will start remembering less. But digital photographs, with newer technology, will help us. It seems important to start again.
We look forward to marking off a few from the bucket list, as Armadillo Tails explores our fabulous home state of Florida and readies for further travels. Until the next post…we are…
Always grateful 👫
Edit. Bitsy and Butter, our feline fur babies, both suffered a fatal cancer diagnosis and are no longer with us. We miss them both.💔