We're Not Leaving the Planet, Not Even the Continent!

In a recent reply to my comment on her blog, Linda Davey said "I'm acting as though we'll never have a chance to buy another thing after we hit the road. Gotta get over that!"

Me too! What's the deal with that thinking? I make lists of staples to "stock up on", and then worry about storage space and weight limits. I look at small appliances and gadgets that I haven't used in a long time with the "but you might need one of those in this new lifestyle..." lense.

I'm not talking about sentimental-heirloom-kid's-kindergarten-hand-print-things. That's a whole other issue.

My self-talk fills the (yet-to-be-purchased) coach from top to bottom. Perhaps we should take multiples of "those" in case one breaks. Keep even more pillows and blankets in case "they" come to visit. Take those dusty craft items for "rainy days".

Unfortunately I'm not the only one. Bill hasn't started purging the garage. Discussions on the subject include statements that start with "We'll need a full set of....." The MH and the Jeep very likely use all standard fittings.....but "it's always handy to have metric". Nothing seems capable of multi-tasking so we must include all the "right" tape, glue, wire, etc. I can't disagree. Even baling wire and duct tape come in different sizes and colors for a reason!

Where the hell do we think we're going? Mars? Moon? Serengeti? Outback?

We're not even going to Mexico!

We are going to see America. It's a fairly civilized place. I haven't seen 80% of it, but I hear there are retail establishments. Postal/UPS service. Internet and cell phone coverage. There seem to be no lack of other humans. In fact most full-timers complain about trying to get away from others, not the inability to find them.

We will have extended warranties and insurance and roadside assistance. 

This is not a backpacking trip that requires special gear, sleeping bags or kerosene stoves. Yes, we will be hiking. We will have campfires. We will spend much more time outdoors. And, we will have a full kitchen and sleep in our own bed.

So where do we get this mind-set that we have to take everything we could possibly need with us? Why am I still combining living and vacation and survival modes to create this ridiculous list?

Even while boondocking we won't be more than a Jeep's drive to a town with groceries, a small hardware/auto parts store, a post office with general delivery, and most likely a coffee shop or McDonalds with WiFi. On our "way to" more remote areas we will travel through towns with larger stores and repair shops and Amazon delivery depots. I will eventually venture inside a Walmart, because they will have what we need at the time :-(.

There is no need for us to anticipate every "thing" that may come up and be prepared with exactly the right "corresponding thing" to fix it or enhance it at exactly the moment it breaks or we decide to do it. Apparently I do know this important fact, I just struggle with remembering it when making decisions about what we need to take with us.

It doesn't mean I think we can pull out of the driveway with an empty rig, and just pick things up the first time we need them.  There's probably already a reality show on television about somebody doing that.....

Obviously some items are expensive to replace, and it's prudent to keep those if there is a more than 50% chance we'll need it. Just because we could easily find another one, doesn't mean we could afford it when we need it. We can always unload it later.

Some things like fuses and cords and hoses and zip lock bags we don't want to "have to go get" when they break or we need extra. We don't want to run out of ant and mosquito repellent. We don't want to need rain gear and have to go out in the weather to purchase it. Batteries of every size will have their own drawer :-).

There will always be safety and first aide items that we keep and hope to never need. Common sense things. Don't need to haul around a set of crutches, but an adjustable cane is smart. Snake bite kit, yes. Oxygen tank, no.

I'm confident we'll need something that we purged and wish we had in the rig. Probably a few things. Still, we are NOT leaving the planet. Between Google and Amazon I bet we can find an adequate replacement for just about everything.

Maybe not the juicer, I really like this one.......and these pillows...... Uggghhh. Linda's so right - I "Gotta get over that!"