Friday, March 13, 2015

Those Jello Plans Everyone Talks About

While different full-timers live the life in different ways, all talk about the importance of making plans in Jello. Change is inevitable. The left fork may be a lot more fun than the planned right one. You can always go back and see it later. Flexible is good.


Planning committee

Over the past year I have occasionally gone back and read my blog post from the same week in the previous year. I notice that I have been pretty careful about not saying "never" or "always". I've avoided "will" in most cases, using "plan to" in an attempt to recognize that some stuff just happens in its own time. Or not at all.

Reading the March 14, 2014, post I smiled at what I thought this month might look like. The smile was because we are so much farther along than I ever dreamed! The very best kind of Jello.



Good stuff that Jello

Instead of a few weeks 'til retirement, Bill retires in 6 days. Instead of a storage unit, our saved items fit in three trunks stored already with our son. Instead of starting paperwork on the house, we have been in an apartment for three months because the house sold in December. Instead of a motorhome on hold, we have a motorhome already purchased. Instead of the anticipated jumbled mess, it has all been relatively smooth.

It's interesting to note that we are all talking about how early "summer" came this year. But in that same blog post we were expecting 89 degrees last year at this time as well.

There have been some big detours in the last year, one being the choice of rig. We're both happy with our choice of the Thor over the Tiffin, and glad that we stayed open to finding something better if it came along. Getting an apartment was not something we even talked about a year ago, figuring we wouldn't be selling the house until May. Again, we're very happy to have that well behind us now!

Probably the single biggest inspiration for me to take on this lifestyle has been Howard and Linda Payne of RV-Dreams. For the past couple years I have looked forward to attending one of their week-long educational and fun rallies, and we booked a cabin at the Spring Rally in Tennessee for next month. Everything is paid for and all reservations are confirmed.

We aren't going. Until next Spring. When we can take the rig. There were other considerations as well, and as sad as I am to miss this one, it's the right decision for us now. Still Jello :-)


Not nearly as good, but okay.

We still have plenty on our calendar before we launch, including another wedding tomorrow. With Bill finally retiring we plan to extend our travels around our upcoming family reunion in New Mexico, and our high school reunion in Laughlin, Nevada. There's two more weddings as well, and some California friends we want to hang out with.

Recognizing how important it is, how right everyone has been about it, we're glad that the whole Jello-planning thing is already working for us!



We can do this!

30 comments:

  1. Isn't life grand. Plans can change and it can be alright. But if those are all jello shots on the map, please don't do them all at once or you'll never get anywhere. ;)

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  2. Flexible, fluid, adaptable, conformable, modifiable, changeable, adjustable......yep sounds like RV Jello alright:))

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    1. Also sounds like a recipe for much less stress in one's life in general :-) Maybe one more reason why RVers are so happy !

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  3. Every trip will happen when the time is right. just never regret and never look back.

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    1. I like that Merikay. I have to work on not wanting to do it all :-)

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  4. Flexible is a key word. Writing our plans in chalk works for us. They are easy to erase that way.

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    1. Chalk definitely sounds cleaner! You two are the poster-children for flexible and an inspiration for "just do it!" And look at all the fun you have because of it :-)))))

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  5. Yep, jello plans, we know all about those! We are back at North Ranch--we were going to stay a week at Salome ATVing but things came up and here we are--jello.

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    1. I wondered when I saw you on Al's blog......hope all is well :-) I know you'll make the best of it.

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  6. How absolutely wonderful to have things go better than planned. That's the kind of jello I'd like for sure.

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    1. I was trying to think of things that didn't go that way, and really just the RV dealer fiascos were the only ones. Even the first reserved campsite that was filled turned out much better because we stayed at our friend's :-) This won't always be the case and the Jello will be sticky and messy I'm sure.

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  7. You two will be wonderful with this lifestyle. You have the perfect attitude:) Attending one of Howard and Linda's rallies will be so helpful whenever it happens. They are great people and so much fun.

    So happy everything has come together for you. Can't wait to meet up somewhere along the trail:)

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    1. Thanks Pam, we're sure thinking that will be the case! Looking forward to the last few things to be off the list - and to meeting up on the road :-)

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  8. You guys are so well suited for the full-time traveling lifestyle! You look for the positive and make the best of every situation. We've found that flexibility and a good sense of humor are our two best assets. :-) As far as the rally goes, you'll probably enjoy it even more from the comfort of your beautiful rig!

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    1. That sense of humor is a great thing to share! I agree having the rig with us will make it so much better :-)

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  9. Plans made of jello..we all deal with that!!.

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    1. It does seem to be a necessary tool for staying sane out there!

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  10. Yep, you CAN do this! And enjoy it, to boot.

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  11. Jello is a good thing, I'll take strawberry please :-) Seriously, you'll get lots of time in your rig and when you do go to the rally you'll be able to say 'been there, done that' and enjoy it more because you've already passed that hurdle.

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    1. Lime was always my favorite :-) Don't know where it's going to be yet but maybe you and Ron can go too!!

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  12. Love your jello map, Looks like everything is as it should be and better, now that's some good jello!

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    1. Thanks Maura :-) I think we'll do okay with our Jello.

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  13. Fun to read your blog. It is good to read your excitement, The only thing better is when you hit the road. We are still in awe after almost two years. You are going to love your new lifestyle.

    Enjoy, Russ Ranger

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    1. Thanks Russ! How fun to see you here :-) We're so close and just get more excited every day.

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  14. Sounds like things are falling into place nicely for you and you seem to have the perfect attitude. Welcome to the open road (in just a few days). See ya down the road!

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    1. Thank you, we're hoping to hold on to the positive throughout our travels :-) See you there!

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  15. awwww. . .you are gonna love it. . .all of it! Best wishes. . .

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