The campground was nearly empty and deer were roaming. I’m loving the off season. The campground was lovely with large sites, many overlooking Lake Eufaula, the largest lake in Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, we discovered the panel that holds in the insulation on the bottom of the trailer had come loose. We also realized that was why a guy was honking and pointing to our trailer earlier that day. When we stopped we couldn’t find whatever it was he was making such a fuss over. Now we know. Just dragging insulation. No biggie. :-/

After dinner we drove off the curb around the campground to look at the Christmas light display. The display was impressive and included a giant brontosaurus. Like I said, impressive. It was cozy in the cab of our truck with four people up front listening to bad pop renditions of classic Christmas songs on the radio.

In the morning, we went to the nature center and I drilled asked the ranger about venomous snakes. I have a habit of drilling asking anyone who might know anything about snakes everything there is to know. It’s neurotic charming.

Then it was time to hit the road and head to Arkansas. It feels like we didn’t really give Oklahoma a chance. After talking to the ranger about the geography of Oklahoma I was wishing we had more time to stay and explore the state.

The drive to Hot Springs was loooong. Brent may or may not have insisted on stopping for Starbucks at the busiest strip center in all of Arkansas.

That evening we had dinner at a small restaurant in Y City. I picked up a paper and began browsing the real estate ads.  A four bedroom house on 20 acres for 155K?  The prices of real estate are unbelievable when you are used to California prices. Do we have any California friends who want to move to Arkansas with us?

I was ready to move until…

…we stopped for a bathroom break.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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The post Day 55: Watch Out for Them Biten Dogs appeared first on Newschool Nomads.

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I questioned our decision to rush to Austin by Thanksgiving but after being welcomed into my friend’s home yesterday I immediately knew we had made the right decision.

While we missed our families, each in their respective homes, Thanksgiving was everything it should be food, friends, love, laughter, and warmth. It was a day to intentionally slow down and reflect on all that we are so very thankful for and there is so much.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

The post Day 32: We Are Thankful appeared first on Newschool Nomads.

Of course, it’s not all rainbows and flying squirrels.

Later, Thing 1 comes stomping out of their room, “I wanna go home.”   We asked why.  “If he (Thing 2) is not going to keep our room clean, I wanna go home.”

We had our first meal together as a family in the rv.  It was mostly pleasant until “the crunching” got to me.  PMS is not fun for me or them particularly PMS in a 280 square foot rv.  I finished my lunch outside at the picnic table.

Like I said, it’s not all rainbows and flying squirrels.

After finishing school, I decided a walk would be good for us.  Aside from having to referee who got Nico and who got Nigel, it was lovely.

We ended the day with a workout and dinner. After the dinner I got a call on my cell phone.  “I have Nigel”.

“Huh? What?  You have Nigel?  Oh noooo!!!  We’ll be right there.”

Nigel had gotten loose and wandered down the street.  Brent and the boys went to campsite 247 and found him happily sitting on a stranger’s lap.

Yeah, it’s not all rainbows and flying squirrels BUT it’s so worth it.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

The post Not All Rainbows and Flying Squirrels appeared first on Newschool Nomads.

Originally we had planned to leave in August.  We soon realized the absurdity of that plan and pushed our departure back to October 9th. It would have been a perfect way to celebrate our unofficial official anniversary. But as a bird had reminded us 12 and a half years ago when he dropped a “gift” on Brent’s breakfast muffin as we strolled along the Thames during the wee morning hours in newly engaged bliss- shit happens…even during the best of times.

Brent got sick and lay in bed for 5 days.  Work projects took longer than planned.  No matter how much I packed it still felt like I was just starting.  We changed our date of departure to October 16th.  Then the 19th.

Finally on October 23, we found ourselves walking in stealth to the rv parking lot in the back of our neighborhood that had begun to sleep.  We had hitched the trailer to the truck before the sun had settled so our arms, tired from 15 hours days of packing and cleaning, were loaded with our remaining items.  Being in front of our little ragtag group, I held my breath hoping to avoid the spider webs that I knew hung like valences over the path every evening. The pugs ran in circles (we had accidentally packed away the leashes) around our feet, darting in and out of each driveway we passed.  Poor confused creatures.  The cat crouched in bag strapped across my body.  I like to think he was excited to be a part of our “heist”.

This was not how I imagined it.

During months prior, I had daydreamed of our departure and it looked like this. The warm California sun would pour out its magic making everything more beautiful than reality.  The RV would be meticulously packed and organized. We would stand in a circle holding hands praying for our trip.  We would hugs our friends one last time and lean out the windows waving and etching their beautiful faces into our minds.  Then we would drive into the sunset to live adventurously ever after.

Instead I felt like an outlaw.

And I loved it.

Life is rarely picturesque and beauty is so much more than a Hallmark card.   Once settled into the truck we said our prayers and drove north into the night.  The pugs were tucked into their “den”, the cat curled up, the boys fell asleep in the back seat, and Brent and I held each other’s sore and tired hands our eyes resting on the road.  It didn’t matter that Thing 2 was wearing his brother’s clothing, that we had at the eleventh hour let go of some of our favorite items, and I didn’t know where I packed my toothbrush.

We had done it.  After years of dreaming, we were on the road with almost everything we owned in tow behind us.  The fumes of exhilaration ran out and the peace of God settle my heart.  It will be ok.

Let the adventure begin.

love and laughter,
jenn

The post On the Road At Last appeared first on Newschool Nomads.

(photo by Raya Carlisle)

Well to our almost brand new blog.  Since, this is the first post and I’ll get straight to the point with the 5 Ws.

Who ?
Brent, Jenn, Thing 1, Thing 2, Meow Cow (the cat), Nigel, and Nico (the pugs)

What?
A year long cross country road trip.

When?
ASAP.  Which realistically means sometime this fall or possibly early winter.

Where ?
We would like to see all 48 contiguous states.  If time and finances allow, we would also like to drive up to Alaska.  Hawaii would be awesome but I’m not sure how well the RV would do in the ocean. However, we are sort of thinking about adding some rocket boosters to the RV and checking out the moon.

Why ?
To learn about the country.  To learn about each other.  To slow down.  To live simply.  To live with less.  To seek adventure.  To seek God.

From there I’ll let you decide if you want to stick around.  I hope you do!

With love,
Jenn

The post Who, what, when, and why???? appeared first on Newschool Nomads.