Community

We as a family have learned so much about community on this road trip. So I looked up the definition in Merriam Webster's dictionary;

com·mu·ni·ty

kəˈmyo͞onədē/

noun

1. 1.

   a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

   "Rhode Island's Japanese community"

   synonyms:

   group, body, set, circle, clique, faction;
2. 2.

   a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

   "the sense of community that organized religion can provide"

Our trip so far has been so eye opening. Sometimes challenging, it has allowed us to face our fears and test our limits. Our overnight stays have consisted of state parks, national forests, campgrounds, parking lots, and homes of friends and family. Staying in homes has allowed us to contribute together as a family as we live with others independent of our home and family. It builds tolerance and understanding, and an ease and comfort, as we relate with others different from our own. Our kids will quickly relate to you why certain places have been their highlights. These highlights are where they experienced a community. That sense of belonging is what used to develop towns and communities throughout history.

In my last post, I discussed how we utilize the 'boondockers-welcome' for some of our overnight accommodations. The families we have met through these stays have been incredible examples in a society that is so busy to even get to know their neighbors. So we send a special shout-out to the Alan & Nicole & family, Caprio family, Mike & Val, Mike & Margaret, Ray & Ruth, Shutty family, Alan & June, Joe & Kathy, and Katie & Jay. You all have left your mark in our travels! THANK YOU!

Seeing our family of seven survive/bond in this RV adventure has been such a huge blessing and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to do this. Sure we have our space contentions but the sunrise the next morning far out weighs the negatives and our lil-community travels on.

BOONDOCKING - What's that?

Our 31' Winnebago RV is a miniature 7-ton house on wheels. This means that we can be self-sufficient where ever we stop for the night. We hold our own water (35 gallons), our own black (septic, 28 gallons) grey water (sink & shower water, 30 gallons), and propane (80 pounds). Plus we can generate our own power via a 4000 watt generator. That can power everything we need plus recharge our internal dual 12-volt deep-cycle marine batteries. The batteries alone can power us for up to two days with minimal power consumption. Our refrigerator can run on gas propane or electricity, and our heat is propane.

Having said all that, we frequently 'boondock' at state parks and forests where there is no power available. We also have utilized store parking lots such as Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, as well as Cabella's. I'm sure you have seen a few campers in your neighborhood Walmart parking lot. Those locations are great and ideal, however our favorite boondocking has been found online. We subscribed to a boondocking service called boondockerswelcome. For a $25 a yearly subscription, we have total access to a network of fellow RV's who allow you to park in their driveway or field for FREE! There are more than a half-dozen locations in each state, and that number is growing. This makes planning a low-cost long-distance camping trip so much easier. Anyone who has an RV or travel trailer needs to be a part of this (let me know if you are interested, and I can refer you - this gives me a discount in my next subscription renewal). We have done overnights at several boondockers welcome homes, and have had no bad experiences. Each host has been very accommodating and excited to share their properties and exchange travel tips and stories. They also have been many of our people-highlights on our trip.

Maine

Another day of hiking. Today we hiked over three miles straight up a ski slope [double black-diamond]. At the top we had one of the best views east of the Mississippi. Although it was a measly 1,990 feet in elevation, it was quite the challenge  [especially in crocs...].

Due to it being the first week of musket season, we had to all sport some cool bright orange vests to avoid being mistaken for a deer or moose. As usual, the kids kicked our butts reaching the summit. Special thanks to the Shutty family for hosting us in Greenwood, Maine [birthplace of L.L.Bean]. Last year we camped with the Shutty family in Steamboat, Colorado, and our kids really hit it off well. Here in Maine, they worked/played together to create a cool 'village' in the woods. They were literally in the woods all day! Tomorrow we we're going to head further east, but our legs and calves say otherwise... Another day in Maine, then west to New Hampshire.

View from the top of Mt Abrams.

Part of the Shutty family with part of our family atop Mt Abram

Shirley cooking up some soup on old-time stove.

OUR TRIPS TOP-10

Over the past few months, I've found I do some of my best thinking when I’m traveling. Sometimes it has nothing to do with our trip but some strange thoughts: like what happens if a cow takes a dump out the slats on a passing cattle truck?  Seen it!!

Away from the hustle and bustle of life with seven people in a 270 square foot camper, I do get to relax in 'the-best-most-comfortable-bed my wife Shirley has 'built.' I being the deep thinker I am, can relax and philosophize in the clouds. But my deepest philosiphy'n happens on the open road staring out the window.

So here is the top 10 things we've learned so far on this trip:

1. Every family has that one relative... you could be it!
2. Cattle stock yards smell nothing like dad-farts! I've been accused wrongfully!
3. North-east drivers are the only people who know how to merge in when entering highways [except for Massachusetts and Maine drivers...]
4. We love having a bathroom and a kitchen available 24-7 and our toilet has had no scary truck driver sit on it.
5. When the signs says 'Trucks Use Low Gear'  Campers are included! We smoked our brakes in Gatlinburg, TN...
6. We appreciate the traveling our parents did with us when we were young! It has helped us pass on the concept of how large this country is and how blessed we are.
7. Although we miss school, it is an amazing blessing and a learning experience to see the States that represent the flag we pledge allegiance to! There is no better way to learn the state capitals than to see them LIVE and in person!
8. Helping others has been very therapeutic. Seeing the look of joy of someone when they see a revamped home or room has been priceless. Helping a busy family sit down and enjoy a dinner together before soccer practice is rewarding. Creating community where needed has been our mission. We make it a practice to leave our mark, physically as a pile of rocks at a visited landmark or as a completed task on our host's honey-do list.
9. Spending time with the kids has been amazing. Our morning chats have been relaxing and humorous. Some cool thoughts and interesting topics have come up. Anna's statement the other day was that even if she had a bad day, she at least gave the plants food by her breathing.
10. The People! We have met so many awesome people in so many new places. We've also connected with and seen aunts, uncles, cousins, and longtime friends and their kids. Shirley and I were talking the other night, and we agreed that in looking back in our year plus roadtrip, our favorite memory was of people. Sure the sites and scenes shared on Facebook were great, but the people beyond those scenes in the campgrounds or towns were more memorable in all ways. Granted our RV has received a few one-finger waves, but it also is a magnet to curious passers-by who chat up a conversation of questions with anticipation of doing the same thing one day. We've also met retired folks who have traveled in the same manner who offered up some great advice. Then there are the other families doing the same thing who exchange stories in relief that they're/we're not the only crazy family to do this. Overall, the people are what makes the USA what it is. Their southern drawl or their Boston nasal come together to create the amazing stars and stripes patchwork of this HUGE country.

B-o-l-o-g-n-a

Kids' first taste of Oscar Meyer bologna...

Haven't seen this before...uugghh!!

Do something every day that scares you...check!

Scary campground  near the Poconos

First stop in Fort Collins...New Belgium Brewery...

  ...if this were a scratch and sniff, you'd be smelling fermenting hops right now...