Exploring Life on the Road to Find Direction for the Future

We are exploring long-term but can see full-time in our future. My husband is having trouble selling the house, and I struggle with not being a constant presence in the grandchildren’s lives. We thoroughly enjoy the time we spend traveling but are apprehensive about making any absolute decisions.

January of this new year I started charting the days we slept at our mailing address. I have a calendar hanging in the kitchen for 2022. Each day we walk through the door of the house, I place a check in the box on the calendar. January held 10 checkmarks. In February, we had several appointments with doctors, dentists, and a lawyer to establish a family trust so the calendar displayed more checkmarks. However, we hit the road the final days of that month and March is void of any marks.

We attended a senior golf tournament in Newport Beach, CA while staying at Newport Dunes RV Park. We spend a week in Palm Springs playing golf and card games with my brother. Now we are in Yuma, AZ where we were going to stay a couple days but are ending our first week. Life is good. Sure, there is a little tug on my heart strings to see the five-year old’s T-ball game and the high schooler play softball but traveling is a blast.

I recognize how lucky we are that we have choices because when many people retire they are financially strapped and choices are limited. However, that does not make our decision any easier. Add to all these opportunities, we have a cabin in the mountains where the family gathers to ride four-wheelers in warm weather and snowmobiles in the winter. Like I said, we are fortunate and made some sound decisions early in life.

One day we think it is time to sell the house in town but then remember it is only 1 mile from both our daughters’ home and enjoy the convenience. Selling the cabin is not an option in our minds as it is held in a family trust to be handed down for generations. When we are not there, our kids are. And to give up traveling would be like surrendering our legs and losing the independence of mobility. Besides that, if we sold the motorhome, we would be stuck in the cold and snow during the winter. Yuck!

As we have traveled, we have investigated several different types of RV parks. Out of necessity, we often stop for overnight stays as we travel from one point to the next. These short-term stays are impersonal and simply places to sleep.

We discovered Sky Valley Resort when my brother purchased a winter home and have frequented it often over the last couple years. It is a quiet environment with a mix of permanent residence and travelers. Occupants’ ages span a wide range. I notice some younger families have purchased modular homes because of the proximity to Palm Springs and the lower price range of the accommodations. Because so many people live in this park, it doesn’t have the feel of a vacation resort but is pleasant.

Recently, we stayed at the Fortuna De Oro Resort. The environment reminds me of a party town for elderly. All residents are 55+ and extremely active. In truth, I have never experienced anything like it before. My husband jokes that his arm gets tired from waving as people walk past. Everyone is accepting and takes time to welcome newcomers. In the resort is a sports complex: tennis, racquetball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and golf. On any given day, there are live bands in multiple venues throughout the park. Numerous people have said to us, “If you are bored here, then you are choosing to do nothing.” This must be the business slogan. A daily calendar announces club activities ranging from hiking to cards and including Bible studies, dancing, and karaoke. Never a boring moment. However, there are also areas to find solitude and quiet.

For now, we are taking it one day at a time. When the time is right, a decision will be made. I would love to hear what has influenced others’ decisions. Why are you full-time on the road? Do you still own a home? How have you adjusted?

I also know many travelers have decided to sell their RV and grow roots. What prompted this decision? How did you transition? I would love to dialogue with others.

For now, we are on the road, but I see T-ball and softball games in the near future. As nice as it is to get away, family provides comfort in a different form.

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