Greetings from the great unknown, also known as, a time of transition between full-time RV’ing to part-time RV’ing. Also known as home-ownership-NOT-on-wheels. Also known as: I’m exhausted. Unsettled. And ever so slightly fragile. 

How are YOU??

I know you have heard my story a million times. And you are probably over it. I don’t blame you! I’m over it too.  

So for those three of you who still care (btw: Thank you! You’re sweet!), here’s where things are right now…

Bill has the camper van with him at work. He is running all kinds of tech-y testing on the systems, and I cannot wait to share with you all of his findings. (He is the best beta tester this side of the Mississippi!) This will be very helpful for those of you new to van life, or for those who might be considering purchasing a camper van (Class B). 

Our motor coach (Class A) – a 2013 Itasca Ellipse – is happily perched in its storage unit, which, in our case, is our newly-constructed garage. 

Above this garage level, which is the size of a warehouse, is a modestly-sized house. The house is like a little cupcake compared to the garage. But it should be plenty large enough for Bill and I; Henry, our firstborn feline; Emily, our sweet but constantly-frightened cat; and ZuZu, better known as The Puppy RV Venturer. (I like to say it like the football players say: THE Ohio State University.)  ??? 

Here’s Henry stretching out and claiming his spot!

We have been living full-time in the motor coach for four years. Four years! (I can never say that “four years” just once. Always twice for effect.) During that time, we have had most of our possessions in a storage unit. (The unit that used to store the motor coach in between trips.) 

This means that I have not seen most of my stuff for years. 

I like to keep my possessions down to just those things which I need and love. So I wonder: Will I even care much about these items after they are unearthed and carbon dated? ??‍♀️

That remains to be seen, because I haven’t gotten to that stage of the move yet.  

I have, however, gained over 30 lbs. since we started full-time RV’ing, so I sure as heck know that those clothes are not going to fit. It may be best to donate them all. – Not even look through them and remember my glory days. (Haha.) But then, there’s an optimist in me that thinks by having a home with stairs again, and since I am now reunited with my beloved TrekDesk, that I will miraculously shed all that excess weight in a matter of hours. (I have been sleeping in the house for a week now. A metabolism miracle has yet to occur.) 

But enough about me. Oh, wait. Nearly every blog I write is about me. So self-centered! Must work on that in 2019!! 

Anyway…

I am moving all the things from the motor coach in the garage up to the house.

Somehow, I have 28 pairs of shoes in the motorcoach. I cannot believe it! When and how did that occur? I swear I started out keeping five(-ish) in the RV. Some minimalist I am. #minimalistfail ?????? (If you’re an RV’er and have over 25 pairs of shoes with you at all times, will you please let me know in the comments below. I am feeling a bit like a freak right now. In a house, totally fine. But in an RV??) 

It may not sound like a big deal to be moving stuff from the RV on the garage level up to the house levels, but I assure you, it *is* a big deal. It is a lot of steps to climb with your arms full. That garage is TALL — like two levels. Then the master level is two levels up from that. On Saturday, I had over 10,000 steps logged by noon. That’s some serious stepping, y’all. 

And while there is an elevator, I’m not stupid enough to get in that thing! (Though I did send a couple of loads up via it when I momentarily lost sight of my goal to lose those 30+ lbs.) ??

When Bill was home last time, he brought a load from our storage unit and placed it in his shop. So I need to go through all of that and decide what to keep and take up the tower. 

Our RV kitchen was kept fairly minimal these past four years. So I’m sure to see lots of kitchen stuff in that storage pile that I will want to take into the new home. My books are still stored at my brother’s house. (Thanks, Greg! ?) So I need to go get them and bring them home to mamma. ?

But other than my books and kitchen stuff, I will be really surprised if I will want to keep much else. 

Have you ever been in a similar situation? – Where you’ve stored items away for so long that you don’t even need them in your life any longer? 

As for the house construction, to say it is finished would be a complete misrepresentation. For example, I am writing in my office right now. But a level above and a level below me, there are carpenters sanding and staining the stairs. SANDING!! I pray to all that is holy that I handle the mess they are making right now with grace and understanding. After all, it’s not their fault that I steam mopped the entire house for over 2 hours this weekend. (I knew these stairs had to be done, I just didn’t know it was going to be this week! ??‍♀️)

The view from my office window in the morning. (You can see the TrekDesk in the window’s reflection. ?)

There’s more work to do, but it’s starting to look like a home!

I am eager to hear from any of you who can relate to all this. Or if you just want to tell me that everything is going to be alright, I would really love that. I am like a 4-year old right now when it comes to needing comfort. 

(Just think: One day, this house-drama-saga will be over and I can write about RV’ing once again!)

If you are on the road, safe travels always! And if you are reading this because you are one of those three people who care about these life updates, Thank you!  Really!