Full time travelers along the road.

Well 47 days into our full time travels and my tire problems have not yet been solved, this will make for an interesting read if there is a conclusion to the story. That for another post as for now we have spent more time trying to resolve the issue then really travelling, just part of life on the road. It would really be nice if nothing ever needed replacing or repaired once we purchased it. Around our cabin there was always something that needed attention and no different on the road, except we get to shop in many different communities. It is also a proven fact even new will not guarantee a product that works these days as it appears many in the quality control dept. were laid off.

Enough of a rant and on to some positive, we met many great people so far in this year’s travel several have allowed me to share their story with you. Lynne and Owen from Connecticut USA who are living and travelling full time in their converted van. A van that was partly converted very simply already as a camper van which Owen found once they had decided to sell their house and everything and see the country in the van. It appeared this was possibly Owen’s dream of travel and living in a van, but when asked Lynne admitted she loved the simple lifestyle and we could see she was also 100% committed.

Owen, not a small man, admitted for some time he watched van life living on YouTube and read books on the lifestyle. He said “my health was suffering, I was putting on weight just sitting reading and watching others, I said to Lynne let’s just do it”. He found the van, put their house up for sale, got rid of a lot of stuff and their house sold quicker then expected, but they made it work and moved into the van. After two years in the van they have travelled the US and now were checking out Canada. Ron said he has never felt better and his health is improving now that he has got off the chesterfield and done it. Neither have any regrets on their decision.
Lynne was a stay at home mother who was very involved as a video artist working with a public Access network dealing with a lot of local issues in their community. She also did a lot of volunteer work. They raised three children and did a lot of camping and Lynne managed to find time to pursue her artwork. Lynne just recently lost both her parents, who they had spent some time looking after during their health battles.

Owen was a registered nurse by trade and a research medical professional. He spent many years working for a big pharmaceutical company, a very draining job he admitted. He loved the outdoors and camping so travel was in his blood. He saved and when he was laid off due to covid that’s what made the decision to travel easier, he now does some contract work while on the road when he has to he said. He now has turned his attention to collecting herbs and wild plants along the way that have medicinal properties and doing some research into there uses, way over my head.

Lynne and Owen have been to the big RV show in Quartzite, Arizona in January every year and the RTR hosted by the well known Bob Wells of Cheap RV living. Both these events are on our bucket list and meeting the grand daddy of RV living would be great. Hopefully as one never knows but the truck camper rally in Quartzite in February is a possibility for us…again see how that goes. Are they planning on owning another home, not really they say. Owen a dual citizen of the US and Canada say perhaps they would purchase a little piece of land in both countrys to park on in between travels. The world is a big place to explore and time is limited.
We met Lynne and Owen in northern Saskatchewan and they were impressed with the kindness and friendly people they found along the way, they extended their stop over in the province. See people do notice when you take the time to say hi with a smile, they just pass it on. Safe travels Owen and Lynne and thanks for sharing with us.
These along with Ron and Anne from my last post and others we have met share the same feeling of freedom as we do as we travel. None of us make reservations and try to avoid places that require them. Any time we need help someone is there, no problem, and full timers understand this the best. It has been said by many the freedom they feel from “stuff” holding them down and are finding out how little “stuff” one really needs to be truly happy and comfortable. One becomes more aware of our water waste, our power usage and the amount of garbage we produce, all that has been reduced in our tiny homes on wheels. If the general population was aware of the waste perhaps our planet would not be where it is today.
Despite some issues we are enjoying all the places we have lived at and will share them as I catch up, sometimes one just has to enjoy the moment. There is never any shortage of experiences or people to write about…just time to get it done. Retirement I found out is not a holiday it’s hard work….stay healthy and safe travels and wherever your are enjoy every sunrise and sunset.
Hope to see ya all down the road thanks to the 22,000 people who have checked out the site I am going to try and keep it up, I’m really surprised that many are interested but thank you. I am not monitized and have no intention of earning income off this site, so it’s free to subscribe you will not be contacted with some ad, it just makes it easier to get notified by email.
Gerry (RVcowboy)
Charlotte (Editor in Chief)