There are a lot of factors in deciding including:
- How Long We Have Been Full-Timing
- How Long We Have Been at the Present Location
- Friends
- Family
- Projects We Have Signed up for (NOMADS and Habitat for Humanity 'Care-A-Vanners')
- Interesting Places
- Locations on our 'Must See' List
During our first few months on the road we were eager to see as much as we could, so we were not inclined to stay in a place for a long time. Our first trip out of the blocks we went from Virginia to Tennessee (and see Pam's sister and family [Joan & Mike]) After about 4 or 5 days in one place, we were ready to move on.
That was the same kind of feeling when we got to Ft Worth, Texas. We got to see my brother (Brad & Sue) and we liked being there, but after about a week, it was time to move on. We stayed a couple of days in Oklahoma City to see friends but then drove on to our first NOMAD project in Pontiac, IL.
Our first 'long' stay was at a NOMADS project in Pontiac. We also spent a month last year in Galveston, TX at a NOMADS project and will be here in Moss Point, MS for a month.
We spent a couple weeks in Albuquerque seeing my brother (Reid & Amy) before we went to Santa Fe because we signed up for a Habitat for Humanity RV 'Care-A-Vanners' project. We stayed there three weeks.
Other times, we stay at a location because we it is something we wanted to see. We spent about three weeks in South Dakota seeing friends in Sioux Falls and then making our way out to the Black Hills and Mt Rushmore. It is a great place to see and we liked being there in the Mid-West.
We made it a point to go out to San Diego last Christmas to see family and spend the holiday on the beach. We were there about 10 days before we moved on and headed back to Quartzsite, AZ. It was on our 'Must See' list and we were out in the boondocks for about 10 days. We loved it and stayed in Arizona another month, holing up in Tucson for almost all of February.
Then last spring, we headed to Michigan to be with Adam and Meghan as she went through her final days with breast cancer. We ended up spending three months there and also another month in Canada with Meghan's folks (Marg & Bill) and also a week at Tiffany and Jeff's cabin.
Then in late summer, Kelly landed a job in Virginia Beach and we beat feet back to Dallas to help her move, and decided to spend October - December in Virginia Beach.
You can see there are a variety of reasons for moving on. We find ourselves staying in locations longer than we did when we first started Full-Timing. We have slowed down a bit and no longer feel the need to 'hit the road and see things' like used to.
From here, we plan to head west, see friends near Austin and San Antonio before going to Bracketville, TX. We will probably stay there for a week or so and we want to see Big Bend National Park which is not too far from there.
Our plans for the Spring and Summer include time in Tucson, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the Northwest.
~ Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!
So you're headed for Big Bend--one of our favorite trips so far! You may find our entries helpful: http://mills-travels.blogspot.com/2009/03/on-road-to-big-bend-alpine-texas.html. We really enjoy your well-written blog. Mike and Sandy
ReplyDelete"Homer and Lucille"
everyone has different reasons for why they stay and how long!..thanks for sharing your insight!
ReplyDeleteYour chronicles ARE so interesting...making me think...if we sold our home and bought an RV....where would we go? A really fun thought.
ReplyDeleteI just watched Adam and Meghan's film clip...such a tear jurker and for you who lived it, I'm sure jut ravishing! Hope Adam is doing well.
Life takes such interesting turns...huh? One can only hope that they leave the world a better place by making a wonderful mark on it.
Isn't it nice to be able to make those decisions!
ReplyDeleteNice summary of your full time travels and some of the reasons for them. I'm sure this new year will bring many more great adventures.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter where you go or how long you stay as long as you're having a good time!!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun & Travel Safe
Donna
Great post on a good topic! After going all over the country for the experience, Heidi and I now stick pretty much in the West going south during the coldest months and enjoying the more northern states the rest of the time. Time spent in one area has also increased for us. It is way more expensive to constantly move, plus, we don't feel like we get to truly experience an area till we dig out all the cool things about it. We learn many of those cool things from our other blog friends like you, so a big Thank You for sharing your travels and insights!
ReplyDelete-Mike
97 Roadtrek 170P "Taj Ma Trek"
HTTP://WWW.VanTramps.Com
We aren't full timers, more like snow birds..One month is about long enough in one spot..usually it's a couple weeks. It takes too long to set up the satellites and get all "hunkered down" to do it more often than that ....Personally, I would love to just travel for one full year..keeping the sticks and bricks, but just trying one year full time...FAT CHANCE!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading your blog -- you do such a great job. Finally became a follower...I'm still learning this blogger "stuff" and still have a lot to learn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Randy/Pam,
ReplyDeleteWhen you guys are in the San Antonio/Austin area, please let us know. That is a short drive from Corpus Christi. Maybe we can arrange a trip 'north' to visit you guys.
Travel safe