I don’t want to speak for anyone else here, but when I look back on the last three years of full timing, there have been distinct phases to this lifestyle for us. We may be different from many people in that respect who have a hard line between their old life and their new life and just jump right in, but for me it definitely has been an evolutionary journey. And since I like to look forward to a new year with a goal in mind, I thought I would take a moment and try to recap the journey so far. I have written extensively about this in various posts throughout the year, but it never hurts to summarize things a bit, plus I have all kinds of free time right now since I am working sitting around doing nothing all night gate guarding.
It is worth noting that I believe Lee has undergone a progression as well, but because our circumstances and personalities are different it is not the same as mine. I hope he decides to jump in here and share a little (I may actually learn something) but he gets to decide how much he wants to share. So this is my distinct journey and before I start I do think it’s worth saying that I seem to be a little unusual in this respect. Most of the people we meet have been older and closer to retirement and they seem a bit perplexed by why I don’t just settle in. My common response is I am only 50 (well actually 51 now but you know what I mean) and I have at least 15 years left before full retirement. So to me it’s very much a journey of personal growth and for me the only way to achieve that is through some reflection.
Year 1
Looking back, the first year was all about Overcoming Fear. I was so out of my comfort zone that issues that seem relatively small now caused a significant emotional impact. More than anything else Lee and I learning how to live together in a small space was challenging. Add to that moving frequently, the basic mechanics of camping (we were relatively inexperienced), staying with friends for weeks at a time, and figuring out how to maintain my professional career as we traveled, and it was a lot. Consequently the first 6 months were a whirlwind of new experiences and at times I felt assaulted by all the new. Don’t get me wrong, there were some amazing moments in there, but it definitely took me that long to “settle in” and thank heavens I wrote this blog, because when I look back on that time it is all a bit of a blur.
I characterized that first year as having more personal change than I had ever experienced in my life, except for when I became a first time parent, and I still think that is absolutely true. Some people thrive on change and enjoy the rush, but that’s rarely been me, and instead I often felt like I was flailing wildly in the deep end of the pool. Finally things did settle down and I really started to feel the constraints of working a full time job within the lifestyle. Lee left his job before we went on the road and since he settled into the lifestyle so quickly I thought the job might be the reason I was struggling so much. As my friend Linda put it, I had a foot in both worlds, and I found myself having a hard time emotionally committing myself to the life. To be 100% clear I know several people who have kept their jobs and acclimated just fine to the full-time lifestyle but for me it was a crutch, and was actually holding me back.
This became very clear when we spent some time in Glacier National Park with friends and I took 10 full days off, away from the stress and requirements of my job. For the first time in years I was completely disconnected from my old life and the combination of good friends and gorgeous surroundings finally flipped a switch in me. And to prove God has a plan, the day we left that park I received an email with an offer for a professional buyout. There was no pressure behind the offer, I simply had enough years of service to receive it, but to me it seemed like a sign. So after some thought I took the offer and within 6 weeks I was unemployed for the first time in my adult life.
It’s worth saying here that for anyone that is a ton of change in one year. Let’s recap: Youngest daughter left the home (empty nest), sold our home, moved into an RV, and quit my job. In all fairness most people (like Lee) experience all of that change all at one time, but I spread it out over that first year. It might have been easier to do it all at once, I can’t really say, but I personally wouldn’t change anything because although it may have lengthened the transition time for me, it also allowed me to some extent to deal with each change as a separate thing, which I think was good for me in the long run.
Year 2
The second year was all about dealing with no longer being a professional, and Alaska. The first was a very difficult transition for me. My identity was very much wrapped up in what I did for a living and I truly mourned that loss. Unlike people who go through this change in retirement, I knew I had many working years left so I needed to figure out what that looked like for me. Alaska though was a great distraction. Our trip to Alaska wasn’t just checking a box on a bucket list, it became a symbol of the new freedom we were experiencing in our life. I never could have spent an entire summer there working my old job, and the experience of living there for several months really gave us an idea of what our future life could be.
None of this was a surprise for Lee, he had a clear vision of what he wanted his life to be like, but I truly lacked the imagination to understand the possibilities. The sheer size and beauty of Alaska was beyond anything I had ever experienced, but the summer also included the realities of making money in a “low level” position. Again, except for parenting, I don’t think I have ever experienced so many extreme highs and lows in such a short time period, but on balance we felt very lucky to be able to have the experience.
One thing I firmly realized that summer was our life was not going to be like many other full timers that we knew. The phrase “that is not our reality” became a common one for me, as we watched (with some envy) many people who didn’t have to work spend the summer exploring. I think at that point Lee was still hanging on to the idea that we could “work a little, play a little” to maintain the lifestyle, but I knew from the numbers that it was more likely we would “work a bunch, play not so much”. We had some conflict about that concept in Year 2, which was heightened by taking on two difficult jobs at the end of the year when we worked the sugar beet harvest and Christmas trees. By the end of the year I was rethinking everything, but Lee was dug in on the idea that our financial situation was due to the special circumstances of Alaska, and things would level out and look more like other people we knew.
Year 3
Thankfully year three started out with gate guarding, which was a much better fit for both of us, and I made a mental commitment to try one year working Lee’s way. My only caveat was that I wanted to make sure we tried all the different major types of work, so I scheduled us for Amazon at the end of the year well in advance. I gave quite a bit of thought to finding a consulting job, and even spent a significant amount of time looking for a position, but the timing never quite worked out and we ended up spending the entire year supporting ourselves solely with work kamping revenue. Overall I felt that was a very good thing, and proved to me once and for all that the lifestyle was actually financially viable. We both agreed that we didn’t have the money to deficit spend year after year, and year three was all about seeing what it actually looked like to earn as we went.
Ironically, I am pretty contrary that way, once I decided to just “go with it” in year three, things became much easier for me. I largely stopped twisting myself in knots, well at least as much as I am capable of, and just went with it. I was more surprised than anyone when it turned out we largely broke even. Yes, we chose to spend money on some extra things, but as far as day to day living, we did pretty well. Lee, on the other hand, I believe had a larger transition. He realized that his work a little play a little life probably wasn’t going to happen and instead focused on finding ways to earn money that were the most palatable.
It also became crystal clear that we were very different when it comes to what matters in living this life. Lee is one of those people that flipped the mental switch when he left his career, and as long as our bosses don’t micromanage him, he is generally fine with pretty much any kind of work. I, on the other hand, really solidified the fact that I need a work purpose. I discovered I don’t need to make a ton of money, but I do want to feel like the work I do has some sort of meaning. Working for two large companies in year three, albeit in the lowest level positions, had a big impact on me, and helped me come to terms with what I wanted long term, and really start to explore how to make that happen.
More than any year prior it was about revenue and budgets, but what was interesting was even though we made less than we have made since we were “kids”, we actually felt more successful. And I finally felt comfortable. By the end of the year I was owning who I was, and what I wanted, in a way that had been missing since we went on the road. Since I didn’t have a clear vision of what this life looked like when I started, I fell victim to taking other people’s experiences and superimposing them on my own life. Not surprisingly my life often fell short using that criteria, and it took until year three for me to truly define my goals based on my unique reality. Letting go of the fantasy was a major breakthrough for both of us and the Amazon experience went a long way for both of us towards finally making that happen.
Year 4
So knowing all that, what does year 4 look like? First and foremost we finally have a travel plan that involves jobs and a “route” that hopefully will work for both of us. I stretched myself and applied for a position where I can use more of my professional skills and feel very hopeful about what that looks like long-term. We also are being completely realistic about what free time we will have, and this year is all about using part of that time to explore Utah between gigs. In the past three years I judged my life based on how many firsts we experienced, and the beautiful pictures I took, but I have made my peace with the fact that the quality of our life is based on more than those two factors. For those of you who jumped right in and got there quickly, you are probably nodding your head, smiling, and wondering what took me so long, and that’s completely fair. I will say that if I had to go back and do it all over again, I wouldn’t choose to do it any differently.
For me it is definitely about the journey and not the destination, and one of the beautiful things about this lifestyle is we all travel differently. Some of us take a little longer, but that’s totally OK, because we see extra things along the way. And along those lines, my feelings about this blog definitely need to change in year four. Over the last couple of years to some extent this blog has written me rather than the other way around. Sometimes that is a good thing, because it forces me to get off the couch and go out and experience things, but overall I think it hasn’t been healthy to feel compelled to have experiences so I can have something to write about.
Interestingly, Lee went from finding the blog a bit of a nuisance to being concerned about what will become of it when I talk about my feelings regarding what and when I write going forward. He likes providing regular content and has promised to write more to help to help with the workload going forward. I know you guys are probably excited about that, and I feel less pressure. It’s a win-win. Speaking of that, I did use the term workload on purpose. When people ask how I manage to post so much, I always say I have treated it like a job, but as much as the blog has helped me over the last few years, sometimes that additional pressure hasn’t been good for me.
Talking about my feelings and the positive impact that has on people matters very much to me, and whenever someone reaches out and tells me I made a difference it truly makes it worth it. But it is important to note that I am not making my living from this blog, and I need to get back to writing about what I want to talk about, rather than writing about what I feel I “owe” the readers. Especially when I feel like I owe it on a schedule. I think this has become especially clear to me over the last couple of months as I have experienced several negative comments. I’ve been pretty lucky in that this blog feels like a conversation, and I truly enjoy hearing from people, even when they are thoughtfully critical. But I have zero interest in trolls. Simply put, I’m not being paid to take a bunch of shit from people, and since this blog isn’t paying my bills, I don’t have to.
Actually, I am trying to let go of feeling like I “owe” people in a larger context, and this blog is a good place to start. I would like year four to be about living a life that makes me personally happy and fulfilled, and I really want to focus on that. In the past, I have spent an awful lot of time and energy worrying about other people’s well being instead of focusing on myself. It’s a difficult balance, because I do believe that a good person puts others in front of themselves, but I also realize that ultimately I only have one life to live and I should definitely make the most of it. Hopefully I can maintain a balance this year by letting go of unproductive emotions and focusing on the positive ones. That’s a tall order, I know, but definitely worth spending a year on. How that looks from a blog perspective I have no idea. I guess we will all find out together.
Supporting our Blog
We very much appreciate your support of our blog.
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Search Amazon Here
- You can purchase the ebook telling the story of how we became full-time RVers.
- You can purchase our recipe book filled with 80 recipes we have cooked in our RV and taste tested by Lee himself. You can purchase the kindle or paperback version on Amazon or buy the Apple version on Itunes.
Camper Chronicles 
Your blog is one of a kind in that you are able to reflect and articulate at a level most of us can barely acknowledge in ourselves…I find it fascinating! Its like having a viewfinder into your brain💕 As your friend and reader all I can say is “well done…BRAVO”
Thanks sweetie. You been super encouraging since Day 1 and I really appreciate that!
Tracy, you and Lee are just AWESOME!!! We met only once in person and communicated a few times when both of us were about to hit the road. Although I don’t comment much, I do follow your blog and, believe it or not, I truly identify fully with what you’ve gone thru, as I have a very similar story (not to mention similar personality)!
Thank you so much for sharing everything that you do; it helps keep me sane!
I hope our paths will cross again some day.
Hi Cheryl nice to hear from you!! I appreciate the kind words. Hope you guys are doing well..I know you like us have to work and it really does change things from what we originally thought.
Nice summary of the last three years.
I am sure that year four will be more relaxing for you guys.
See you down the road my friends 😎
Best wishes and safe travels, Rick
Your detailed blog is so impressive. I do not have the where with all to sit and write in the great detail that you do. I do not have it in me to write a little! Thank you for sharing. We are gate guards. We gate guarded 6 years ago and are doing it again now. We do not like the boredom but we are bored a lot of days with no money coming in so boredom and money coming in are better.
Great post! I’ve seen some of the negative comments and I don’t get people. Why they would make an effort to complain about someone’s opinion or experience that cost them nothing. Losers. Don’t listen to them!
Miss you Ted
Keeping up with a blog and writing the kind of detailed posts you do is hard work and I’m grateful to those like you who do it. I’m sorry you’ve received negative comments. I for one have read your blog for the past three years and hope to continue to do so well into the future. I can’t wait to see what good things Year 4 brings you both.
Thank you for sharing, Tracy. Your experiences and how you’ve handled them have been inspirational. We’ve been on the road for just over a year, and I have yet to really analyze how much (or little) our lived have changed and what the impact will be. It really is a journey in more ways than one, isn’t it?
It really is and it’s worth taking a moment to sort it all out. That being said Lee says all the growth and moments are jumbled together for him and he couldn’t possible sort the moments into phases 😄
The negative comments that you mentioned should not deter you—there are MANY of us following your blog & you both are providing a valuable resource for RVers. You’re such a fine writer that you could blog about ANYTHING and have a loyal fan base 😃
That’s really nice thank you. I really hope that’s the case this year as I try my hand at tackling some topics I’ve shied awY from in the past. Appreciate your taking the time to reach out.
We’ve all come a long way, haven’t we? Wishing you an awesome year 4! See you soon!
I agree totally with an earlier comment – your blog is a one of a kind. I really value the honesty and realistic expectations of life on the road. Started reading a book the other day called The Truth About the RV Life by Sunny Skye. She is using “phases” to describe the life but with less detail. One of her comments is regarding how hard it is to find a blog like yours. Someone who paints a complete picture of it all.
Write what you feel most inclined to write about. It’s your blog and there is no doubt the content will be something I know I would want to read.
Can’t wait to meet you guys someday and bounce a few ideas around.
Tracy, your ability to be introspective and articulate is amazing. I so enjoy your writing, and, of course, it is your prerogative to share what you want. It will always be worth reading! Best of luck in year four.
Keep up the good work! I enjoy reading your blog very much. There is always someone ready to complain about something! Ignore them ,write what YOU
want. They dont have to read it do they? We are gate guarding now in Texas and I don’t know if we ever would of jumped into this if it wasn’t for all of your detailed writing. After reading your blogs we felt we could handle it. So far so good!
That’s great to hear Teri and so glad the blog helped you make your decision. Thanks so much for reaching out.
Tracy and Lee, of all the blogs I’ve read over the past several years and passed on, I’ve stayed with you and consider you to be the penultimate inspiration for my wife, Jacki and I to finally make the decision to jump into the full time RV life. She read your first year account and I believe that is what changed her mind to move forward. She periodically reads your blog, but I “live” for your next installment. I’m sincerely hoping we can actually meet face to face this summer. Be safe and keep on doing what you do.
That’s really sweet and really happy for the two of you. Tell Jackie it’s ok that she doesn’t read them all 😄
Having spent quality one-on-one time as couples enhances the experience of reading your blog, Trace (and you too, Lee). You really do wear your heart on the tip of your pen. You certainly don’t owe anything to anyone, so I hope you are successful in letting go of that…just for your own peace of mind. With that being said, there is always something expressed by you that strikes a chord with your readers…even those of us who have been RVing since the Dark Ages. It’s my hope that you can keep writing from your heart and let the comments fall where they may…good, bad or indifferent. 😊
Jim
Thanks Jim. I consider you a friend and feel the same when.
I read your blog by the way. I often wonder how the words are interpreted by people who have never heard my actual voice and the medium being what it is I certInly get how thoughts can get lost in translation. I never mind when people want to clarify. I appreciate the dialogue as I said, just not a huge fan of when people take one tiny thing and blow it out of proportion . You know better than most how tough it is to write all these words all the time. I would hope that folks would give me a break on my occasional missteps and look at them in the context of the body of work. Miss you guys!
Oh I forgot to mention that unlike almost everyone I know I don’t moderate comments before posting them. WordPress has a great spam features which keeps 99% of the garbage out so I just trust folks to comment appropriately. That works really well for me but on occasion someone says something and my phone texts light up with what the hell comments lol. Then I have to stop what I am doing and address them one way or the other. I know I could switch to moderate but don’t want the temptation frankly. I would rather let it post then address it.
As always, Excellent! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Long time lurker and I found your blog as we started the “dreamer” phase of one day living the full-time RV lifestyle. I truly appreciate all that you have shared about your expectations and experiences thus far. I really relate to many posts and comments because I feel my personality is much like yours. Your honest introspection on so many topics and experiences has given me the courage to excitedly entertain the possibility of this lifestyle (still 5 years out) becoming a reality and I anticipate the amazing adventure that full-timing can be. A great big Thank you thank you thank you! I hope your amazing adventure continues in Year 4!
Thank you very much! It means a lot that I am helping in your dreamer phase.
I have enjoyed reading your blog and your true feelings. We have been on the road for 12 years but have not worked as we were old enough to have a retirement. Your journey has seen many ups and downs and we hope that during the year 2018 you find the enjoyment and peace you deserve. God Bless and enjoy your journey.
Thank you! Wow 12 years that’s is an amazing accomplishment. It’s very nice to hear that I can say anything you would find interesting 😄. The struggle is really ok. As I said to a friend of mine recently every really good thing in my life I have had to struggle for. I am truly ok with that and think of it like climbing a steep trail. Take lots of breaks, make sure you stop and take pictures along the way, and wow what a view at the top! I’m not at the top yet, but definitely enjoying the view.
I have to admit I almost always read your blog in Safari reader view, which strips all the reader comments. Thus, I’ve been totally unaware of the trolls and negative comment that you have received and endured in the past.
I can honestly say that I have been vicariously living through each of Lee and your experiences for some time now, which are told so vividly and true to heart through your frequent blog posts. While I’m just a simple chemist, working away and envisioning my eventual retirement, I too am alway quite excited and pleases when I find you’ve made a new post. I have been faithfully following your blog every few days for 2+ years now, and l’ve read back into your early history as well.
When I read this post, I did find myself wondered if you could possibly have those negative comments removed by some kind soul before you viewed them, so I’m somewhat surprised to find that you have chosen to not use filters to minimize posts from those obvious trolls. I’ve found in the past that these kind of hurtful comment often mute my desires to participate in many bulletin boards. Thus, I totally understand why the sharp stings from folks with small eyes might challenge your desire to continue to feed your admirers and devotees with your oh so honest characterizations of life’s experiences. Having said that, I will miss what we have become accustomed to.
So I echo the many comments above that cherish your heartfelt and honest words, and will continue to be a faithful reader of your muse in any shape or form that you develop going forward. But I do hope that you don’t let others silence your inter voice, as that’s what keeps most all of us coming back for more. I can tell fr om the comments above that each of us finds a piece of ourselves through your words.
One more thing. I’m a 20 year Dublin resident, and I’m always hoping to run into you when you are back home in Columbus for a visit. I always feel you have so much better things to do when your back, but I would love to buy you and Lee a nice steak dinner, complete with pie, should you have a free lunch or dinner slot in your busy schedule. I would be happy if you took me up on my offer.
As others above previously stated, I’m looking forward to experiencing Year 4 with you guys.
Best wishes in this new year, 2018.
Bruce
Hi Bruce so glad you reached out. What a lovely comment. Don’t worry I don’t plan on changing my style at all, other than worrying less about other people’s reactions and tackling some topics I have shied away from in the past. I was really just letting folks know where I stood on the issue, so no one will be surprised if they see a comment and it is then deleted. As tempted as I am not to read some of them..and trust me a couple of times Lee saw them first and said he would delete them. I do feel a responsibility to read it and make my own assessment. Sometimes obviously that’s a little rough, but I think it will be easier now that I have given myself permission to delete the really mean ones without feeling compelled to answer them.
As far as you being in Dublin how cool is that! We probably won’t be headed back for a couple of years but if you read we are headed that way feel free to send us an email. Things are usually crazy when we are there but it’s hard for Lee to turn down free pie 🙂 Seriously though I don’t know what you personal situation is, but I did want to mention we met a chemist on the road. He had chucked everything and is living a really cool and crazy free wheeling lifestyle and I have rarely seen anyone better suited for the road. To be honest it surprised me because you know preconceptions about chemists, but Russell was a super cool guy and is loving his life right now. Just throwing it out there 🙂 Take care and again thank you for reaching out and thank you so much for reading for so long.
Tracy,
You have always said you wanted to write the blog that you wished you had access to before you started full timing. For me you have done that. The insight that you and Lee have shared has been wonderful as my wife and I look at going full time in about 5 years. You experiences and the emotions of the transition that you have shared have been very helpful to us.
I am glad that you are not coming off the road (I was a little worried as you completed Amazon) and I do hope that your next years will be better even then the first three. I will look forward to reading your blog in whatever form it is. The information is outstanding and I am very grateful for the time that you have taken over the years to give those of us that will follow after you, your feeling on what it is to start full timing and workamping.
Thanks again and good luck wherever your full timing helps you.
John
Thank you so much John. We actually don’t talk much about coming off the road. When we compare now to then things are absolutely better on this end. It’s interesting though and maybe something for me to write about. 😄. Thanks for the nice thought it is much appreciated
Tracy, I’ve been reading your blog for the last 2 years as my husband and I plan our fulltime adventure. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done, I know it isn’t easy exposing yourself sometimes, but it’s really meant a a lot to me. We’re in the process of getting our house on the market (shooting for end of April), currently going through the downsizing phase, after living here 20 years, it’s a stressful process!!
Your blog is one I always keep coming back to; it’s inspired and impressed me. I’m a marketing exec in the software industry, I’m currently planning on quitting in Sept so we can fulltime-I’ve appreciated and empathized with your challenges as a professional woman in transition. I’ve left the software industry several times,but kept coming back and climbing higher and higher up the corporate ladder. A bout with cancer last year made my husband and I realize it’s time to simplify our lives, and do this now while we’re both relatively healthy. Whenever I get anxious about turning my back on my corporate job, and walking away from a highly lucrative career, I turn to your blog and realize it’s do-able, and I get excited all over again!
I’ve never commented before, but please don’t let the trolls get you down! At some point, I want to do my own blog-I have always taken camper chronicles as an inspiration. Hope to meet you on the road someday!!
Liz
Hi Liz,
It’s so great to hear from you. A friend of ours died from cancer and that more than anything else gave me the courage to do this. And despite how easy people can make it all sound I do think it takes courage. I will tell you this, for me it has totally been worth it. No matter how long we are on the road or where this journey takes us I am so glad we did it. My life feels so much bigger now and yet is so much simpler. I know that probably seems like a weird combination, but for me at least it is absolutely true. And I am really happy. Not all the time of course…you guys are certainly privy to that, but I have joy in my life and really feel lucky to be able to do this. Hang in there through selling the house. That is super stressful for everyone that does it, but it is also extremely freeing. And if you find yourself panicking, take a deep breath and remember we all got through it. Stay in touch, and I’d love to meet down the road.
Your blog is a public service.
Well that is really sweet. Thank you.
First, I have enjoyed your blunt and upfront sharing of your thoughts and feelings through your writing for a couple of years now. I also want to point out a couple of things that helped me years ago that might help you. I have always worked to be the best at what ever job / career I have been in (like you). Then, when I was at the top of my field I had a massive heart attack (at 48) and was restricted by it for a time where I was forced to slow down and had time to do some internal analysis. While recovering I discovered that my career / job / title was NOT who I was! I was first a Man, Husband, Father, Friend etc and just did my job for $$$. After that I voluntarily wasn’t on the fast track any longer and the last 15 years of my career (at the same company) after my heart attack were not as rewarding in accolades or financially as the time before that, but I and my family were 1000% happier!
Life is to short, and none of us knows when it will end.
I’ve retired from that company, my wife and I sold our house, given all our other stuff away and have been on the road over 2 years full timing now and have no idea how to do right, but we don’t worry about it either 🙂 we just keep trying different things and learning.
Write, don’t write “Do what you want really want to” and to heck with the trolls.
Safe Travels
joe
ps.. Get Lee to write more he makes me laugh!
I’ll tell him!! He always says he can’t force the funny, so it just comes out when he feels it.
I am so glad I happened to rediscover your blog and read this post….you truly spoke to me.
We are starting our 4th year as well (we are older and retired) but I have been having a mini crisis the past 6 months, constantly thinking what the hell are we doing? Why does everyone seem so in love with this lifestyle and I feel a constant sense of discontent; like we aren’t doing this right. To make matters worse, I broke my ankle going down our RV steps 6 weeks ago, had to have surgery, and have been sitting inside stewing over this whole life and trying to figure out why I am feeling so unhappy. I’ve actually had moments when I HATE this RV and just know that if I weren’t living in a tin can I wouldn’t be in my current predicament.
My husband, is a go with the flow guy who doesn’t stress over anything and is perfectly happy doing something or nothing at all. I am the polar opposite. I have been questioning everything and wondering just what is it that I am missing and what do I want the rest of my life to look like.
Hi Carol,
First off you are not alone. I don’t understand why folks feel they constantly have to talk about the great parts of this but bad is shoved under the rug. It’s a life like any other and no life is perfect. I too have felt at times like I am living in a tin can. Seriously too many rainy days in a row and it’s rough. Here’s what I do. I think about my old life. Not the great parts, not the awful parts, just average day to day life. And then I think about this life the same way because let’s face it we all have more average days than not. IF your average day now is better than your average day before it’s worth the effort imho. If it’s not, well after three years it’s worth discussing.
I also understand that you are not in this alone. You have a partner with needs as well and the decision you make should work for both of you. But before you can sit down and talk about I really recommend owning how you feel. Not in this moment because the broken ankle sucks, but in general and once you know where you are there then talk about it.
Sorry don’t mean to Dear Abbey you, but this is serious stuff. You don’t flip your life upside down on a whim and changing it again is equally serious. Not that sometimes it shouldn’t be done, but it deserves the same care and thought I am sure you put into becoming a full timer to begin with.
Take care and I am glad if in some small way I helped.
Trace
Pingback: Fourth Year – The Emotional Arc – Camper Chronicles