Re-entry. It can be a difficult thing when your life-style has not been the “norm” and you know that you’re not the same person you were a year ago.
As we moved into the Midwest, and we knew that our return to West Michigan was within a week’s time, Mike and I decided we needed to ease back into the stationary life. We chose to stay at Mike’s parents’ summer home for our first few days. They live about 50 miles from our Holland house, have a full hook-up spot for the trailer, and welcomed us in for a visit.
We arrived on Friday afternoon and spent Saturday staying put (we’d been moving a lot the previous week). On Sunday we drove to Holland to attend our home church, Manna. We arrived unannounced—which was quite fun. Sunday afternoon we joined Mike’s sister’s family and Mike’s parents for an afternoon of catch-up, play, and dinner (thanks for the delicious meal, Paul). Monday we hung out at the folks’ and Monday evening we returned to Holland so I could attend the Women’s Bible study and we all could attend the Manna baseball evening—Data got to watch, along with his baseball peeps, a Detroit Tigers vs. NY Yankees play-off game.
During the drive to Holland on Monday, Mike announced that he’d like to spend a couple of days at our favorite Michigan state park in Ludington. So, as has been our style over the past year, we made plans and headed up there on Wednesday morning for a two night stay. It was a wonderfully relaxing time (you can read about it in Mike’s write-up).
Friday, as the weekend warriors were pulling into the state park, we pulled out. We set up at our final RV park (Dutch Treat in Zeeland, MI) for this phase of the adventure. We plan to stay here through the month of October.
The details of the next phase of our adventure are still unknown. It’s looking like we will be spending the winter in Holland and putting the trailer in storage for a few months. But, don’t think we’re another traveling family that’s returning to their sticks and bricks house and lifestyle. We’ll just be on a different type of adventure for a short time. Consider us stationary in body but mobile in mind, until next spring, when we move back into the trailer and move our bodies as well.
PS - And about “returning” to our previous lifestyle: I’ll be fighting that tooth and nail. I am a different person than I was a year ago—and I like the growing I’ve done and that we as a family have done. So, to our family and friends—please don’t try to fit us back into the box we used to fit in because we are no longer square.
We aren’t square either! Us “non-squares” need to Skype soon! Less than 80 days and we are off to Ecuador.
Oh my! Tell me about reentry! We spent a total of four years traveling on our bicycles and have now been back in Idaho for 6 months. It’s been crazy!
What I’ve come to realize is that there are good points about traveling and good points about standing still. There are bad parts to them both as well. It’s all about balance - trying to figure out a lifestyle that works for YOU (and me!).
Enjoy this time at home - it’s not all bad. Trust me!
Hi Nancy - thanks for stopping by. We often talk about your family (in a good way) during our discussions about re-entry. We will make good use of this time and enjoy it -but there sure are some puzzles to work out.
@Renee- MsBoyink will be in touch! We’ll be praying for you guys on your big adventure.