Leaving Holland was hard, leaving all my friends behind and not knowing what lay ahead. It was also exciting, leaving what we know and go around. Moving from a house with 1000 square feet to a place with ~270 sq. ft. was a squeeze at first, but now I’m somewhat used to it. If we were to head back now, I wouldn’t know what to do with all the extra space in the house.
One of the other hard things to do is meet new friends, knowing that you’ll be gone in a couple days and you’ll probably never see them again.
Some things are fun, though, things you’ve never done before, like mountain biking, mountain climbing, and even sitting in the truck, moving somewhere new. When you move this much, you seem to shift your mindset, from “Sigh. More new things to have to learn,” to “Awesome! New things to try, see, and experience.” That was something I didn’t see coming when we left. Different foods are fun, too, like seafood in Outer Banks and Tex-Mex in San Antonio.
Many of the new things aren’t so fun, like sleeping under a sister who talks in her sleep, pinching myself in the spokes while putting bikes up and down on the truck, and whacking my head on the corner of the cabinet that overhangs right where we take stuff from under the sink, like flashlights and trash bags. But still, no matter how sore or tired I am, I still look forward to moving the next day.
One thing’s for sure, I’ve changed my idea of a long car ride. It used to be that a long car ride was 1 ½ to 2 hours. Now, that’s nothing. If we go 5+ hours, that’s almost long.
So far, the trip has been the best and most different trip of my life. I know that when I get back, I will not be the same person as when I left. My final verdict: Overall, on a scale of 1-10, the trip is about a 15 ½.
So, what did the rest of the family think of the trip halfway through the first year? Here’s what Miranda liked and didn’t like, (Dad) Boyink’s six month review, and MsBoyink’s six month review.
Very well written, Data. (You must have a great teacher! :) I’m glad you are enjoying your trip so much and growing as a result of it. May the Lord continue to bless you.
Great update that surprised me with little mention of the great sport of baseball. I’m watching the first inning of the opening game between the Tigers and Yankees on TV. Wish you were here.
Dad,
Data did listen to the first several innings of today’s game and was able to watch the final 2 innings while we ate lunch at the pub & grille. He was sharing the event with you in spirit, anyway. ;)
An excellent overview!
I love the “adventure” side of RV travel too…there is always something new to learn and discover.
The small(er) space of an RV has its downsides, but we’re definitely getting used to it. Now when we go inside of an apartment or condo, we think, “This is HUGE!” ;)
P.S. The food in San Antonio is so good!