A little background: A little over a year ago, the company I worked for closed the Indianapolis office as part of an impending acquisition. I spent 30 days as a contractor helping to transfer knowledge and processes to corporate resources. I spent another 30 days using the outplacement services they provided, then 7 months networking and applying for a new marketing director position in the Indianapolis area. In mid-August, our daughter and son-in-law shared exciting news. In 7 months, we would be grandparents. My husband, who was retired the previous year, wasted no time explaining how NOW was the time for “our dream trip” – before the grandchild arrives, before we get older, before we resettle into the daily routines new jobs would require. For a woman who researches, plans and executes marketing plans for a living; who runs pilot tests and evaluates the return before committing resources to a full program, this trip sounded enticing and adventurous yes, but also impulsive and scary. Lessons we learned in both business and life were instrumental in helping us realize this trip.
- Be brave. Let go of the fear. We've all heard fear can paralyze some and motivate others. Based on personal experience, I’ve let it do both to me. I recalled the famous Zig Ziglar quote that read, “FEAR has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” I chose to rise to the occasion and embrace this journey.
- Be strategic. Start with a general plan. Long trips take planning, but a plan can come together quickly if you know how to tackle it strategically. We discussed our priorities - to explore new places, have fun and visit as many friends and family along the way. We created a list of places and people we wanted to see. We bought a road atlas and highlighted those places on the map. We wanted to start in the north and work our way south as the weather turned colder. This plan became our general roadmap. However, we chose not to create detailed daily itineraries because we did not want a schedule so packed that it barred spontaneity.
- Be prepared. Do your research. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Being new to the RV world, we scoured the internet to learn the tips and tricks of others who’ve taken similar journeys. We watched videos on how to operate, maintain and troubleshoot the RV. We downloaded checklists for everything – from what clothing and household items to pack, to how to stock the pantry, hook up the tow car, and prep for take-off and arrivals. We modified those checklists to suit our needs and referred to them often to avoid mistakes along the way.
- Be efficient. Less is more has long been our travel motto. Decades of business travel across country and overseas have taught us both how to pack efficiently with a single carry-on bag and computer backpack to avoid long lines. Allowing for the broad temperature ranges we’d face required both warm- and cold-weather clothing with flexible layering options. We included a few dressier pieces, just in case, but kept clothing choices concise because we knew laundromats would be near and we’d never be in one place for more than a week. Packing for the new compact kitchen was the bigger puzzle to solve. But I managed it well, knowing it was only going to be a 6-month situation. I scaled back the dishes, pans, cooking utensils and pantry supplies. We also adjusted our cooking style and menu options. Still, when all was said and done, there were several items in the kitchen and closets we never used.
- Be flexible. As in business, you cannot anticipate all that you will experience so be open to changing your course if needed. In our instance, one of our early goals was to travel to Yellowstone National Park before winter hit. Our new motorhome wasn’t outfitted for winter travel. We knew were cutting it close leaving September 10th, so when the polar vortex blew 8” of snow and sub-freezing temps on Yellowstone the day before our arrival, we used our back-up plan. We traveled south and would try to approach it again from Utah if the weather changed. Later, when we realized we weren’t going to be able to hit Bryce Canyon or Yellowstone due to snow and frigid temps, we headed south toward Las Vegas and San Diego. We then received a text from a dear friend in Scottsdale whose husband needed unexpected bypass surgery. We were able to postpone our trip to San Diego and head directly to Scottsdale to lend a hand and moral support. We were so glad we were able to do that!
- Be proactive. Keep others informed along the way. Thanks to today’s built-in technology of smart phones, this was easy to do. We used calling, texting, emailing, posting and instant messaging to keep our adult children, parents, families and friends informed of our progress and changes in plans. We created this blog to share our experiences and photos in more detail. And just as important was having regular check-ins with each other to make sure we were both getting out of the trip what we wanted.
- Be realistic. Don’t try to do too much. Remember why you’re out there in the first place and prioritize. We knew we couldn’t do it all, so when we were in a location that had more to offer than the time we had allotted, we discussed our options and decided together. Sometimes that meant agreeing to extending our stay another day or starting our days earlier to do more in the time we had. Other times, we prioritized activities based on weather or convenience.
- Be spontaneous. Remember the big picture is to have fun. If something of interest pops up that wasn’t on your list, do it! Like the time a cousin messaged and invited us to tour ILM in San Francisco – when would we have that opportunity again?! If you hiked 10 miles in the canyons yesterday and today you want to rest and read or sort through the 500 photos you took yesterday, it’s OK. If you meet a nice couple on the beach and you’d like to get to know them better, invite them over for a drink or meal. If you pass the “artichoke capitol of the world” and had no idea there was such a thing, then stop at one of the Castroville roadside markets and buy some artichokes!
- Be grateful. In the daily grind, it’s easy to take things for granted. We have so much to be thankful for. We may have been without jobs for the moment, but we have our health. We had saved for our future and contingency plans. We had the support of family and friends who all encouraged us to take the leap and enjoy the journey. We loved and liked each other enough to be together 24/7 for 6 months in a tiny travel home. We’ve been blessed with many friends over the years who are now dispersed across the US. When we shared our travel plans, they were eager to have us visit. Some so graciously hosted us in their beautiful homes for days; others happily met us for meals at their favorite restaurants. We cherished all the face-to-face time we had with our dear friends and extended family along the way. We are grateful for the overall wonderful weather we experienced. We were overwhelmed by the magnificent beauty and diversity of this vast country. We were thankful for the safe travel of more than 9,500 miles. I wake every day still grateful for this amazing experience.
I’m sure there are more life lessons that can be applied. I’ll leave it here for now. If you have a road trip like this on your bucket list, consider these and start planning. Happy travels!
