Travel Options are Endless

I just pulled up a map of the United States on Google.  

The options are endless!  Where do we go next?  

We spent a lot of money on gas to get out to Utah.  It was about $1100 in gas for our two vehicles to tow two trailers this far from Missouri.

Now, we hope to wonder the west for a while.  Utah alone has thousands of great places.  

It is always a labor of love to choose where to go next.

We always pray first and then get the map out.

Our time in the cabin ends January 31st.  It is a cold time of year to head out.  South or  further west would be our only options so we will look in those directions.

Since Shae and I are both military veterans, we have to go to a VA appointment every year and a half or so. Will we drive all the way back to Missouri for it or should we send him on a plane?  A plane ticket would be much less than the gas money.

Oh dear.

The decision is never easy, I wish it was.  The options are endless and wonderful -

It Sure Is A Nice Problem To Have!

Where to go next?

Every year or so, we had back to Missouri to take care of vehicle registration, dentist, doctor appts, visit family, and so on.

Each time we go through everything that is in the camper; under every drawer, behind every shelf, all the dark cabinets...I mean everywhere!  We have to unload as much as possible because I guarantee we will get more stuff as we travel the next year.  It is always shocking just how much stuff can be accumulated in 42 feet! 

It was so much work this time.  It just seemed to be harder than usual.  Besides the fact Cody had to have his wisdom teeth out and wee little Tytus had to have a filling, and a week and a half of sickness.

All of us had a great bill of health from the doctor, so that is great news.  Shae even got his cholesterol down!  Guess he will try to start eating all that butter and bacon again!  Just kidding...although I will have to watch him.

Deciding where to head to was difficult. 

• fires in Arizona
• fires in New Mexico
• fires in Southern Colorado
• smoke in Western Colorado
• bad tornadoes in Central U.S.
• too hot in the South
• too hot in the South East
• bad storms heading north
• gas prices high

I printed up a map of the U.S. and marked off all of the states that wouldn't work for us this year.  It only left a few.  So, we are on the road again, no destination.  Things keep changing everywhere we think we want to head to.  Now there is horrible flooding to the north and central. 

So, we roam aimlessly.... It is kind of fun.

Storms in Texas and Missouri While in a Camper

When we owned our home, we had an underground basement.  In that basement was a room that had no windows and was in the center of the basement, next to the ground.  Anytime there was severe weather, I would send the kids into that room for the night.  Sometimes they had to sleep in the big walk in closet and other times just in the bed and on the floor.  It had a TV, VCR, toys, books, blankets, emergency kit, and other necessities and non essentials. 

Now, living in a camper, we are in extreme danger during bad weather.  We all know the risk that people take staying in mobile homes during severe weather.  The news always says to get out of them and into a shelter. 

Campers are even worse. 

Yet, I want to stay on the road.  But, I do believe we need to change where we spend the spring.  We will not spend tornado season, March through June, in tornado country again.  I'd rather be there in the heat of July than blown away in the spring or fall.

I knew weather would be an issue while traveling, I never had a clue just how much it would rule our decisions.

I remember the second year of traveling.  We went to Montana and the Northwest.  As we drove to our winter campground in Arizona, the snow was hot on our tails, or should I say "cold on our tails!" 

We paid the extra for double insulation in our camper - I think that just means they put extra tissue paper in the walls.  Double pain windows would be great, this camper didn't have that option.  We decided to only get one air conditioner put in.  That was a mistake, we really need two air conditioners when it is super hot.  We use two electric heaters in the winter, along with our furnace, which keeps it plenty warm.

We have two carpets and a foam barrier in the back to help with insulation.
 
We made double layer curtains for some windows.

Silver bubble wrap insulation works great on the window during the winter.  It made a huge difference.

Now, we look at the calendar, weather patters, and the map and put all three together and decide where to go.  We know God will protect us where ever He wants us, we just need to go where He says...and learn from our past mistakes.