A bit of time has passed since my last blog entry….a lot of things have happened, and many more have changed. When we started our fulltime adventure, it was to find the "perfect place" to land. We have been looking for 9 years and seen most of our wonderful country. This past year has been a time of change. We were planning on spending last winter workcamping in east Texas. We were on the job less than a week when we were summoned to So Cal to care for Terry’s Mom (82), who had fractured her back falling off the roof of the house we had bought so she would not be homeless! Sooooo……we ended up moving her to an assisted living facility this past summer and putting the house on the market. It sold last month and is ready to close escrow. Terry’s Dad passed away about 2 years ago.
My Mom is 87 and still active and healthy. She really should not be driving, so does very little of that activity. We lost my Dad four years ago and Mom adjusted well. We periodically asked her if she would like to come live with us. We were willing to get a two bedroom fiver to accomodate her, or even to settle down and buy a house. She has always declined the offer, stating she was happy in her home of over 25 years with her memories and familiar surroundings. The last time we talked about her moving was this past summer. We had been looking at property in eastern ID with the intention of getting something that we would have when the boys were ready to move and take care of us. They are adament about taking caring for us in our feeble years. When I told her what we were considering, and asked if she would come, she went ballistic! (OK….I sure won’t go there again!!)
We had been working hard all summer and had not found anything we were really interested in, so we planned a trip to the western ID mountains last month. We knew of a buy-in RV resort in Cascade that we wanted to check out. We rented a car and drove to Cascade and spent three days looking at property. We found several interesting prospects, including a house that we really liked.
While there, I called my Mom and told her what we were doing and asked one last time if she would condider coming to live with us if we bought a home. In less than 2 heartbeats, she said YES! OH LORDY…what have we done? All of a sudden she is ready to up and sell the house and come right up! Sooooo…..to make a long story short, we committed to finding a house and getting off the road. We went back to our summer place and announced what we were doing….talk about shock, not only were we in that state, but everyone else was too.
We packed up the fiver and moved to Caldwell, ID two weeks ago and started hunting in earnest. We ended up looking at dozens and found one we really liked. Our offer was accepted and we are now homeowners…all in the space of four fast weeks! We should be moving in about two weeks. We will have a lot of preparation and purchases to make, number one will be a snowblower!. Number two is a huge generator to power essentials when the power goes out! New winter clothing…technology has changed since we have been in snow country…..
We will finally live another dream we have had forever….living in the mountains, by a lake. Fishing, boating, hiking, bicycling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling…all are on the agenda. We will have room for company and hopefully our home will be full of cheer and good times. Our families are all eager to see where we are settling and are planning trips. My Mom is ready to come now, but we will have to wait a bit for that. She is planning on starting to get rid of things and getting the house ready to market.
Yes, ’tis true….the O’Keeffe road trip is nearing an end. We are a bit ambivilant but know this is the right thing to do. Family comes first and a new adventure begins. Send warm thoughts and we will continue our adventure….just down a different path.
Tony Cornett
Well Momma ‘O you’re still part of the family like it or not. Just like the article I wrote when we look out that backyard window and see a dream.l..chase it for it may not come by again. That’s what life is all about, living your dreams. I’d say after seeing the house that’s one mighty fine dream! I can’t wait to visit! You and Terry are lucky in my book. As i said though you’ll always be part of the famil;y here and you “ain’t going nowhere”. We love ya!
Joyce Crump
Hello Diane, We have been avid RVers for years ??40+ and enjoy every outing to this day. We presently caretake my mother-in-law (also 87) and would do nothing less. We have been confined for two years but still plan on getting back out when circumstances permit. She doesn”t want to travel although she went with us a lot before taking 6 years to “Help” her older brother. He went to his reward two years ago and she sat down in his recliner and watched the world pass by the living room window. She quickly decided she did not like being alone and came back to live with us. We were and ARE delighted and so relieved to have her back where she “belongs”. It is not always easy but so rewarding. I commend you both for the decision you have made. I know Caldwell, Idaho and have visited there many times and also the surrounding area. I lived in Spokane, Wa. for 5 years and can just see the country in my mind’s eye right now. I absolutely LOVE the Pacific Northwest and sincerely hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. I know you will be very busy getting settled, if you find a minute I’d like to hear how you like the area. You know one of those rare moments when you are wondering what to do with you next? Also, Pendleton Mills are within easy driving distance (Pendleton, Oregon) and they had an outlet when I was there. God Bless you and your family. I will think of you often.
Richard Shea
In refernece to Jerry Shea, just wondering if you had any relatives in Texas?
John & Ellen
Hey people, Im happy for those of you that can go across our beautyful country and enjoy. When we bought our RV, we were told that it wasn’t built to live in full time. It is fully self contained , has two pop outs and has everything a person needs. Its a condor R vision, and we love it. It’s beautyful. Now the question. Why do you suppose they said it wasn’t meant to live in full time ? I figure if you dump the waste often, do the upkeep, and make sure things are in proper working order, why can’t we live in it ?
Nice read all the informative information. Thanks to everyone. John
karon shehan
This is nothing to do with different paths,
We are fu;; time and are wondering if any of you othere folks have birds? How do you get them across the candian border and then back in, without a lot of problems.. We have a SunBurst conjure, he is a rare bird, small and neat we love him. But sure have a berry of time across border.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
We love this site, it is full of helpful information. And free, that is unusuall
Again Thank you
Richard A Nicol
Good Luck to You
Doreen Orion aka Queen of the Road
Congratulations! We’re living the inverse dream: Have a home in the mountains in a lovely town, but after living for a year, traveling the country in our converted bus, we’ve decided to sell the house and hit the road full time.
Jerry Shea
Well what in the heck is that lying over there? Looks like some sort of an RV torch – ha. Here you guys are ending a 9 year “fulltime adventure” and we are just starting ours. While you are buying a house, we are getting ours ready to sell (in 2010) as we move into our RV for fulltime use. We have also been looking for the “perfect place” to call home. We are on a 9 months trip now, and are looking for someplace that we can come home to for the holidays (2010) as we travel the rest of the year.
Next year it will be Alaska for 5-6 months. Then in 2010 it will be the RV life, except for a few months at home — just don’t know where that will be.
Jerry Shea
Rick & Gail
We are just beginning our travels and it has been nice to read about your adventures. All things change and we must be prepared to change with them. One of the great things about travel is it prepares you to embrace the changes when they happen. You are forced to learn to be prepared and how to roll with the punches when you are not. All the best to you and your family on you new adventure.
sande
Isn’t life facinating? I’m just in awe of the twists & turns our Path’s take.
I wish you & the family the very best..