Our adventure together began in the late 70s, when we met in a small Oklahoma town. We married a short time after we met, and the rest, as they say, is history. For several decades we lived a happy life filled with hard work, kids, multiple homes, pets, travel, etc.
Life was full and happy with what I consider the BIG 3...
Faith, Family and Friends.
We have worked side by side on many projects in our homes and even an occasional auto repair. Along we way we jokingly started referring to ourselves as Team Sanders. We have happily considered ourselves a winning team.
I believe it was about 5 or 6 years ago when SuperDave suggested that upon retirement we should sell our home and travel the country in a recreational vehicle. I love to travel and visit new places, so this sounded fun to me, but what really sold me was that we have friends and family all over the USA I wanted to visit. So our retirement plan was born. We would travel full time for a few years, then buy another home near our kids and grandkids. Now that we've started, our plan is no longer defined by a timeline, we will live mobile until we are ready to stop.
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| Home base in north Texas! |
We had no idea during all the years of planning, dreaming, researching and anticipating that a pandemic would cause sales of RVs to explode.....the same year we planned to purchase a RV! By 2020 we had a very specific idea of the type, layout and size RV we wanted to purchase. We planned to buy a used RV to save money. As a result of the pandemic, inventory was scarce, so we bought a new RV that was already on order at the dealer. It was initially due for delivery 4-5 weeks after we moved out of our home. Due to manufacturing and transportation delays, we moved into the RV 10 WEEKS after we moved into a hotel. (and the day after our daughter's wedding!)
During the pandemic, I worked from 'home' over 9 months. First in my house, then in a hotel room and finally in the RV before retiring in January 2021!
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| My office in our home |
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| My office in our hotel home! |
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| My office in our motorhome! |
During the transition, we gave away, sold and donated a mountain of household and personal items. I carefully selected items I REALLY wanted to keep to make our next stationary house into our home. These items filled one storage unit to the ceiling and overflowed into a second smaller unit. Storage is not inexpensive, but I do believe it would cost more to replace all these household goods than store them. Also, I don't want NEW stuff in my next house. I want MY stuff.
I may regret this decision in a few years, but some days I already miss my stuff. Summer had me longing to decorate with seashells and fall has me fighting the urge to buy some pumpkins.
Some days, I miss the space. Mostly we just miss having a place big enough for all our kids to come over and visit at the same time! We also miss our neighbors. But reunions with family and friends are just that much sweeter.
During the process of planning, we created a parking spot for BB (our 36' Fleetwood Bounder) in Texas at our daughter's home and in Oklahoma on my brother's ranch. Now we have two home base locations where we can park as long as needed, no reservations necessary. This also allows us to visit family without rushing or staying in someone's house and has provided us a place to stay while we helped care for my aging parents this year.
We never miss the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and I look forward to sharing more beautiful travel pictures with you all!
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| Northeast Oklahoma Sunset |
Much love & Laughter,
Laura
