A Tropical Storm for Our First Night

Last night was officially the start of our full time RV lifestyle, and what a night it was. After enduring a full day of on and off rain yesterday we went out to dinner in celebration of our real estate closing. It was still raining lightly when we turned in around 10:00 pm, but at about 4:00 am we were both awakened by strong winds and a heavy downpour. The wind driven rain came down with such furiousity that it was difficult to hear one another talk. With much timidity, Charlie wandered nervously around the coach looking for a safe refuge from the violent calamity outside. Once daylight broke the morning light revealed wildly shaking trees looming above our bedroom window which occasionally dropped dead branches on our roof top with heart stopping thuds. Like a submarine captain fearing the next sinking depth charge, we wondered whether the next limb to fall might not be "the big one". This to shall pass, I thought to myself and by about 6:30am the tropical storm began to move away and the winds died down. Whew, if there was ever a test of the water tightness of our rig this was it. It did very well though I will climb aloft this week end to check for damage.

With home ownership now behind us and the bulk of our possessions liquidated we can now focus on our new life. Before I start to think about the logistical preparations for our journey I wish to remind myself of the mindset that got us to this point. It is best summed up in a quote I found recently by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross:"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."