A few posts ago, I told the story of how J. and I became van lifers. It was a short but respectable 12ish months of our middle aged lives. After our trip, people asked about our favorite part of the experience or the favorite place we visited - a valid question, but impossible to answer.
There were highlights for sure - places that have imprinted on my soul that we have made a point to return to since our travels officially ended. The Arizona desert was one of these places. We were fortunate to spend many weeks in Arizona in the spring (a great COVID hide out). The flowering cacti and whatever else blooms there was breathtaking. There were acres and acres of bright yellow (scrub brush/flowers/I don’t know) along the highway. Orange, red and purple blooms dotted the landscape, and the vastness and quiet expanse of the scenery with almost intentionally placed saguaro cacti allowed me to take in a deep breath and sigh it out.
Then, there were other places that I thought would be life changing and were disappointing (more about that another time). But, that was one of the best things about van life. If we didn’t jive with a place, if the forecast was calling for an extended period of rain or cold temps or excessive heat, or if we felt weird or uncomfortable, we just drove away. In a few hours we could be somewhere completely different. We had an exit strategy.
If we found a place we really liked, we had the freedom to settle in for awhile. This happened in Florida, more specifically, North Miami Beach in the late fall. We stopped in Miami after a weekend in Key West only expecting to stay for a few days. We stayed for three weeks. Perfect 70/75 degree days, access to road biking and even mountain bike trails, Cuban coffee, big birds, beach showers, street art. It was just lovely.
Having an easy out was priceless and allowed us to hit up destinations at their peak - spring in the desert, late fall/winter in Florida. Had it been summer in Arizona or Florida, our experience would have probably been miserable in terms of the crowds and the heat. Having the van allowed us to take advantage of the best times to visit specific areas of the country and exit when the tides turned.
I’ve read and been told over the years that it’s important to be uncomfortable because you learn how to navigate unpleasant situations with grace and ease. It also helps you appreciate the blessings that comfort allows - plentiful water, hot showers, food on the table, a roof over your head, clothes on your back.
Sometimes, though, you want a break from having to endure whatever is causing you discomfort in your life, like this early season snow fall that happened last week at home…
…and having the option for an exit strategy is priceless.
It’s not as easy anymore to get up and go without a moment’s notice, but we have gotten efficient at making last minute plans, packing a bag and heading off the mountain for a few days if the weather is going to be particularly dreadful or if our life is starting to resemble The Shining a little too closely. Sometimes knowing that you have the option to pick up and leave is enough to tamp down the itch and allow you the strength to trudge through whatever is weighing you down.