We’ve created a couple of Monsters!

This is my first week here at the Marina in Lehi (Barb’s 6^th) and as much as I enjoyed the last month or so hunting and farming, it is good to be home!

The first order of business was for Barb to show me the camper that she bought for our Alaska trip and I must say she did a great job! It checks all the boxes we were looking for. Next order of business was to have the mounting system installed on the truck so we could haul the camper. If you recall, the previous owner said that his father-in-law, Mark, would install the mounts. A welder by trade, Mark had installed several mounting systems for campers in the past. What we liked about the way he did it was that he used a receiver hitch system that is totally hidden when not in use and easy to install when you want to use it.

There is a mount under each corner of the bed

He used 2" square tubing and welded receivers in place

You just pull the pin and remove when not it use

Next order of business was to continue “Operation Declutter”. You see, last fall we had left a number of totes and other things “we could not live without” at Forrest’s house with the intention of going through them again when we got back. Most of the totes contains clothing; sweaters, t-shirts, socks and all of our cold weather clothing. Before I got back, Barb had already gotten rid of two totes of her work clothes that she sent to a friend.  Now we went through the remaining totes separating everything into three piles; keep, sell, donate. When we were done we had 4 garbage bags of donate, one tote of sell and only a ½ tote of keep. I would call that a huge success! While we were at it we tore through our dresser drawers and closets and got rid of some things that we have not touched while we have been on the road. Two things continue to amaze me; how much stuff you think you need and how little you really need when it really comes down to it.

We got rid of all this stuff!

We organized the belly as well and moved some stuff to the camper

 

We have also been busy spending time with the kids and grandchildren, my how a few months changes things! Kendall (19 months) is walking, running, and climbing like crazy. She talks up a storm but we have no clue what she is saying. Dylan is quite the video gamer and Lily kicks our butts on Wii bowling. You may think that they were the monsters I was referring to in the post title…..not so. The monsters we have created are our own children and their spouses!  Over the past several months both of them have been researching and are in the process of taking steps into becoming fulltime RV’ers themselves! While neither of them have plans to become permanent fulltimers (yet), they both would like to sell/rent their homes and travel for a few years to not only see the country but to also see where they would like to plant more permanent roots. Right now they are both thinking Oregon, Wyoming or Montana however Jessica and Shane have the wildcard state of Pennsylvania.

Both families have been busy downsizing, paying off debt and saving as much as possible. Both have recently bought trucks and travel trailers in anticipation of their own adventures! It is interesting to see them and listen to them talk about their plans. Both seem very grounded and realistic when it comes to expectations; needing to work, home schooling and finances. It will be interesting to see if these dreams come to fruition……we shall have to wait and see!

Jessica and Shane's new rig a 2010 32' Open Range

Lily with Forrest and Somer's 2013 29' Dutchman