Reflections an looking forward

So what did we learn from our test run? Is the trailer for sale? Or will we keep going?

# 1 we went too fast

# 2 we saw too many sights

# 3 we took too much stuff 

# 4 we took too little stuff

#5 we need better cell coverage!

# 6 we were successful enough to choose to continue. 

#1 Too Fast. 

Before we left, we had heard about the 2-2-2 rule and chose to ignore it. We now see the wisdom in traveling no more than 2 hours a day, arriving by 2 PM, and staying a minimum of 2 nights. (2-2-2). In the future, we will heed 2-2-2 wisdom more often. (But, we are the Grubbs and if you call it a "rule", it's "made to be broken," right? So we'll just call it "2-2-2 wisdom".)

#2

Too many sights. 

Sometimes it's hard to settle for what you can do in a limited amount of time. Countless times we said, "We'll have to do that next time we come." But, really, we were doing so much. Every night we were totally exhausted. Looking back, I am so thankful that we had family and friends to visit because our desire to spend time with them slowed us down! And the funny thing is, when we look back on our trip, the times we spent with family and friends are more precious memories than the times we saw this thing or that thing. So in the future, our priority will be spending time with friends and family and making memories with each other when we're at the sights - because that's what will make the time memorable. This totally reflects the fact that God made us relational beings and relationships are far more important than stuff - even mega-monuments of huge historical significance - though the monuments themselves are only historical because of the relationships associated with them!

#3 Too Much Stuff. 

So, we didn't actually take too much stuff, but we wanted to. There were things we wanted to take on this trip but couldn't  because they didn't fit in the car. (Remember when we left we didn't have the trailer yet!) Most of these things I thought we would absolutely need for the next trip. However, after being out there without them for five weeks, I realize we don't need them at all.

This has made it so much easier to pack up our house because there's far less sorting out what to take with us. (This is mostly referring to books. I LOVE books.)

# 4 Too little stuff

This directly relates to the fact that when we left, we could only take what we could fit in our car with us. I will definitely be restocking the kitchen when we leave. We only had our camping supplies and I broke down and bought a skillet. Next time, we will take the crockpot and the rice cooker and a hand blender and a couple mixing bowls and regular kitchen pots. (I really want some old-school Tupperware plates too.) I'm not sure about the toaster, as I've learned to toast by placing bagels or English muffins in the skillet and have been happy with the results. We will also take sheets and blankets for the beds in place of the sleeping bags that we lived in for far too long. Lastly, Scott and I are still debating whether not we will take our regular mattress and put it in the trailer.

#5 Can you hear me now?

(Sorry. It's been years since we've had TV and I have no idea what the current cell company punch lines are.)

In order for Scott to work (which has to happen in order for us to eat), he has to be connected to the Internet. When we drove across the country five years ago, from LA to Atlanta, we never lost signal-even in the middle of nowhere! So we were a little surprised this time around to find ourselves without service almost half the time. Many times it seems that when we had no AT&T service, people around us had Verizon service, so we will be acquiring a Verizon device before we head out again. Our hope is that with both services available, Scott will be able to continue to work uninterrupted. 

# 6 Successful Enough 

We went into this "trial run" thinking if it didn't work out, we could just come back to Southern California, sell the trailer and call it a fun vacation. However, despite #1,#2,#3,#4 & #5, we are planning to make a go of it using the lessons we've learned so far and continually making adjustments for 6 sinful people living in a really tight space. 

We plan to be heading out of SoCal on July 15. (We had to push the date out due to orthodontic and dental needs.)

We do not yet know exactly where we're headed, but the plan is to head north and across the top of the U.S. so that we can do the Northeast "in the fall".

We are so thankful for this opportunity to travel. Though we had thought about it for a long time, we didn't really see it coming. A few months ago, Scott's on site work responsibilities here in Southern California lessened and we saw the opportunity opening up. And truly with kids 14, 13 (in 4 days), 11, and 9 - it seems like the perfect time. Everyone will remember it. Nobody is too old and wanting/needing to stay home. Although a year ago we would have never guessed we would be doing this, we are so happy with where God has us. It will not be easy, but it will be good.