January 14 – Choosing to be a vagabond is a definite life changing experience that fills the mind with Wide Open Spaces.
We were Innkeepers for four years (very tiring) and decided we needed to LIVE life and have freedom to roam. At the time we decided this, we lived in a six bedroom, four bath home filled to the brim with furniture, knick-knacks and love.
We pared down slowly getting ready for our transition. One estate sale prepared by professionals, while we spent a couple of days away, to help with the stress of purging our material items.
Sold some items on craigslist (don’t be so scared, we had positive results) and eBay.
We limited our material items to what we could fit in a 5×5 storage unit. Items like art, mementos, a few well loved pieces, important paperwork and some clothes. I let the kids borrow a few small tables and the rest went on to other homes.
Being that I refinished most of our furniture, I was a bit attached to it, so there were some pangs of sadness.
The most heartache I experienced was selling my ’96 Miata that I had purchased brand new and promised that I would keep her forever. Well 20 years is not forever, but it surely brought me a lifetime of joy in that time and now “she” has a new home with a person worthy and in love with her enough to baby her like I always did. She is in good hands, however I did cry at three different times.
We purchased a used Nissan Murano, which we literally picked up the day before our travels started, loaded it up, spent the night with friends, had a lovely breakfast with them, then drove off into the dawning of a new day.
Just make sure you pack what you need, but it’s too much if you cannot see out your rearview window.
We had some plans laid out before us of where to go and people to visit, but as with plans, things change since life changes. Be prepared to be flexible. By the way, we took all our love with us and are prepared to increase our love every day.
Day One
First stop on our way to Country Music City USA was the Holiday Inn Express in Marietta GA, just northwest of Atlanta. Since it was close to traffic hour we were thankful to arrive safely after driving through the rapidly growing Metropolis
Use the HOV lane through this crazy Big A of the South if possible. It is much less stressful.
We stopped for lunch on the way at a Ryan’s Steakhouse somewhere in Southern Georgia and at the end of our meal, I checked my Facebook on my phone as I read the following entry from my son (4th child who lived closest to us when we left) and proceeded to quietly cry. Yes, you will miss your children even if they are grown.
“Woke up this morning somewhat melancholy, true. And I thought I’d just text and say have fun and see you in a few weeks. But as I flipped through FB, I kept seeing others send you off with fond farewells. It makes me love you all the more and proud to be your son that so many people will miss your company and feel the feeling so that they’re compelled to express it. I love you very much mom. You two crazy kids go off and have fun! Take pictures! I’ll see you both in a few weeks. Love you guys.”
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