2024 took some unexpected turns. I am refraining from rereading last year’s post because I might be tempted to connect what happened to what I anticipated. However, this year’s change wasn’t even an inkling of an idea back in January, so I will start fresh with this post.
Hopefully, the end of 2024 marks the beginning of a shift in my life towards a lifestyle of both adventure and rest. Let me explain.
My husband brought up the idea of purchasing a camper van this summer. At first, I thought it was a crazy idea. I assumed that my husband, who is over 6 feet tall, wouldn’t be comfortable living in a metal box, sleeping in said box, sitting on a toilet in said box, etc. Only one of us did much camping in childhood and adulthood; spoiler alert, it wasn’t my husband. As much as I used to enjoy camping, it has been years since I’ve gone, and many of my adult experiences were far less enjoyable than my childhood recollections.
This idea seemed so out in left field that at initially I was waiting for the phase to pass. It didn’t. Then, I started playing devil’s advocate: questioning the practicality, the expense, and wether we would realistically enjoy it. When that didn’t work, I bought tickets to a local RV show and made him go inside various RVs and camper vans where I made him physically stand inside shower stalls and sit on toilets. Through all of this, he maintained his desire to make this investment.
My husband is also a researcher. Like overkill in research. He researched solar power, composting toilets, engine and body types, and floor designs. Add to that, he researched boon docking (legally camping for free on public lands), driving through tunnels and under bridges, insurance, and all sorts of things that I would never think about. The research has resulting in every member of the family getting advertisements on our social media accounts for camping toilets. (We are not excited about this turn of events.) It was when he started researching how to do the buildout himself, as in with power tools, where fear began to take over as my primary emotion.
Fast forward to October/November, when a listing for a van that met almost every single requirement and even wishlist item my husband had created. The floor plan was exactly what he envisioned. It was almost too good to be true. Within days, thanks to friends (Thanks, Beth and Karl!) we were able to purchase a van on the other side of the country, a van we had never seen, and then bring it home. (Yes, I drove it for a bit. See the fear in my eyes.)
So here we are, the owners of a used, but really nice, camper van. One of my ongoing questions has be how do we incorporate this into our busy lives without dropping the e-bike riding that we have taken up recently? How does it make life better not busier. How do we make it a blessing not a drain on our finances, time, and patience.
So thus comes my resolution of sorts. In 2025, I want to go on adventures. Not big adventures, necessarily. Ordinary adventures. Adventures that take me outdoors. Adventures that help me become physically healthy. Adventures that help me slow down. Adventures that take me away from my devices. Adventures to make memories with my husband.
This is my hope for 2025.
