We are on a “shake down cruise” this week, which is a nautical term describing that first outing when all of a ship’s functions are tested. We are at a beautiful state park putting our “new” 7-year-old travel trailer “Baby” through her paces.  We had a small panic attack this morning when we heard a rhythmic vibrating sound we couldn’t identify. We searched and searched, only to find it was the alarm on my watch – on the charger and hiding under a book – telling me it was time for a medication.  

Ahh.  Old people and camping. 

Flyboy was the first to try out the shower in the world’s smallest bathroom and submitted a comprehensive report of his findings: Tucked in a corner, the shower is about 24” wide, meaning there is barely room to turn around.  The shower curtain must be closed before the water is turned on, otherwise the whole bathroom will be soaked, meaning that one must get into the shower before turning on the water.  Fortunately, the shower head is attached to a hose, providing a hand held option, so while adjusting the temperature, it can be pointed at the floor instead of alternately freezing or scalding the occupant.  The shower head has a nifty little button to stop the water flow without turning off the shower altogether. This is an important feature because without it there would be no place to get away from the water in order to soap up.  Additionally, when sudsing from the knees down, there is only one position that makes this possible: balance yourself by placing your head into the corner for stability and then lift one leg at a time. There is no room to dress in the teeny bathroom, but as Flyboy astutely observed, this is probably one of the reasons it’s called a “couples trailer.”

I think all the tiny house shows we’ve watched on TV have prepared us for life in a small trailer. Boasting 156 square feet, Baby certainly qualifies. But hey, Flyboy and I really like being together and we don’t mind stepping around each other so it works.  More importantly, we are living our dream. We have monthly state park trips planned as well as a bigger trip in the works.  We have talked about this since we were young.  Someday.  Someday we’ll travel the country. Well, someday is now, and  we are super excited to get out in nature, see more of the USA and enjoy each other’s company. We realized that if we’re going to do this thing, it has to be now.  This is the final window – we are still strong enough and with it enough to drive around the country pulling a trailer.  We likely only have a few years left until we are too old to enjoy it. It is time.

And that, friends, is the point. What is it that you have always wanted to do that you’ve put off, even for all the right reasons? Now is the time to do it. Don’t wait. We don’t know what tomorrow holds and time is running short.  Don’t wait!  Do it now!

Love, 
Gigi

“However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all.”
— Ecclesiastes 11:8a (NIV)