North America

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A Good Home Should Be Able to Grow With You

There’s something about the fall that makes people nest. I sell more copies of Sorting It Out between September and December than I do the rest of the year combined.

Many people have told me they have gone through the process outlined in my book and that it has been transformative. I agree. I don’t look at my ‘stuff’ in the same light today. I don’t think I’ll ever again be able to have a home where I forget what I have and let clutter waste valuable space and energy. I no longer think “I wish I had more space” but rather “let’s see what I need to get rid of to get the space I need.”

Take my breadmaker, for example. I hardly ever eat bread anymore and I certainly don’t make it. Why let a huge machine like that eat up three quarters of a cabinet? And why are things that I do use, like the rice cooker and salad spinner, much less my pots and pans, so awkward to access? So the breadmaker went to the thrift store, I added yet another shelf to my rig, and voilà:

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I’ve also been having serious pantry issues. Out here on the frontier, you really have to stock up. It’s not like being in Dawson City where you can get a little bit of stuff in Whitehorse and go treasuring hunting at the grocery store, but you’re mostly stuffing your face at world class eateries. This is the first time in my life that I have had to really keep the pantry stocked It’s been an interesting experience that has resulted in stubbed toes because of having to leave bags of cans lying on the floor.

Surely there was a space to store them? Maybe I could just convert the carpet cleaner cupboard to pantry? Do I really need that carpet cleaner anymore? Yes, it’s great for cleaning upholstery. Okay, maybe another shelf is in order, like so?

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I’m having to cook more from scratch at Haven than I have had to anywhere else in my life. It’s nice to have the objectivity to get rid of something I don’t use (breadmaker) so that I can make room for something I have used way more in one week than any other appliance I own (food processor).

Does your home have room to grow with you? If not, whose fault is it really?

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Five Years On the Road

I’m a little boggled that my half-decade anniversary of being on the road has come. That time span doesn’t feel real to me.

The last five years have been some of the best and most challenging of my life. Every time I thought I finally got a grip on my nomadic existence, something would come to bend it back out of shape. That is the nature of all lives, I guess, but mine was especially precarious. I think that establishing Saskatchewan residency will be the missing cement to the shaky foundation of my life.

When I set off five years ago, I dreamed of making a name for myself RVing, but dared not fathom of a future that would put me on the cover of an RVing magazine, being interviewed by a major TV morning show, that I would get quite the spread in one of Canada’s most prominent newspapers, or that strangers would knock on the door and say, “Hey, I recognize you from the blog!”

Five years ago, I could only only hope to winter in a sunny clime, feel the midnight sun on my face, summit a mountain, freeze my toes in the Arctic Ocean, never mind do so much more than all that. I also could not imagine the friends I would meet along the way or that I would one day find a place where I would belong.

My life’s in a little bit of a limbo right now as I am coming to grips with just how hard I have fallen in love with my little piece of Saskatchewan and the people who populate that world. I am just grateful that the last five years have reminded me that such contentment at being in a beloved location never lasts and restlessness is guaranteed to follow. Therefore, I have to find a balance between making Haven comfortable while still being able to wander.

When I started RVing, I really enjoyed blogging about my life and the odd adventure that I have. But living so publicly began to weigh on me and I found myself wondering if the decisions I was making were best for me or best for the blog.

This past spring, I came to the conclusion that blogging was no longer a good use of my time. I cherish the friendships I have made through this blog, but regularly blogging about my life is just not something I’m interested in doing anymore. I made the decision in the spring to review how I felt on my fifth anniversary and the sentiment still holds. So I’ve been thinking about this post for about six months.

I don’t want to be one of those bloggers who says, “I quit!” and then comes back a few weeks later, almost as though they are seeking attention. So this isn’t the final Travels With Miranda post. I just don’t know when, or even if, I’ll be back. I’m thinking that taking a break might help refresh me and maybe even motivate me to get through a backlog of technical post drafts stemming from the seminar this summer…

I really like the Travels With Miranda Facebook page for giving updates, so that’s where you can go to get updates on Miranda’s out of province inspection, winter plans, and more. It’s a public page, so you don’t need to be a member of Facebook; just bookmark the link. Soon as I hit publish on this post, I’m heading there to share some information of importance to Snowbirds (hint, I recently got a letter from the IRS).

I love and appreciate each and everyone of you who has followed me along the way, whether it was from the very beginning or if you came on board at a later date. I am so grateful for the advice, hospitality, and help in all forms that you have given me. I hope that you’ll still try to keep in touch because my days of adventure and wandering are far from over!

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Miranda’s Safety Inspection

Hammond: How did it go, Colonel?
Teal’c: It did not go well, General Hammond.
O’Neill: Ya think?

I got in with Miranda about 45 minutes ago. It was a VERY long morning. I was up at at ’em by the ridiculous hour of 5:30 (had a good sleep, though). By the time I had coffee made, my emails were checked, and the rig was repacked, it was about 7:30. A knock came from the owner who wanted me to move to a different location. I did that then hung out for another half our or so, going inside around 8:15.

It’s a good thing I had my iPad and internet as I didn’t get out of there until about 12:30.

Miranda failed her safety inspection.

First, the ‘good’ news:

The first failed items were ridiculous, like not having a hazard kit in the cab (I keep one in the truck) and having broken lenses (from the hail storm). The most idiotic reason for failing was that the windshield wipers don’t spray high enough! They have always sprayed to that height and it’s plenty. I can’t wait to see how much it’ll cost to modify that! *rolls eyes*

The not so bad news:

She needs two tires to pass and I think that will bring me to all recent tires, which would buy me time to get her reshoed properly. So the tires aren’t really the huge issue I expected them to be. I’m going to see if I can talk them into putting on good used ones.

The bad news:

She needs an alignment and the suspension needs what sounds like major work.

I am waiting on an estimate before saying anything more about how this may or may not affect my winter plans.

I’m glad I had the inspection done and do not resent the bulk of the findings. Once I get the repairs done, Miranda will be in great shape and will likely drive a hell of a lot of better. I’ll have peace of mind that she’s mechanically sound and will be able to focus on some of the house items that need attention.

That’s all I have to say about that at this time.

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A Very Full Day

Miranda, Neelix, and I are parked at Integra Tire in Assiniboia since Miranda’s out of province safety inspection is first thing tomorrow morning.

The day was quite a rush. I awoke to find more transcription in my in box than I had told my client I was available for. I touched base with him and he told me to do what I could. Thankfully, the job wound up being very easy, but it still ate up my morning and the latter part of the afternoon.

I headed to C&C’s at 1:00 to continue helping with the roof trusses (we’re building them ourselves). I helped yesterday, too, and got fed dinner for a second night in a row! We had roast beef and I LIKED IT!!! I’m turning into a real prairie gal! Today, I only put in about two hours.

When I got in around 3:30, I dumped, filled the fresh water holding tank, and finished squaring away the exterior.

I came in and continued to transcribe until another client requested a Skype meeting that took a half hour. Skype works great at Haven, by the way.

I wrapped up the transcription after that, finishing at just shy of 6:00. I got the inside all packed and pulled out just passed 6:00.

It was sloooooooow going on the road out, being that the pavement is in horrible shape, but I made good time once I hit highway 2.

My on board propane tank was just about empty, so I stopped at the Co-Op to fill up. I’ll get gas tomorrow when I have a better idea of my budget.

Integra was just a block up the street and the lot was empty, so I parked on a big almost level slab. There’s an outlet right there, so I plugged in to give my batteries a good soak.

By the time that was all done, it was about 7:30 and I was beyond ravenous. I hiked the few blocks to Andy’s restaurant and they were still open. There weren’t that many food choices at that hour, but everything was still fresh and I was even asked if I wanted such and such a dish or not. I was fine with what was there. I can’t believe the buffet is just $9.75!

I am incredibly stressed about the inspection and glad I held firm to my plan of spending the night here. I just know I’ll sleep better being on site.

I have to get on the roof in the morning. When I got propane, I noticed that I dragged what looks half a tree with me! I need to get some of my branches trimmed back. 🙂

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Walled In

Today’s weather was downright cool and perfect for doing more construction at C&C’s. I contributed one of my drills and a pair of sawhorses so that we could get the exterior plywood cladding up on the first half of the addition. We’re hoping to have the roof on within the week. It’s so exciting to be a part of this!

It’s so nice to be able to spend at least part the weekend outside working hard building something that will most likely outlive me. I can already imagine the number of evenings I am going to sit in that new living room enjoying a glass of home brewed white wine remembering how much fun we all had building the space.

I had a dinner planned for when I got in, but Caroline insisted on throwing together dinner and Laura always has a pie in her freezer so we all ate together. We also averaged 1 bottle of wine each. I think I only had two, maybe three, glasses total, but I suspect Charles might have topped up my glass a few times when I wasn’t looking … 🙂

I might be off the hook for construction tomorrow, which is fine since I need to finish prepping the exterior of the rig for pulling out Monday. It might be good to remember that my house has wheels!