The Road to Familiarity…
For the last 3 days I have been driving from the site of my epic melt down in Ohio to a friend’s home in North Carolina. Each of these days has been about 6-7 hours of driving which has been exhausting. Thankfully I borrowed some audiobooks from my library to keep me company on the way. During this drive, I have been trying really hard to focus on all of my small accomplishments and the positive experiences to boost my confidence and moral. Here are a few of the highlights.
About an hour into my drive out of Ohio all of the traffic on the interstate came to a halt. At the time, I had no idea why we were stopping, but the drivers of the semi-trucks surrounding me put their rigs in park and hopped out. I figured this was a sign that we were going to be here for a while. My initial thought was I hope I have enough gas to wait this out, but then thought duh turn off the van. Once the van was off I realized having a home on wheels with me means that as I wait out this traffic I have snacks, AC, and a toilet. That was a small win. Unfortunately, the cause of the traffic was a terrible accident which made me very grateful to be safe inside my Lucy.
Snacks in the car despite the traffic. That smile isn't convincing anyone that I am not terrified.
Both nights on the road I had no plans for where I was going to stay the night. If you know me, you know that I always have a plan. So flying by the seat of my pants and finding a campground at the end of each day was a big win for me. And as it turns out one of the campgrounds in particular was an absolute gem of a find. Click here to read more about it.
Letting go just a bit.
Despite the stressful drive down the mountains of Pisgah National Forrest to get to my final destination, I began to feel much more confident and relaxed driving Lucy. And I think that this sense of calm and confidence came from both two solid days of driving practice on interstates, small mountain roads, and open highways, and feeling the calm and peace that comes from recognizing where you are. I lived in this ares for about 10 years so the roads, the stores, the parks, and street names were all ones I recognized. I also knew what roads would be easy and difficult to navigate in the van. At this point on my journey familiarity was my friend.
Once I reached my final destination, I was greeted with open arms by my host and my close friend. Spending time with them, being encouraged by them, and just having some fun really changed my perspective. While I was viewing my current situation as an overwhelming and stressful hot mess, they were telling me how brave I was and how excited they were for me and my journey. They took me to a farmer’s market, a brewery, and shopping for simple things I needed for the van. They supported and encouraged me in a way my exhausted heart just needed.
Could I possibly be getting the hang of van life?
