.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Lessons learned

As I’ve been sitting here in the sweltering heat the last few days, it dawned on me that June 29 marked my sixth anniversary of being on the road.  While swimming in the pool last night, I began to contemplate what that has meant to me.  Without getting maudlin, I’ve decided to post some of the lessons I have learned while fulltiming.  Some where new, and others just reinforced what we sometimes forget to remember.  I’ve included some photos from the appropriate years (most of which I don’t think you have seen).

2006-2007

Medicine Rock State Park, Montana

                                                    MEDICINE ROCKS STATE PARK, MONTANA

1. In my first year of fulltiming, I learned that I really needed a toad.  The little scooter that I had just didn’t cut the mustard.

Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park

                                                   MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON

2. One of the places I volunteered at that year was Fort Flagler State Park, Washington.  It was here that I learned that I should never again volunteer for an office job.  I prefer to be outside.

2007-2008

 

Caddo Lake State Park, Texas

                                                             CADDO LAKE STATE PARK, TEXAS

3.  As I spent more time in remote locations, I learned I needed a Wilson amplifier and trucker’s antenna so I could stay in touch with the world.

Alligator River NWR, North Carolina

                                   ALLIGATOR RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, NORTH CAROLINA

4. Being in sunny hot locations also meant I really needed sun shades for the windshield and front side windows.  I got my first set at the Escapade in Indiana that year.

2008-2009

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

                                                        BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

5. The spring of ‘08 is when Emma adopted me, and I learned real quickly that I needed to secure her traveling crate while under way.  An abrupt turn had it turning upside down and going down the stairs with her in it.  She didn’t complain, but I learned a lesson.

IMG_1769

                                                     DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT,  UTAH

6.  While volunteering at Dinosaur Nat’l Monument, I learned to trust my surge guard.  Staff tried to convince me that it was broken, but I stood my ground and it turned out the electric power at the sight was consistently low.

2009-2010

Hot Springs Nat'l Park, Arkansas

                                                      HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, ARKANSAS

7. It was in Hot Springs Arkansas that I learned to take time for my first ever spa treatment and massage.  What a luscious and relaxing experience that was.

IMG_3630

                                              SWAN LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, MISSOURI

8.  While volunteering at Swan Lake NWR, I had plenty of time to be reminded to take time for nature.  It’s amazing what you can see if you just take the time to relax and be observant.

2010-2011

IMG_8704

                                                       YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING

9. At Yellowstone, I learned that sometimes cameras crap out, and it’s worth a 250 mile drive to purchase a new one so you can have these portraits of your memories in more than your mind.

_MG_4701

                                                 MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, OREGON

10.  This is something I’ve learned, but still have to work on.  Mr. wise old owl tried to teach me to take a nap if you’re tired.  He was very good at doing that right outside the visitor’s center at Malheur.

2011-2012

IMG_3811

                                               ANAHUAC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, TEXAS

11.  I have surely learned by now to savor any and all sunsets or sunrises that I observe. 

IMG_7986

                                             SELMA TO MONTGOMERY FREEDOM MARCH, ALABAMA

12.  And I hope I have the guts to stand up for what I believe in. 

It has been a marvelous six years for me on the road, and I hope I’ll be able to do six more.  Nothing very prolific in what I’ve learned, but what a journey it has been.  As always…

IMG_4522

                           DON’T FIGHT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.  THERE’S ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.  Smile

IMG_1690

                                                                                  THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

57 comments:

  1. What a great post, Judy! I enjoyed reading the brief summary of your six years as a full-timer. Happy Anniversary and many more!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great six years you've had Judy! Great post covering those years.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Six years! wow, good for you Judy! i enjoyed your bits of wisdom. Wishing you many more happy RV'ing years to come!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Judy, what a wonderful sharing this post is! Thank you and congratulations on your achievement. Wishing you six and as many more years as you want roaming this country!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congrats on living the life for six years. Sounds to me like you have learned all good things, which is important. We are still learning and still loving it, as I can tell you are. Ann

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good post that might make such a difference to someone starting out, as well as those still at it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a nice summary of your first six years, Judy.....valuable life lessons, to be sure. Happy anniversary! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. concise and to the point with many valuable pointers
    Donna W

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations on 6 years and the lessons learned. It sure was nice of Emma to adopt you. May this only be the start of the journey. Safe travels.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations, Judy, on choosing such a wonderful lifestyle, and sharing it with us. I said to my son, once, that anyone can see but it is an art to notice. I think I learned that traveling with Rich, but even more so on my solo trip. When you are alone with your thoughts, you think differently. Wishing you many, many happy years living the great life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations on your anniversary! And, for sharing your lessons learned. Quite valuable! Here's to many more safe, happy and trouble-free years on the road!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post. So much wisdom in a few sentences. But I'll take the office job so you don't have to.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, that was REALLY a great blog!! Can tell thought went into it!! Great pictures too!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful insights! Thanks for sharing them.

    ReplyDelete
  15. That blog was fantastic. I know you feel the journey has been fantastic, as well. Awesome photos, as usual.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You're our hero (heroine?). Thanks for sharing all your memories, we'll never forget the wonderful morning seeing all the sandhill cranes with you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Outstanding post! Great recap of the last 6 years. Here's to many more!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations on the completion of 6 years. May you and Emma enjoy many more.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy 6th Anniversary Miss Judy.

    ReplyDelete
  20. A wonderful way to spend an anniversary Judy. I wonder if I would be able to see so succinctly what I had learned. And hope I can learn from your experience. I think I'm not an office worker either and I doubt I'll even try it. These surely are gorgeous pictures of your 6 very successful years. Thanks and congratulations!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations on your six years and wishing as many more as you care to do :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy anniversary ... and thanks for sharing the lessons learned ... useful tidbit pops up for us newbies and newbies-to-be. Here's to at least another six on the road.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congratulations on your 6-year anniversary! We joined you just 10 days later the same year. I so enjoy your posts and have great admiration for your independence and competence. Great lessons learned. A nice way to review your anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
  24. You have sure been to some beautiful places in your 6 years of fulltiming and the absolutely gorgeous photos you've taken along the way are second to none in blogland. Whatever camera you bought when your old one broke, it must be good and more importantly you know how to use it. I like you'r point about the owl taking a nap. I've learned that one!

    ReplyDelete
  25. A wonderful list and great selection of pictures. I admire you very much for being a sensible person. I hope you DO have another great six! See Ya sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congrats on 6 years and the lessons learned

    ReplyDelete
  27. This was a great post. The pictures were awesome! Congratulations on your first 6 years and I hope you have many more. We will start our adventures next year and I hope that we see half the great sites that you have.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great post! Congratulations on six years fulltiming you have been to so many beautiful places.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great post! It looks as if you have had a fantastic 6 years and we're wishing you many more. There's always new things to learn out there.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Congratulations! You have so many experiences to share, and I'm glad you do.

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a delightful blog. We took just about the exact same photo in Yellowstone yesterday.
    All your photos are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  32. If I may use a baseball term to describe today's blog I'd have to say you hit a bases-loaded home run out of the park! Stunning photos with sage advice. Thank you, Judy.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Fantastic photos! What a rich and varied life you've lead these past 6 years...here's to many more cherished moments in the years to come!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Happy Anniversary Judy! What a wonderful post...and beautiful pictures. I hope I can express my joy as well on our 6th anniversary. And that nap thing. Best lesson ever!

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a great journey you have had and I wish you many more to share with us.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great post and beautiful pictures. You may have a great camera but you are the master behind it! Happy Anniversary & many more! Tom & Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  37. These are good and non-maudlin lessons. Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize you'd been on the road that long.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! Your post is a beautiful way to express some of your 6 year's experiences. Hope the next 6+ are as wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  39. You are an inspiration. Thanks for all the hours you have given as a volunteer and all the wonderful posts you have shared.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Great post Judy, I admire you single women traveling alone--I don't think I could do it but who knows! Loved all the photos from years back, too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. What great life on the road lessons you have learned. You have been to many wonderful places and I always enjoy reading about your adventures. Happy Trails!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thank you for posting that list of "lessons learned"...Your photos are great as usual..and you have seen places that lots haven't seen, or will never see!...Right now I feel like we are just sitting here "spinning our wheels"...But, having said that, McGyver and I have been many places, too..

    ReplyDelete
  43. Nice post. I have the Caddo state park picture as my back ground picture when I go to google.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Never too old to learn, are we? I prefer to be outside, too ....... not working out so well, though. And I don't know how I would get by without my four legged children!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Just fantastic. Here's to (at minimum) six more, with us on your tail feathers all the way.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Bravo ! Fantastic post Judy, you are such an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  47. That sure is a great recap!!! And here is to many many more!!!!

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Congratulations fellow Judy for six years very well spent! And here's to more than six to come! I mention something about you or a detail from one of your blogs so many times when visiting with others! You have no idea the boundaries of your creative wit and great photographic skills!

    Keep it up "our" friend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Congratulations, Judy, on your six years on the road. Thank you for sharing your insights and lessons learned. As a single woman with plans to hit the road in a few years, I appreciate this post and will definitely bookmark it for future reference.

    p.s. your photographs are lovely too!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wonderful. I hope you have many more than six more years on the road.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I LOVED this post - thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Nice post. Happy anniversary! Beautiful photos as always!

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm glad I "tuned in" today to read your post. Your words compliment your beautiful photos... or is it the other way around? No matter. It was a pleasure to visit you today. And maybe one more lesson to learn? All we have is today: Enjoy it, live it well. Happy six years "on the road."

    ReplyDelete
  54. happy belated anniversary..like the many that have said before me..since I am late to the party..great post and lovely recap of your past six years and the lessons learned!..we could all learn a few lessons..Cheers to many more years of safe travels!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I loved this post, the text and the photos. I couldn't get them all to come up while at Mesa Verde, and I couldn't comment either, so I scrolled back down your last couple of posts and really enjoyed them all.

    That hummingbird picture has to be one in a million!

    Lessons learned - what a mouthful that is. I call my lessons learned "rookie mistakes," but probably most people make the same mistakes as they travel. It's how I learn. Sometimes I surprise myself when I KNOW something, and other times I'm surprised at what I DON'T know. :)

    ReplyDelete