Excited yet Anxious

 

Cabinet framing!  

As the completion of the van is getting closer, by the end of August, which will fly by, I'm getting more anxious.  Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to!  I'm excited to experience cool things, see beautiful places, meet people along the way, learn as I go, and travel without having to pack up at every change.  But the anxious part is real.  

• Right now - Making the right decisions that I will end up being happy with.  There are so many details and one thing depends on another.  Also, what have I not detailed out in my criteria???  Today, the builder had posted a video and he said that the bench was going to get the shiplap on the front.  Yikes!  That is not what I want.  When I told him that I was expecting the front to look like the cabinets instead of the walls, he told me it was already done.  At first I thought I was stuck with it, but he thought more about it and decided he could do what I am looking for.  Phew!  It wouldn't be the end of the world, but I'm glad he was willing/able to modify it.  So, what else haven't I defined?  Or he has a different picture in his mind than I do?  
• Finding places to sleep.  I don't want to over plan and ideally want to not pay for camping as much as possible.  I want to see where the spirit takes me and be open to doing whatever comes up.  If I have too many reservations, that won't be easy.  I'm thinking I'll use Harvest Hosts/Boondockers welcome fairly often, but many don't allow for same day reservations.  I definitely want to minimize Walmart type accommodations.  I'll figure it out.
• Figuring out what to do/where to go.  I definitely have some things I want to see/places to go, but I don't have a goal like being in all 50 states in the next year, or going to every national park, or hit every lighthouse, etc.  I am just thinking that I'll have a few places to go and make plans along the way.  I get anxious that I'll be aimless and bored.  I may be at times, but I'll figure it out.
• Where to get water.  By looking at the apps that give this information, it doesn't seem like it will be that easy to get water.  I'll figure it out.
• Running out of power.  I have no idea how long the power will last and how well it will recharge in different conditions.  I will figure it out.
• What to do with Zoe when I want to do something.  Will I be able to do what I want and leave Zoe in the van?  How comfortable will I be doing that?  I plan to have a temp monitor that will message me/I can check in on, but that will only work if the van and I have service.  How limiting will having an old dog be?  I will figure it out.
• Will I go stir crazy in my little space?  Will I be comfortable?  The bed should be comfortable and I'll have the bench for sitting on, but there isn't like a comfy couch to curl up on and watch a movie.  I wonder how often I'll want to get an Airbnb/hotel for the night...  
• Cell service.  I won't have cell service everywhere.  I have a road atlas (Thank you, Tess!), but everything is so small!!!  I can totally see myself getting lost.  One saving grace is downloading maps on google maps.  That is totally awesome and will be a life saver I'm sure.
• Weight/space.  I want to be aware of what I'm carrying as there is a weight and of course weight limit in the van.  I keep thinking of things I think I'll want/need, but I'm trying hard to not order things that I don't absolutely need at the start.  This can be HARD!
• etc.

I recently listened to a podcast which talked about the things the hosts hate about vanlife.  This is great as they are just countering all the unrealistic Instagram photos, making it seem like it's total bliss.  And with the sexy young women in barely there bikinis cooking breakfast in the most beautiful spot that they probably drove to in the morning for the photo shoot.  So, it's good that they share the challenges to make it more realistic, but right now I probably shouldn't listen to these.  I already know that it's not unicorns and roses all the time!  And I'm doing it, so I'll figure each item out to the best of my ability.

Picking up the completed van:  I don't have an actual delivery date yet, but supposedly by the end of the month.  Sue, my ride, is going to be away from 8/18-8/31 and then we have labor day weekend, and she leaves again on 9/7.  So, I have a small window to pick up the van.  I tried to figure out how to get to it via public transportation, but that will take forever.  I'll get it sooner or later!