Musings

 The design for the van was primarily based on having a dog (AC and the battery to run it), boondocking (solar, battery, 30 gallon water tank, shower) and not wanting to deal with black water (composting toilet).  I thought I'd be spending most of my time boondocking.  Though I have done a fair amount of it with HH, BW, and finding free places to park, between FL and LA, I did a lot of campgrounds.  Part of that was due to hanging with friends who had planned to be at campgrounds and partially due to colder than "normal" weather, as I still prefer to use my electric heater instead of the diesel heater if I can (tank is small, requiring too many fill ups).  I do however envy those who can hook their rig up to water and sewer and basically have all the comforts of home without having to think about water use.  I know it's not as environmentally friendly as my van is, but still, I do envy it.  I have to dump my pee tank every 1.5 days, but every day would be better/safer.  And the toilet I have has lots of condensation inside.  Not sure that's a good thing.  What would be ideal is to keep the composting for the solids to avoid the black water and divert the urine into a gray tank along with the sink and shower water.  Right now I have a gray tank under the sink that has to be emptied - not a huge deal, but it does take thought and planning as I can't let it get too full or I won't be able to move it!  And is boondocking the end all, be all of vanlife?  I do have the resources to pay for inexpensive campgrounds (Not KOAs it seems), so is that the right option?  I think a lot of my planning/vision for vanlife is based on being out west where free camping in the beautiful wild is much more plentiful than in the east.  Maybe I'll be all about boondocking once I'm out there (assuming the weather cooperates!).  I can't wait to enjoy some nice weather without threat of freezing and tornadoes.  I guess it's all part of life, but though I was aware of these possibilities, the general cold weather has made me weary and then adding possible tornadoes (probably the scariest of all weather to me) and now an arctic freeze, it feels like it's too much.  However, I am in a good place right now.  I've definitely had moments of "what am I doing?"  I've not thought about quitting as I know there are ups and downs regardless of where I'm living/what I'm doing, and I know that there's so much good and exciting ahead of me.  There are lots of places I want to go that are most likely to be cold and at high elevations.  It seems that most of NM has high elevations.  Phoenix feels like the place to be for temperatures, but I love NM and really want to explore it.  But now, I'm seeing long range predictions of warmer than normal in the south west...  So fingers crossed that it won't be too warm!

As I said above, I am happy and enjoying myself now.  I've had some good experiences with really enjoying New Orleans and it being dog friendly, then meeting nice HHers at Houmas house, then finding a great campsite and hanging out with Sunny.  I was really not happy worrying about tornadoes, driving in the strong cross winds, and then in NOLA feeling like I really would love to be there staying in a hotel and being able to really experience it.  With Zoe and the van it feels impossible, but it's probably not.  I could take Zoe lots of places, but how much would she like it?  That's a big thing as sometimes I'm really enjoying myself, but I know she's not.  I was also not happy in MS not finding anything interesting to do and having a less than stellar experience at the campground even though I met a nice couple full timing it in their self built Promaster.  I'm sure the deal at the campground was more about my mood that the campground itself.  My site wasn't great and I asked about moving, but I was told they were fully booked even though the site was still available to be booked online - and of course no one showed up.  I did have the best shower experience at that campground, so that's something!  Then the next day I had planned to go to Gulfport and Pass Christian and possibly Biloxi, but nothing was interesting in those towns, or I missed the good stuff.  I was traveling through there on a Sunday, so that might have been part of it.  But then again, it's not activity that I'm usually interested in, it's the buildings, architecture, gardens, history, etc.  I'm not into shopping and I really don't like leaving Zoe behind because I know she's not happy.  She's "fine", but not happy.  She doesn't understand that being with me isn't always the most enjoyable (restaurants/museums!!).

It is so amazing going from REALLY not happy to so content.  I'm really relaxed staying at Lake End Park.  I know it's going to be cold tonight, but I'm confident that I can keep the van warm enough so that nothing freezes.  I texted with the builder and he said it would be fine.  Of course, I don't have tons of confidence in that since he hasn't lived this life.  I think the recommendation of hiring a builder who's lived in a van is a great one.  I don't think he's knowledgeable enough about life on the road and the way he installed the sink gray tank is a good example as well as the fresh water tank.

I'm looking forward to visiting Charlie and Jan.  I see them so rarely, as they are not regulars in Ithaca for Thanksgiving.  I'm not excited about the Houston area, but I am ready for a break.  Ready for a rest in a house.  I hope I don't overstay my welcome!  The next chance I'll have for a house stay will be in AZ and who knows when I'll get there.