December 27, 2018….. With major RV projects being completed and the Holidays spent with family – it was time for our true maiden voyage. It was time to head to Livingston, TX to set up our TX residency and head into our full-time RV life.
To say I was nervous, would be an understatement. I mean, staying in my aunt and uncle-in-laws driveway was pretty comfortable, right? Grocery store 1/2 mile away and being familiar with everything in the town for years; leaving was getting real. But, we were ready to embark on the journey.
It was also bittersweet, again, just like leaving our house. I was comfortable in their driveway and in the town. The town has felt like a second home to me for years and it’s a place I love. We had family close by, we had our children close, and we had extended family close. And now, again, we’re leaving.
You’re probably wondering how in the world we could stay in someone’s driveway for so long. Well, stuff kept breaking and we needed some help and a place to get mail/packages/parts. A “real physical address” does come in handy at times.
Anyway, for us, the time there was awesome. Some days my Aunt-in-law would just come to the door and knock and say Good Morning. Some days I didn’t even leave the camper.
It was hard, at the time, to explain the last 18 months of our lives. We managed to sell 98% of all our possessions, my husband had full hip replacement surgery, we quit two long term jobs, we sold our house in two days, I had never camped before much less tried to make a home out of 240 sq ft. This was a time of adjustment to say the least.
The worst part was I didn’t even want to sit and work on this blog. I knew I’d need something to do. Sitting doing nothing is not my style. I went through a few weeks of feeling worthless. Just cleaning and cooking. (I promise to quit talking in past tense once I get the blog caught up to current).
I had read and watched so many videos about the “adjustment period” and this time at our Aunt and Uncle’s was just that for me. It didn’t affect Trapper as bad as it did me. I think sometimes it did, but see, he still had projects. We’ve always had projects: house projects, animal projects, homestead projects, work, life, etc. And all of a sudden I found myself without a real project. I honestly had a hard time during our driveway surfing period. It was a real adjustment deep down in my soul.
December 27, 2019 we pulled out of their driveway with only one plan…. drive towards Texas and stop somewhere for the night. We figured probably a rest area or truck stop (more on these options in this post.)
Our 1st stop was only 127 miles into the trip and it was a potty break. I felt so accomplished when I was able to text our really good friends from @Homesteadhandyman. We’ve all known each other for years, lost touch for awhile, and reconnected – just like real friends do. My first “full time RV living” text – was to to our children and then to Don & Carolyn.
Everyone got the same message…. “Hey look, we’re in GA!” 🙂
We drove 311 miles and stopped at I-10 West MM 318 rest area in Florida. We’re not afraid of rest area’s at all (I’ll link a post about all this sooner or later). But this is the coolest rest area ever!
We had the slides open only because they were over grassy areas and no one was beside of us on our slide side and we were hugging the curb. It was actually pretty quite as Big Rig and RV parking was in the back off the Interstate. Great night spent here. Very clean restrooms, etc.
This rest area also has about a mile and a half hike/trail (round trip) on a great boardwalk into the swamp. The first little bit is kind of like a service road and then you get on the boardwalk. Awesome morning walk to get the day started.
Be sure once you find the butterfly sign and go through the gate to go to your left.
This rest area is just outside Osceola National Park. Great overnight spot.
The next day we left headed for Biloxi, MS to try some more free camping and just feel the experience of “boondocking” (camping with no electric, water, or power hook-ups).