Let's Back Up.....

Bet you thought you'd get out of seeing some cemetery photos!  As I was driving out of Farmville the other day, I saw The Odd Fellows Cemetery.  It was easy enough to stop, and I had time, so here are just a couple of photos of memorials I found interesting....if you like this sort of thing, that is....

First Week Reflections

As a total newbie to all this full time RVing, I had the normal trepidation about it all.  Will the RV function like it should?  There are never any guarantees when you're dealing with vehicles no matter how much preparation you do.  Will the GPS get me to the right coordinates?  Are the coordinates even correct?  Will the sites I researched be anything like described?  Will there be people around?  And of what element?  Remember, I'm boondocking.....not at "civilized" RV parks. Will I remember everything I've been cramming my little brain with for the past several weeks?  Like how everything in the RV works. Will I be able to communicate? How will all the electronic charging happen?  Will I monitor the gas tank ok considering the gauge doesn't work....have to keep track of mileage.  Will I miss my "stuff"?

A million an one things ran through my head on the morning of June 23rd as I pulled away from the curb.  My best friend had just given me a beautiful good luck charm and a four leaf clover, so I had that going for me....and at that moment, that was about all I felt I had.

But....as we all know....most "fears" are unfounded.  Yes, I thought my brakes were going out on the mountains...yes, I had a few changes in "the plan"...yes, I'm running low on house water and no one I asked in the past few days knew of any handy city water spigot....yes, I had ants in my pants!  But, overall, so far, it has been a 99% great experience.

I started this blog to help remember what I had done and where I had been.  And also to help others who are thinking about this lifestyle....from the beginning stage of thinking about it and buying this RV through getting rid of all my stuff, and now, to being on the road for a week....but it has seemed like a year.

Here's are the top 12 things I've learned so far:

1)   I don't miss my stuff.  I haven't said even once, "I wish I had my...."  (Well, I could use a little more kitchen counter space, but that's a given in a small space...and I couldn't have brought that with me, anyway.)
2)   When you are staying in the moment, time slows way down.  You aren't dwelling on yesterday or totally consumed by what might happen tomorrow.  It's an age old prophecy that holds a lot of merit.
3)   There is always something interesting around you to see.  Even in your own back yard, if you just look.
4)   Yes, you can miss friends and relatives, but if there's a true connection with them, you are never far away.
5)   I don't miss the day to day "dramas" that people think are the end of the world.  Or the gossip.  Or "the news".
6)   If I want a change of scenery, I just take a walk or turn the key.  Boredom seems non-existent.
7)   I don't have to "pay" for a place to live.  So far, I've spent (outside of gas), an average of $5.32 per day.  And that includes some food that I really didn't "need", but just wanted.  Without that, it would drop to $1.89/day.  Can't beat that!
8)   If I ever don't want to do this, I can just stop. Not much invested in the venture (like owning a house).
9)   There are no rewards without risk.
10)  I had missed my passions of photography, nature, and art more than I realized.  It's part of staying in the moment and great "meditation".
11)  I need a bird feeder to have in these spots where I stay for several days.
12)  AND......  I'm glad I brought great music with me  :-)

So, there you have it.  My thoughts after one week of totally changing my life.  Most of it, for me has been how you look at life in general and the bigger picture, what "things" are really important, what you can do without, and staying in the moment.

Oh, and.....all sunrises and sunsets are special....it means you've been around to experience another day!  For now, I'm just following the Yellow Brick Road....

Discoveries Around Every Corner - June 30, 2014

I got up early for the sunrise...and it was nice!

Everything was looking towards another sunny, summer day....

And so was I !

Sun = Solar = Power......right?  Well, this was the day to try out my 100W solar panels!  I was thinking there was probably going to be some kind of catch to hooking it all up....  1) unzip outer case; 2) remove panels; 3) unlatch panels and pull out leg stands; 4) open hood of RV; 5) put red on red, black on black...on the "house" battery.  Voila!  It's a miracle!  Instant solar power!  The green charge light came right on and we're in business!  This solar panel will charge the deep cell house battery that powers the interior lights and a couple of other things.  A true off-grid necessity!  And my plan is to boondock/off-grid the majority of the time!  Whoo hoo!

So I have my breakfast watching the sun move higher into the sky....91* today...it will be a hot one, but like I've said before, "it's summer!"

But, while it is still relatively cool, I decide my hike around the neighborhood should start pretty soon. There's a sort of "path" that runs along the sunflower field.  I'm thinking it was nice of the Dick Cross WMA to make this a little easier than it was over at Featherfin.  I'm just walking along, looking for "nature" things....find several different kinds of "shrooms"....but only one of each.  I won't be taking any of these home for dinner!

And there were different kinds of mosses, which I love for some reason.  

And of course, the wildflowers...some different ones here....

As I'm walking down this path, I'm also noticing a lot of blackberries (I referred to them as "raspberries" the other day...don't know what I was thinking...)  Anyway, I was wishing I had a little container of some kind to take some back home... Oh well... maybe later.  So....I'm just moseying along minding my own business, "this path is nice...this day is nice...all this nature is nice...the sunflowers are nice..." coming around a little bend in the path and the next words out of my mouth, literally, outloud were........................................."Oh wow!"

There's a nice pond right in front of me!  Now this is a good Monday morning!  

As I look around the edge, there are lily pads and other pond plants.  Not blooming, but still.....  a neat addition to this find!

This is great!  I start walking around the pond...not too rough, but lots of briers.  All of a sudden, ants in my pants!  Owwww!  Some kind of red ants...biting right through my jeans and, apparently, going up the leg of my pants. 

I must have looked like a wild person and pretty comical jumping up and down to get them off me and move out of their territory!  LOL!  But, in a couple of minutes, all is back to normal and, fortunately, there are no ill effects  These are prevalent in the south, but not so much in Virginia....yet....maybe these were the first arrivals to scout out the area!  

I go back to finding more little nature things I thought were fun and interesting....without a second thought of the ant intrusion....well, really I was intruding on them!

And, you can't go to a pond without seeing one of my favorite insects .... dragonflies!  Several different varieties!

I stayed down at the pond for a long time...it was still cool enough and soooooooo relaxing, as being "on the water" always is!  But, eventually I had to leave....at least for now.  Took a few last shots...

Headed back to the RV.....sat outside under the awning... it's getting hot and sticky now.  It's close to lunch time so I grab a cold blueberry yogurt and make a pork tenderloin sandwich.

Speaking of berries, after lunch and working on photos,  those blackberries were still on my mind, so I get a container and start foraging....

I see a fruit salad in my very near future!  And yes, I did leave some for the birds! 

Pretty warm out there, so I come inside, turn on the A/C, charge up the laptop, Kindle, camera batteries, and phone.  Have to think ahead when using the generator so you take full advantage of having it on. While all that is generating, I work on photos and this blog and turn the solar panel a bit and put out my solar shower apparatus!  A dragonfly was checking it out, too!  Must have followed me home from the pond!

You just fill it with water and put it out in the sun.  In about 3 hours, the water can be as hot as 120*. Hang it higher than your head (I'll have to work on stringing it up somewhere...it's kinda heavy, but it will be worth the little extra effort!), open the spray nozzle and you have the perfect outdoor hot shower!  Can't wait to try it out later!  It's certainly private enough at this site that I shouldn't have to worry about any Peeping Tom's!  

Snack around for dinner...leftovers....left over, but still delicious!  Then, time for another sunset.  Some think "you've seen one sunset, you've seen them all...."  Well, I don't think that way....they are all unique and I enjoy to taking full advantage of them when a nice day produces a beautiful sunset...each with a special thought and memory behind it.