Dear Reader,
Debbie Williams is a fun-loving, brave, adventurous woman and I'm so glad she entered this year's Write a DearReader Contest. Get ready to have some fun. You'll enjoy the read.
My husband retired on Friday; a week later we launched ourselves into retirement when we bought a 40' motor coach. We already live in Florida (where most retirees dream of moving to) but we are both ready for a change of scenery--but we can't agree on where our ideal retirement home might be. After 36 years together, we are not totally on the same page about where we want to be in the future! Who knew we'd look at each other and say "You want to live where?" Buying a house on wheels seems like a good compromise for now.
This is the biggest leap of faith I've done in years, so far out of my comfort zone I'm about to break out in hives. After the initial exhilaration wore off, I am fretting. I don't know if I will gain or lose a sense of community as we travel around the country? Will our kids miss us? Would anyone care if I do--or don't do--a travel blog? How will extended time together in a RV be for us? It's a lot of money and it won't appreciate like buying real estate. Our kids think we've lost our minds and our friends say it's something they only dream of doing. I never aspired to be a bus driver or drive a big rig, and to be honest I was always annoyed if I got stuck behind one of the big RV's plodding along the highway towing their little car along, like a bug stuck to the back of it! And now that's going to be ME?!
I have to learn how to drive this behemoth because the only thing crazier than buying it is buying it and not being able to drive it. My sweetie says he will need a co-pilot and he didn't mean just in life, but behind the wheel, too. All the times we've flown, I've just glanced to the left for a quick peek into the cockpit and taken a seat, confident the pilot will get me to my destination safely. Now, I have my own "cockpit" to master, an all-day class to learn the various systems when we pick it up next week, plus a safe driver class. (I think we are both secretly scared of driving it!) I am looking forward to making lunch, doing laundry and watching TV...all while we motor along down the highway. My husband with no 9-5 job now has spent hours researching campgrounds and planning future trips. Me, I just want to close the door on our house, jump in the RV and take a left at the panhandle and see where we end up!
If you see a 40' bus plodding along on the interstate, with a spry retiree with faded auburn hair driving (maybe eating a grilled cheese), and a little dachshund in the window, give it plenty of room!
Debbie Williams
Honorable Mention
Write a DearReader Contest 2018
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE BOOK OF EMMA REYES: A MEMOIR, by Emma Reyes. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.
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