Back on the Road

Four months sounded like a really long time to be in one place, way back on November 1st. And now, here it is, the end of February, and it’s time to go.

When I began my homestay, I had grandiose ideas of all I was going to accomplish now that I didn’t have to move campgrounds an average of every four days or plan reservations months in advance. But, as it turned out, I did almost none of those things. Instead, I walked on the beach, sat on the couch and binge-watched streaming episodes of everything from The Morning Show to Dance of Dragons, and stared out the window at the sea and sky. A lot.

Oh, yeah, and I really got into quilting, making a series of smaller (lap-sized) quilts, one huge king-size one, my first baby quilt (Hi, Asa!) and two custom-sized quilts for my trailer. The last one is at the long-arm quilter’s shop, waiting to be assembled and quilted; here’s a sneak preview of the top. I kind of got obsessed by these flower prints, some of which appeared in an earlier quilt. These flower fabrics just make me happy.

So what did I learn from my winter of not moving? Basically, and not surprisingly — except perhaps to me — I learned that I needed the rest. I was in almost constant motion for seven and a half years, criss-crossing the country a half-dozen times. I dealt with everything from a sway accident to a global pandemic, the endless search for solid internet connectivity, and planning months ahead for appointments with dentists, and doctors. I learned how to do basic electrical, plumbing and repair work on a trailer, appreciating so much the advice and help and flat-out “I’ll do that for you” assistance of so many friends and fellow Alto owners.

If you’re exhausted just reading that last paragraph, then you’re coming close to how it felt to actually live it, every day from May 2, 2016 until November 1, 2023. I was definitely overdue for a break. Full-time traveling is a tough gig. It’s fun for a while, and it’s fun in spurts, but in the long run, it’s also a lot of work: planning, coordinating, improvising, and adjusting.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very glad I did it. It allowed me to walk away from a good job and retire (sort of) at 60 and see a lot of the country, and so many friends, old and new. I’m not giving it up, by any means. I’m just going to do it part-time for a few years and see how that feels. I’ve taken the cover off the Alto and started putting stuff back inside (and wondering where the heck it all goes. Next time I’m taking pictures of the cupboards before I unload!)

I’ve missed my little Alto home. It felt so nice to open the door last week, start loading things into bins and shelves,, and then sit at the front table and look around at where I’ve lived for so many years. I even printed out new photos to display on the back wall (squint and you can see them…) Now I get why Alto owners are so excited when they can take their trailers out of winter storage and get back to camping. Me, too, this year!

This year, I’ll be moving slower and aiming to stay longer at places, relax and maybe even break out the sewing machine. First up is traveling to Kentucky to meet up with friends and (please cooperate, weather…) the solar eclipse, and then it’s back to storage for the Alto while I head over to European haunts for six weeks. I’ll be limiting my travels to the east coast again this year, but it looks like I’ll see a lot of it, from Maine to Florida, if tentative plans hold.

Just like this seagull, I’ve been perched long enough, looking out at the far horizon. Now it’s time to fly.

Brian Forist