Wandering Spirit

In the story so far…

I never thought it would happen, but retirement is in my upcoming future.  I have decided that I want to do full time RVing after I retire, and after much thought and research, I’ve decided I want a Casita Travel Trailer to be my home on wheels.

It’s early 2012, and due to health insurance issues, I need to wait until I’m 65 to retire, when I’ll be able to get MediCare.  That is still about a year and a half away, but I’m excited about this new upcoming lifestyle and I want to work towards it in all ways that I can.

As a sort of commitment to myself and my decisions, I start ‘lightening my load’.  I live in a small rented home with about 800 square feet and a shed outside, so this task isn’t as hard as it would be for some folks, but it’s still not easy.  Oh….it’s not bad at first!  It’s like peeling an onion, the outer skin comes off easily.  I can donate a bag or box of what-nots every week, and it’s not really painful for awhile.  It feels good in fact, as I work towards my goal of super minimalist living.  Also, I’m back on line doing more research, this time for a tow vehicle.  I know I want a truck, and I want a new one!  I know this will mean a monthly payment, but it’s important to me to have something new that I can trust.

It comes down to being between a Toyota Tundra and a Ford F150.  In the end the Tundra gets ruled out because of the way the back seat folds down!  The back seat area has to be just right for Joy and Shiloh and I like the seat arrangement better on the Ford.

In March I end up with a 2012 Ford F150 EcoBoost with a super duper tow package and the big back seat.  The first thing I do is take it to have a camper shell put on it and  BedRug applied to the whole truck bed.

This whole deal costs a boatload of money and I end up with a $400 a month payment.  So be it.  While I’m still working I make a number of double and triple payments.  I can manage this.

Here she is brand new. I name her “Joy Ride”. JR for short.

This big truck is all new territory for me, since I’d been driving a Honda Civic!  Quite a change and I was glad I had plenty of time to get used to driving her before I started attaching a trailer to her.

Meanwhile, I’ve still never laid eyes on a real Casita before, only pictures of them.  They are only sold out of the factory which is in Texas, or by private owners.

I had started reading blogs, RVSue was the first one I found because she was mentioned on the Casita Forum.  When I found her she was just starting out on the road, but I went back to read her blog from the beginning, because it was about her preparations which was right where I was at.  I found other blogs too featuring full timers, women solo, traveling with dogs….lots of reading.

The Casita Forum is an excellent source of information and any questions you post will be answered, usually many times over by very helpful people.  The Forum lists rallies  and I noticed there was going to be a “Fiberglass Rally” about 60 miles from home.  I contacted the organizers and made plans to go and see real live Casitas for the first time!  That was in May of 2012 at San Lorenzo Park, and wow, my Casita deal was sealed!  I knew without a doubt that I wanted one, but still didn’t know which floor plan, even after being inside all of them.

My jello plans were to order one before I retired and go pick it up from the factory in Texas ASAP after July 31, 2014, my retirement date.  Casita Forum friends Reine and Paul even had jello plans to meet me at a campground near the Casita factory and help me with my first camping experience.

Oh, I considered buying a used one, but Casitas are on the market such a short time….they go like hotcakes….and most of the used ones seem to be for sale in Texas and beyond.  I was working as an RN, and I couldn’t just suddenly take off for a week or two to run out to Texas and back….but that didn’t stop me from looking at the Casita Forum Classified section now and again.

Uh-oh.  🙂    I happened to be looking at it one morning in early October, and I happened to see a 2011 Freedom Deluxe for sale in southern California, and I happened to have 4 days off in a row….a magical set up.  🙂

This one had a list of extras and mods as long as my arm, including solar on the roof, and something that might not seem important to you but meant the world to me….that little valve on the back of the toilet that keeps it from overflowing.  You see, I’m scared of toilets!  That’s a long story in itself, going back to my childhood.  🙂   That valve would have been my very first Casita mod.

There were speakers hooked up to a doohicky that would play music from my IPhone, there was a 4 inch Memory Foam mattress, a sway bar, and an almost new Honda 2000 generator. There was a furnace, an awning, air conditioner and microwave oven, and this was all for under the price of a new one from the factory.

I emailed the owner.  What could it hurt?  Then I took the dogs for a walk, thinking….”what am I DOING?  No, I ‘m not going to do this.  I’ll buy a new one.  LATER. I’m not ready….”    See, I was just scared to take the big step!  But as the dog walk progressed the self talk changed a bit, and I became anxious to get back home and see if the owner had written back to me.  I cut the dog walk short….

Sure enough, I had a reply!  Sooner rather than later I was talking to Doug on the phone, and oh my gosh, an hour after that I was packing my bag, getting a dog sitter, and heading for the bank to get a certified check….just in case I decided to buy.  I was fooling myself with the thought that I had not yet decided!

I drove to Yucca Valley and stayed in a motel that night, staying in touch with Doug and Peggy, letting them know I’d arrived.  We discovered we were all early risers, so by 8:30 the next morning I was looking at the soon to be “Wandering Spirit”.  It was a cold, blustery morning but Doug and Peggy showed me all the ins and outs, and taught me as much as possible.  Peggy did the paperwork, and off the three of us went to the bank to complete the transaction.

They loved their Casita and it was a bit sad for them.  I told them I’d be writing a blog and they could keep track of their little house on wheels….now MY little house on wheels.  Doug even took the hitch off of his Tundra and put it on JR.  He piled boxes of extra parts and gadgets inside the back of the truck, going through each one and explaining what it was for.  Good thing, because all the extra parts were pretty mysterious looking to me.  (I’ve stayed in touch with Peggy and Doug.  For awhile they kept sending me things in the mail that they wished they would have included.  Such sweet people.)

By around 11am I was driving away with my new home on this very blustery October 10.   Wind.  Rain.  Big trucks.  Mountains.  No experience at this.  I wasn’t using the sway bar yet, but even in all that with an empty trailer, there was no sway to speak of.  I realized I wouldn’t get home until after dark, but I pressed on, and got back about 8:30pm.

I DID IT!

I did it!  I did it!  I did it!

Whoo-hoo!  You go girl!

Next I’ll write Part 3, and fill you in on what happened between bringing WS home, and the day she became my actual home, August 10, 2014.

We are at Betabel RV Park, which the place I came for my ‘shakedown’ with Wandering Spirit.

That was in early March last year.  At the time I chose Betabel because it was  only about 30-35 miles from home, and when I checked it out beforehand I found it to be a nice, clean, full service park where I felt confident that if I ran into problems or questions there would be an employee around to help me out.  I remember that just about every move I made during those two days, was with the Casita manual open in one hand!  Everything was new to me because I had never done RV camping before in my life.

I actually bought Wandering Spirit (WS) in October 2013, and I’ll tell you the story of how that came about….

I don’t know exactly when the idea of ‘full timing’ after retirement gave birth in my mind.  It was probably somewhere in late 2010 or early 2011.  I’d never even heard of “full time RVing” until I learned that Will and Madeleine Tuttle lived on the road in their ‘rolling home’, and had done so for 17 years.  I had never RV camped in my life, and rarely tent camped, but the idea of traveling the US in an affordable, comfortable way, close to nature, grabbed my heart.  First it was a fleeting idea.  Silly me to think I could do such a thing!  But then I found myself thinking about it more and more. Why couldn’t I do it?  Could I really give up almost everything I own and live in a minimalistic way on the road?  I like a relative amount of security.  I’m a home-body and I enjoyed gardening.  I really liked my neighborhood, I lived near the ocean on the Monterey Peninsula.  You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful area to call ‘home’.  But the more I thought about traveling, the more the idea intrigued me.  I pictured myself and Joy and Shiloh seeing and living in beautiful areas of the country that I’d only had time to get a glimpse of before, on various vacations.

Soon I was researching on line.  I found that LOTS of people are living full time in their RV’s….it can really work!  I could do this!

I began to think about what kind of RV I would like to call my home.   Did I want to drive it or tow it?  That question took me a long time to answer.  I learned about Class A, B, and C RV’s, travel trailers, 5th wheels, vans, and the kind of home that sits in the truck bed.  I found that there are advantages and disadvantages to every choice.  To my way of thinking there was no ‘perfect’ answer, so I weighed the pros and cons of each….over and over.

First, I had to be able to afford it, and didn’t want to go into huge debt, in fact I was working hard to get out of debt as much as possible.

Second, I decided I would prefer something on the small side, since I’d be driving it or towing it myself.  Smaller also = less gas used = less expense.

I started looking on RV lots to get ideas, and finally I went to a huge RV show.  At that time I was leaning towards a Class B which is similar to a large van, with all the comforts of home.  I kept hearing that is was nice to be able to drive your home, so you could jump into the drivers seat at the first sign of a problem and take off, if you needed to make a quick getaway.  I heard that in itself can be an important factor for a woman traveling alone, who is feeling a bit insecure and values safety.  (later I realized I didn’t want to make this important decision based on a fear factor).

At the RV show the first place I headed was to the Class B’s.  I asked lots of questions, got inside lots of models, and even drove one.  I also looked at the price tags, wondered how I would pay for it, where I would keep my limited ‘stuff’, and if two big dogs in there would really work. (the sales lady said ‘no problem!’ about the two big dogs:-).

After that I began wandering and looking at all the RV’s.  It’s mind boggling!  So many choices, sizes and price ranges.  Just for kicks I went inside huge Class A’s and 5th Wheels and I was amazed to find fireplaces, huge TV’s , islands in the kitchen, marble counters, and even washers and dryers!  I had no idea!  Even if I could afford one of those beautiful monsters (which I couldn’t), how would I pay for gas and repairs?  But it was fun to look!

Near the end of the day I came upon Airstream and my eyes fell upon the Bambi, which is Airstreams small model.      OH!  YES!  LOVE!

I went inside, sat, took  pictures, asked questions, got an information packet….looked at the price tag.  Oops.  Could I do it?  Yes.  But did I WANT to spend that much?  No.

I left the RV show that day leaning towards a small towable….something like a Bambi, but not so expensive. I decided I liked the idea of a separate vehicle to drive and store things in, and I liked the small cozy feel of a Bambi sized trailer.  I went back on line to research some more.

Somewhere along the way, on line or in a magazine,  I saw a Casita.  They  are sold out of their factory in Texas, they don’t come to RV shows and you don’t see them on RV sales lots, at least I never did.  The Casita seemed to be about the size and shape of the Bambi, but it’s made of fiberglass instead of aluminum, and it didn’t come with a famous name like Airstream.  The price was more reasonable, though more expensive than non-fiberglass trailers of similar size. (At that time top of the line with all the bells and whistles was in the $19,000-20,000 range). There were three floor plans at the time (now there are four).  I liked them all for different reasons. I found the Casita website http://www.casitatraveltrailers.com and the Casita Forum, http://www.casitaforum.com , and WOW…I knew!  I had my answer to what kind of an RV I wanted!

Now this idea was getting serious.  If I was really going to do this Big Thing, I would need a tow vehicle, and I would need to start simplifying my lifestyle.  There would be lots of changes in store!

More about these things in Part 2.

Beauty is everywhere.  We only need to open our eyes, listen, sniff…

W

We can see it, hear it, smell it, touch it, taste it, and even feel it in our souls and spirits.

It’s present in spring, summer, fall and winter.

Day and night…where ever there is nature.

The beauty of nature helps open our hearts, relieve our stress, and see the bigger picture.  It gives us a small glimpse of our Creator.

Meditate on a wildflower in the forest…or a rose in your garden for two minutes and see what happens in your heart and mind.

Let the birds speak to you…

Plant a little garden and taste the freshness.

It’s easy to be thankful for beauty all around me….and so I am.

Mary is a personal friend.  We met a few years back at the VegHeads Of Monterey Bay meetup group.

Mary is a 1000 Trails member, and so for a week we are camping at a membership park near Hollister, CA.  1000 Trails parks allow non-members now as well, but we aren’t using that option since we are camping together on the same site.

Mary has a Sunrader Class C RV, but she’s not using it because she wants to learn to camp ‘bare bones’ in what she calls her Prius RV.  🙂

Mary, the happy camper! Shiloh too.

Marys Prius RV!

Mary has been working on this plan for awhile, getting the Prius windows tinted, making curtains, organizing supplies, and figuring out how to store what she needs.  She also has the little “Habitent” (www.habitants.com) that Toyota sells to fit over the hatch when it’s open, to give more room.  Inside she has space for a bed and a sitting area (even without the tent).

Power Station, bed and some supplies

sitting area and bed as viewed from the drivers side back seat door

Habitent on the Prius….goes up in under 5 minutes.

She has a Diehard Power Station and solar panels…the ones I decided I don’t need, since I have solar on the roof.

She brings a two person tent to set up at her camp site, both to store things in and to save her site when she drives somewhere.

Mary wanted to try this out for a week, not too far from home, to work the bugs out of her system.  Also I’m camped next to her with “all the luxuries of home” in case she discovers she forgot something.

I guess it’s true that perspective is major in life.  I usually feel like WS is tiny compared to the RV’s I see around me.  In this case she seems roomy and luxurious!

WS suddenly looks large to me! 🙂

With the rain we’ve had, Mary is getting good experience here, in testing out her set up.     Rain.    Not even a drop in the bucket of what this area needs, but enough to make a wet drippy campsite for 2 nights and a day.  We are both thankful for the rain!  This is another campground that was built next to a small river…which no longer exists.

Water concerns are huge in California, but not huge enough apparently.  Gov. Jerry Brown just announced the first mandatory water restrictions for the state, but he didn’t touch Big Ag.  Short showers and the like?  Bah Humbug.  Did you know it takes 1700 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, and  683 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of cows milk?

Eighty percent of California’s water goes to agriculture, and most of that goes to grow alfalfa to feed cows that humans use for food….after it’s been liberally sprayed with toxic chemicals.

Scary huh?

Falls down from above

Releasing the love.

Nourishment dripping

Thirsty trees sipping.

The earth’s so parched and dry

I hear her joyous cry.

Birdsongs abound

Songs of praise all around.

Wildflowers dance

Their colors enhance.

Grateful fourleggeds smile

With relief for awhile.

Clouds pour down

Soak the dry dusty ground!

The first time I came to this park was about two years ago.  There was a “Fiberglass Rally” going on, and I came to see the many Casita Travel Trailers that were here at the rally.  It was the first time I had laid eyes on a real Casita, not just a picture.  I remember parking in the day use parking area and walking into the campground and just cracking up at the scene in front of me…..all these sweet little trailers tucked into campsites among the trees.  They had an open house that morning and I was invited into many Casitas so I could get a good idea of what it would be like to live in one.  That day confirmed in my mind that Casita was my RV of choice.

And that’s how I knew that San Lorenzo County Park was a nice place to camp, too.  Paved roads with many paved pull throughs, with choice of full hookups or just water and electric. There are also tent sites with no hook ups.  There are picnic tables and grills, decent bathrooms and showers and even a laundry.  Lots of trees, and lots of trails. Because there are lots of trees, there are lots of birds, and lots of birdsongs, especially in the morning.

This is our little spot.

Since we’ve been here there has been no more than a dozen other campers here at one time in these 90+ campsites, and at times as few as five.  It’s not always that way though. The ranger told me that the week end before I got here there were many campers here and I see that starting on April 6, there are 24 sites reserved for a camping group called Cross Country Gypsies.

I love that there are so many big trees here.

And so much green grass.

There are many huge areas of thick green grass and no signs that say ‘no dogs allowed’!

I don’t know where they get the water for the grass though.  This park is noted to be next to the Salinas River, but there is only a dry river bed there now.

Joy and Shiloh frolicking in the dry river bed.

There are lots of trails surrounding the park.  Leashes are required, but sometimes we get so far away from the park-like area I let Joy and Shiloh run free.

One of the many trails.

Right now the price is nice here too.  It’s ‘off season’ until May 1, and that gives a $5 discount.  Being old gives another $5 discount, so I have my water and electric site for $27 a night, but only pay for 5 nights when I stay 7.  There is a charge for dogs, which is apparently happening at all the Monterey County parks now.  It’s $2 a day per dog, but with a $10 maximum, so it’s not TOO bad.  Rangers patrol regularly and the trash is picked up daily.

The day use area is nice too, with lots of picnic tables, a grassy playground, and some museums about the history of farming in this area. There are many old farm tools on display too, as well as some old buildings like the King City train depot, and an old one room school house.  Last but not least there is a pretty gazebo.

Later in the year it will get busy, more expensive, and hot I imagine, but March and April, and probably late fall are good times to camp here!

We move to San Lorenzo County Park in King City for a week.  It’s only about 50 miles from the home place, but there are things here I want to explore.  The park is nice!  With discounts for being old and off season, I pay $27 a night and 5 nights for the price of 7.  The dogs cost $10 for the week.

March 31

Directly across the mountains from King City on a little traveled road, is Kirk Creek Campground, right on the ocean.  It’s small and reservations must be made, but I just want to check it out, and I want to drive the road across the mountains, then come back the same way.  The short of it is that we take the Jolon Road exit off 101, and end up on Nacimiento-Ferguson Road, which takes us to Hwy 1 and the campground. When I turn onto Nacimiento-Ferguson Road I see that it is narrow, and oh my gosh, it twists and turns all over the place.  One hundred blind curves would not be an exaggeration!   But almost NO traffic….maybe 5 cars traveling.  More on the side of the road, just looking.

Spring gives us green hills and loads of wildflowers.

A stream….and Joy and Shiloh play in it….

I pull over so many times to look…in awe….at the beautiful mountains and hills, green expanses, and wildflowers blowing in the wind….

And then finally we make another curve and FAR below and ahead of us is the Pacific ocean…I gasp at the beauty of it.

thank you Great Spirit, for allowing me this…

Down, down we wind….I don’t know, maybe 2000 feet.   On we go and then we are at Hwy 1 and Kirk Creek Campground is literally right there.  It’s a lovely campground!  I drive through and it is indeed, full, and feels crowded, but the beautiful views would be worth it.

So the thought was to go back the way I came…but I’m at Big Sur!  The urge to drive the coast is suddenly The Most Important Thing.  I need the Magic of Big Sur and I’m right here…

And it IS magic.

This is the true Magical Mystery Tour.

If there are fairies, they are here.  If there are Dryades and Nymphs and ghosts, they are here.

Great Spirit is certainly here, in the view around every bend in the road, in the wind, and in the crashing waves. In the rocks and the hawks and the startling colors of blue.  It is truly “A Wild Coast And Lonely” (title of a wonderful little book by Rosalind Sharpe Wall).

If I could only recommend one place to you, that I have been to, I’d say “go to Big Sur.”  And it’s not really a place, it’s an area.  There is no town called Big Sur, but there is a tiny post office.  It’s the area from south of Carmel to….oh….I don’t know….as far south as you feel the magic.

Before you go, read the above mentioned book.  It will put you in the right frame of mind to be receptive to the magic.

Spend time.  Walk some enchanted trails.  Have breakfast at Deetjens Big Sur Inn, and spend the night there too. (reservations needed!) If you are camping try Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (reservations!)  Or Kirk Creek of course, if your rig isn’t too big. Spend an evening at Napenthe with a South Coast Margarita.  Go to Andrew Molera State Park and walk the 1 mile path to the beach and see where the Big Sur River meets the ocean.  Go out on the headlands and look back at the beach.  Take a tour of the Big Sur Lighthouse. (Hi Patty!) Check out the Henry Miller Library. Have lunch at Ventana out on the patio overlooking the ocean at 1000 feet, and the mountains.  Go behind the River Inn, take off your shoes in the grass, and have a seat in one of the chairs placed in the river….look up at the green leaves overhead.  Find one of the many secret benches along the coast and sit in your private hideaway and watch the drama of the coast…waves spraying off the rocks, the various sea birds, maybe a whale passing by.  Smell the ocean mixed with sage, and if you walk in the Redwoods…pretend your not looking….but DO look for the fairies…

I’ve done all those things over the years…

Oh!  Back to today!  Today there is a crystal blue sky and a sparkling diamond ocean.  The wildflowers are everywhere and the hills are still green.

There are many people here enjoying the day.  Maybe because of Spring Break?  I wonder if they all feel the magic…?

I do.  I sure do.

I’m running to and fro, similar to life before I left the area, except of course, I’m not working anymore!

I’ve gotten used to a simpler, less stressful lifestyle….but I’m enjoying what I’m doing here, so it’s all good.

What am I enjoying?

March 17

Well, I’m staying at my friend Mary’s house, so we’ve been able to visit.  We went to hear Dr. Will Tuttle speak on my first evening back, and that was a rare treat.  It’s all about the energy with Will…peaceful, uplifting, loving energy.  Everyone I meet is my teacher, but Will is a major teacher in my life.  Being around him is like nourishment to my heart, mind, and soul.  I purchased his most recent CD with is called “World Peace Meditation”.  Will does guided meditation using affirmations on subjects like developing intuition, harmonious relationships, animals, earth healing, and more.  I’ve been playing this CD non stop on the truck CD since I bought it.

March 18,19,20

Next I was shopping till I was dropping, looking for just the right shoes, purse, and clothing for the bridal shower and the upcoming wedding.  Believe me, that is a big job for the likes of me, who thinks she is dressed up when she puts on a pair of jeans rather than yoga type pants.

I had fun wrapping an amazing amount of gifts from my mom and I for the shower, the wedding, and both Mandy and Jason’s birthdays.

March 21

And then, the Bridal Shower!  Wow! Wow! Wow!

The event took place at Mandy’s parents home, recently purchased in a location near Carmel, CA, beyond words beautiful, gated, with ocean views everywhere, and extensive gardens and pathways on the grounds.

The champaign bar with the ocean view out the windows.

Mandy’s parents are gracious and warm and this amazing home was full of the love and laughter of Mandy’s friends and family as they blessed and supported her upcoming marriage to my son Jason.  Our champaign glasses were kept full while a chef prepared our lovely lunch which was served on beautifully decorated tables in the dining room.

Mandy with her new Salt and pepper shakers.

One of the decks

Mothers of the bride and groom. 🙂

March 22

Sunday I had an enjoyable visit with dear friends Laura and Joel.  So nice to be able to have a few hours to catch up….and eat yummy food, as usual!

March 23

Traditional birthday celebration at Napenthe in Big Sur!  This time it was extra special.  We were celebrating both Mandy and Jason’s birthdays, and also I was giving them their wedding presents.  On the way we stopped and picked up Mandy’s mom, Sharon.

We had a blast!

Celebrating at Napenthe in Big Sur. ALWAYS fun. 🙂

If you ever go there, try the South Coast Margarita!  🙂

We went to

Mostly, California is only green for a short time, and that includes NOW.

First, there was green grass it the RV park in Blythe. Next, much of the Tehachapi Mountains were green.

And yesterday, wow! Yesterday tops it off in the jaw-dropping-beautiful department. I use Hwy 46 and 41 on my way to Morro Bay. I’m met with rolling hills of emerald green….but not only green! The wildflowers are blooming so I see huge swirls of orange and yellow and purple, and in places it’s dots of orange and yellow, and in other places there are swipes of purple. I’m not sure of the kinds of flowers. I can name California Poppies for the orange, mustard plants and shamrocks for the yellow, and Lupine for the purple. If there are others, I don’t know the names, I just call them Beautiful.

Pictures? No, sadly. The road is usually hilly and curvy and there is no shortage of traffic, and I’m just not feeling good about pulling over. I don’t feel my camera would do justice to the majestic beauty anyway.

The evening before we are at Bakersfield, at the Orange Grove RV Park again, but this time the trees are in blossom and the fragrance is heavenly. And, also there are still oranges so I pick some.

Presently, we are back to the ocean at Morro Bay State Park. Chalk up another swimming experience for Joy and Shiloh, out by the big rock. Back at our camp they are sandy, wet, hungry and tired.

Tomorrow we head north on Hwy 101 to the Monterey area, and the upcoming wedding shower! I’m looking forward to that!

While in town I’ll be fortunate enough to be able to hear Dr Will Tuttle speak. Will is the author of the book “The World Peace Diet”. Reading that remarkable book helped me on my path to living a vegan lifestyle.