Reactions

We're wrapping up a stay-at-home weekend that featured the usual purging and shredding. RV weekends are lots more fun! But, it's great to see some significant progress on our road to fulltiming. Our household inventory project is nearly finished, and I managed to assemble the first row of 9 in my it's-gotta-be-done-before-we-go monster quilt project. We also checked out one possible nearby campground that we might park ourselves in while the house is on the market. So much to do! We're getting there.

While our bodies were busy, our minds reflected on the many conversations we've had with friends recently where we've announced our fulltiming plans. (For a couple of people who are trying to keep our plans under wraps, we're sure talking about it alot!) While it's always fun to share this news, we're beginning to be more intrigued with the reaction we get.

The reactions tend to fall into one of two categories: "I don't get it" or "I want to do that."

When we hear "Sounds fun", we now think that really means "I don't get (or really care) what you're doing." And, since we've limited these conversations to family and very close friends, our money is on the fact that they don't understand. And, that's understandable!

One very recent conversation went something like this:

Natasha: "We're going to sell the house and most of our possessions, load up the RV and travel around the country for a few years."

Friend: "That sounds fun."

Having heard that response more than a time or two, I waited for the next comment:

Friend: "What are you going to do with your house?"

Was she not listening or not understanding? The flurry of questions that followed led me to believe she very much wanted to understand more about what we're up to. I answered her every question. Minutes later I heard the other type of response we hear.

Friend: "Wow! That would really be something to do. Good for you!"

That's one variation of the "I want to do that" response. A recent favorite was "You're living my dream!" While those responses are tad more encouraging than "Sounds fun", there's something very affirming in them. Maybe it's the recognition that we all have something that deep-down in our souls we really want to do. And, it's a special joy to see someone else following their soul's yearning. In those joyful moments there's more than encouragement and affirmation.

It's heart-warming.