Feelin' for the FF's

The weather has been up and down this week, as have we. The bright spot in our week has been the arrival of friends Mike and Leslie, who are planning to be with us for the duration of our stay. We met these good folks last summer in Idaho and, despite our warnings, they ventured to our dumpy home park in Kansas City in November. It was great to catch up with them over dinner and make plans for some fun together here in Kerrville.

Today's temps took a tailspin after sunrise. The mid-fifties became the mid-thirties in a matter of minutes. And, the wind gusts did their best to top the temps. It was not a day to be outside in any way, shape or form. So, we sat inside and did all kinds of inside stuff.

Reading blogs today, I seemed to focus in on the future fulltimers out there. These good folks are days, weeks, months or years away from making their own great escape. Some are trying things out and are on extended winter trips. Others are in the process of making some big decisions before hitting the road. Still others are pondering the possibilities and all of the choices that come along with all that.

I felt for them all.

A theme emerged from all that reading. These good folks are looking for answers to great big questions. When to go, where to go, to sell or not to sell their sticks and bricks, what kind of rig to buy, etc. etc.

Oh, how well we remember that time of wishful thinking and countless looming decisions.

And, we're sooooo glad we're over it all.

I resisted the temptation to respond to one and all. But, a clear theme started to take shape with my real and imagined responses. They seemed to fall easily into three simple parts.

First and foremost, don't look to current fulltimers for all the answers. Just because we're out here that doesn't mean we're experts. After all, we traded in a perfectly good motorhome after just four months on the road. Was that the most economical decision? Of course not! Was it the best for us? Absolutely! Speaking for us, the best we can offer is perspective. When it comes to sure-fire, fool-proof solutions, I'm afraid we'll come up short.

Second. there's no "right answer" for fulltiming. Some self-proclaimed experts might like you to think there is just one way to do this. But, that's just not true. Period.

Third, you have the answers to those most important questions. Really, you do! If you're wondering what kind of rig is best for you as fulltimers, or what to do with the house or whether or not workamping is for you, here's the bottom line: You know! It might take some heart-wrenching, sleepless nights to find the answer. But, they're right there in your brilliant mind. Really, they are. Wrestle with the questions - as hard as that might be - and the answers truly will reveal themselves. Really, they will.

While reading these blogs of hopeful wannabes, I quickly realized how very little attention we've given our blogs of late. Truth is, there are many days in this wonderful lifestyle where you sleep late or you don't, go out or not, do something exciting or not. Some days are so blogworthy you just can't wait to fire up the laptop. Other days are so calm and quiet that clicking out a recap on the keyboard sounds like a terribly radical idea. Sometimes, those are the absolutely best days!

So, you good people with wonderful dreams of hitting the road, know that you guilted me into posting today! (OK, not really!)

It's part of the reason we compile our favorite Future Fulltimers in their own section over their on our blogroll. We love seeing the future through your eyes. We really want to help you make your way. And, most of all, we so look forward to meeting you on the road one day.

Meanwhile, and trust us on this, you know what's best. Really, you do.