A Life More Intended
I’ve spent the last 2 months, planning, implementing, and trying to get my life in order for this plan to buy an RV and travel on a budget. Sounds simple right? All I want to do is maximize my ability to stay somewhere without having to stay in an (overpriced) hotel. Why not buy an RV and take trips throughout California and really learn about the state I live in.
I'm not quitting my job, (why would I?) I just want to add more travel opportunities (i.e. long weekends, vacation time, and holidays), and the best way I know how is to buy an RV.
I get two weeks a year for vacation. Holidays; add an additional 7 days. That is 21 days to plan some pretty epic adventures. Owning an RV gives me the ability to get back to the outdoors that I have always loved.
Check-List “started”
Created the Blog; Awaken your Joy.
Created; Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook accounts
Packed up items in the living room, I am keeping. (moved to bedroom)
I Began pricing items I’m selling
Cleaned out the pantry (weird, I know but it needed to be done)
Went through my initial utensil clean-up and gave extras away to neighbors
Separated clothes into areas, one for wearing and keeping, the other for selling or donations.
Separated my shoes, what I’m keeping, and what I’m selling/donating
Taking the new pup on car rides. Planning on increasing these distances each month.
Create a logo. (Kinda-ish, added some of the images I created)
The Overwhelming Feeling of it All
The one thing I’ve learned from my grandmother and my mother is “planning”. At this time, I’m not sure if this is causing me more issues or making me (forcing me) to take my time.
I have so much I need to do, build, create, sell, clean, and then the big purchase.
The hardest aspect of making this life change; I am perpetually jealous of every person currently camping and exploring new places. I survive my doubts, struggles, and frustrations by following other RVers on Instagram, Twitter, and through Facebook posts.
I find myself daydreaming and thinking about the places I want to go, travel to, experience, and the idea of living a life with more intention excites me. It drives me to push myself to get everything done. Sometimes, it does seem so overwhelming to the point that when someone asks questions, my head seems to explode with thousands of ideas.
This journey will definitely help me teach and try my patience. You would think at 46 I would have learned this by now. Ha!
The Beast of my problem…
I have accumulated SO MUCH CRAP!!!
Ugh. It is so freaking overwhelming.
How to Separate Your Things When Downsizing
I’ve been packing up the things I “want” to keep that I’m not using. I understand that this will change a lot as I go through this process but I figured I have to start somewhere, so, I’ve placed price tags on books, movies, décor, shelves, everything that I know I want to sell.
I will have multiple “apartment sales”, I feel it would be better in stages, just so I’m not overwhelmed. The more “apartment sales” I have the more likely I will get on the road quicker.
When I first decided to take on this adventure, (i.e. buy an RV and travel on a budget) I wanted to come up with a way to share my adventures, photos and stories. Since I am a photographer, well, it only makes sense that I build from that skill and develop a brand, a logo, and create social media accounts and well, this blog that follow this journey.
I discovered a documentary “Expedition Happiness” last week on Netflix and fell in love with it. I highly recommend if you have any interested or are fascinated. They travelled in an old school bus they renovated through Canada, America and Mexico.
The music (purchased and downloaded), imagery and their expedition was stunning. There was however LOTS of questions I had after watching. It was beautiful and offered amazing music and inspired me to continue my journey.
