Bon Jour from Montreal!
Where we just completed our awesome 13-day Canadian cruise (recap coming soon), and are spending a few days in this glorious city exploring before we return home to our RV parked in Florida.
Today also marks my ninth year on the road as a perpetual nomad.
It’s actually sorta hard to have a clear nomadiversary date – but nine years ago today, after purging nearly all my belongings – I pulled out my driveway knowing my life would never be the same.
So we’ll just go with May 10th being MY day.
Last year to mark the occasion, I wrote a letter back to pre-nomadic myself – reassuring myself of some of the challenges I’d face in the years ahead.
Today, I wanted to quickly address one of the frequent sets of questions us nomads get:
Will You RV Forever? Will You Ever Settle Down?
When Chris and I set off together, it was just for an extended trial run. We had only known each other a short time and were still technically dating (although we pretty much knew from the moment we met we were destined for life partnership).
We made a commitment to travel in his super tiny travel trailer (with no bathroom!) for the summer – and decide from there.
By the end of that summer, we had a life commitment ceremony at Burning Man, but the question as to if nomadism would be a constant in our lives was still a question mark.
Quite frankly, my first few months were NOT smooth.
I was incredibly lonely and feeling disconnected from friends & community. The initial pace we kept was stupidly crazy and unsustainable. And we encountered one too many obstacles in our first year out.
After our maiden voyage, I reluctantly agreed to give it another shot in a more capable vessel with plumbing. Making the promise that when it no longer felt right – we’d leave flexibility to pursue what did.
Somewhere in there the lifestyle grew on me and us.
But will RVing be our forever home?
I do believe RVing will be our mobile homebase for the foreseeable future.
But we never intended to only RV.
When we get fed up with the things that make RVing Sucky for us, we find something else to do for a bit.
Over the years we’ve rented a cottage in the Virgin Islands for a winter season, taken off on a cross country rail adventure, traveled to Alaska by ship & rail and right now – enjoying a shorter cruise/land/rail adventure.
The breaks always re-charge us and reminds us of what we love about RVing. It’s kept RVing a sustainable lifestyle.
And we intend to continue mixing it up.
On this current sojourn, we’ve been discussing if we’re ready to integrate in our next major nomadic adventure. We’ll be deep in research over the coming months, seeing if we can turn the dreams into reality
(And no, it’s not an airship.. but is something we dreamed about even before we set off RVing together.)
We’re both super excited for the potential, and as always.. we’ll follow our hearts to living our lives in the way that feels right. We strive to not get trapped by our own labels, even if they are ones we consciously created.
Life is short and full of an entire spectrum of colors.
That’s what life is all about after all – finding our own unique happiness quotients.
So on this, my nomadiversary, I wish to pass on to you the encouragement to dream big and find YOUR happiness. Whatever that might be!
I just want to say that you both are so inspirational. I have a dream to travel and I have watched a ton on your videos. I am now beginning to read your blog, and because of all the wisdom and just straight out awesomeness that you both are… I now begin the process of switching from the stationary life to the nomadic lifestyle. Thanks for all you do and I look forward to more post and videos. Keep up the great work and remember tolls are only there because they have nothing better to do. Just think of them as fruit flies… they only live for a day lol.
Old Zephyr and mini blue, sure are feeling neglected collective dust in that their parking lot
Happy nomadiversary! It’s amazing how fast time flies. I do love how much you guys have mixed it up over the years and I think you are sooo spot on with the “rv breaks”. All the pics on facebook from your recent cruise to Canada looked fantastic. I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Cherie…..congrats on your anniversary! …..my girl and I are a couple years from heading out on the road and living our dream of seeing our beautiful country. …you and Chris have inspired us so much!
We have found your blog and videos invaluable. …also we think you guys are a great couple…..whatever you and Chris decide to do in the future we wish you health and happiness! ……..sincerely
I just love how fierce you are to live your life “on purpose”. Instead of by accident. I love you Cherie. What a lovely, vulnerable piece. Thanks. 🙂
*heart melt* Thank you Curtis!
The Winn’s beat you to it….
We’re very excited that our buddy’s Nikki & Jason have launched onto their next adventure.. but it is their path alone.
There’s no competition here. We’re both living our dreams on our terms and doing it our way. Our potential path ahead will be our own as well.
In our book, anyone living life on their own terms like that is a winner.
Cherie is soo right, it’s not a competition and we are all marching to our own beats and following our own paths. We were beat centuries ago and sooo many people, including lots of other bloggers have been at it and inspiring us over the years to take on this adventure. I can’t wait to see what Technomadia has on the horizon!
I predict you’ll follow the path of Sean, Louise and Odyssey (which, BTW, is being sold this weekend on eBay).
We were so excited to see Odyssey go up for sale… auction closing in under two days! We shared it on Facebook the other day, hoping one of our fans might buy it and caravan with us so we can use the hot tub again 🙂
And nope.. we don’t follow in other’s paths. We’re on our own unique path.
Congratulations on you’re nine year adventure. Hope many more are to come.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Congrats on your 9 years!! It will be another 9 years before I can get out on the road. Maybe I’ll see you on your 18th anniversary!!
Hmm.. maybe on my 18th we WILL have an airship! 🙂
Enjoy MontrÁ©al!! I’m from the Orlando area & I’m up here all the time to visit my girlfriend. Hope you get a chance to snack on some good smoked meat & poutine!
I’m about to begin my adventure with a 1977 MCI MC-8 that I’ll be living in on Lake Harney east of Orlando while I build my hovercraft shop. Swing by for a hovercraft ride on the St Johns sometime!
Bonne JourneÁ©
John Carter
http://www.hovernut.com
http://youtu.be/A3_YGQkHrE8
How cool! Wishing you all the best in your endeavors.. sounds super cool!
Yes, congratulations on 9 years….we are hoping to start out in 2 yrs. You both have been my encourager, as well as a few other bloggers, as you travel and discuss technology, lifestyle, budgeting, taking steps getting out of my comfort zone, and just taking it slow seeing this country. Hopefully our paths will cross.
It always humbles us to hear words like these.. thank you for making us glow this evening!
Congratulations!! 9 years is quite an accomplishment. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us honestly.
I like the way you two change it up. Bonsoir!
You are living a dream! Remember–you will always get older, one year at a time. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. So..enjoy every moment of your lifestyle. The memories will sustain you in later years. We went on a wild ride in our life (to us) shortly after our marriage and are in a house after 13 years of full-time living. We share memories everyday and keep in touch with friends we met during our travels. However, we don’t feel “settled” quite yet.
Important words to always remember.
Not an airship? 😉 I can’t wait to see what you two have up your sleeves
We look forward to sharing the adventure as/if it unfolds.
I like your comment about not getting trapped by our own labels. Something I have recently been tuned into with myself!
I’ve always been a fan of the saying ‘Labels are best as descriptions, not prescriptions’. Not sure who said it, or where I heard it.. or even if I made it up sometime. But it’s always stuck with me a valiant reminder.
Oh Wow! You had me worried for a minute! Glad you are continuing the full time life on the move. I have been following you for only a few months and am learning so much. I am in the middle of packing, selling, giving away items, interviewing realtors for the house. Getting closer to getting on the road full time and would really miss your wonderful posts. Keep up the awsome information. Deb
Keep calm in these chaotic times… soon it will be but a memory in the rear view mirror 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the cruise… and looking forward to learning about your next adventure as the plan unfolds!
Some day.. we need to cruise together! 🙂
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey and wealth of information. We always look forward to your posts & videos. We will be going full time In September. You and Chris have been inspirational with your authenticity of this nomadic adventure as a couple, a business and as a soul on this earth journey we call life. We hope to meet you in our travels and wish you many more years of love, passion & abundance. ✌ï¸
Oh gosh.. how can one NOT blush at a sweet comment like that. Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best in your final preparations, and see you out here somewhere!
Great little post! Can’t wait to hear what those super secret plans might be!
Nina
Not plans yet.. but starting set intentions. But you might be able to guess…
So nice you two had a chance for a change of scenery. I am looking forward to reading more about your vacation. Right now, I am reading more in your ‘The Mobil Internet’, with a choice I will be making in July. Picking up my little Casita the first of August. I will be full time in the Casita, staying in places around Texas, mainly, but visiting family and friends around the country. Don’t know if I’ll see everyone the first year out. Have a good week and Happy Trails.
Pamelab in Houston
Exciting times for you.. and wishing you all the best in these final prep months! It’s wise to start the expectations out as not being able to see everyone you want to in the first year.