Lessons learned when things don't work out

Three months ago our trailer was in storage and we were in Hawaii, realizing that it was not going to be the dream we thought it was.  Now, we are back on the road and casually swinging through destinations like Mt. Hood and Crater lake on our way between the Oregon and California coasts.

Just months ago, we prepared to leave the camper life behind for good! We thought that we would want to stay in Hawaii forever because of its stunning beauty, but we realized that it is much more than beauty that makes us feel at home.  We thought that because we ‘live differently’ in a camper we could live differently by creating a community with another family.  In reality, we cherish the independence, adventure and freedom of nomadic life. 

After returning to our home and life on the road, we have had the most magical couple of months I could ever imagine.  The Oregon coast welcomed us back and reminded us why it is our summer home.  Just as we got comfortable with the warm sunny summer days, the mist moved in and constant moisture and cooling skies reminded us why we head south in the fall. 

Now, on our way to California, we are camped just outside Crater Lake.  Days away from one of our favorite stops at Santa Cruz, we get to be at home in one of the most incredible wonders on the west coast. Plunging into the frigid waters of Crater Lake, we immersed ourselves into nature the way we have immersed ourselves into this life. We came home after a long hike, baked some homemade donuts, and the kids made a new friend in the campground.  It’s hard to believe that we ever questioned living this life, and left it to try out something else.  But we did, and that's okay.

Now that we are back where we belong I reflect on a couple of lessons:

• Take the chance when you can 

Creating a homeschooling community in Hawaii felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity and it probably was. With the flexibility to actually give it a go, we would have been foolish not to jump on the opportunity.  Just like the chance to live on the road, it was a now or never decision. If you get in the habit of passing these decisions up, you’ll look back with regret even when they don't work out.

• Don’t be afraid of being wrong 

After just a few days, we knew we were wrong.  We learned that we really didn’t belong there. We do value our independence over shared family living and we truly love being on the road and going to new places. Pride and stubbornness could have convinced us to force it to work and deny the issues, but without fear of being wrong, we were able to quickly pivot and get back to what's truly right for us. 

• Trust your gut

It felt like the right decision in our guts to go, and I still believe it was.  It felt like the right decision to leave, and I know that it was. Your gut may send you on an adventure. It may contradict itself just weeks apart, but by trusting and following that intuition, you’ll end up taking the chances that come to you and knowing that you are getting the most out of life.

We took a break from the life we love, and realized just how much we love it.  Now that we’re back on the road, we’re in it for the long haul. 

“On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again…” ~ Willie Nelson