Pivot

One of the best parts of living in our RV full time is the ability to pivot and change plans at the last minute.

We spent the last six weeks on the Oregon coast and had planned to stay a couple more, making our way down the 101 to Brookings and into the redwoods on the way to Santa Cruz. We try to go somewhere new each time we drive between Oregon and California, and this year that meant a few nights on the southern Oregon coast.

But a few days ago, we realized we were missing fall colors in the mountains and growing tired of the perpetually damp coastal air. We’d had dense fog nearly every morning, and it was nearly impossible for anything to dry. It was time to head back to the high desert.

So we changed course: Bend, Lassen, and Tahoe, with a night in Eugene on the way to see friends. We’ve never visited Lassen as a family, and we’re excited to see a new national park.

The fall colors from the coast, through the mountains, and up to Bend were absolutely stunning. There’s something extra special about a fall road trip when the colors are at their peak.

This kind of spontaneity suits life on the road. Even though we book campgrounds six months out, we often change plans last minute, sometimes because of weather, sometimes to see friends in a new place, and sometimes just because we want to do something different.

Plans are a starting point, not a promise. The coast will still be there next year, and Brookings can wait for another drive south. For now, we’re following the colors, chasing dry air and sunshine, and leaving room for whatever surprises the road has in store. That flexibility is what makes this life work for us, and it’s a lesson we’re trying to pass on to our kids: have a plan, hold it loosely, and be willing to change course when something better calls.