See You Down The Road

While we were in Pismo Beach this spring I was scrolling on Instagram and immediately recognized Dinosaur Park in the story of another full-time RV family that I follow on there. I sent them a message, saying that I recognize that park and wondering it they were also camped at Pacific Dunes. Over a series of messages we learned that we were at the same campground and had kids around the same age so we made plans to meet up on the dunes to sled the following day. Fast forward 5 months later and we have met up in 6 different campgrounds in 3 different states.

We became fast friends in Pismo Beach and were thrilled to learn that we were both already booked to be in Yosemite at the same time just a few weeks later. Our friends arrived in Yosemite a few days before us and by the time we arrived they had befriended two other families, both of whom also travel in their RVs full time. In Yosemite we had pizza potlucks and stayed up too late around the campfire. We organized kids art projects in the lodge on rainy days and sent the kids out to play every afternoon after their schoolwork was done. After Yosemite we weren't sure when all four families would be together again.

Over the next few months we were able to spend time with two of these incredible families as we all traveled north from California to Washington. We swam in Lake Tahoe together and bundled up for beach days on the Oregon Coast. We explored the Salmon River near Mount Hood and took the ferry to San Juan Island. The fourth family was on a much speedier route as they had plans to spend much of their summer in Fairbanks, Alaska with family and needed to cover a lot of ground to get there.

All four moms in our "traveling neighborhood" continued to chat regularly in our group chat and when we realized that 3 out of 4 of our families would be in Birch Bay, WA this week and that the fourth family was also en route to western Washington, we made sure to let the adventurous Alaska family the update that we would all be together again. They changed their bookings and arrived at Birch Bay the following day. Four months after we all met in Yosemite we were reunited just south of the Canadian border.

This week was spent attending the wedding of two five year olds, digging for geoducks and clams at lowtide, blackberry picking, peach pie, a bowling birthday party, and staying up too late laughing around the campfire. Between the four families there are 11 kids, ages 1.5-10 and they were all delighted to spend the week together.

This morning we said goodbye, knowing we will see the Alaska family as we both make our way down the west coast this fall, but unsure of when we will next see the other two families, who are both heading back east. As I hugged E, the one I first met in Pismo Beach back in March, we were both in tears, not knowing when we will get to see each other again and incredibly grateful for all the time our families have been able to spend together over the last several months. I never expected to find friends this amazing while traveling full time.

Our very first day as a full time travel family we met a very kind and generous couple who were camped next to us in Monroe, WA. They had been on the road for years and had a lot of wisdom to share with us, but one thing they said stuck with us the most. They said you'll meet lots of great friends on the road and, as is inevitable with this lifestyle, you will have to part ways at some point.

But it doesn't have to be goodbye.

It's just see you down the road.