I Did a Thing... Meet Harold

“You DO the thing,” said my most important dea. “Most people talk about the thing, but you DO it.”

“You're a doer, not a viewer,” one friend said. “Most people just go through life viewing things. But you do things.”

“With you, they aren't just ideas. They're possibilities,” he said.

I guess I have a reputation. And I'm thrilled to find that it's not all bad.* Actually, I was really flattered to realize that I have a reputation as a doer. That feels good, because I am constantly driven, and at least it's not all in the wind.

*Disclaimer- I am not really bad at all, I am obsessed with principle, even if mine don't always align, but I didn't think people appreciated me. Instead, I thought all they remembered were the irritations I've caused. I can be hot headed, after all. And I don't have a great self opinion.

So anyways... I did a thing. I talked about getting an RV for so long that I actually got one. I've been viewing them for years-- online ads, every time I see one drive by, neighbors' houses, used RV lots. Once the prices really went up with the pandemic and people loving #vanlife, I thought I was out of luck, because one thing I hate is spending money. I am afraid that, as a self-employed fringer, I will need the money for something urgent and security or health related as soon as I spend it. If I ever get a few bucks, I want to hold onto them for safety's sake.

But the dream.

The dream wouldn't quit. It haunted me. I see RVs everywhere and I want them all. I looked idly on Craigslist for anything affordable. And I gave up. I gave up many many times, then pick up the search again one day when I see one drive by or, in this case, when I get discouraged by accommodation prices. I have been wanting to go to New England this summer for a bit, and poke into some things; see some friends and get out of the heat. Looking at the Airbnb prices, however, I had basically decided never to leave the house again. Unfortunately, I also had moved into my closet and my tarot reading said I should leave my house for a happier life (to paraphrase the universe), so I settled into resentment.

If you run the numbers-- in your head and skewed towards your heart's desire-- you may find that an RV is less expensive than hotels or Airbnb. I was looking at $10K anyways (best case scenario) for a couple of months of travel. Plus, I would have to search, decide, and … oh no... commit early. Aaaaa! I am a Sagittarius, I don't like to be pinned down! Not to mention, the places to stay that fit my budget were hours from my friends and close to nothing except trees and, in many cases, Canada.

Back to Craigslist. In my funk, I actually saw something that seemed doable. It was still more than I wanted to spend (but honestly, $5 is more than I truly want to spend) and it was close by. The next day, I drove over there to look at it and, 25 minutes later, I had an accepted offer and a deposit down. I even told the sales person that I probably shouldn't do this. But when he said he could hit the number I was suggesting, he said “I can do that. You want to do it?”

“Yeah, let's do it.” I said, very casually. My brain went numb.

“You want to do it?”

“What the heck. Yeah, let's do it!” My inner gypsy had taken over. It was too late to stop the train.

The interior is shabby, but seems solid. I didn't even start the engine. I am terrible at big ticket shopping, I really am. I just looked in, thought only about the fun and adventure, the possibilities and I pulled the trigger.

I think it's a he and I think his name is Harold, because my VW bus was Maude. And she just was. I didn't really name her. So it might not be Harold, I'll wait for my new Freelander (doesn't that sound great) to tell me before I commit to the name. I don't believe we name things; I believe they name themselves and we just figure it out if we listen.

He is chocolatey inside and a little threadbare. The mattress is garbage. But otherwise, he has everything I had on my wish list. Of course, I wish he were younger, but he has:

• Low mileage

• Stove with oven

• Backup camera installed

• Separate shower (indoor)

• Walk-around bed without a slide

• Slide out widens the living space (yoga-friendly, I was concerned)

• Loveseat + Dinette (extra comfort)

• Club chair behind the passenger seat (Charlie's seat)

• Bunk over the cab (Charlie's room and storage)

• Storage

I'm terrified, just for the record. Besides the money, I have to actually drive this thing. And, although I've driven many moving trucks, across state lines and into all types of neighborhoods, I have an image in my head of a huge house that I can't turn or backup, bashing into everything in its path. Look out, world!

But I'm sure I can manage it. It's my thing, after all, and everyone else thinks I can do it. “If anyone can get it in there, it's you,” she told me. I can't let my fans down, but I have to be honest. Until I get out there, I'll be apprehensive.

Mostly, I'm EXCITED!! I am thinking of all the decorative touches I can do to make it mine and all the places we will go. The worlds that this opens. I think I'll even use my bike more for local travel, although I don't want to add a bike rack, the rig is already 31 feet long.

When I focused on my vision, FREEDOM was one of the main tenets. The primary thread tying all of my wishes together and sparking all of my activities. The kernel that really gets me juiced up, now and always, has been Freedom.

See you out there!