"Many things which cannot be overcome when they are together yield themselves up when taken little by little."
– Plutarch

I have to keep reminding myself of this...like a child needs to be constantly reminded that he has made a mess. It seems as though this should be something I could remember...without having to read a quote...but I don't. I just keep seeing the big dream. The RV. I keep seeing the dream then seeing that I am not there and I am so suddenly overwhelmed with the obstacles. It is ALL obstacles. Taken together, the obstacles are screaming..."GET REAL, you can't do this and you shouldn't even want to...weirdo."

Deep breaths. Count back from 10. OK.

First of all, I am not weird. Or, at least, the dream doesn't make me weird. What is "unstable" about taking our life out on the road? What is the worst that could happen to us...what is the MOST unstable thing about it? a) not knowing where the next dollar will come from? b) the kids not being "in" school? c) not having a mailing address?

Well, stop worrying because a) we can find work anywhere because we are not above doing whatever it takes, even if it means we do the jobs Americans apparently don't want to do, and b) the kids will learn more from the biggest classroom (earth) than they would ever get here in PODUNK texASS, and c) I will have a mailing address...it just takes longer to get the mail to me but I will have constant and instant email!!!! OK?...so not WEIRD!!

Other obstacles are harder to dispel...they are not about ideas but about realities. We are having no luck finding an RV. But, when I actually break that one down...we aren't trying very hard. I have not even approached my bank about a loan...just in case we need one. Why haven't I? Fear. Fear they will say no, fear they will say yes? Why am I afraid? I think I am actually putting the obstacles in my own way!!!

I am. But, why?

It is such a big change. I am not the only one who will be making the changes. I think I am very afraid of the unknown. What if it doesn't work out? What if I fail? What if we are right back in an apartment 2 months later because we are at each other's throats? What if bears attack? What if...?

Yup, it is ME that puts these obstacles in MY way, and if I take them one at a time I think I will be able to overcome them all.

I HOPE.

A road map of the PATH

So the path we are planning to take is to get an RV and take the kids on the road for the adventure of life...great...how do we go about doing that!!?? We have about 1100 sq ft of space now and we fill it pretty well. We have stuff , lots of it! Thinking about making such a BIG life change is a bit overwhelming, and should probably be approached with caution...at least a little bit. So we are making a list of what must be done...a running master list, of sorts, that we will add to as we discover new "to dos". The list will be under the "live" tab of this blog and we will line out items as we accomplish them and add items as we discover them...we would also love to here from you...anything that you would like to suggest for the list (whether based on experience, because you want to see us try it, or because it is important to you) can be sent privately as an email (livefreelynow@live.com) or posted as a comment.

checkpoints on the path:

• locate and purchase RV
• give notice on lease and job
• prioritize possessions
• purge possessions
• eat chickens?
• establish route
• plan income
• logistics...mail, phones, Internet...etc
• move out of house, into RV
• fill tank
• go

The offense of money...

Money. I hate it, passionately. I hate that this current way of life is ALL about it...
earning it,
spending it,
worrying about it,
never having enough of it.

Money is used to categorize people...you know...the haves, have muchs, have littles, and have nots...
We define a person's "success" by what they earn...we actually take the whole person and within minutes minimize them into a measurement of "successfulness" based upon their display of money. It is displayed, of course, in what they wear and what they drive, where they live and what cell phone they carry...

it is obscene!

And what is the worst of it all....???? MONEY is totally REQUIRED to live in this country (most countries). Even the self sufficient are part of the money game...there is no way to avoid it.

So while consumerism is something I detest--and you will frequently hear me bash--it is the money that I, too, require to live...and yes, you will see advertisements on this blog AND I will hope that you do, on occasion, click on them...the path I intend to follow will require a somewhat hefty initial outlay of the dreaded MONEY and every little bit helps.