Living and Learning on the Move

     Our children are the most social little creatures that there are out there! It’s always funny when our kids meet other kids at the playground and we end up finding out it is another full-time family that we “know” from online! We end up meeting the parents later and it is just hilarious! It seems like everyone at the RV parks we stay at know our children!

     Brad and Kristi also know most of the animals (particularly dogs) that stay at the parks! The reason this is, is because everyone walks their dogs and they end up meeting them. They have come a long way since we first went full time. When we first started, they would just assume since the dogs are being walked and there are so many people here that the dogs are friendly; however, they have learned that simply isn’t the case. So, they are always great about asking, “May I pet your dog?” 

A very adorable, very energetic puppy!

     
     Needless to say, they have had quite a few dog walking and dog boarding type jobs at the various parks! This last little puppy, they watched somewhat frequently, and we all became a little attached! This little furball was a big fluff ball!  The most adorable little thing. She has a very unique name though; I believe it is Sanabella (I think)! It sounds very cute when you say it anyway! :-) Unfortunately, that little furball has gone on her merry way to North Carolina and us onto Texas.

Just woke up - moving a little slow for herself (our speed)!!!

      Throughout this experience, my children have become quite the little entrepreneurs! The two things they do the best are taking care of/loving animals and making jewelry (out of real beading and crocheting)! So, they have already made business cards to hang up for the dog walking/caring service. As far as the jewelry business, they’ve made business cards and in their spare time they are making a lot of items in bulk so they can sell at the vendor tables at the different RV parks/resorts where we stay. I wish we had our camera when we were at the motor vehicle office a few weeks ago! They were crocheting a bracelet for most everyone waiting (which was quite a lot considering there were probably over 100 people waiting)! Then, they started making earrings too. They were making quite a bundle! One of their first customers was holding up a pair of their earrings saying, “Earrings for sale, earrings for sale!”   :-)   I told her I need to hire her as their marketing manager! LOL! I almost thought we might get in trouble like we “set out” to do business inside the motor vehicle business office! LOL! They had only brought their items to stay busy while waiting for us to be done. Had we not had to wait around for 4 hrs before even being seen, they probably wouldn’t have made it quite so far in their business there! Who am I kidding?! They did come up with it pretty fast!   :-) Hope you enjoy the pictures of the little fluff ball! I’ll have more pics of their new business skills as they proceed with their businesses!

I’m not sure I will really be able to get my point across to those of you out there that don’t live this lifestyle. Most RVing families can agree that we have found that this lifestyle is simply the best with so many more benefits than not. But, in order to live this way, we have had to sacrifice a few things. Most of the sacrifices are small in nature such as giving up conveniences like having a washer, dryer, dishwasher, huge living area, etc. One of the biggest sacrifices to us is that we had to leave behind our loving extended family and friends. Once on the road, we have found that other RVers have become our “on the road” extended family.   :-)  

This is the picture we submitted to the contest!

Our extended family members on the road are simply AMAZING! I just had to write about a recent experience of how wonderful others can be – including others that we haven’t even met in person (only online such as in forums or Facebook). Stephanie Mulac, the owner of the Full-time RVing - FTRVing.com, made a contest for the photo of the Super Moon that had the most “likes” from people on Facebook. Five full-time RVing families that were still at the Orlando Thousand Trails RV Resort Park (where WE are); all decided to head out and enjoy some fun at the pool all at the same time (including us). The kids were swimming and having a great time together when one of the other mothers had a brilliant idea to take a picture of the kids with the Super Moon in the background. Right at that moment, the Super Moon was so pretty and very low still in the horizon. Within minutes we had all of the kids out of pool ready for the picture. Unfortunately, by that time the moon was a bit higher and didn’t appear as large or bright as it did a few minutes ago. It was also right in line of a nearby lamppost! It’s the thought that counts, right?! So, we entered the picture and decided if we win, the kids would enjoy an ice cream social! So, we watched and reared the teams to like our picture!  It came down to the last few hours and we were neck and neck with another person.

What came after this moment is what truly showed what an AMAZING group of people we call our RV family! Prior to the event being over, other RVers including others that had their own picture in the contest listed us on their Facebook page to get even more likes! Hmm (clearing my voice), I’m not going to mention any names… Michelle Thomas! LOL! Then still others out there were making such sweet comments about our photo and our children. Still others were voting for us, and just wishing us well wishes throughout. At the end, we ended up losing – having 136 likes versus 139 likes to the winner, Micah Sheheen. Stephanie Mulac, the group owner, decided that since we were so close she just had to donate the money ($50) to the kids’ ice cream party from “Auntie Stephanie”… we love you Auntie Stephanie!!! Then, within minutes, Micah Sheheen let us know that she wanted her ($50) to go to the kids’ ice cream party too! She figured it could be a pizza and ice cream beginning of summer kick-off party! Yay! My heart is still warmed over by all the great generosity within the RVing community! It just shows one what kind of tight-knit community we are a part of with this lifestyle! I love you guys! Our RVing family ROCKS!!!  (Next post will show the awesome ice cream party!)