Slow down, you move too fast
You’ve got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy …
— Simon & Garfunkel, “59th Street Bridge Song” (“Feelin’ Groovy”)
You can take the girl out of the courtroom, but you can’t take the Type A out of the girl. Throughout my life I have tried to remind myself to enjoy the journey as much, if not more, than the destination. Yeah, right. For the brief time that I played video games, I would play a game for 24 hours straight until I had it entirely figured out. Craft projects? Forget about it. I would not rest until the project was done. Books? Completed in one sitting. Now that I am ostensibly living life in the slow lane, what better, constant reminder to live in the moment than traveling in an RV full-time?
The problem with that is, thus far, I am always on the way to somewhere. Take this trip. My reservations in New Orleans begin on April 17. Jazz Fest starts on April 22, so I do have some wriggle room, but I am anxious and excited to be in The Big Easy. I have a deadline. A lawyer with a deadline? Dog with a bone.
In the last five days I have traveled 1,723 miles, an average of 344 miles per day. At speeds of 60 mph, that’s almost 6 hours behind the wheel, not counting pitstops. Each day I research my course, plotting the sites and scenery I would like to see on the way. Here was the plan I made for this week:
Monday: Roswell, New Mexico
Tuesday: Fredericksburg/Luckenbach, Texas
Wednesday & Thursday: San Antonio
Friday & Saturday: Houston
Sunday: New Orleans for three weeks
I had already determined that Austin was going to be a separate trip, because I do not want to give it short shrift. I’ve never been there, but given everything I’ve heard, I am considering it as a place to re-settle down eventually. My friend Blossom lives there too. I want to spend at least a couple of weeks in Austin.
Houston this weekend is pretty set; my friend Randy lives there. We are having dinner out on Friday night, and a party at his house on Saturday night.
Well, I am now adding San Antonio to the “things I’m going to do later” list. Instead of one night in Fredericksburg, I booked three. I fully set up the rig and am doing laundry. I finally cleaned out the slimy vegetable drawer in the refrigerator. There are lots of things I want to see and do here in the Fredericksburg/Luckenbach area (just look at this tourism video!), and I want to take my time. I don’t want to shortchange San Antonio, either. I would like to dig deeper than just the Riverwalk and the Alamo.
The universe has been tapping me on the shoulder the last few days about slowing the pace. I have been researching RV parks in the San Antonio area. Finally settling upon one yesterday, I phoned to make a reservation for Wednesday and Thursday. The clerk informed me that they were wide open, and I could make a reservation or just show up. I replied that I preferred the flexibility of just showing up, and opted not to make a reservation.
Ahhh, flexibility. I’m learning.
This Post Has 16 Comments
I am so enjoying your journey. You are very brave and adventurous. Can’t remember if I commented before, but if you come near Greenville, SC on your way to Charleston, I’d love to meet you and take you to lunch! We have a nice state park –Paris Mountain — right here in town. You have my email address; just let me know. I’d be glad to show you around our lovely town.
Thank you, Elaine! I’m going to take you up on that!
Hi Tammy,
I just sent you a friend request on FB from TammyLynn – so that I can have a way to privately give you my phone number. I am leaving Austin on the 19th to stay in NOLA for at least a week. I’d love to meet you in NOLA (I’m not going to Jazz Fest per se put have lots of other venues I am going to for live music) and I’d also love to show you my hometown of Austin!
You are ON, Sister! NOLA and Austin. Looking forward to meeting you!
Baby steps – you will get there. At least you have the RV. I’m beginning to think I will spend the rest of my life getting as far as you are. I have way too much stuff but am getting closer to the necular option of calling an auctioneer.
Add Dunnellon Florida. Rainbow State Park to list…..local Fri hangout Blue Gator good food you would enjoy kayaking or canoe on river
In the big easy there are some great state parks. On the west bank is bayou segnette and the north shore is fountainbleau state park. In Nola proper is French quarter rv, very expensive for a three week stay. You will love Nola and the people.
Thanks Carol – I’ve been to NOLA lots of times and you are right – it will be fun, fun, fun! I’m staying at the State Park.
Thanks for the recommendations, Carol! I’m staying at Jude Travel Park – $39 per night even during Jazz Fest. I’ll let you know how it is.
I am now caught up with your travels so far. Almost every time Maria and I went some place new we fell in love so certainly understand. Safe travels.
Have you found the work-related stress levels have dissipated? My husband and I are barreling toward the end of our legal careers (last day June 3!!!), but I wonder how long it will take for us to unwind and relax? It will be nice to not wake up at 3:00 a.m. staring at the ceiling wondering about this or that case…. It will be lovely to get through an hour at home without reaching for my cell phone to check my work email. It will be wonderful to finally look at myself in the mirror without my shoulders tensed up to my ears. Please tell me that’s gonna happen?!
I expect we will go through what you’re describing. Always being on the move, always having somewhere to be…Go, go, go, go…. Transitioning to “just be…” It sounds positively dreamy, but I imagine it’s gonna be a tough to just chill the hell out.
Laura, you just wait! I was two days away from my one-year anniversary of ceasing the practice of law when I got together with my old law firm buddies on the recent trip back to Seattle. I wanted to ask about what happened to some of the cases, but I could not remember a single case name. Facts, vaguely, sure, but no names. Don’t get me wrong – it didn’t take a year to relax and unwind from practice. To tell you the truth, I was so sick and I was so ready, within 30 days I considered myself a recovering lawyer and not a practicing one.
Tammy,
Thank you for your blog and the information. We still aspire to be full timers, and are getting ready. Your stories make me brave to be free!!
Laura, I have the biggest smile on my face right now. Thank you. If I can be even the tiniest bit of inspiration to someone, I have found my reason and purpose. You are gonna do it, and it’s gonna be GRAND. Drop me a line from time to time and let me know how it’s going.
Tammy
So enjoyed your comments & those of Laura. I’m very reminded of my husband Sam. He’s in his 2nd month of retirement from practicing medicine. The 2:00 3:00 and 4:00 am calls from the answering machine have finally ended after 30 years. I’m seeing his shoulders untense & we’re laughing all the time as we barrel down the interstate. Yes, your input helped us buy a class a & a toad. We even travel with a dog & cat. Enjoy your stay in New Orleans & maybe we’ll find ourselves in the same rv park or spot along the way. I was hoping to follow Route 66 again someday as when I was young in doodle bug but after reading your posts I may keep that a good memory.
Thanks,
Nancy s
Nancy, I sure hope I get to meet you and Sam on the trail!