#17: The adventure continues...differently

In the last post I published, I was sitting in a Target parking lot waiting on my Airstream to get fixed. I wanted to provide an update since then…

The dealership called me that the afternoon to let me know the Airstream had been fixed. Relief! I picked it up, got a download on what they did to fix it, and headed back to the same RV park where I had stayed the night before. I remained local in Albuquerque for two reasons: 1) The sealant that they used on the roof to fix the leak needed to settle completely, so I was advised not to drive far, and 2) I wasn’t sure where or what my next move was going to be, given all the threat with COVID-19. Not a problem to stay in the area for another night. The challenge (problem) was that the forecast was calling for low temperatures and a rain/snow mix that night.

After settling into the campground, it started to rain. Low and behold, water began to drip into the trailer from the same spot it had been dripping previously. Although the amount of water leaking was much less, there was still a leak. Given that, I had no other choice but to head back to the dealership first thing in the morning. I had to get this Airstream fixed.

In the meantime, amid the Airstream drama, things were continuously getting worse with COVID-19. I had started stressing about what my next move was going to be. As we all experienced (and still are experiencing), there was just no telling what was going to happen next. Updates were taking place every day with park closures, restrictions, and limited availability. Cities and states were going into lockdown. I had an unsettled feeling about it all, and I didn’t necessarily feel comfortable being on the move as I was.

Logistically, I didn’t want to end up in a situation where I was stranded somewhere alone, or God forbid - sick. Morally, I didn’t feel right potentially contributing to the problem by moving around and using public facilities (gas stations, toilets, campgrounds, etc.). In addition to my gut feeling, I was seeing more and more members of the RV community feeling similar to me, with plans to head home or to friends or family’s houses for the time being (and urging others to do the same).

My friend in Orange County offered up his house to hunker down, but then California went into lockdown. My dad asked me to go back to Virginia, but that just seemed so far away (and like I would have been really backtracking). I decided to head south to desolate West Texas to a friend’s house, where I’d still be west, but also safe from exposure to crowds of people.

I made the right decision. Since I left New Mexico, things have gotten progressively worse with the virus. Am I bummed to have had to halt the travel for a while? Yes. But I’m safe and secluded and cannot complain. In the meantime, this adventure continues for me…just in a different way.

This adventure I set myself out on in November was never only about the physical places I would travel. It would also be about the internal stuff: the mental and emotional realizations, the reflections, and the perspective gained. I’m currently spending my days trying to make the most of this time - improving my mental and physical health, meditating, writing, reading, catching up with friends (via video chat, of course), and just BEING. I have outdoor space to get fresh air, and you can bet that outdoor activities are still in swing. Here are a few photos from a recent hike to the highest waterfall in Texas.

This situation is not what any of us planned. BUT, I remain loyal to my tried and true saying, “10% is what happens to us, and 90% is how we react to it.”

Stay safe, positive, and strong. Look out for my next posts on Marfa, Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks, and New Mexico. I will finally catch up!