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Planning While Under the Influence of Mono

| jamiefeinberg

Yup. I have mono. apparently. If this was my first time facing mono, I would accept the diagnosis at face value. But I actually had it when I was 19 in college, and apparently people aren’t supposed to get mono twice. So we have some investigating to do…do I have chronic mono? Or another condition as well that is compromising my immune system? The adventures will continue, but in the meantime, I am doing my best to rest up. For instance, I am typing this on my iPad while lying on my bed.

But let’s return to the land of RVs and tour plans. After catching a wonderful concert yesterday by the tUnE – yArDs, Ross and I began a leisurely drive home through North Conway. After a great breakfast at Peaches, we stopped at our first Camping World. Although this one is extremely small compared to those I have seen other bloggers post about, I can see why they are a haven for RVers, both as a free place to crash and as a place to shop for accessories and (gasp!) RVs.

We were mainly there for the class Cs. We were happy to hear they were open for us to peruse at our leisure, and we found a few that we really loved. Some were too big, some were too small, and some were just right. Four Winds had a few styles that we were crazy about, particularly a model with a bedroom slide that went out to the side, allowing more space for walking in the bedroom. We also found one used, and a Dutchman Express (used, 1995) also caught our eye as a very “us” model.

Ross also had some great ideas about ways that I can market my work to churches while we tour, so I am really excited about seeing how that works out. We have so much planning to do but I am hopeful that in a year or so we can get out on the road. Lots of saving to do too of course!

Our savings plans will get a kickstart soon. Ross finishes paying off his credit card debt this month (who-hoo!) so after that, he can save for the rv and touring gear. Likewise, I am on track to meet our Disney savings goals soon. Once that and an NYC trip are complete, I can really focus on the RV. Mono is not going to make it easy – how can I justify using extra energy for part-time, supplemental work? So I need to figure that one out. But I have faith that our dreams are possible, so let’s see what we can do.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

A New Beginning

Image | | jamiefeinberg

Ross and Jamie blurry dance

It’s absolutely insane for me to start this right now. My life couldn’t be busier – well, not easily. I’ve got a fantastic but completely overwhelming arts job that I love and am suffocated by on alternating days. I run my own theater company on a staff of none, a few volunteers, and some amazing actors. And I fit in as much theater, music, dance, nature and family time as possible while focusing on finding time to spend with my husband, Ross, who is equally overwhelmed and having his own life crisis as he juggles teaching music, radio work, live sound and his own composing and band projects.

But if all of this stuff is running around my brain, won’t it be more productive to get it all out? I sure hope so.

I had a dream last night. I dreamt a solution to the conundrum I’ve been pondering, somewhat unnamed, for weeks. If I know I want to go from where I currently am to a life that is simpler, involves a tiny home and a yard in a place with work we both enjoy (and less need of work at all), WITHOUT having to take a fancy job for a paycheck and give up what we care about in the meantime, how can I do that?

“Oh, I’ve got it,” said Dream Jamie. “Downsize your life,  you know, like you’ve been working on. Then maybe get a studio or something else small to save some money. Buy a used motorhome. Put your stuff into storage – but not before you’ve mapped out a tour for you and Ross. It should involve all of the awesome skills you have – you can both teach lessons, maybe write a show together, Ross can run audio, Jamie can teach some theater classes and do some editing work – in other words, you don’t need to save up megabucks. Follow the steps. Once you’ve got the motorhome and your tour dates, you’ll start traveling, spending time in communities you might like to settle in some day. And once the tour is complete, you’ll choose your new community and move there – and start saving for a tiny house, with its own land eventually, for the two of you to live in.”

Of course, right? How did I not think of this? Thanks, Dream Jamie.