Four Years On The Road

Once you no longer have a destination, the journey naturally comes into focus.

It's hard to believe that it's been four years now. Four years in a tent. Four years of pumping up the air mattress and making the bed almost every night. Next time we decide to live on the road, we're going to do it in a caravan or a camper.

We ran some numbers recently. We are loosing money at the rate of $25 per day. Over and above what our customers pay us, it costs us $85 for every customer we visit. Needless to say, that can't go on forever. In fact, we'll probably run out of money before we get a chance to write another of these "anniversary" pages.

But it's the people we meet that makes all the difference.

• There was the lady that said:
  "Even though we only live 10 minutes out of town, we holiday at the caravan park here in town every year. We have everything we need, and it's so convenient. We can nip home anytime to feed the cat and water the garden."
• There was the young man that said:
  "I always like to pay my own way. I just need to pick up my dole check, so I can go shopping."
• There was the campground host who said:
  "95% of people are great. The other 5% should never be allowed to leave home."
• There was the lady with the garbage bag who said:
  "I come here for two weeks every year. The first week I pick up rubbish, and the second I enjoy a pristine beach."

Now that we've decided to end this adventure, the tone has changed completely. Direction choices are no longer primarily focused on seeking work. Now we think in terms of a the things we want to see before we get back to city life. Each time we are lucky enough to enjoy a house, it becomes harder to give up the luxuries of indoor living.

There are a great many things that a return to a static lifestyle has to offer the weary traveller.

• Indoor plumbing.
• Not having to worry about where the next pay cheque is coming from (or the outrageous cost of the next tourist trap).
• A real bed.
• Not having to plan travel stops around getting mail (to pay bills and taxes on time).
• Affordable broadband.

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