July 9, 2012
When I look at my shiny little trailer I can’t really believe it is mine. I had done so much searching of ads online and studying articles on what to buy. First I thought of a truck and camper, but I didn’t like how it couldn’t be left behind, I couldn’t set up in a campsite and then leave for the beach without having to secure everything. They were hard on gas too.
I had looked at Westfalias too, I love the sound of their engines, but they are pretty small, and pricy. The motor homes were huge and looked safe, if some trouble happened at night, I could just turn the key and take off, but they were super expensive and again, once at a campsite, and all settled in, I would have to move my things to go anywhere. Surely they would be horrible to drive around in in unfamiliar cities. And what would I do with that great big thing after my trip? I pictured filling it up with gas – kachinggg, kachinggg…
A friend had gone travelling in a passenger van, but she said it was horrible to drive in it all day, and then sit in it at night. And it also has so little room for food and storage, and where would I put my clothes. And how about a BATHROOM?
All along I had been looking at used travel trailers and what trash I had found – mould, rusty gas lines, floors that had rotted out, holes in the walls, windows and doors that wouldn’t lock. I talked to my younger son Len about it and told him how discouraged I was feeling about the choices.
He asked me “Mom, have you looked at any new ones?”
“Of course not, I replied, I can’t afford them.”
How do you know Mom, unless you’ve checked them out.
Good point. I will have a look at them, if only to admire them, what could I have to lose?”
And the rest is history. Once I had checked out a brand new trailer there was no going back. A toilet, and a tiny little bathtub, a small fridge, a 2 burner stove, a microwave, and a lovely interior. I had first thought that a 13 foot trailer would work, but after I saw the 14 footer, there was no going back. It’s called “Footitis” and can be found in the boating world as well. The larger one had much more space between the sink counter and the bench seat, room for the dog to lie down on, and for me to do back stretches and yoga. It was a done deal – just sign here and pay later when you get home…
It’s truly a lovely bed on wheels. And it looks so small, that I was pretty sure that I could drive it ok. The salesman said that I won’t even notice it behind me. And truthfully, that thought did scare me – what if I did forget it was behind me and drive over someone’s toes when I went around a corner.Will I pull in too fast when I am passing a car and smash in the front of their vehicle? “Stop that!” I commanded myself. Enough.
That evening I went to my Iyengar yoga class, and it made me feel great as usual. But I thought how much I will miss these daily things, the people in my class, and the inspiration of my teacher. A physiotherapist once asked me if I loved going to yoga, and I answered, yes, I guess I actually do. He said that’s understandable because the body knows as soon as it goes into the yoga space it starts to relax -it knows from experience that it will soon feel good.
I wonder how I will recapture that feeling on the road. Will everyone forget me?