Everything we own is wet from being rained on or simply because the van has hovered around 80-90 percent humidity for two weeks.
The moisture from one particularly intense storm shorted our second alternator controller, meaning our batteries no longer charge when we drive (in turn meaning we are dependent on shore power at campgrounds every few days... which was sort of the opposite of what we were going for when we designed a self-contained rig). Apparently the parts we need to fix the issue arrived via general delivery yesterday, but when we got to the post office this morning the staff said they have zero record of that. We still don’t have heat or hot water and our water pump is mildly on the fritz.
So, there are several side quests we need to figure out soon. (Referring to mishaps as “side quest opportunities” has been excellent for my mental health, highly recommend.)
But we continue on our main quest, too: Make the most out of this nomadic experience together.
Scout wakes up, every morning, prancing and tippy-tapping and insisting we start the day with some sort of game. Thanks to the end of daylight saving, the sun again rises before 7 am and makes it possible for the three of us to head outside first thing. We’ve gotten to marvel at too many mushrooms and banana slugs and rocky bluffs to count. If we listen closely, we can hear sea lions bark over the crashing waves. I’m typing this from the side of the street, which I know never sounds too glamorous, except look at the misty magical view through the open side door. That glorious beam of sunlight on the far-off water!!
My entire adulthood—from falling in love with Sean to adopting Scout to building this unusual (and unusually fulfilling) life where we park our house in different places basically every day—keeps plopping me in the middle ground, sweeping me up in our world’s duality. It’s calm and chaotic. I’m content and overwhelmed. I’m on top of the world, I’m in over my head, I’m wondering what the hell we’re doing, I’m thinking there’s no better way to live.
Aren’t the multitudes the point?!
Other notes and news
📌 Travel
We’ve officially been to 49 out of 50 US states—together, the three of us, my little family—in our yellow van. Surreal.
