Random Thoughts & Lessons We’re Learning During Covid 19

We’re leaving Galveston on Monday, May 18th, and, if things go according to plan, we’ll land at Old Stage Campground in Madbury, NH on Monday, June 1st. We’re spending several days in Livingston, TX after we leave Galveston to take care of some paperwork… signing Wills, POAs, and hopefully getting the RV inspected. 

Our 3 month Galveston stay turned into a 4 1/2 month stay… who could have predicted a pandemic! When this all started in mid-March, I was feeling uneasy, anxious and rootless which led to waking up in the middle of the night on several occasions. It didn’t help that campgrounds were closing around us. Luckily we had been parked in Galveston for an extended stay when the shelter-in-place order hit, which worked in our favor. We originally planned to be on the road at the end of March and meander our way back to NH for a May 1 arrival. With the pandemic and stay-at-home orders in place, we decided to stay put in Galveston and extend our reservation. 

A “stick home” was looking mighty appealing to me in March…. at least you can’t get kicked out of it. But with a little more time and perspective, I realize I would have felt uneasy and anxious even in a stick home. Worrying is in my DNA.…it’s in the gene pool! Thankfully I usually bounce back after a few days. 

I learned after the first few weeks of immersing myself in the latest pandemic news, I had to limit that. It’s good for me to know what’s happening, not good for me to read 10 different news organizations ideas about what might happen. 

I learned being in an RV has it’s advantages… we were able to easily self isolate and yet have the luxury of seeing other people on our walks around the campground and step into easy conversation (safely distanced) about what others are doing or how they’ve had to change their plans. Kindred spirits comforting each other. 

I learned I don’t get bored. I was worried with this lifestyle that if we’re not out sightseeing everyday and I don’t have the luxury of friends nearby, would I get bored? As it turns out, I don’t.  I have plenty of things to keep me occupied… from hobbies to fun chores… like organizing our photos. 

I learned that I can stay in contact with family and friends from a distance and that it feels very meaningful and fulfilling. Yes, in-person visits are awesome. But this is good, too. Also we’ve been fortunate in being able to schedule travels with or visiting various friends and family… up until recently, of course.

I’ve learned first hand that I have to be adaptable with this lifestyle. Reservations and plans will be made… and reservations and plans will have to be changed. Annoying but there you have it. A camping neighbor views it as a “new opportunity” to plan something different. I have to adopt that mindset. That’s a work in progress. Case in point: we had made plans to visit the Grand Canyon, Zion Nat’l Park and other destinations out west this upcoming fall and winter which would have meant a lot of moving around. Since Covid 19 is still supposed to be with us in the fall and winter, we’ve changed all that. We have simpler, less grandiose plans for the foreseeable future.

We’ve learned this is still a fun lifestyle even in the midst of a pandemic. So if we like it with all this going on, it bodes well for the future.

I’ve learned Gary and I don’t grate on each other’s nerves over an extended period of togetherness. We sort of knew this already having worked together for many years, but nice to have it confirmed. 

We’re learning to kick back and enjoy watching nature… we were sitting in the shade at our campsite with a view of the pond and watching a large fuzzy brown caterpillar set off beautifully against the bright green grass. The caterpillar was inching its way along when a Grackle hopped up to it and picked it up in its beak and swung it round and round and round. About now Gary turns to me and says “Do you want me to save the caterpillar?” I said no, it’s ok. We’ll let the Circle of Life play out with this one. The Grackle continued swinging the caterpillar round and round until all the fuzzy brown fur was gone and the fleshy caterpillar part was left, then the Grackle flies off with the caterpillar to parts unknown. Our own mini Circle of Life played out right before our eyes. 

In regards to watching nature, I’m trying to learn to slow down and just be. I tend to feel that I have to be doing something all the time. It’s ok that yesterday we sat and watched the clouds drift by, or that I take time to notice the swaying green palm fronds against the brilliant blue sky, or watch the puffed up Great Tailed Grackle trying to impress his mate, or watch another fat furry caterpillar march across the backdrop of the green grass and hopefully not get snatched up by a passing bird. It’s ok for me to watch these things and not feel as though I have to be “doing” something. Again, work in progress… 

We have to adapt to our surroundings. One morning I was called into service to protect the bacon (cooking on the griddle outside) from the Grackles. 

I’m getting over my fear of horses (they’re so big!) since we’ve been petting and feeding them carrots for well over a month now. 

I’m always amazed at the resourcefulness of Gary… he put new tires on the RV, when it was proving difficult to schedule this at a facility; he put lights up in our two bedroom closets so we can see inside easier now; he re-organized the kitchen space so it’s easier to access the things we use all the time, and just yesterday he reconnected a fuse in the truck that the repair place forgot to do, and the list goes on. He is just a wonder!

We try to take advantage of unexpected opportunities… we lost power in the campground one evening due to a traffic accident in the vicinity. It was a chance to share a campfire with our camping neighbors, socially distanced of course, and catch up with each other a bit. They are full time RVers (former military) with two small children. 

The photos below are mostly from the grounds of Moody Gardens and walks along the beach or seawall… and mostly before things opened up down here and those places were quieter. 

And while Covid 19 is still around, states are opening back up so it’s time for us to hit the road and head North. We were able to make reservations all the way back to NH so hopefully the weather cooperates and no hiccups appear along the way. But, if they do, we shall deal with them. Stay safe everyone! 

I’ll post again when we’re back in New Hampshire where we’ll be self-quarantining for 14 days so I’ll have plenty of time to write! Then visit my mom… even if it’s through a closed window. 🙂